THIS WEEKEND – Bagnall 2996 ‘VICTOR’ leads the celebrations and ‘Hymek’ D7017 (also present at Minehead on the day of the re-opening back in 1976) will be working public services on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2026. Click here for details.
NOTE: Although marked as purple on the WSR timetable, all annual passes, valid vouchers and passes will be accepted on this weekend.
Preparing for the event : From left to right, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is visible at the ‘town’ end of the bay platform while the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) prepares to depart for Bishops Lydeard. Class 03 shunter D2133 can be seen on the right. Photo taken at Minehead on Friday 27th March 2026 by Steve Edge © CC BY-NC 4.0
Preparing for the event : Carolyn and Linda (L-R) treated celebrity Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to a thorough wash and brush up at Williton on Saturday 21st March 2026. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was lavished with attention at Williton on Saturday 21st March in preparation for her celebrity appearance at the WSR’s 50th Anniversary Event this weekend. The sparkling clean loco left Williton yard for Minehead at 1200 on Friday 27th March to take up the same position alongside the bay platform in Minehead as when the line first re-opened on 28th March 1976. The ex-BR ‘Hymek‘ had arrived at Taunton in July 1975 in the ownership of the Diesel and Electric Group (D+EG, the forerunner of the DEPG) but had to wait in Taunton until the WSR was ready to receive locos, eventually moving to Minehead on 25th March 1976, and has been based on the WSR ever since.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 took up position in the bay platform at Minehead after a light engine movement from Williton on Friday 27th March 2026. Photo by Steve Edge © CC BY-NC 4.0
D7017 will be working the following services over the special event weekend:
Saturday 28th March : Depart Minehead at 1540 for Bishops Lydeard, arriving at 1655
Saturday 28th March : Depart Bishops Lydeard at 1730 for Minehead, arriving at 1900
Sunday 29th March : Depart Minehead at 1230 for Bishops Lydeard, arriving at 1350
Sunday 29th March : Depart Bishops Lydeard at 1440 for Minehead, arriving at 1558
Sunday 29th March : Depart Minehead at 1740 for Williton, arriving at 1833 (the train continues to Bishops Lydeard with steam power)
Click here or on the image below for a handy printable timetable for this event.
As shown on the timetable, long-term WSR resident Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be in use on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2026 and will be working alongside Bagnall 2996 ‘VICTOR’ and the home fleet steam locos to both kick-off the 2026 season and to commemorate the hard work and dedication of all those who made the re-opening possible, 50 years ago.
The DEPG will be hosting an ‘OPEN YARD‘ with public access to lineside seating and viewing, with the popular ‘Irie 7’ hot food van and Rod’s Model Railway sales stand also available.
Locos available for viewing in the yard will include Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) making her first public appearance in preservation, and Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) fresh from her winter maintenance period, plus Barclay 0-4-0DH shunter 578 (ROF1). On stands further along the yard, Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ will be displaying her recently-painted underframe, a sight that will only be visible for a matter of months before the loco gets ‘back on her feet’. Visible through the shed doors will be Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 (NCB Ashington No. 7) and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048). Close-up viewing of these locos will be by arrangement and only when safe to do so, as these locos will be undergoing repair and/or restoration throughout the weekend.
For the location of the other locos in our fleet, visit our Locomotive Status page.
We look forward to a very entertaining and nostalgic weekend – and we hope to welcome plenty of visitors to Williton Yard, so please do come in and take a look around.
The WSR’s EVENTS and EXPERIENCES web page gives details of other 2026 events. Click here or on the graphic below to go to the WSR Calendar Page for details and dates.
WSR 50 SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL – 4th to 7th June
The WSR have announced two visitors from the Wensleydale Railway in the form of Class 47 47714 (D1955, 47511), wearing the striking ‘Rail Express Systems (RES)‘ livery and Class 37 37250 (D6950) wearing the ‘EWS‘ livery, both locos adding a splash of colour to the greens and blues of the event.
Click here or on an image below to go to the WSR’s event page:
DEPG locos of classes 08, 09, 14, 33 and 35 will also be in use and Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ will be open to visitors at Williton Yard, along with Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 and Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1).
The DEPG depot at Williton will be open to the public and will be offering hot drinks and an expanded range of hot snacks from the ever-popular ‘Irie 7’ team, together with a seated viewing area, Rod’s Model Railways sales stand and the DEPG merchandise stand, plus cab visits to locos on shed, depot tours and some SPECIAL EXHIBITS …. DEFINITELY NOT TO BE MISSED !
Click here to go to the WSR’s event page.
Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is in the process of being updated to cover the planned diesel-hauled services for 2026, but it will take a little longer to define the loco allocations. Meanwhile, the basic framework is there and the loco allocations will be added as soon as the information has been confirmed by the WSR. There is a lot of diesel running planned for the WSR this year. Click here or on the image below to take a look:
Some sad news …. John Cooke 1948-2026 RIP
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of DEPG volunteer JOHN COOKE who passed away recently at the age of 78.
John had a well-deserved reputation as a master technician and could describe the electrical circuits of any loco in our fleet (and many others) almost from memory and could pinpoint faults with amazing accuracy and speed. He was a driver on both the WSR and SDR for many years and most recently carried out the re-wire on Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 with his characteristic neatness and delivered a top quality result, working on this project as recently as February of this year. A friend to many of us for so many years, John will be sorely missed, both here at the DEPG and on the WSR, and also at the South Devon Railway where he was an active member of the South Devon Diesel Traction (SDDT) group. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. One of his favourite locos, ‘Hymek’ D7017, will carry a wreath in his honour throughout this coming weekend.
Always camera shy, John was pictured carrying out his careful and diligent work while re-wiring the cab and desk of Class 14 D9518 at Williton on Saturday 6th April 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the major effort last weekend was the re-organisation of the yard and the move of the ‘B’ bogie from No. 2 road to No. 3 road in the loco shed. This was necessary for two reasons – one to allow Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) to enter the loco shed for repairs to her roof, and the other being to position the ‘B’ bogie over the shallow pit on No. 3 road to allow the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) work to take place on the underside of the bogie frame. The focus this weekend will be to paint the area of the frame around the equalising beams and pedestals, in readiness for the refurbished assemblies to be re-installed during the coming week.
D1010 – the set of four equalising beams and pedestals from the primary suspension of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ bogies were undergoing refurbishment at the workshops of subcontractor MATT HIGHAM on Saturday 21st March 2026. We expect to get a pair of these major assemblies back into the ‘B’ bogie during the first week of April. Photo by Matt Higham © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – the white areas show further progress on the NDT work on the ‘B’ bogie, but the focus last weekend was moving the bogie from No. 2 road to No. 3 road – for which a quick trip out into the sunshine was required. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 21st March 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – Gordon keeps an eye on proceedings as the ‘B’ bogie goes out into the light of day for the first time since last October. Class 09 D4107 (09019) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 embellish the background. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 21st March 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – this loco was in use on Saturday 21st March to shunt the yard and re-position various locos for maintenance and for their return to service. This loco will be on display at Williton during the WSR’s 50th Anniversary Event this weekend 28/29 March – this being the first time that this loco will have appeared in public since entering preservation.
08401 (D3516) – this loco was busy shunting the yard at Williton on Saturday 21st March 2026 and was pictured when coupled to her Class 09 cousin D4107 (09019). Photo by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is ready for her annual Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT) which is booked to take place on Thursday 2nd April, after which she will be able to return to Bishops Lydeard and release Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 to return to Williton.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is now indoors on No. 2 road and has had her roof removed for repair. The easy access from above will allow her repaired exhauster to be lowered-in via the designated route, rather than manhandled along the narrow walkway alongside the engine, and will also allow one of the cylinder heads to be exchanged for a refurbished spare.
D6566 (33048) – this loco was shunted from outdoors on No. 1 road to indoors on No. 2 road by Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) at Williton on Saturday 21st March 2026. Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF1) is sandwiched between the ’08’ and the ’33’. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0
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 fully serviceable and is fully ready for her booked appearance at the WSR’s 50th ANNIVERSARY weekend on 28/29 March.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will remain at the GCR for some charter services and also for their DIESEL GALA in April before moving to her next vacationing spot at the Severn Valley Railway, and then to the GWSR in July before returning to the WSR in August.
D7018 will participate at THREE diesel galas on other railways before returning to her home territory in August, in time to feature in the WSR’s DIESELS AT 65 event over August Bank Holiday weekend.
 |
 |
 |
|
24-26 April 2026 |
14-17 May 2026 |
24-26 July 2026 |
The much-travelled loco will then head back to the WSR in time for the DIESELS AT 65 EVENT that takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the many distractions that arise when preparing for open events have diluted the resource on this project temporarily, but the team will be back on the case this weekend and next week onwards.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain until relieved by Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont 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 has now been reconditioned and will be sent to the NYMR for installation into 47077. Once repaired, the loco will then need to go out for tyre turning, which will be a convoy move over the main line from Grosmont with other NYMR diesels, at the end of April.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is awaiting attention to her fuel system. Meanwhile, Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) is available for shunting duties.
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:
Still feeling the cold in the evenings and mornings ? 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 !
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 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. Delivery is currently around ONE WEEK from receipt of order, so place you order now to take advantage of this short lead time.
We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !
ON SHED – last week, we featured some photos from DAVID HINGSTON, being scans from slides from 1966 or 1967 at Cardiff General Station (renamed as Cardiff Central from May 1973 onward). As I felt I was on safe ground, this being my ‘home’ station and the place where I spent many hours in my pre-teenage years, I captioned the photo of the Class 37 as approaching from the east, but almost immediately received a correction from DEPG member and former Cardiff Signalling Manager Gareth Jones who pointed out that the ’37’ was in fact approaching from the WEST !
Many thanks to Gareth for contacting us and providing this and other correction details – the version of the roundup that is posted on our website has now been fully corrected.
This week, we have another photo from David Hingston, this time featuring Class 52 D1017 ‘WESTERN WARRIOR’, a fairly rare picture because ‘Warrior’ was one of the four that did not get upgraded to dual braking and was withdrawn from service in 1973, only 10 years old. What a waste !
We would welcome information about this photo and the working that is indicated by the ‘PILGRIM EXPRESS’ headboard that the loco is carrying.
Many thanks to David for sharing his photos with us all.
Class 52 D1017 ‘WESTERN WARRIOR’ at the head of the ‘PILGRIM EXPRESS’ – but where and when ? (David knows – but do you ?) Photo by David Hingston © 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
Last week, we announced a NEW BOOK compiled by ROGER GEACH based on the photographs of the late STEPHEN MARSHALL entitled ‘The Demise of the Diesel Hydraulics’ and published by Transport Treasury and as expected, this new book is flying off the shelves so CLICK HERE to place your order NOW. This is a hardback book that is LARGER than A4 in size and has 176 pages with 230 images, so the price of £29.95 is well justified.
Hardback, large format 273 x 215 mm (10.7″ x 8.5″), 176 pages, 230 images
Here are the notes that have been provided by the publisher:
“This book is based on the Diesel Hydraulic photographs taken by the late Stephen C Marshall from Devon and supplemented by some of his friends. While they are mostly of ‘Westerns’ other Hydraulics are also depicted. This was very much the Rail Blue period. It was Stephen’s wish to start from late 1969 in date order up to the final day of the ‘Westerns’ terminating with the Western Tribute Railtour February 1977.
He also wished to include some preserved pictures as well and we have done this with what we hope are some more unusual preserved scenes. The majority of the pictures have not been published before. Stephen was well known as the former owner of Globe Videos and he produced a number of DVD on the Hydraulics but had not published many of his photographs.
He was also well known as a keen follower of locomotive hauled trains and loved to travel the country. As he lived in Devon for many years there is a strong bias on pictures taken in his own County. Many of the locations such as his favourite Newton Abbot have changed beyond recognition in the 50 years or so that many of the pictures were taken.
Along with the station changes the rolling stock and Infrastructure has also changed as the years have past. For those that followed the Hydraulics and the Railways of the Western Region should find much to interest them in this publication. Railway modellers should also find much to interest them from that period.”
We have added VOLUME 3 to our online bookstore along with the two new books that were released earlier in the month, and all of these books are in stock so PLACE YOUR ORDERS via our online store NOW ! Click here or on the images below to go to the relevant pages on our online store.
|
 |
 |
Also in stock are all three volumes of the most recent publications by BERNARD MILLS, covering the PADDINGTON to PENZANCE route in three parts. Each of the three books in this series are a must for fans of WR diesel traction! Click here or on the images below for more details (each title is priced at £21.95):
 |
 |
 |
| Part 1 : Paddington to Taunton | Part 2 : Taunton to Plymouth | Part 3 : Plymouth to Penzance |
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
DEPG NEWS: the next meeting of the Board of Trustees will take place at Williton on Saturday 4th April, so if you are a DEPG member and would like to place a question before the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know. Thanks !
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 !