Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was evidently doing all of the work on the climb from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield with an 11-coach equivalent load that included D7018, both locos resplendent against the darkening skies. Pictured about to cross the A358 at Sampford Brett bridge on Saturday 30th August 2025 by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 3.0
The HYMEK 50 WEEKEND was a TREMENDOUS SUCCESS with a total of 240 miles of ‘Hymek’ haulage that included 80 miles of ‘double-heading’ with each ‘Hymek’ taking turns to lead. The weather could have been better because the occasional torrential downpour sent people running for cover, but the periods between the showers were bright and sunny and the temperature was just right.
Attendance was much higher than expected, so THANK YOU VERY MUCH to ALL who came along and rode the trains. The WSR retail outlets were also delighted with the patronage – and caught out to some extent by the level of demand. The late substitution of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) for the booked steam locomotive turned the event into an all-diesel mini-gala, and it was good to see the line operating so well, worked entirely by ‘Type 3’ diesel traction.
We have received so many photos that it is hard to select just a few for the Roundup, so apologies if you have submitted photos that are not published here. Another very good resource for photos of anything ‘WSR’ is the website wsr.org.uk which carries 30 images of the HYMEK 50 event, all of which can be viewed by clicking on this link.
Here are a few of the many images that were captured on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August 2025:
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was leading the 1225 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service with sister D7017 coupled behind with eight Mk 1 coaches in tow. The two gleaming locos were worthy subjects for the hundreds of camera lenses that followed them on their daily 120-mile adventures. Pictured at Washford on Saturday 30th August 2025 by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 worked the 0825 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service on both days and was pictured approaching the platform at Bishops Lydeard with the return working (the 1000 departure from Minehead) on Saturday 30th August 2025. Photo by Mike Pinn © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) also joined the party, standing-in for a steam loco on the 1015 Bishops Lydeard and subsequent 80-mile diagram on both days. Pictured while coasting down the bank alongside Castle Hill on Saturday 30th August 2025, next stop Williton. Photo by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 3.0
Fifty years of ‘Hymek’ preservation also applies to the two other survivors, D7029 in the care of the Diesel Traction Group at Kidderminster and D7076 in the care of the Bury Hydraulic Group on the East Lancs Railway. The latter was out and about on a visit to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway when pictured on Sunday 31st August 2025 by DEPG member Cameron Walker © CC BY-NC 3.0
And bringing the curtain down on a thoroughly enjoyable ‘HYMEK 50’ weekend, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured reversing onto her train at Minehead to form the 1830 departure for Bishops Lydeard on Sunday 31st August 2025, with visiting driver Steve Wainwright at the controls. Photo by Gary Lemon © CC BY-NC 3.0
The coming week sees the return of the standard BLUE timetable (four trains each way per day) with steam working from Bishops Lydeard and Class 33 D6575 (33057) working from Minehead. 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).
Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.
Sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned services.
And just in case you haven’t seen enough pictures of ‘Hymeks’ already, here are a few more, this time on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY where D7018 is one of the guest stars at their AUTUMN DIESEL GALA that started on Thursday 4th September this week and runs through this weekend (with a mixed traction day on Sunday).
D7018 was pictured approaching Leicester North station on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY on Friday 5th September 2025, where D7018 is one of the guest stars at their AUTUMN DIESEL GALA event. Photo by Roger Geach © CC BY-NC 3.0
D7018 would soon be teamed up with resident Class 45 ‘Peak’ D123 (45125) for a double-headed super-powered run from Leicester North station on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY on Friday 5th September 2025. The ‘Peak’ now carries the nameplate ‘LEICESTERSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY’, a plate previously carried by the sole named Class 46, D163 (46026). Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
D7018 was pictured at the tail end of a Leicester-bound train at Quorn station on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY on Friday 5th September 2025, where D7018 is one of the star attractions at their AUTUMN DIESEL GALA event. Photo by Keith Fender © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – although tempted by the lure of the ‘Hymek’-hauled services that were passing through Williton on Saturday morning, the D1010 team managed to complete the job of removing the primary suspension equalising beams and pedestals from the ‘A’ bogie before the double-headed ‘Hymek’ service pulled in to Williton, after which there was a significant reduction in the number of volunteers on site !
The equalising beams and pedestals were found to be well worn and in need of refurbishment, but were fully intact and still functional. The degree of wear was more extreme than that found on the ‘B’ bogie, but the main components can be recovered by removing and replacing the bushings that are intended to wear over their lifetime.
The next step with the ‘A’ bogie is to remove the primary springs (eight coil springs and two massive leaf springs) and get the springs tested and inspected.
D1010 – the two equalising beams and pedestals from the primary suspension of the ‘A’ bogie were removed from their hiding place within the bogie frames on Saturday 30th August 2025 and placed on a pallet for cleaning and inspection. Although well worn, these important parts can be refurbished and will soon be ready to go back into the bogie. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 30th August 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is currently outstationed at Bishops Lydeard after having her booked period of Rest & Relaxation at Williton cut short due to operational requirements. If the loco can’t go to Williton, then the Williton volunteers will have to go to the loco, which is what will probably happen this weekend.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco was returned to traffic on Saturday 23rd August and has been in regular use ever since, supporting the WSR and covering for steam locomotives. This loco is booked to work the BLUE timetable services originating at Minehead this coming weekend (6/7 September) and mid-week (Tu/We/Th) as far ahead as the FORTIES WEEKEND (20/21 September).
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – already covered, this loco has been the centre of attention and has delivered a stunning performance as a payback to her many supporters.
We are very grateful to everyone who has donated to or worked on D7017 during her bodywork overhaul. Your efforts are a fitting tribute to this loco, in HER FIFTIETH YEAR IN PRESERVATION !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – already covered – this loco was moved by road (thanks to Allelys Heavy Haulage) to the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY’S AUTUMN DIESEL GALA that runs from the 4th to the 6th of September.
D7018 was moved by road from Bishops Lydeard to Quorn on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY by Allelys Heavy Haulage so that the ‘Hymek’ could take a starring role at their AUTUMN DIESEL GALA event. Pictured at Quorn on Tuesday 2nd September 2025 by Paul Tucker © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work on the engine rebuild has slowed down due to resources being applied to D9526 to support the WSR through the peak summer season, but the team will get back onto this project in the coming weeks.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco was called into use on Thursday 4th September to work the 1015 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return service, after which Class 33 D6575 (33057) took over for the rest of the diagram. The ’14’ was used because of temporary non-availability of drivers for the Class 33.
D9526 was put to work on the 1015 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and the 1220 return service on Thursday 4th September 2025. The remainder of the diagram was worked by the booked traction, Class 33 D6575 (33057). Pictured at Minehead by Steve Speck © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been fairly busy although the use of steam locomotives has gradually increased as the risk of lineside fires has reduced. On Thursday 4th September, the ’47’ was used to tow visiting ‘Slim Jim’ Class 33/2 33202 (D6587) to Pickering for collection by road transport. The ’33’ was returning to the Mid-Norfolk Railway after a period on hire at the NYMR.
47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was attached to visiting Class 33/3 33202 (D6587) ‘Dennis G Robinson’ to tow the ’33’ to Pickering where she would depart from the NYMR after a period on hire. Pictured on Thursday 4th September 2025 by Josh Smith © CC BY-NC 3.0
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is available for use 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:
Shipments are now flowing out again as our supplier gets to grips with their order backlog. APOLOGIES if your order has been delayed, but don’t delay if you haven’t yet ordered and are missing out on 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 in September. 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
Not more ‘Hymeks’, I hear you say, but these photos include three other classes of loco as well, so the appeal is somewhat broader. These photos show D7017 alongside sister preserved loco D7029 at Old Oak Common depot near Paddington, in May or June of 1975. D7017 has been daubed with ‘PRESERVED – TAKE NO PARTS’ messages in the style of the steam locos at Woodham’s Yard in Barry, in an attempt to ward off the souvenir hunters. Did that strategy work, I wonder … ?
Many thanks to long-time DEPG member Neville Sloper for providing us with these photos. Let us know if you were there on this day and can identify the Class 31, the Class 50 and the four Class 47s that also feature in these photos.
Two of the four Class 35 ‘Hymek’ survivors D7017 (nearest) and D7029 were pictured together at Old Oak Common depot, some time after their withdrawal from service in 1975 (thought to be May or June). Photos by Neville Sloper © CC BY-NC 3.0
Please 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 !
NEW BOOK ON SALE
The FIFTH volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ has now been released and is available to order via the DEPG’s online store. This series of books by ANDY CHARD has been an amazing success, and we expect this fifth volume to be equally impressive and as successful as the earlier releases. Well done Andy !
And competing for your hard-earned cash, we now have PART 3 of the excellent ‘The Railways of SOUTH WALES 1975-1995‘ trilogy in stock, which is quite a surprise, given that Parts 1 and 2 were only released in February and July of this year. Author MICHAEL RHODES has been very busy !
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| Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £35.95 per copy) | Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £21.95 per copy) |
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) is set for Saturday 13th September and the meeting will be held at Williton at 1400 as usual. The AGM information package has been sent out to all members who were on the fully-paid-up register on 21st August. We used the ‘paper’ or ‘paperless’ setting in your ‘Membermojo’ account to determine if you wanted a mailed or emailed version of the AGM calling notice. PLEASE LET US KNOW by using our CONTACT FORM if you are a member and have yet to receive your AGM package.
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 !