Former GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST was pictured approaching Blue Anchor station on Wednesday 14th August 2025 with power car 43155 leading and 43154 trailing. A wonderful image of summer on the WSR – captured by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 4.0
The end of an era – the last public service to be operated by a ‘Castle Class’ HST arrived at Plymouth Station on Saturday 13th December 2025, bringing the curtain down on 49 years of HST rail travel in the Southwest of the UK. The HST had worked a service from Penzance and joined her two sister sets for a photoshoot, one of which had worked between Exeter and Penzance earlier that day and another that had worked on the Newquay branch, covering for a failed DMU !
The High Speed Train was developed in the mid-1970s as an interim solution pending electrification of the main trunk routes and was marketed as ‘Inter-City 125‘, becoming such a success that HSTs ended up operating over most of the UK, providing a step-change in the rail experience of the time. The upgrade in comfort and speed was such that ticket income soared and this justified the building of more sets, and the expansion onto cross-country routes in addition to the London main lines. A real success story !
From now on, it will be necessary to visit Scotland to ride on the last of the survivors, or take a trip to Mexico, or take a charter on one of the preserved sets. These highly competent machines are still a pleasure to travel on, and in many ways are superior to some of the trains that have replaced them – but that is because they were so good to start with !
Click here or on the image below to go to the Cornwall Railway Society’s web page for details of the services that ran on the last day:
Three ‘Castle Class’ HSTs were lined up at Plymouth Station on the evening of Saturday 13th December 2025, the last day of scheduled HST running on the former ‘Western Region’. Click here to view this webpage on the Cornwall Railway Society website.
The WSR‘s 2025 Christmas Season is progressing well and only a few of the ‘SANTA EXPRESS‘ services still have seats available, so ACT NOW to reserve your seats before it is too late. The WSR image below is dated 15th December, so availability will have tightened since it was produced. Click here or on the image below to view the latest information:
To check the availability of the remaining Santa Express services, click on this link.
An update on the WSRA Christmas Prize Draw – for the restoration of BR 2-6-4T 80064
Thanks to donations from 153 supporters including many who responded after being made aware of this appeal via the roundup, the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) have raised £1,922 that will be put towards the restoration of BR 2-6-4T 80064 to get this loco into service on the WSR. The ‘Standard 4 Tank’ is an ideal loco for the WSR, having sufficient power for the gradients while also carrying sufficient water and coal for the distances being worked. We look forward to seeing this loco operating alongside our heritage diesel loco fleet, just as many did during the last years of steam on BR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all who contributed !
The draw closed on 15th December after raising £1,922 in support of 80064.
Another unusual working ….
GBRf Class 57 ‘Body Snatcher’ 57310 (formerly D1618, 47037, 47563, 47831 before conversion) was pictured on a test run at Orchard Junction on the truncated remains of the former GWR branch to Barnstaple on Tuesday 16th December 2025. Photo by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 4.0
It is not every day that one can see a Class 57 at work on WSR metals, but 57310 visited last Tuesday on a test run associated with a plan to use the Norton Fitzwarren triangle to turn Class 800 ‘IETs’ or ‘Flying Cucumbers’ as they are sometimes known. Apparently, Network Rail are planning to carry out work at Plymouth in February and this will require some trains to be turned on the Norton triangle so that the first class accommodation ends up at the correct end of the train. More details will be provided when we have a better understanding of what is going to be taking place and why. Meanwhile, more test runs are expected to be carried out in the near future, which could bring other classes onto the WSR !
This extract from the WSR Rule Book, Map 10 shows that the Allerford spur is all that remains of the Barnstaple branch. To see the Rule Book maps and many more, go to the wsr.org.uk website by clicking this link. Image courtesy of WSR plc © CC BY-NC 3.0
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2026 – the following major events have been confirmed by the WSR, and the dates for a wide range of special services have also been announced – see the WSR Events Page for details and dates.
LOCO NEWS: The heavy demands on our volunteers at this time of year have temporarily reduced the available working hours as we all struggle to fit in domestic duties, seasonal duties and the occasional festive event ! Therefore, the loco update will be a bit on the brief side, but normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the focus is on the ‘B’ bogie and the need to get it ready for Non-Destructive Testing so that we can get it painted and then start building the bogie up again. In parallel, Colin F and Reece are overhauling the water pumps and planning the logistics for the repositioning of the ‘A’ engine to allow attention to the known trouble spots (cylinders 3 and 12).
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – this loco is now on No 2 road outside the loco shed while Ian and his team work on the detailed planning for the conversion to dual braking. In parallel, the sourcing of the remaining few special parts is ongoing (vacuum chambers, door panels, pipework and so on).
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is outdoors on No, 1 road and will soon be receiving a new set of brushes for her generator – which involves having to remove the recently-installed Westinghouse compressor to get access to the generator ! Luckily, we don’t have to do this very often, which is just as well because the set of 18 brushes cost over £500 !
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is outdoors on No 1 road and is having one of her vacuum exhausters removed for overhaul. 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 is rostered for use on Saturday 20th December for night driver training, during which she will operate between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead under cover of darkness !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled outdoors on number 1 road at Williton and is receiving some light maintenance and undergoing internal cleaning. The loco will undergo Ultrasonic Axle Testing some time in the New Year.
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 will be using the loco for their NIGHTRIDER event on New Year’s Eve and also for their SPRING WEEKEND, in addition to their DIESEL GALA in April. Please do try and go along to one or more of these events to show your support for D7018 and help ensure that her visit is a big success !
Here are the running dates for D7018 on the GCR:
| Day and Date | Event | Notes |
| Wednesday 31st December | The ‘Nightrider’ | Link to the ‘Nightrider’ GCR page |
| Saturday 28th February | Spring Weekend | Contact the GCR for more info |
| Sunday 1st March | Spring Weekend | Contact the GCR for more info |
| 23-26 April 2026 | Spring Diesel Gala | Contact the GCR for more info |
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – Terry came to the rescue and provided some photos of the progress being made on this loco by the Saturday and Tuesday teams. Well done all !
D9518 – the coolant header tank (painted blue) has now been fitted to the engine side of the cab bulkhead. Pictured at Williton on 16th December 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0
D9518 – inside the cab, the Driver’s Safety Device (DSD or ‘Deadmans pedal’) has now been installed in the cab floor, under the driver’s desk. There wasn’t much room for the associated pipework! Pictured at Williton on 16th December 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0
D9518 – the battery box lids have been fitted with new hinges and have received a coat of gloss black paint, so they are now ready to refit to the loco. Pictured at Williton on 16th December 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0
D9518 – another view from within the cab, looking down to where the floor plates will eventually be fitted. The copper pipework had to be adjusted to pass under the electrical conduit (orange). Pictured at Williton on 16th December 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0
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). This loco will be in use on Monday 29th December for Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) moves between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, returning to Bishops Lydeard by the end of the day.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has just encountered an issue with her ‘triple pump’ – which is an electrical machine that is a combined water pump, oil pump and fuel pump, all driven from one DC electric motor.
The motor has suffered an internal fault that has resulted in some segments of the commutator bring burned, so the loco has had to be stopped to prevent further damage pending a replacement triple pump being obtained and fitted.
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| The burned segments of the commutator … | The good segments (discoloured but not burned) |
| Pictured at Pickering on 19th December 2025 by Josh Smith © CC BY-NC 4.0 | |
DEPG volunteer Viv Jones alerted us to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance in the THIRD and fourth episodes, 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 4 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:
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, go ahead and place your orders 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 |
These garments 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, we go further northwards and feature a photo of an ex-works Class 37 at York, but it is a ’37’ that has a story to tell. Here’s the narrative that was provided by the photographer, ANDY GALPIN:
“This was 10th March 1979 – I was living in York and had just saved up for a half decent SLR camera. My first couple of test shots were at the station and this was 37154 which looks ex-works and may well be out on test from Doncaster? I seem to recall that it came in piloting a southbound passenger service hauled by a ‘Peak’, but I’ve no further detail.
It struck a bit of a chord with me, as 6 years previously I’d seen the then D6854 (of Eastfield I believe) pretty well smashed at both ends and awaiting serious attention at Doncaster Works. At that time I thought it would be lucky to survive.”
So, what is the story behind the damage to D6854 back in 1973 ? Does anyone have any information to share ? Please email contact@depg.org or use our CONTACT FORM if you can help with these questions. MANY THANKS to Andy Galpin for sharing his photos and memories with us all.
English Electric Class 37 37154 (D6854) was the subject of some discussion at York Station on Saturday 10th March 1979. The loco was in ex-works condition and might have been on a test run from Doncaster Works. Can you help provide the backstory on this loco ? Pictured alongside 45019 (D33) by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 4.0
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. There is no time to ship them before Christmas, but why not order now for delivery in January ?
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 definitely 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, including those who are not based in or come from the North-East. 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 last box of DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDARS has been opened and the last copies will soon be heading out of the door, so if you haven’t ordered yours already, then NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT !
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 most important message that we can give at the end of another year is the message of thanks, thanks for the hard work of our volunteers and thanks for the people who contribute their hard-earned cash to provide our volunteers with a place to work and materials and equipment with which to do their restoration and maintenance work on the DEPG fleet.
There are many who work at home for the benefit of the DEPG and many whose efforts never make it into the roundup or newsletter, but who are nonetheless essential parts of the greater DEPG machine.
WE THANK YOU ALL and wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Santa was spotted at Williton on Saturday 6th December 2025 and is rumoured to have been spotted several more times during the subsequent weekends ! Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
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 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 !
NOTE – the next roundup will be the ’roundup of 2025′, which will be made released on the 1st of January 2026.