Weekly Roundup – 22-Jun-25
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) called in at GWR’s Bristol St. Philip’s Marsh depot for tyre turning on her way home from the SPA VALLEY RAILWAY on Tuesday 17th June 2025. Transport by Allelys, photo by Dave Griffiths © CC BY-NC 3.0
After her successful visit to the SPA VALLEY RAILWAY in Kent, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) took a break during her 200-mile road homeward journey by calling at GWR’s Bristol St Philip’s Marsh depot for ‘tyre turning’, which is a process by which the shape of each wheel and flange are kept within specification, which is essential for both efficiency and safety.
It may not be entirely obvious, but railway vehicles have ‘tyres’, albeit hardened steel ones, and these gradually wear and change their profile until the wear limits are reached. When new, the tyres are thick enough to allow several sessions on the wheel lathe, which a massive machine that is designed for the purpose of removing metal as the wheel is being rotated, and specialised cutting tools are used to return the tyre to the correct shape – which is a conical taper, as shown in the diagram below:
Railway wheel and Rail profile drawing – by Scholar44, courtesy of Wikipedia
The drawing shows that the wheels are tapered and the rails are set at a similar angle to ensure that the wheel self-centres and self-steers around curves. There is an entire branch of science behind this and it is essential for smooth running at high speeds, but also for minimising wear and tear. Although our ‘Crompton’ won’t need to go above 25mph in heritage use, keeping her tyres correctly profiled will help get the maximum life out of the wheels and allow her to visit other railways in future.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was positioned over the Hegenscheidt wheel lathe at GWR’s Bristol St Philip’s Marsh depot on Tuesday 17th June 2025, ready for tyre turning to be carried out on the first axle. Ashley and Tom (L-R) were accompanying the loco and representing the DEPG. Photo by Ashley Harris © CC BY-NC 3.0
The Hegenscheidt wheel lathe at GWR’s Bristol St Philip’s Marsh depot is a highly specialised piece of equipment and is kept busy, especially in the autumn when leaves on the track can result in wheelslides that creates flat spots on wheels. The cure is a visit to the lathe – and more material lost from the diameter of the wheel. Pictured on Tuesday 17th June 2025 by Dave Griffiths © CC BY-NC 3.0
Two video clips have been provided by DEPG members Dave G and Ashley, one showing the electrically-powered ‘mule’ that is used to haul the loco over the wheel lathe and then move it along as each axle gets the tyre-turning treatment. The second video clip shows the wheel being rotated during the turning process. Metal shavings (known as ‘swarf’) can be seen falling from the lower section of the wheel as the cutting tools do their work, re-creating the profile, but with a smaller overall diameter.
Many thanks to all of our contributors for sharing their photos and videos. Click on the images below to watch the video clip.
The NITEQ ‘mule’ at work hauling D6566 (33048) onto the wheel lathe on Tuesday 17th June 2025. Video by Dave Griffiths © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was filmed while undergoing tyre turning at GWR’s Bristol St. Philip’s Marsh depot on Tuesday 17th June 2025. Video by Ashley Harris © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) showed evidence of freshly turned tyres when back on the WSR on Sunday 22nd June 2025. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
THIS WEEKEND:
There are NO DIESEL-HAULED SERVICES this weekend (28th/29th June) but our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ may be in use supporting the ‘Flying Scotsman‘ non-stop services that will be running between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. See the WSR’s TIMETABLE page for details.
On the weekend of 5th and 6th July, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will be working the diesel diagram under the BLUE timetable but starting at Bishops Lydeard, with steam on the Minehead departure on both days.
ALSO IN USE ON 5th July will be the ex-GWR ‘HST’ set that has been stored on the WSR for some time. The HST will carry out two complete out-and-back runs with 80 miles of quiet and comfortable haulage on offer, starting from Minehead at 0920. Click on this link to go to the WSR’s HST RUNNING DAY page.
Ex-GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST (43155 leading, 34154 trailing) made for a great picture when crossing Lower Ker Moor on 14th August 2024. Photo by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 3.0
Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.
For details of planned diesel-hauled services, please click here or on the banner below to visit our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned services.
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – attention remains focused on the ‘B’ bogie to remove more parts and allow the bogie frame to be prepared for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) using the Dye Penetrant (DP) method. This involves cleaning off all paint, dirt and rust to expose a clean metallic surface, upon which a special type of paint known as the ‘penetrant’ is sprayed in the area of interest. After some time, the coating is cleaned off and another special type of paint known as the ‘developer’ is applied. This reacts with residue of the ‘penetrant’ and provides a clearly visible indication of potential defects that need further investigation. We are not expecting to find any issues, but we need to take this opportunity to inspect for defects while we have the bogie in this stripped-down condition.
Another step forward was the removal of the intermediate gearbox from the ‘B’ bogie and the modification of the ‘Hymek’ transmission stand to accommodate this large and awkwardly-shaped piece of heavy machinery. The next step will be to drain the oil and inspect the internals, especially the oil pump and directional valves. More on this next week.
D1010 – the intermediate gearbox from the ‘B’ bogie was suspended from the crane in the foreground while volunteer Colin F carried out modifications to the ‘Hymek’ transmission stand to allow it to be used to hold the intermediate gearbox. Gordon can be seen at work on the ‘B’ bogie in the background. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 21st June 2025 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the intermediate gearbox from the ‘B’ bogie was lowered onto the modified ‘Hymek’ transmission stand by Ethan R under the supervision of Colin F. The gearbox will be cleaned and inspected by the Transmission Team to determine if further disassembly is justified. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 21st June 2025 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
As mentioned before, apologies to those D1010 sponsors who have yet to receive the photos and certificates for the patches that they have sponsored. We have re-started engraving the patches but there is quite a backlog, so please bear with us while we catch up.
MANY THANKS to all who have sponsored and supported the RESTORATION of D1010 !
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco was in use on the BLUE timetable service on Sunday 22nd June, starting from Bishops Lydeard. The loco was swapped with sister D6575 (33057) at Minehead and was returned to Williton on Friday 27th June for attention to be given to a leaking fuel pump before the loco can ben made available for service again. Hopefully, this will be sorted out during this coming weekend.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard as the ‘duty loco’ and designated as the ‘Thunderbird’ loco in support of ‘Flying Scotsman’ services. Booked for use on on the BLUE timetable on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July STARTING FROM BISHOPS LYDEARD.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the re-painting of this loco will be carried out by the WSR’s Harry Spencer but working as a volunteer in his own time. This very kind offer from Harry will help the DEPG conserve funds following the unexpectedly high amount of work that had to be carried out on bodywork corrosion repairs. The roof panels need lifting back on, for which the WSR’s ‘Atlas’ rail-mounted crane will need to be used, but another kind offer from well-known railway preservationist Andrew Forster will allow this to be done with an entirely voluntary workforce, at minimal cost.
We are very grateful to both Harry and Andrew for their kind offers of help and support !
This has already been factored into the timetable and we are planning on getting D7017 back to Williton during July so that she can be worked up to readiness for her return to service during August.
The fund for the bodywork overhaul of D7017 has TOPPED £20,000 but we will need to keep it open a while longer to cover the cost over-run. MANY THANKS to all who have contributed to this amazing result and in doing so, have secured the future of this locomotive.
The cost of this bodywork overhaul continues to increase, so we have had to keep the fund open to help reduce the impact on other DEPG projects. Please consider contributing if you can. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will return to Williton on Friday 27th so that maintenance work can take place to keep in running condition.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – in addition to the progress on the wiring, work continues on the engine overhaul and we hope to include some photos in the next roundup.
Quality work needs to be funded, so we will continue to appeal for funds to support the work, right up to the point where the loco is completed. Any surplus will then be used to ensure her proper care and upkeep. If you like what we are doing, please make a donation via our website (click on the icon below) or by bank app or by sending a cheque to the DEPG at Williton. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT !
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is inside the loco shed at Williton so that her re-paint can be completed. The loco ran in a mixture of undercoat and gloss during the gala, so she now has to stay indoors until the job is completed, hopefully in time to allow her to take up her first booked working of the YELLOW timetable on Tuesday 15th July.
While rubbing down the paintwork at the ‘A’ end of the locomotive, some blue paint was found on the lens housing of the red marker light – which didn’t make sense at first because this loco has never carried a blue livery. It was then revealed that this marker light had been replaced by a part obtained from NCB Ashington following the demise of that facility, and the blue was in fact ‘Ashington Blue’, the same colour as sister loco D9518 will be wearing when she returns to service in a few years from now.
D9526 – on Saturday 21st June 2025, the ‘A’ nose end was undergoing rubbing down in preparation for a gloss top coat. Pictured at Williton by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9526 – the rubbing down revealed a layer of blue paint underneath the green – but only on the lens housing of the red marker light. This was determined as being ‘Ashington Blue’ (the darker of the blue shades, the lighter being an undercoat), because this part had been recovered from scrapped locomotives from that NCB facility ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 21st June 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is turning out to be a firm favourite for passengers and crews alike. Please continue to send in your photographs of our ‘celebrity’ loco while she is at work on the Moors. Thanks !
Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was a very popular loco at the NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY’s Diesel Gala event, seen here drifting down the bank towards Grosmont station with the 12:11 departure from Pickering. Photo dated 13th June 2025 by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is available for service as required. She has not seen much use lately because our yard has been devoid of locomotives, but that is returning to a more normal situation so she might get some use soon.
Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) was stabled on No. 3 road in Williton South Yard when pictured on Saturday 21st June 2025, with the DEPG’s brake van B952527 and D1010‘s ‘A’ bogie behind her. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
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:
The new range of clothing that was launched at the SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL was a massive success and we quickly sold all of our gala stock. This is OK because the new clothing is highly configurable so it is made to order anyway. We expect to be able to deliver within two weeks of an order being placed via our ONLINE STORE, so 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 in the works are similarly configurable ranges covering the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ and the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ with those garments likely to be available in July. Here’s a taster 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
We have been provided with a batch of photos for our ON SHED feature by well-known author, photographer and DEPG member ROGER GEACH and this week we feature a Class 45 ‘Peak’, in fact 45016 which was formerly D16 and dating back to December 1960. The location is the Tilcon stone drop, at Portwood, Stockport, delivering stone from Tunstead in the Peak district, which seems quite appropriate for this Class of loco!
Last week, we featured loco is 25242 (D7592) stabled at Bletchley and asked for information on the likely working that caused it to be there. Regular correspondent Neale Long surmised that it was probably a stone working from the Peak district, which makes the connection to this week’s choice.
Do you have photographs of loco workings of the past that you would like to share ? If yes, please use our CONTACT FORM to get in touch with us.
Many thanks to Roger for sharing his photos with us all.
BR ‘Type 4’ Class 45 ‘Peak 45016 (D16) was pictured at the stone drop near Portwood, Stockport on 29th May 1984 with a stone train from Tunstead in the Peak District. The loco was based at Holbeck (Leeds) depot for almost all of its 24-year working life. Photo by Roger Geach © CC BY-NC 3.0
NEW BOOKS ON SALE
A new book is coming, the second in the three-part series ‘The Railways of South Wales 1975-1995‘ by Michael Rhodes, and we have high hopes that it will be as successful as the first in the series. We will be adding this book to our online store during the next few days and expect to receive stock in early July.
We will also be stocking the companion series ‘RAILWAYS OF THE NORTH EAST 1975-1995‘ by the same author and hope to add this to our online store next week.
Although we have only just started to promote the NEW BOOK entitled ABSOLUTELY WESTERNS that has been compiled by Roger Geach from photos taken by the late Peter Crawley, we need to ask Roger to share the limelight with our Publicity Officer MARK BLADWELL because he has just completed the production of a new booklet covering DEPG ‘Hymek’ D7017 and his work is currently IN STOCK and available for sale at the WSR bookshops and via our online store.
This new booklet has 64 printed pages of glossy A4 and includes information about the ‘Hymeks’ and about D7017 in particular, covering both phases of her life – the first 13 years in BR service and the last 50 years in the care of the DEPG. Priced at £15 per copy, this book can be ordered from our website NOW.
Don’t forget to consider adding Roger’s new book to your shopping basket as well ……
Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £17.50 per copy) and in doing so, supporting the restoration of D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’. A BOOK REVIEW on this new publication has been provided by regular correspondent NEALE LONG and will be posted online during the next few days. Please check this link periodically until the review appears. Thank you Neale !
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
DEPG NEWS:
The DEPG Board of Trustees will be holding a scheduled Board Meeting at Williton on Saturday 28th June 2025. If you are a DEPG member and have a question that you would like to have put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM to get in touch.
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 !
