15th May 2005

It's the 2005 Diesel Gala and a lovely weekend of weather made it really special, as did the variety of visiting traction. But this is a home-based Class 117 2-car DMU, car nos. 51363 and 51405 I believe, coupled with South West Train's Class 121 "bubble car" no. 960012 (ex-L128, WW55028) forming the 12.07 Alresford to Ropley train. It's arriving at Ropley at 12.43 from the south, against a colourful backdrop of an oil seed rape field.

The DMU left the MHR in 2011 and now works on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway. The Class 121 went on to be preserved at the Swanage Railway.