Displaying a ‘JC’ headcode in remembrance of DEPG driver and volunteer John Cooke who passed away recently at the age of 78, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was at work on the 12:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead when pictured alongside Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) at Williton on Saturday 4th April 2026. Photo by Elliott Freegard © CC BY-NC 4.0
Diesel variety on the WSR last weekend ….
The ‘Belmond Britannic Explorer‘ visited the West Somerset Railway last Friday 3rd April 2026 and the lead loco, Class 66 66748 ‘St Michael’s Mount’ was pictured alongside our Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 at Minehead while preparing to run around the stock of this ‘luxury hotel on rails’. Photo by Peter Bell © CC BY-NC 4.0
The ‘Belmond Britannic Explorer‘ departed from the West Somerset Railway on the morning of Saturday 4th April 2026 with Class 66 66744 leading. The consist was pictured at Norton Fitwarren while returning to Network Rail metals. Photo by Lee Robbins © CC BY-NC 4.0
The ‘Railway 200 ‘Inspiration Train‘ was hosted by the WSR throughout last week and was collected from Minehead on Sunday 5th April 2026 by a pair of Class 66s and moved to Newquay to exhibit there. GBRf loco 66310 was alongside our Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 when pictured by Seb Welsh © CC BY-NC 4.0
The ‘Railway 200 ‘Inspiration Train‘ departed from the WSR on Sunday 5th April 2026 and was en route to Newquay when pictured passing through Williton with Class 66 66719 leading. Photo by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 4.0
The WSR’s hybrid Class 115/117 2-car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) was in use on Saturday 4th April 2026, covering a duty that had been booked for Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526. Unfortunately, operational issues caused the DMU to be substituted, even though the ‘14‘ was fully serviceable. Pictured at Blue Anchor by Elliott Freegard © CC BY-NC 4.0
Last weekend was a feast for diesel fans, with no less than six diesel-powered machines at work on the WSR. The fun started on Friday 3rd April with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) at Minehead, shunting the air-braked stock of the Railway 200 ‘Inspiration Train’ to clear the main platform for the arrival of the ‘Belmond Britannic Explorer‘ which was booked to visit Minehead that night, bringing two Class 66 locos onto the branch (66748 and 66744).
Then, on Saturday, the ‘hybrid’ Class 115/117 DMU stood in on the booked Class 14 turn because of an operational issue relating to driver rostering (at this early point in the year, some drivers have not yet had a chance to renew their tickets). Also at work on Saturday, D6575 (33057) hauled the 12:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 14:30 return service, as booked.
On Sunday, two Class 66 locos arrived (66310 and 66719) at Minehead to collect the Railway 200 ‘Inspiration Train’ and take it to Newquay, which was the next port of call for this travelling exhibition train, thereby taking the tally of diesels to SIX – not bad for the first normal service weekend of the season !
TOMORROW – Saturday 11th – Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will be working the 12:25 departure from Bishops Lydeard but NOT the 14:30 return, which will be steam hauled. On Sunday 12th, Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 will be working the 12:25 departure from Bishops Lydeard AND the 14:30 return, so PLEASE COME ALONG AND RIDE BEHIND THESE DIESELS so that we can get more opportunities to use them. Thanks !
Click here to go to the WSR Calendar page, then click on the date of interest.
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 regularly updated to cover the planned diesel-hauled services for 2026, and we will be adding the loco allocations this weekend (we need to confirm the driver rosters first). The table already shows that there is a lot of diesel running planned for the WSR this year. Click here or on the image below to take a look:
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – after the feeling of euphoria at the end of March, when the equalising beams and pedestals were re-installed in the ‘B’ bogie, this last week has returned to the more normal pattern of cleaning up, inspecting and painting the many parts that had been taken off the bogie last year. The three photos below show similar parts at different stages, but we are gradually getting through these pallets and the light is definitely visible at the end of the tunnel !
Within a week or two, these parts will be going back on the bogie and we will be preparing for another yard shunt to swap the ‘B’ bogie with the ‘A’ bogie so that we can start the process all over again (groan!). Come along and help us, we could certainly use more hands and this kind of work is not complicated. Use our CONTACT FORM if you are able to volunteer on a Saturday or a Tuesday – or both !
D1010 – the one remaining pallet load of unprocessed brake rigging parts from the ‘B’ bogie at Williton on Saturday 4th April 2026. These parts need cleaning, inspecting and re-painting. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – this hefty piece of brake rigging is close to completion and will soon be ready for re-installation on the ‘B’ bogie. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 4th April 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – this pallet load of brake rigging parts are ready for re-installation on the ‘B’ bogie. Some secondary suspension parts are visible on the pallet behind. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 4th April 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – this loco is fully serviceable in air brake mode and can be used for shunting in the yard or elsewhere, subject to the restriction caused by the lack of vacuum brake equipment. The various piece parts and assemblies are being gathered and we hope to get this loco dual braked before the autumn.
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco underwent her annual Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT) on Monday 30th March and will undergo some remedial tasks this weekend before being declared ready to return to service at Bishops Lydeard.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is now indoors on No. 2 road and has had her roof removed for repairs to take place. One of the cylinder heads was found to be showing signs of valve guide wear, so was removed and has now been replaced by a reconditioned head – a task that is only possible with the engine room roof removed, because of the sheer size and weight of the cylinder heads. Several other maintenance tasks are being carried alongside the major work.
D6566 (33048) – a refurbished cylinder head has now been fitted and the re-assembly work was well underway when pictured at Williton on Saturday 4th April 2026, with Ethan W in the foreground, and Ian R and Tom hidden from view. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D6566 (33048) – the fibreglass engine room roof section has been cleaned up and is awaiting repair and a coat of sealant before being replaced on the loco. Pictured at Williton with DEPG Brake Van B952527 in the background on Saturday 4th April 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is the ‘duty loco’ based at Bishops Lydeard and will be in use on Saturday 11th April 2026 on the 12:25 service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead but NOT on the return service, because all of the return services will be steam hauled. The loco will return to Bishops Lydeard with an Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) train that cannot be used by the public (booked to depart from Minehead at 15:25 on Saturday).
D6575 (33057) – this dual-braked loco was used to shunt the Railway 200 ‘Inspiration Train’ from the main platform to the bay platform at Minehead on Friday 3rd April 2026. Pictured (before the shunt) by Keith Fender © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is fully serviceable and is stabled at Minehead following her participation in the WSR’s 50th ANNIVERSARY EVENT that took place on 28/29 March. This loco will move back to Williton in the near future, but will first take advantage of the pit facilities at Minehead to have an underframe examination and to have her brake rigging adjusted to compensate for the wear in the brake blocks.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will remain at the GCR 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.
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24-26 April 2026 |
14-17 May 2026 |
24-26 July 2026 |
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the team continues to work on the engine, with more parts being re-fitted and the next task being to check and confirm that the vave timing is correct before fitting the covers. Some pieces of engine-related equipment are also being overhauled, including the governor, which is a very important piece of equipment and is essential to the correct operation of the engine.
D9518 – the Ardleigh Governor from the Paxman 6YJXL engine was pictured at Williton on Tuesday 31st March 2026 whilst undergoing refurbishment. Paxman’s engine controls subsidiary traded under the name of ‘Regulateurs Europe Ltd’. Nowadays, this business is owned by Heinzmann but still operates from Colchester. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at Bishops Lydeard as the station pilot, a duty that she will cover until relieved later this month by Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).
This loco will be in use on Sunday 12th April 2026 on the 12:25 service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and the return service that leaves Minehead at 14:30.
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 electrically but is waiting for a new set of bearings to be fitted before it can 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 at Williton 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 !
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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 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 another photo from DAVID HINGSTON, featuring Class 31 D5847 (31313) at a location that was not known with certainty but was suspected to be either Crewe or London Liverpool Street. Sharing this photo resulted in some very quick responses from regular contributors Neale Long and Roger Geach, who reported the following:
From Neale:
“Very much enjoying David Hingston’s images. As regards this week, I think it is London Liverpool Street where those two ‘peds’ were expertly captured. I’ve been looking into the headcode carried by the front locomotive and after some searching I found reference to a freight from Whitemoor Yard to Ipswich containing a ‘K’ in it. So I’m going to stick my neck out and say that it is a Liverpool Street to Ipswich / Colchester / Harwich working The letter ‘K’ was used by the LMR for the Stoke Division but Class 31s were not generally used by the LMR at that time. I think David’s fine image is of a Great Eastern working.”
From Roger:
“Re the 31 picture – that’s Liverpool Street. Class 31s were very very rare at Crewe and the North West in them days, they did not venture there until the 25s had gone in the 80s, then became common.”
Roger also provided a photo of our Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) at London Liverpool Street in 1983, and the similarities in the surrounding architecture and track layout are clear to see:
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| BR Class 31 D5847 (31313) was pictured at Liverpool Street Station heading the 1K20 service with a much cleaner sister loco behind. Thought to be some time in the mid-1960s. Photo by David Hingston © CC BY-NC 4.0 | Class 33 ‘Crompton’ 33057 (D6575) was pictured departing from Liverpool Street Station after working in from Tonbridge with a special for Spalding on 7th May 1983. Class 08 shunter 08833 (D4001, 09101) was also present. Photo by Roger Geach © CC BY-NC 4.0 |
Thank you very much to both contributors for providing their thoughts and additional images.
This week, we have another photo from David Hingston, this time featuring a smart-looking BRCW Type 2 Class 27 D5409 (27116, 27210, 27064) which was delivered new to Cricklewood (North London) depot in August of 1962. The gasholders in the background and the Midland main line depot allocation suggest that is a view of the loco arriving at St Pancras Station with a Class 3 Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) working (headcode 3E12), probably from Cricklewood sidings. The loco looks very clean, which suggests that the date is in the early to mid-1960s, as this loco was moved to other work from 1968 onwards. The absence of a full yellow end also suggests that it is the mid-1960s.
If you know where this photo was taken and what working was 3E12 then please respond via our CONTACT FORM and we can share your knowledge with our readers next week.
Many thanks to David for sharing his photos with us all.
A very smart-looking BRCW Type 2, known later as BR Class 27 D5409 (27116, 27210, 27064) on an Empty Coaching Stock working (if the 3E12 headcode is to be believed) and pictured arriving at what is though to be St Pancras Station, some time in the early to mid-1960s. 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
A few weeks back, 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.
Here’s some feedback from long-time DEPG member and supporter NEVILLE SLOPER:
“Wow! What can I say ?
I have a very extensive collection of hydraulic-themed books, dating back to my first purchase “Diesels Western Style” by Keith Montague in 1974. On first browse, this is up there with the very best and well worth every penny. If it wasn’t for the fact that we have family round today, I wouldn’t be putting it down !”
Many thanks to Neville for that resounding approval !
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.
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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):
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| 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 recently-restored Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) or ‘Cherry Picker’ as it is more typically known, was put to further good use at Williton last Sunday by Graham and Paul T, who set about the essential maintenance task of clearing out the gutters on the loco shed roof. Both volunteers have completed their MEWP safety training and were properly equipped for the job, which was completed safely and has saved us the hire cost that used to accompany such annual tasks. Another well done to the Williton Infrastructure Division (WID) !
The DEPG’s recently-restored Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) – more commonly known as a ‘cherry picker’ – was used when clearing out the loco shed gutters at Williton on Sunday 5th April 2026. Photo by Paul Tucker © 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 !