Despite the dismal weather, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 (and the GCR Steam Van) delighted the passengers aboard Steve Fulcher’s charter special on the Great Central Railway on Saturday 22nd November 2025. The loco was pictured passing Swithland Sidings Signal Box, photo by Andrew Royle © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 entertained for six round trips of the GCR line on Saturday 22nd November 2025, the first departing from Loughborough at 10:30 and the last arriving back at Loughborough at 21:06. The steam van was evidently working overtime ! Photo by Dave Hewell © CC BY-NC 4.0
The more hardy sort were gathered around D7018 at Leicester North for a group photo on Saturday 22nd November 2025, before getting back into the warm Mk 1 coaching stock for the last leg of the journey at the end of a very successful day. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 4.0
CONGRATULATIONS to DEPG member STEVE FULCHER on the success of his D7018 charter on the Great Central Railway last Saturday 22nd November, which went ahead despite the awful weather, using the GCR‘s Steam Heating Van in the consist to provide copious amounts of steam to keep the carriages warm and the passengers happy.
D7018 performed faultlessly after being carefully prepared by DEPG Trustees Paul Tucker and Martin Howard the previous day, when a minor coolant leak was dealt with and the anti-freeze strength was topped up to protect the loco from the cold weather ahead. DEPG funds benefited from the use of the loco plus Julie Tucker’s efforts to sell DEPG merchandise on the train (against stiff competition from he who shall not be named but represents a well-known group that has three ‘Westerns’ in their care), the icing on the cake being a share of the proceeds from the on-train raffle and the winner donating his cash prize to the DEPG (thank you Neville) !
The event was captured ‘on film’ by Martin Hawksby for his HELLFIRE TV YouTube channel, and his very interesting promotional video whets the appetite and definitely leaves us wanting more ! Click here or on the image above to view the compilation of video clips via his public Facebook channel (available to those who ‘don’t do Facebook’ – just close (or escape) from the Facebook pop-ups and you will get to the video). Images by Martin Hawksby and HELLFIRE TV © CC BY-NC 4.0
WELL DONE to STEVE and for everyone involved in delivering this very successful event. Hopefully, it will be the first of many such ‘Hymek’ charters on this and other lines!
Last Saturday was a very busy day all round because FOUR DEPG locos were in use, with D7018 on the GCR as already reported but back home on the WSR …
- Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 worked the ‘Tidy Train’ from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster and back
- Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) ran ‘Light Engine’ from Bishops Lydeard to Williton where she then collected ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 from the North Yard
- Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) hauled the Pannier Tank 6435 from Williton to Bishops Lydeard for static display in connection with the ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train visit.
Here are some photos and videos covering these moves:
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was in charge of the ‘Tidy Train’ on Saturday 22nd November 2025 and was pictured at Williton Station after propelling the train from Dunster. The loco subsequently ran around the train and headed for Bishops Lydeard. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was being uncoupled from the ‘Tidy Train’ when pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025, prior to running around her train for the return leg to Bishops Lydeard. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was within Blue Anchor station limits when pictured with the volunteer Infrastructure Team at work on Saturday 22nd November 2025, Photo by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 09 D4107 (09019) shunted ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 from the North Yard to the South Yard at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025, to attach her to Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) for the move to Bishops Lydeard. Class 33 D6566 (33048), Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 were stabled just beyond. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
A show of force at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025 – left to right, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017, Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516), 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048), Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057), Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1), ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 and finally Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). The ’33’ and the Pannier Tank departed shortly afterwards for Bishops Lydeard, leaving the ’09’ at Williton. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
This video shows Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 propelling the ‘Tidy Train’ into Williton Station on Saturday 22nd November 2025. Video by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
This video shows Class 09 D4107 (09019) shunting ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) out of No. 1 road at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025. Video by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
This video shows Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) hauling ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 6435 (dead in tow) and Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025. The ’33’ and the Pannier Tank departed shortly afterwards for Bishops Lydeard, leaving the ’09’ at Williton. Video by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
WSR NEWS …
The RAILWAY 200 ‘inspiration’ travelling exhibition train has been based at Bishops Lydeard Station and has been open all week for pre-booked visitors, with the last day of the exhibition being Saturday 29th November. As an added bonus, GWR operated a SHUTTLE TRAIN service between Taunton Station and Bishops Lydeard Station on Tuesday 25th and again on Friday 28th November, connecting the WSR with the main line.
GWR Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ 150248 was pictured at Taunton on Tuesday 25th November 2025 with the 10:05 to Bishops Lydeard special service, in connection with the visit of the ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train. Photo by Steve Thorneley © CC BY-NC 4.0
GWR Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ 150248 was pictured arriving at Bishops Lydeard with the ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train alongside, in the glorious autumn sunshine on Tuesday 25th November 2025. Photo by Mike Pinn © CC BY-NC 4.0
The WSR Christmas Specials will be starting on Saturday 29th November, the kick-off being the MINEHEAD STATION CHRISTMAS MARKET SPECIAL that departs from Bishops Lydeard at 10:30 on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th, returning from Minehead at 15:00 each day. The graphic below has been borrowed from the WSR’s Facebook page and gives a quick indication of some of the other specials that are on offer. Click here or on the graphic below to go to the WSR’s Christmas Events page:
Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.
All of the Christmas Specials are rostered for steam haulage, but keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned or diesel-assisted services.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2026 – we can now advise that the following events have been confirmed by the WSR, with more details to follow as soon as hire contracts have been finalised:
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the dismal weather at Williton last Saturday split the team in three directions, with some volunteers braving the elements to work on the ‘A’ bogie, some volunteers going underneath D1010‘s body out in the yard to prepare the underframe for painting, and some volunteers working on tasks associated with the need to unload the engines from the boiler trolley upon which they have been mounted since July 2024.
The plan is to shunt the yard on Saturday 6th December to get at least one of the bogies inside the loco shed so that work can proceed regardless of the weather. Repositioning the engines will have to wait until we have crane on site, probably in January, but that is not far away in terms of working days.
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – the ‘spare’ vacuum exhauster was cleaned up and inspected, then painted and re-assembled onto the mounting beam that also forms the vacuum reservoir. The next step is to apply power and test the exhauster to make sure that it is fully functional before installing it on the loco. The plan for the conversion to dual braking is quite complex and has to be approved by several parties to ensure that the work is done in a compliant way. Volunteer loco manager Ian is leading this effort.
08401 (D3516) – the three main components of the Westinghouse vacuum exhauster were reassembled at Williton on Saturday 22nd November 2025, with volunteers (L-R) Ethan W, Neil C and Charlie heavily involved. Class 14 D9518 (NCB No. 7) dominates the background. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco has now arrived at Williton so that she can receive attention to bodywork corrosion around the cab roof and bonnet. Having the loco available at the yard is quite convenient for studying the layout of her dual braking equipment, as can be seen in this photo which shows the vacuum exhauster installation.
D4107 (09019) – Ian R and Neil C examine the Westinghouse vacuum exhauster installation to learn as much as they can before copying the installation over to 08401 (D3516). Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is stabled at Williton so that her planned maintenance work can be continued while outdoors. When the shed is available, she will move indoors so that her leaking engine room roof can be removed and repaired.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She may not get much use because all of the Christmas services are rostered for steam haulage this year, but the upside is that she will be under cover throughout the winter.
D6575 (33057) is now based at Bishops Lydeard along with Class 14 D9526. Both will provide support to the WSR over the winter and will stay under cover as part of the bargain. Pictured on Wednesday 26th November 2025 by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and will undergo some light maintenance work and internal cleaning.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is currently based at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway and will remain there until the end of April 2026. The GCR have been making good use of the loco while she is in their hands, with local support being provided by DEPG Treasurer Paul Tucker, who happens to live very near to where the loco is stabled.
Here are the remaining running dates:
| Day and Date | Event | Notes |
| Wednesday 31st December | The ‘Nightrider’ | Link to the ‘Nightrider’ GCR page |
| April 2026 | Spring Diesel Gala | Contact the GCR for more info |
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work was paused because of the need to support sister loco D9526 and relocate her to Bishops Lydeard. The team will be back at work on D9518 as soon as possible.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition. DEPG volunteer Viv Jones has brought our attention to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance, substituting for a steam loco during the period of high fire risk, earlier this year. Click this link or the image below for details. MANY THANKS to Viv for letting us know about this TV coverage.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.
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:
Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM. So, now is the time to place your NEW 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 we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.
New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !
We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review 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 – this week, our attention shifts back to Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and her arrival at Taunton from Old Oak Common on 30th July 1975, more than FIFTY YEARS AGO, to start her new life with the D+EG (predecessor of the DEPG). Thanks to information received from Glyn Newing, we have become aware of some very interesting (but very short) footage of D7017 that he found on the marvellous British Film Institute archive site, showing the condition of the loco in the weeks or months after her arrival at Taunton. Click here or on the image below to view this 50-year-old footage.
This 50-year-old film footage shows D7017 at Taunton some time between July 1975 and March 1976, waiting for the fledgling WSR to open and allow her to move to Minehead along with industrial steam locos ‘VICTOR’ and ‘VULCAN’. The move eventually took place on 26th March 1976. Video courtesy of the British Film Institute.
Many thanks to Glyn Newing for bringing this to our attention.
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 !
NEW BOOKS ON SALE
Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. Apologies for the delay in getting these new books shipped out, but the the backlog has now been cleared, so please GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !
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Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is sure to be a big success. Click here to place your order.
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Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers. Click here to place your order.
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A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy. |
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !
DEPG NEWS: the next Board of Trustees meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 13th December. If you are a DEPG member and you have a question that you would like to put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM or write to us at our registered address.
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 !