Weekly Roundup – 16-Jan-26
Crowcombe Heathfield station – almost 400 feet (120m) above mean sea level and the summit of the West Somerset Railway – painted a fine picture of winter dormancy on the cold morning of Tuesday 6th January 2026. Photo by Jo Ward © CC BY-NC 4.0
The WSR may appear to be closed for the winter, but work continues both indoors to prepare locomotives, carriages and wagons and outdoors to maintain and improve the Permanent Way (the railway track), the buildings, the bridges and the trackside environment. At this time of year, the weather often tries to interfere and set its own agenda, but the work must go on, so our volunteers simply add more layers of clothing and keep busy to keep warm. WELL DONE and THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all who continue to volunteer on site and face the cold weather conditions !
The temperature was -4°C on the morning of Sunday 4th January 2026 when the volunteer Permanent Way (PW) gang were preparing for some sleeper changing on one of the sidings south of Westridge (Bishops Lydeard). Class 14 D9526 is visible in the background. Photo by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 4.0
The Permanent Way (PW) volunteers soon warmed up after the physical exertions involved in lifting rails and swapping sleepers on one of the sidings south of Westridge (Bishops Lydeard). Pictured on Sunday 4th January 2026 by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 4.0
The DEPG have launched an appeal for donations toward the estimated £5,200 cost of converting newly-acquired Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) from air brake to dual brake by the restoration of the vacuum brake equipment that was originally fitted to the loco when built at Derby in 1958. Popular fundraising site Gofundme has been chosen for this short-term specific-purpose fundraiser, and we are delighted to report that we have received a pledge for match-funding that will double the value of any donations towards this cause. As a charity, the DEPG is also able to claim Gift Aid that will add another 25% to the value of donations, where the donor is a taxpayer and agrees to allow the DEPG to claim Gift Aid. It all adds up, so please help if you can and click here or on the image below, thank you very much !
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:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the low temperature inside the loco shed tried to prevent us from carrying out the Non-Destructive Testing last Saturday, but the careful use of some localised warming allowed Thomas to do some preliminary testing, mainly to verify that the level of surface preparation was sufficient for the use of the Dye Penetrant Inspection process. Happily, the trial was a success (well done Ian F), although it did take quite a while to get the pre-cleaner solvent to evaporate from the very cold metal !
In parallel, Gordon continued working on the brake linkages to prepare them for re-painting, while Colin F and Reece took a break from overhauling the water pumps from the ‘A’ and the ‘B’ engines while waiting for parts, and did some work on some electrical components instead (a versatile team!).
D1010 – the Dye Penetrant Inspection trial on the ‘B’ bogie was intentionally confined to the area around the intermediate gearbox supports, depicted by the white powdery coating that reacts with the red penetrating dye layer underneath. Any dark red spots need closer examination or additional preparation and re-testing. Pictured at Williton on 10th January 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – the Dye Penetrant Inspection trial on the opposite side of the ‘B’ bogie. The conditions for application were not ideal, but the milder weather has allowed the shed to warm up a little and the space heaters will have been running for a few days, so we will try again this coming weekend. Pictured at Williton on 10th January 2026 by Thomas Allgeier © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – this loco is the subject of a Gofundme appeal to raise money to support the conversion from air braking to dual braking. The loco is currently on No 2 road outside the loco shed where Ian and his team can take measurements while working on the detailed planning for the conversion to dual braking.
08401 (D3516) – Gofundme appeal poster – by Linda Trott
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco was moved into the loco shed on No. 2 road last Saturday 10th January and was positioned underneath the crane so that her Westinghouse 3CV50 compressor could be removed to provide access to her main generator. This level of disassembly is necessary because the loco was converted from vacuum braking to dual braking back in 1969 and room had to be found for the additional ‘large’ compressor for the train air brake system. The modification resulted in an inconvenient arrangement where the compressor prevents access to one side of the main generator, making brushgear maintenance extremely difficult.
While the loco is inside the shed, a few repair tasks will be undertaken in and around the cab to make her fit for another year of service before she can be stopped for a cab roof repair (which is a significant task on a loco of this type), by which time our Class 08 08401 (D3516) should be dual-braked and ready to take over as Bishops Lydeard station pilot.
D4107 (09019) – this loco has now been moved into the loco shed on number 2 road to undergo main generator brushgear maintenance. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th January 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D4107 (09019) – the Westinghouse 3CV50 compressor had to be removed to allow access to the main generator. Pictured alongside the loco at Williton on Saturday 10th January 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D4107 (09019) – with the Westinghouse 3CV50 compressor out of the way, it is easy to access the main generator for the purposes of brushgear maintenance and replacement of the brushes. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th January 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
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 based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ and available for use if required.
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 at a date to be arranged, in preparation for some visits to other railways.
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 some charter services 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:
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – more progress is being made on this loco by the combined efforts of the Tuesday and Saturday teams. The transmission has now been connected up to the loco’s air system using new flexible hoses, and the wiring continues to progress as more equipment gets re-installed onto the loco frames.
D9518 – the transmission fill valve and the overspeed valve have now been hooked up to the air system via the two new hoses (black). The short green shaft in the lower foreground drives the generator (on the far left) from the auxiliary power take-off drive from the transmission (lower right). Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 13th January 2026 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).
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has been ‘stopped’ because of 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 big DC electric motor.
The spare triple pump at Williton was in need of an overhaul and has now been stripped down so that the motor can be sent out to a specialist subcontractor for reconditioning before sending it to the NYMR for installation into 47077. This work is planned for completion by the end of February.
47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) – the motor has been removed from the spare triple pump assembly and is now ready to be sent to a specialist subcontractor for reconditioning. It will then be shipped directly to Pickering where it will be installed in the loco by NYMR staff. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th January 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 4 road at Williton and is fully serviceable. The loco will be started up this coming weekend and run for a while, in order to keep her in good condition and ready for use when 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 Saturdays and Tuesdays 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:
Feeling the cold ? Go ahead and order a fleece jacket or sweatshirt via our ONLINE STORE, just click on this link or on the images below to give it a go !
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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. We intend to offer a Class 14 design in the coming weeks.
The range of colours has 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 – last week, we featured a very unusual photo of a Class 01 loco that was wheel-less and ‘grounded’ in Cambridge Yard in February of 1966. This loco carried the number D2956 and was in BR Green livery. Little did we know at the time, but it turns out there have been two locos of that same Class that have carried that same number.
Based on information received from Christopher Burton and Neale Long, we can report that our photographic subject was originally numbered 11506 and wore a plain black livery when introduced to BR service at Stratford in March of 1956. This loco was one of a batch of 4 and was not fitted with vacuum braking (only loco braking). After this loco was sold into industrial use in 1966, the number was re-used for the fifth example of the same Class, but this was a later build version that was vacuum-braked and had originally entered service on BR in January of 1958 as Departmental No 81.
Ironically, the original 1956-vintage D2956 has survived and sees occasional use on the East Lancs Railway, whereas the later and renumbered D2956 was withdrawn in November 1967, just before it reached 10 years of service, and was cut up for scrap !
Here is the information that was provided by Neale:
“This is how the story unfolds. By the mid-1960s there was a vast number of under-utilised and more-or-less redundant diesel shunting locomotives, especially of the smaller specialised classes such as the Class 01s. It was thought desirable that some locomotives could have useful second lives if offered up for sale to interested parties and indeed 1966 saw the sale of D2953 and D2956 (‘version 1’) which is where your fascinating image comes in.
Your image is that of ‘version 1’ and not ‘version 2’ because in 1966 ‘version 2’ was still in BR use at Doncaster. ‘Version 2’ had vacuum train brakes fitted together with a rather more modern steel cab door as opposed to the wooden doors that were fitted to the first four members of the Class.
Other than images of the Holyhead breakwater locomotives, shots of the Class are relatively scarce. To the rescue comes my old mate, the late great photographer Norman Preedy, who quite amazingly took a photograph of ‘Version 2’ in Doncaster in 1967 complete with BR arrows of indecision.
The image that was shared by Chris Burton is that of the original Class 01 D2956 receiving repairs to its axle box bearings prior to taking up employment with its new owner, Archie King.
Much of this information can be found in the October 1985 edition of Rail Enthusiast (as it was then known of course) where Howard Johnston penned a fascinating tale of how D2956 was secured thanks to the generosity of Mayer Newman scrap yard.”
Many thanks to Christopher Burton and Neale Long for sharing their photos and their knowledge with us all.
Andrew Barclay Class 01 0-4-0DM shunter D2956 was pictured in Cambridge Yard in February of 1966 minus wheels (!) before being sold to A. King & Sons of Norwich in May of that year. This loco is now preserved at the East Lancs Railway. Photo by Christopher Burton © CC BY-NC 4.0
Andrew Barclay Class 01 0-4-0DM shunter 11506 (D2956) was pictured on the East Lancs Railway during their Small Loco event in January of 2025. This is the same loco that was pictured (minus wheels) at Cambridge Yard in February of 1966. Photo by Neale Long © 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
There are many new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
Do you have a space on your wall where your 2025 DEPG calendar used to be ?
ACT NOW to grab one of the last few calendars before they are all sold. In fact, the last box of DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDARS is emptying 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 PLACE YOUR ORDER!
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 !
Here’s a one-page representation of the DEPG 2026 calendar. In the actual calendar, each month occupies a separate A3-sized page. Click here or on the image below to get your copy while stocks last. 
DEPG NEWS: we have been having some trouble with the payment options on our online store. This was initially due to an update that was required by PayPal and caused that payment option to be suspended until updated. We resolved this temporarily (over the Christmas period) by switching to our Stripe card interface, but this left PayPal account users without their preferred option. So, after much testing (and learning), the updated PayPal module was installed and is now working, but not entirely smoothly. Please bear with us while we iron the lumps out of this process, and please get in touch via our CONTACT FORM if you encounter any difficulties. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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 !