Weekly Roundup – 20-Jul-25
A floral tribute was carried on each service that ran on the WSR last weekend, 19/20th July, in memory of the young life that was sadly lost in the A396 road incident on Exmoor just a few days previously. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was so adorned when arriving at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 20th. Class 09 D4107 (09019) is visible on the left. Photo by Mike Pinn © CC BY-NC 3.0
The ‘West Somerset Steam Express‘ from London Paddington to Minehead and return also carried a wreath while on WSR metals. The Stanier ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 45212 worked through to Minehead where she was turned for her journey back to Paddington. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was at the platform waiting for her booked departure time. Photo by Mike Pinn © CC BY-NC 3.0
And later in the day at Minehead, the ‘West Somerset Steam Express‘ was at the platform with Class 47 47812 (D1916, 47239, 47657) in the supporting role. Also visible (L-R) are the ex-GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST (43154 and 43155), then Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) then the WSR’s Class 115 DMU. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
The ongoing period of dry weather may have been punctuated by occasional and sometimes heavy rainfall, but the lineside vegetation dries out again in a matter of hours and remains a significant fire risk. The addition of some diesel power reduces the need for the steam locos to exert so much effort, in turn reducing the risk of hot cinders being ejected from their chimneys, but still gives visitors the sight and sound of steam. This approach is favoured for the longer and heavier trains that originate from Bishops Lydeard.
Last week saw Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 at work supporting steam successfully on Saturday, Sunday and most of Tuesday, but the loco started to run roughly toward the end of the day and had to be left at Williton for attention. Luckily, the issue was quickly traced to a loose coupling on a fuel injector pump and the loco was made ready for service again.
On Sunday 20th July 2025, D9526 worked the 10:15 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service and the associated 80-mile diagram. Pictured at Bishops Lydeard by Steven Beale © CC BY-NC 3.0
This temporary loss of D9526 meant that some services had to be operated by a steam loco alone and some by the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), with Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 also having to take some of the load, the ‘Hymek’ supporting the steam loco on two services in the afternoon of Thursday 24th.
The coming week offers a similar mixture of pure steam, pure diesel and mixed traction, so please keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page in case the motive power allocations change (we will TRY and keep this page aligned with the latest changes).
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was in use on Thursday 24th July 2025 in support of steam. The ‘Hymek’ will also be in use supporting a steam service on Thursday 31st July. Pictured at Williton ready for her ‘Light Engine’ (LE) move to Bishops Lydeard by Bill Johnson © CC BY-NC 3.0
Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.
For details of planned diesel-hauled services, please click here or on the banner below to visit our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned services.
COMING UP SOON:
LOCO NEWS: – apologies for the very ‘light report’ this week, due to time constraints.
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the team continued their work on the bogies and brake parts, and also held a team meeting to review the outstanding tasks and adjust the priorities. More on this next week.
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is being kept very busy and will be outstationed at either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead according to the requirements of the WSR Operations Department.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco underwent a bogie and underframe inspection at Bishops Lydeard last Sunday 20th, the outcome being that the loco has to be lifted from her bogies to confirm that the bogie pivot castings have not suffered any damage. The loco is being prepared for movement to Williton, where she will be lifted using the four 25-tonne electrically-operated jacks that were originally used at BR’s Bristol Bath Road depot. The move to Williton will involve Class 09 D4107 (09019) and a brake van, and will take place early on Monday morning, 28th July.
Returning D6575 to service will become the priority of all DEPG volunteers as this loco is needed to support the WSR through the peak summer timetable.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – we are VERY close to getting the loco back to our Williton depot so that we can prepare her for some test running in early August, perhaps with D7018 for company. We are very grateful to everyone who has worked on D7017 during her bodywork overhaul. Your efforts will be unveiled soon.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco was in use on Thursday 24th July and is booked to be in use on Saturday 26th (in the evening) and again on Thursday 31st July. This loco will then move to Norton Fitzwarren to be on display during the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY event.
We are close to being able to announce the timetabling for our 50 YEARS of HYMEKS weekend, the 30th and 31st August, where we expect to have both of our ‘Hymeks’ in use, both singly and together.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work on the engine rebuild has slowed down due to resources being applied to D9526 to get her ready to support the WSR through the peak summer season. Work continues on the electrical wiring and on the preparation of the many components parts that are needed to complete this locomotive.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – as previously reported, this loco developed a rough-running engine issue while in use on Tuesday 22nd July, but the problem was quickly solved and the loco will be released back to traffic on Saturday 25th. This loco is next booked to work the BRAKE VAN RIDES at the WSRA’s annual STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August 2025.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is definitely a firm favourite for passengers and crews, and was a magnet for our volunteer loco manager Ian Robins when he was holidaying ‘Up North’ recently. Please continue to send in your photographs of our ‘celebrity’ loco while she is at work on the Moors. Thanks !
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is available for service as required.
If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !
NEW CLOTHING RANGE:
The new range of clothing that was launched at the SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL is a massive success and has resulted in a logjam or orders at our supplier, who appear to be a victim of their own success!
The short-term supply crunch is being caused by the many railway groups who are ordering stock in advance of the ‘Rail 200’ and ‘Greatest Gathering’ events that are coming up in August and September. Once these stock orders have been fulfilled, we expect to see a return to the two-week turnaround for new orders. APOLOGIES if your order has been delayed, but don’t delay if you want some of this new clothing, PLACE YOUR ORDER via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !
So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and in the works are similarly configurable ranges covering the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ and the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ with those garments likely to be available later in August. Here’s a taster of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:
The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.
The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:
| Garment type | Price |
| T shirt | £22 |
| Polo shirt | £25 |
| Sweatshirt | £35 |
| Hoodie | £37 |
| Fleece | £40 |
| Other ? Tell us what you want ! | Use our CONTACT FORM |
Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.
We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !
ON SHED
Another definitely ‘on shed’ photo this week comes from the collection of DEPG member ANDY GALPIN, who shared a series of his shots from Didcot and Reading with us recently. Here’s the information that Andy has provided with his photograph:
“1634 at the back of Bletchley depot 15th August 1970, with an AM10 unit (later Class 310) in the background. The ladder and the open roof hatch still make me smile. Afraid I was there ‘unofficially’ but, nearly 55 years later, I reckon I’m quite safe!”
Does anyone have any idea as to what might have been taking place here ? If yes, please get in touch by using our CONTACT FORM.
MANY THANKS to Andy for sharing his photo with us all.
Please continue to send in your photos of locos on shed, at the platform or in action, because we appreciate them all, any Class, any place, any time, the more varied, the better. Use our CONTACT FORM to get in touch. Thanks !
Bletchley Depot on the 15th August 1970, and six-year-old Class 47 1634 (47052) was undergoing some kind of ‘al fresco’ maintenance involving an open roof and a ladder. This loco entered service on 10th November 1964 and worked for more than 38 years before being withdrawn and sent for scrap in April of 2003. Not a bad innings. Photo by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
NEW BOOKS ON SALE
We continue to receive orders for the two NEW BOOKS that we added to stock recently. The second in the three-part series ‘The Railways of South Wales 1975-1995‘ by Michael Rhodes is now available and we also have stock of the companion series ‘RAILWAYS OF THE NORTH EAST 1975-1995‘ by the same author. Both books are of high quality and are available via our online store.
We also have stock of the NEW BOOK entitled ABSOLUTELY WESTERNS that has been compiled by Roger Geach from photos taken by the late Peter Crawley, and we have the NEW BOOKLET that has recently been released by DEPG Publicity Officer MARK BLADWELL covering DEPG ‘Hymek’ D7017. This booklet is currently IN STOCK and available for sale via our online store.
This new booklet has 64 printed pages of glossy A4 and includes information about the ‘Hymeks’ and about D7017 in particular, covering both phases of her life – the first 13 years in BR service and the last 50 years in the care of the DEPG. Priced at £15 per copy, this book can be ordered from our website NOW.
Don’t forget to consider adding Roger’s new book to your shopping basket as well ……
Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £17.50 per copy) and in doing so, supporting the restoration of D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’. A BOOK REVIEW on this new publication has been provided by regular correspondent NEALE LONG and will be posted online during the next few days. Please check this link periodically until the review appears. Thank you Neale !
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
DEPG NEWS:
The date of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will be Saturday 13th September and the meeting will be held at Williton as usual. We will be sending the AGM information package out in early August, along with the next edition of the DEPG Quarterly Newsletter.
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 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 !