NINE diesel engines will be the guests of honour at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway this weekend.

The vintage engines, dating from the 1960 and 1970s, are the star attractions at the railway's Heritage Diesel Festival 2016.

The festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday, has now become an established part of the railway's calendar of special events with plenty for families as well as rail enthusiasts.

The event marks the public debut of the railway's freshly-overhauled English Electric class 37, and over the weekend the railway will be operating no fewer than nine locos, as well as a diesel multiple-unit.

They will be following an intensive timetable over the full length of the 12-mile line linking Cheltenham Racecourse, Gotherington, Winchcombe, Toddington and Laverton.

A spokesman said: "Using the extension from Toddington northwards towards Broadway, which is not normally currently available to locomotive hauled trains, we will be giving a full 24-mile round trip on certain services, which together with passing trains in our loops at Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington allows a 40-minute frequency of service along the entire line."

Among the attractions will be the chance for visitors to try their hands at the controls of a diesel loco at the Cheltenham station as well as opportunities to look behind the scenes in the diesel shed at Toddington.

There will also be the chance to enjoy the narrow-gauge delights of the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway at Toddington.

A marquee will house trade and preservation society stands with opportunities to buy bargain books, railwayana, artefacts, videos, models, clothing and much more. Many of the stands are raising money to achieve their own preservation projects and welcome your support.

The extensive and impressive carriage and wagon department at Winchcombe will also be welcoming visitors who will discover how the railway restores and maintains its fleet of coaches.

And of course no event like this would be complete without a beer tent and plenty of refreshments.