Weekly Roundup – 28-Jul-24
This image, captured from the Williton Station webcam on Wednesday 24th July reflects the rich variety on the railway scene in the 1960s and now preserved on the WSR, with no less than EIGHT classes of diesel in view – Left to right, Barclay 578 (ROF1), Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048), Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’, Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit, Class 03 D2133 and, in the distance, the diminutive Ruston 48. Image by Railcam UK and the WSR ©
The WSR held their very successful ‘GRANGE, HALL and MANOR‘ event last weekend, with an enhanced all-steam timetable that included the welcome sight of a goods train that included several of the vehicles that have recently been refurbished by the wagon groups at Minehead and Williton. As Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was due to return to Williton from Minehead on Saturday (her next booked working is 24/25th August) and there were no paths available, the ‘Hymek’ hitched a ride on the back of the 10:00 steam-hauled service and detached at Williton, waiting in the platform for the next ‘down’ working to pass before swapping places with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 in the yard.
After arriving on the rear of the 10:00 Minehead departure, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 waited patiently at the far end of Platform 2 at Williton for visiting ‘celebrity’ new-build 6880 ‘BETTON GRANGE’ to depart with a train for Minehead. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
A yard shunt was required to get the locos in the correct order for their next duties, so ‘Hymek’ D7017 had to wait for Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) to haul Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 out from the yard to take up a position alongside Platform 1. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
DIESEL RUNNING DATES
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 WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) this year (Click here for the shuttle timetable pdf).
We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of the August Bank Holiday weekend and again on 21st/22nd September, with 80 miles of haulage available each day. We are currently looking into further 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 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 !
THE CLASS 14s at 60 EVENT:
The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) in Derbyshire hosted a very special event last weekend, to commemorate 60 years of the Class 14s, the first of which (D9500) entered service on the 24th July 1964 at Bristol Bath Road shed. Affectionately known as ‘Teddy Bears’, the class had a short life on BR but most were sold in batches to industrial users such as the National Coal Board (NCB) and the British Steel Corporation (BSC), some going to other places singly, such as Blue Circle Cement at Westbury in the case of our own D9526.
The ’14s at 60′ event featured SEVEN active members of the class, all of which were coupled together and used to haul a jam-packed special working marketed as the ‘BEAR-EX’. This massively over-powered special was inspired by the nonuple-headed (OK, I admit that I had to look up the word for nine!) working on the East Lancs Railway for the 50th anniversary (which should have been decuple-headed but one loco failed!).
Well done to the EVR for hosting a very successful event that showed the strength of the following for these ever-popular Swindon-built diesel-hydraulics !
A line-up of SEVEN Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ was used to haul the ‘BEAR-EX’ special on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) over the long weekend of 25-28th July. From the front, the locos are D9523, D9529, D9551, D9525, D9504, D9553 and D9537. Photo dated 27th July 2024 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the dismantling work on the ‘B’ bogie is picking up pace, with the disconnection of two of the three cardan shafts and the ‘excavation’ of the piles of dirt that had accumulated in the non-accessible areas of the bogie frame during the 50+ years since the bogies were last overhauled. At least one of the cardan shafts exhibited a degree of wear that is likely to result in replacement, so we have to brace ourselves for some hefty repair charges (there are 12 cardan shafts on the loco in total).
In parallel to the bogie work, the overhaul of the first of the two cooler groups made further progress, with the gloss paint being applied over the many layers of primer and undercoat. WELL DONE to all of our volunteers for facing the dirt and grime and getting the work done !
D1010 – after removal of the centre cardan shaft, the inner frame voids of the ‘B’ bogie were ‘excavated’ by Bob and the team at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the cardan shaft between the intermediate gearbox and the final drive unit of the leading axle remains in place on the ‘B’ bogie, at least for the time being. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – two of the cardan shafts from the ‘B’ bogie were removed for cleaning and inspection, and possibly repair or replacement. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – an unusual view from the inside of the cooler group as the gloss paint is applied after months of preparation. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – looking from the other side, the cooling fans are going yellow, which came as a surprise to some ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © 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 (there has been a lot of that going on recently!).
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco remains at Williton (fully serviceable) but will probably change places with sister D6575 (33057) during the coming weeks.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is based at Minehead and will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as already stated, this loco returned to Williton from Minehead on Saturday 27th July. The ‘Hymek’ will undergo minor maintenance work while waiting for her next booked working, which will be on Saturday and Sunday 24/25th August and again on 21/22nd September.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the required parts have now been harvested from the ‘good spare’ transmission that previously ran in D7018 back in 1995, this transmission now becoming a convenient way of storing a collection of parts, some of which will require repair if they are ever called upon in the future. There are locomotives in mainland Europe that are fitted with the ‘Mekydro’ K184u transmission but some are still in use, so the spare parts carry considerable value. We will be trying to acquire one of these transmissions when they eventually become redundant.
Meanwhile, the work to reassemble D7018‘s transmission has begun !
D7018 – the light grey painted castings are actually part of the defective set, the lower section of which has developed cracks that will only get worse if subjected to traction forces. The castings had to be swapped as a complete set to ensure that alignments were preserved and tolerances maintained. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 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 – although some of the team were away from Williton and engaged on other tasks, work continued on the electrical re-wiring of the cab assembly and the overhaul of engine parts that will soon be required for the rebuild of the Paxman 6YJXL 650hp V6 diesel engine. There is a lot of work still to be done, but the rebuild is progressing steadily !
D9518 – the engine overhaul is taking place in parallel to all of the other work. This photo shows Tony at work on the two oil pumps that are driven from the idler wheel. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Martin Howard © 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 in position at Norton Fitzwarren and ready for duties at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY 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 this weekend !
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has had to be 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 in later this year. The inlet bellows was found to have split beyond repair and a new part has been made and delivered to Grosmont by CHESHIRE LEATHER (yes, the part is made from leather !). The task of fitting it would appear to be quite a challenge !
47077 – the replacement leather inlet bellows has now been delivered by CHESHIRE LEATHER and is ready to be fitted to the locomotive. Pictured at Grosmont on 26th July 2024 by Pete Dawson © CC BY-NC 3.0
47077 – the replacement leather inlet bellows now has to be fitted to the locomotive – and the task does not look particularly inviting ! Pictured at Grosmont on 26th July 2024 by Pete Dawson © CC BY-NC 3.0
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: this week, we start to feature some of the photos from our sadly missed DEPG colleague, the late MIKE EVANS, who passed away last October at the age of 64. His younger days were spent at Cardiff General station and at the nearby Cardiff Canton Sheds (86A, later CF) where he managed to get beyond the footbridge that spanned the South Wales Main Line and set foot on the hallowed soil of the depot itself. The first photo is one that was loose within the album, but the others will need careful unfastening and scanning, so will take a little more time to gather.
The loco is 1069 ‘WESTERN VANGUARD’ and the date is December 1974. The headcode 2V48 suggests a secondary passenger service originating outside of the Western Region. If anyone has detailed information about this working, then please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM.
Many thanks to Ann Evans for sharing Mike’s photographs with us all.
Class 52 1069 ‘WESTERN VANGUARD’ stands at the head of a line of locos at Cardiff Canton shed on a gloomy day in December 1974. This loco was delivered new to Cardiff Canton on 21st October 1963 and immediately put to use on the Paddington express workings, to relieve the ‘Hymeks’ on these heavy turns. Evidently reduced to Class 2 workings by 1974, this loco was withdrawn in October of the following year. Photo by the late Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0
DEPG NEWS: 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.
Visitors to the AGM will observe that the environment at Williton depot has been brightened by the wonderful display of flowers that have been cultivated by local WSR and DEPG volunteer Linda, building on the work that was done in previous years by Wendy. The photo shows what can be achieved, even when the environment is not entirely conducive to horticulture !
A splash of colour now greets visitors to Williton, the results of regular attention and watering from local WSR and DEPG volunteer Linda. Pictured on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
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 !
Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post