Saturday 20th July 2024 saw the welcome return of a Class 47 to the WSR in the form of West Coast Railway Co’s 47812 (D1916, 47239, 47657) at the tail end of the Railway Touring Company’s 1Z26 Minehead to Paddington special. The majority of haulage power was being provided by Stanier ‘Black Five’ 44871 with the occasional push from the ’47’. Pictured at Williton by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Another busy weekend at Williton, with infrastructure improvement work taking place while the D1010 team continued with the dismantling of the ‘B’ bogie, with no regard for the sometimes inclement weather. In parallel, work continued on D9518 and the ‘transmission team’ were busy moving the castings from the ‘good spare’ to our transmission repair area, to replace the cracked castings from D7018‘s delinquent transmission. Add a yard shunt into the mix to prepare for track repair work the following day, and the obligatory visit to the footbridge to watch the mainline special go through, and it all resulted in very busy but most enjoyable time !
A steam-hauled service train waits at the ‘up’ platform while (L-R) Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 stand in the yard. In the foreground, WSR Infrastructure team member and DEPG volunteer Matt is hard at work in the 5-ton digger to level an area for the storage of large and heavy items (engines and transmissions). Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
DIESEL RUNNING DATES
This coming weekend features all-steam haulage with an enhanced timetable that includes demonstration goods trains and a Quantock Belle dining special, showcasing the three classes of GWR 4-6-0 locomotives that are at present operating on the WSR – namely the ‘Grange’, the ‘Hall’ and the two ‘Manors’. In between these services, there will be some diesel presence as we have two positioning moves planned, plus the DMU will be in use for crew refresher training in the Norton Fitzwarren section. It’s going to be a very interesting weekend – AGAIN !
On Tuesday 30th July, the peak summer YELLOW timetable commences and runs for five weeks, and will see the welcome return to service of the WSR’s Class 115 DIESEL MULTIPLE UNIT (DMU), which will be covering the 11:00 departure from Bishops Lydeard and the 15:25 return from Minehead.
Our locos will next be in use on the weekend of 3rd/4th August when a Class 33 will be working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days, and also in support of the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY that will take place at Norton Fitzwarren, with BRAKE VAN RIDES being hauled by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526. There will also be a shuttle service in operation between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren plaform for the use of show-goers, and this is booked to be operated by the DMU this year.
We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on the Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of the August Bank Holiday weekend, with 80 miles of haulage available each day. We are currently looking into the options for September’s running 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.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):
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.
Above: The WSRA’s 2024 STEAM RALLY site plan
Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event
Click here to go tour DIESEL RUNNING DATES page
Click here to go to our online shop
Thank you very much for your support !
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – with the worst of the dirt and grime removed from the ‘B’ bogie having been removed by scraping and brushing, the team were able to find the nuts and bolts that needed to be released to allow the brake cylinders to be removed for overhaul. This in turn uncovered more dirt and grime that will have to be scraped and brushed. At the end of the session, Leroy had managed to transfer quite a lot of the dirt and grime to himself, necessitating a complete change of clothes before his journey home on the train. There is a lot of work to be done on each bogie, but we have made a very good start.
D1010 – the ‘B’ bogie was receiving attention from (L-R) Gordon, Leroy and Thomas at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. Volunteers Viv and Ian F were also ‘on the case’ but managed to avoid the camera on this occasion. The brake rigging was being removed so that the brake cylinders could be extracted for overhaul. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – undeterred by the rain showers, the ‘B’ bogie will remain the focus of attention for several weeks yet. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – and the result of the effort, all six brake cylinders were removed from the ‘B’ bogie. The other two are on a different pallet nearby. Gordon was pictured applying protective tape to the pipe connections at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
The Neil McCannon Show
We are very 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.
Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.
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 returned to Williton for allow volunteer loco manager Ian and his team to attend to a defective slack adjuster. The loco will return to duties during the coming week and probably swap roles with sister D6575 (33057).
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now at Bishops Lydeard and is on standby during the steam event this coming weekend.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled at Minehead and is expected to be returning to Williton on the rear of the steam-hauled 10:00 service from Minehead on Saturday 27th July, to be detached at Williton and stabled in the South yard.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the ‘good spare’ transmission that previously ran in D7018 back in 1995 has now been disassembled so that the castings can be used to replace those that were found to be damaged in D7018‘s current transmission. The damaged castings will be kept along with all of the other damaged parts, in case they need to be repaired at some point in the future. These parts are precious because new replacements will be VERY expensive.
D7018 – it was a casting swap-over at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. The nicely painted castings are actually part of the defective set, the lower portion of which has developed cracks that will only get worse if left unrepaired. The dark grey parts have been recovered from the ‘good spare’ which has now become a parts donor. The castings have to be swapped as a set to ensure that alignments are preserved. Photo by Andy Royal © 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 on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the preparation of parts for the cab assembly, with a line-up of the refurbished gauges that need to be re-installed into the driver’s desk (both sides of the desk). Some of the gauges have faults that cannot be repaired, so we will need to source some replacements. Hopefully, we can maintain authenticity.
D9518 – the two tachometers (one for each side of the driver’s desk) were part of the instrument line-up at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. These instruments show the engine speed, which is normally in the range 600 to 1500 rpm. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518 – one of the speedometers is ready to be re-installed. In this case, the maximum permitted speed is denoted by the red line at 40 mph, which is correct for a Class 14. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518 – let’s not forget that the engine overhaul is taking place in parallel to all of the other work. This photo shows the two oil pumps that are driven from the idler wheel. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
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 currently stabled at Williton and is next booked for duties at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren over the weekend of 3rd/4th August. This loco will be providing the motive power for the brake van rides, which are always a popular fund-raiser at the event. If you want to get some Class 14 haulage along the remains of the former Barnstaple branch, then head over to the STEAM RALLY next weekend !
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.
The NYMR are obviously keen to get her back into service because the loco features in their latest advertising campaign – and rightly so !
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 ANOTHER NEW book on offer: VOLUME 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.
VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights
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. Volume 1 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. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.
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) 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: another photo from the collection of long-term DEPG member PHIL GRAY, this photo is particularly relevant following the recent announcement that the Royal Mail is to cease the use of the few remaining mail trains that still operate on the UK network. Back in 1982, things were very different, as this photo shows. Of the six carriages that have recently arrived at Camarthen station in West Wales, three of the vehicles are dedicated to mail and parcels. These Travelling Post Office (TPO) trains were commonplace throughout the network until the traffic moved to road. The last TPO ran in January 2004.
The Class 33 has probably brought the train from Fishguard Harbour and the 47 is probably going to take it forward to London via Swansea and Cardiff. If anyone has detailed information about these workings, then please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM.
Many thanks to Phil for sharing his photographs with us all.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ 33032 had just detached from a passenger service that included a Travelling Post Office section when pictured at Camarthen station on 10th September 1982. This station is situated on a spur from the Swansea to Fishguard Harbour line, so all trains have to reverse here. The Class 47 at the far end of the island platform is probably positioning to take the train forward to Cardiff and beyond. Photo by Phil Gray © CC BY-NC 3.0
DEPG NEWS: a Board Meeting took place at Williton on Saturday 20th July, a synopsis of which will be prepared and will be made available to all DEPG members as soon as possible. The next Board Meeting will take place on Saturday 31st August. If you have a question that you would like to have placed before the Board, please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM.
The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. We will be sending formal AGM notices to all members during the coming weeks. Please make a note of this date and come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage loco collection.
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 !