Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was lifted from her bogies at Williton on Monday 8th July 2024 by two giant road cranes that were provided by BALDWINS CRANE HIRE from their Newport, South Wales branch. The two cranes made light work of the job! Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
This week, we have stretched the date range of this edition of ‘Roundup’ so that we can cover one of the most significant events in the 50-year history of the DEPG – the lifting of Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ !
At 08:00 on Monday 8th July 2024, two 130-ton road cranes arrived at Williton along with their escort vans and a flat-bed truck loaded with specialised lifting tackle, their objective being to set up in the south yard at Williton and lift the body of D1010 from her bogies and slew her over onto two stands that were ready and waiting to take the load.
The two 130t road cranes that were provided by BALDWINS CRANE HIRE were pictured in the process of setting up at Williton on Monday 8th July 2024. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
After many months of research and preparation, and many hours of hard graft by our volunteers, the lift went to plan with only a slight hitch that was quickly resolved. The work involved five lifts, as follows:
Lift 1 : Remove the roof sections from above the engine compartments (4 panels in total)
Lift 2 : Lift out the ‘B’ engine and place it on the engine stand
Lift 3 : Lift out the ‘A’ engine and place it on the engine stand
Lift 4 : Replace the roof sections above the engine compartments (4 panels in total)
Lift 5 : Lift the loco body from the bogies, slew over and set down on the stands.
Lifts 1 through 4 were completed by 10:00 and after a well-earned break, work began on the body lift, which soon ran into a hitch when the observers at the ‘A’ end called out to say that the bogie frame was fouling on the air tank that is mounted on the body, below and behind the buffer beam. This was quickly resolved by removing the air tank, which allowed the lift to proceed, and that was over and done before 12:00 midday. The cranes were then de-rigged and packed away, the entire cavalcade departing from the DEPG site at 13:00, leaving us full of admiration for their highly professional and polished performance. Well done TEAM BALDWINS !
D1010 – One of her two 6.5t Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD655 engines being carefully guided out through the roof aperture at Williton on Monday 8th July 2024. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was in the air at 11:00 on Monday 8th July 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was safely resting on the ex-BR Swindon stands by 11:45 on Monday 8th July 2024. Photo by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
The cranes had already departed when this photo was taken of Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ on the ex-BR Swindon stands with her bogies alongside. Pictured on Monday 8th July 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – One of her two 16t three-axle bogies, now positioned on No. 2 road outside the loco shed and ready to undergo cleaning and inspection before the overhaul commences. Pictured at Williton on Monday 8th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
We would like to acknowledge the help and support of the WESTERN LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION (WLA) the DIESEL TRACTION GROUP (DTG) and the WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY, their knowledge, advice and loan of specialised equipment being essential ingredients, without which this lift would not have been possible.
We also thank the many DEPG members and supporters who have donated generously to allow us to build up sufficient funds to enable us to embark upon the bogie overhaul. Thank you all !
We are grateful to the many volunteers and supporters who have provided us with photos and video footage of D1010’s lifting, and we will be putting these together in a YouTube video on the DEPG channel as soon as we can. Meanwhile, there are five videos available on our public Facebook account, which is visible to all, even to those who ‘don’t do Facebook’, by simply clicking on the links below (cancel any requests to log in to Facebook by clicking on ‘x’ or pressing ‘esc’):
Video clip 2 : Neil McCannon explains what is going to be taking place
Video clip 3 : Neil McCannon explains what is taking place
Video clip 4 : Neil McCannon explains what has taken place
Video clip 5 : Neil McCannon explains the most important takeaway
All of the above videos were taken from a position of safety by and posted on social media by DEPG volunteer, Natalie Royal.
Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page
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Thank you very much for your support !
DIESEL RUNNING DATES
This coming weekend, it is the turn of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on Saturday 13th July, with 80 miles of haulage available. The following day, Sunday 14th, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will be in use on the same diagram. The rest of July is rostered for steam haulage. We have finalised the plan for the August weekends, each of which include diesel haulage on both days, and will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin ASAP.
Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running.
THE FUNERAL OF ANDY VENN, 1962-2024, R.I.P.
As announced last week, the heritage diesel preservation movement has lost another of its well known and highly capable volunteers, with the passing of ANDY VENN at the age of 61 on Monday 1st July 2024. A legend amongst diesel-hydraulic locomotive owning groups, Andy was also known by his nickname ‘SLEDGE‘ (no doubt there is a story behind that). He had not long retired from GWR’s Reading Traction Maintenance Depot when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and sadly, he didn’t get to live out his retirement dreams.
Andy played a major role in the overhaul and return to mainline service of D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ and provided essential information and guidance to our own ‘transmission team’, to get them started on the repair of D1010‘s Voith L630rV transmission.
Andy’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 6th August in Garford, near Abingdon. With condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of Andy Venn, R.I.P.
Mainline registered Class 52 D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ was pictured during a visit to the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore on Saturday 6th July 2024, carrying a wreath in memory of ANDY VENN. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 PHOTO CHARTER:
As advised last week, here’s a reminder that DON BISHOP has organised a PHOTO CHARTER for 22nd July using Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and has carefully defined the rolling stock requirements and the optimum movements to get the best photographic experience. Below is an extract from his webpage:
Right loco, right stock and right line…. something we all crave for.
“I am organising a photo charter day with a ‘Hymek’ diesel hydraulic at the West Somerset Railway. This idea has proved popular from the messages of support I received, and subsequent bookings from my regular photo charter followers. It has taken quite a while to pull this together, but I have now agreed plan & date etc. on which this charter can be run.”
To learn more and book your place, please click on the link below, which will take you directly to the page on Don’s website.
Many thanks to Don for choosing a DEPG loco as the basis for his photo charter !
FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):
Week of Tuesday 16th July – 150th anniversary of the WSR extension to Minehead
Don Bishop’s D7017 Photo Charter – Monday 22nd July
Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th July – Grange, Manor and Hall weekend
Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th August – the WSRA Steam Rally at Norton Fitzwarren.
Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010– already covered !
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities, including the loading and unloading of visiting locomotives !
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is stabled at Bishops Lydeard as a standby locomotive.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco will be in use this coming SUNDAY (14th July) on the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and return service (x2) under the BLUE timetable, covering 80 miles.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco will be in use this coming SATURDAY (13th July) on the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and return service (x2) under the BLUE timetable, covering 80 miles.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the ‘spare’ transmission that previously ran in D7018 back in 1995 has now been disassembled so that the housings can be inspected and hopefully used as replacements for the transmission that is currently undergoing repair. The focus has temporarily switched to preparing D1010 for her body lift, but the ‘transmission team’ will be back on the Mekydro case ASAP !
D7018 – the newly-fabricated stand for the spare transmission was painted in ‘warning yellow’ by Julie at Williton on Sunday 7th July 2024. Photo by Paul Tucker © CC BY-NC 3.0
Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – more VERY GOOD NEWS – we now have BOTH of the cardan shafts re-installed in the loco ! This aspect of the restoration has taken some time due to the large and expensive nature of the parts involved, but we have now have a solution, WITH MANY THANKS TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS !
D9518 – the longer of the two cardan shafts connects the transmission to the engine via the ‘Holset Coupling’, the large black object on the right hand end of the shaft. This is a vibration damper that isolates the transmission from the torsional vibrations that are produced by the V6 engine. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 6th July 2024. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
Having these shafts installed allows us to start planning for the day when the cab assembly gets re-mounted onto the frames, after which the loco will return to its characteristic shape and be well on its way to full restoration !
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !
Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is available for service.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco was a very popular attraction at the DIESEL GALA that took place on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway recently, but has now been withdrawn from service for a few weeks to allow a leaking exhaust silencer to be repaired and a split turbo input bellows to be replaced. Work is in progress and the loco should be back in service for the peak of summer.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – stabled outdoors on number 1 road, this loco is fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.
BOOK REVIEW: this week, we have a NEW book on offer:THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.
These curious beasts were designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in the late 1950s and soon gained a reputation for unreliability and erratic performance that was not helped by their builder going into liquidation in 1962. This book tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author.
Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !
NOTE: We can supply many other titles from Pen & Sword or Platform 5 upon request. Please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you would like us to be offering from our online store. Thanks !
The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) landscape glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image below to GET YOUR COPY NOW for £14 plus p&p.
ON SHED: apologies, but due to the workload on D1010‘s lifting, we will need to skip this feature again this week.
DEPG NEWS: the DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!
JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.
If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.
We look forward to hearing from you !
Great to see the big step forward on the D1010!