Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured at Loughborough Central Station on Saturday 15h November 2025 with the GCR’s Train Heating Boiler Van coupled behind and evidently steaming nicely. This scene will be repeated on Saturday 22nd November and the steam heat will be even more appreciated. Photo by Paul Tucker © CC BY-NC 4.0
Several DEPG locos are in action on SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER on a mixture of workings on more than one railway !
On the Great Central Railway, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 will be working the ‘Steve Fulcher Charter‘ for which tickets are still available by contacting Steve directly – CLICK HERE to get more details. DEPG member and diesel-hydraulic enthusiast Steve has carried the financial risk of chartering D7018 while she is based at the Leicestershire line and has arranged for the steam heating van and the griddle car to be included in the consist, which will then make SIX round trips of the line, starting at 1030 and completing the final leg at 21:06 (it is not mandatory to do all six trips!). WELL DONE STEVE for making the most of D7018 while she is away from her normal home base.
Please try to support this event to make sure that this is the first of many such charters !
On the WSR – also on Saturday 22nd November:
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 will work ‘Light Engine’ (LE) from Williton (WN) to Bishops Lydeard (BL) to collect the ‘Tidy Train‘ and will then work it as far as Dunster before returning it to BL later in the day. The ’14’ will then remain at BL to cover for Class 09 Shunter D4107 (09019) which will be heading to Williton for body repairs during the winter. After arrival of the ’09’ at WN, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will depart for BL with ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 dead in tow.
The approximate timings for these special workings are as follows:
07:35 : Class 14 D9526 departs from WN LE for BL
08:45 : Class 14 D9526 and the ‘Tidy Train’ depart BL for WN (non-stop)
09:20 : Class 14 D9526 and the ‘Tidy Train’ depart WN for Dunster (DR) stopping as required.
10:15 : Class 09 D4107 (09019) departs BL LE for WN arriving 10:50
12:30 : Class 33 D6575 (33057) departs WN for BL with 0-6-0PT 6435 at 15 mph
13:15 : Class 33 D6575 (33057) and 0-6-0PT 6435 arrive at BL from WN
15:20 : Class 14 D9526 and the ‘Tidy Train’ arrive at WN from DR
16:00 : Class 14 D9526 and the ‘Tidy Train’ departs WN for BL
16:40 : Class 14 D9526 and the ‘Tidy Train’ arrive at BL from WN
NOTE – the timings may change to suit operational requirements
This year, the festive Christmas seasonal specials are all planned for steam haulage, but Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will be on duty at BL in case a helping hand is needed on wet or icy rails.
The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Click this link: http://www.wsr.org.uk/cams.htm or click on the image below to go to the webcams via wsr.org.uk:
There are now ELEVEN Webcams on the WSR ! The new high-resolution webcams (some with auto-zoom capability) cover Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield (x2) Williton (x2), Watchet (x2), Blue Anchor (x2), Minehead Seaward Way and Minehead Station. Select the appropriate webcam by clicking on the blue button on the webcam page. Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.
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VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES: We are looking for additional engineering help to maintain our fleet of elderly locomotives, so if you have such skills and would like to join the DEPG and come along to Williton for a ‘taster day’, then please use our CONTACT FORM so that we can get in touch with you.
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