Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) provided essential support for the WSR’s Spring Steam Spectacular and was pictured with one of the stars of the show, the 1905-built Class 28xx 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotive 2807 which was visiting the gala, courtesy of the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway. Pictured at Bishops Lydeard on Friday 2nd May 2025 by Rob Crispin © CC BY-NC 3.0
The DEPG’s WSR-based fleet of locos enjoyed a rest for the full four days of the WSR’s SPRING STEAM SPECTACULAR gala event although it did look at times as if the diesels would have to step in to help reduce the number of lineside fires. The tinder-dry embankments were being set alight by some of the smaller locomotives that needed to be worked harder and therefore ejected more in the way of hot cinders. Luckily, the infrastructure team were on hand to follow the worst culprits along the route, dousing the fires while they were still small.
When one of the visiting steam locos had to be stood down due to technical issues, our crews prepared themselves for duty, but the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) was instead pressed into action and worked for the final two days of the gala, adding to the event by providing authentic branch-line scenes from the 1960s such as below:
Visiting ‘Manor’ Class 4-6-0 7812 ‘ERLESTOKE MANOR’ slows for the token exchange at Crowcombe Heathfield while the WSR’s Class 115 DMU waited with a train for Bishops Lydeard. Pictured on Monday 5th May 2025 by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 3.0
A completely different story was playing out in another part of the country as the dry weather and harder-to-access landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) forced a complete ban on steam, so the line has had to be worked by diesel for most of April and so far, all of May. Our Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ has been in use on an almost-daily basis, in support of the other diesels on the line, providing a treat for fans of the BR-blue era, with the rare exception as below:.
47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was waiting at Levisham as the unique 1903-built NER ‘autocar’ 3170 approached with a train from Grosmont on Sunday 27th April 2025. Photo by Glyn Warren © CC BY-NC 3.0
Casting back to the previous weekend, the East Lancashire Railway held a diesel event with a Western Region theme, with the sound of ‘Maybach Music’ resonating far and wide. In action along with ‘Warship’ D832 ‘ONSLAUGHT’ and ‘Hymek’ D7076 were Class 45 ‘Peak’ 45108 (D120) and Class 50 50015 (D415) ‘Valiant’ the latter two of which will soon be welcomed as guests to the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL that is rapidly approaching and is now less than four weeks away !
BR-Swindon-built Class 42 ‘Warship’ 832 ‘ONSLAUGHT’ was out and about on the East Lancs Railway during their Western Region themed weekend. Pictured arriving at Bury Bolton Street from Heywood on Saturday 26th April 2025 by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7076 was pictured at Ramsbottom with a service to Rawtenstall on Saturday 26th April 2025 with headcode ‘IC96’ … perhaps a tribute to sister D7096 who donated the key parts needed to make D7076 a runner. Photo by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0
DIESEL RUNNING ON THE WSR
Our Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) will be working the Minehead diagram of the BLUE timetable on Saturday 10th and again on Sunday 11th May, offering 80 miles of diesel loco haulage per day. We might also be able to have one of our other fleet members out on test on the Saturday, so please do try to come along and enjoy the diesel action.
From now until the end of September, the DEPG’s Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ and Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ are booked to cover 34 of the 80-mile diagrams that originate from Minehead under the BLUE timetable so we are going to be kept busy ! The YELLOW timetable in the peak of the season will also see appearances by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, fresh from the repaint that is taking place at Williton at the moment. The recent announcement of the visit by the ‘FLYING SCOTSMAN‘ is going to have an impact because several diesel-loco-hauled services have stepped aside to allow the famous loco to maximise her earning potential, but this is in the interest of the railway and we will need to flex to accommodate this. Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page provides the information about upcoming diesel-hauled services on the WSR. Click here or on the image below for details:
Just a reminder – our two ‘Hymeks’ D7017 and D7018 are celebrating their 50th year in preservation, with both locos being among the last four of the Class to be withdrawn from service by BR in March 1975. The WSR have kindly agreed to allocate the weekend of August 30th and 31st to showcase the ‘Hymeks’ and we hope to have both locos available for service for that mixed traction event. Please keep the date free and make plans to come along. We will announce the timetable as soon as possible, but it will be based on the BLUE timetable (not yellow as previously advised) that can be reached by clicking on the appropriate days in the WSR timetable (click here or on the graphic below):
Read more about the history of the DEPG and the long association with the ‘Hymeks’ on our ABOUT US pages.
The WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL will take place from Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th June with a Mixed Traction Day on Sunday 8th. The first three of the visiting locos have been announced and they are D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’, Class 45/1 ‘Peak’ 45108 and Class 50 50015 ‘Valiant’ so MAKE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND and click on the images below to learn more. It is going to be a GREAT event !
The Bury Valiant Group’s Class 50 50015 ‘Valiant’ will be participating in the WSR’s Summer Diesel Festival ! Photo by Tom McAtee © CC BY-NC 3.0
Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page
Click here to go to our ONLINE SHOP
Thank you very much for your support !
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco was open to visitors on all four days of the recent SPRING STEAM SPECTACULAR event and was a popular attraction, even more so now that she is off her bogies and mounted on stands at the north end of our yard. This provides a unique viewing opportunity, and many interesting discussions were had about the design of the underframe and the stressed skin construction, subjects that would not normally be raised during a ‘conventional’ viewing.
D1010‘s two mighty Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD655 engines also attracted interest, as they are temporarily mounted side by side on a steam boiler trolley in our shed, and are quite a sight !
D1010‘s two serviceable MD655 engines were on display in the loco shed at Williton and made quite a sight as they are mounted above ground level – on a steam boiler trolley. Pictured on Monday 5th May 2025 with D9526 behind by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 3.0
Our appeals for MORE VOLUNTEERS are working but WE STILL NEED MORE HELP to get this huge loco back on the rails, so please get in touch by using our CONTACT FORM if you are able to join the team.
As mentioned before, apologies to those D1010 sponsors who have yet to receive the photos and certificates for the patches that they have sponsored. With two gala events coming up, we will be engraving the patches during the open days and will soon catch up – and hopefully attract some additional sponsorship !
Rest assured that every sponsor will receive their certificate and the details of where to find their sponsored patch. We will be making a further push for funds soon, because we have some big ticket items for refurbishment, including the remaining cardan shafts and 32 springs from the suspension system.
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) – the cab of this loco was on display to the public on Monday of the open weekend and we are grateful to young volunteer Ethan T for manning the cab and explaining the layout and controls to the interested visitors.
THIS LOCO WILL BE HEADING FOR THE SPA VALLEY RAILWAY for the weekend of 13th to the 15th June 2025 to participate in their ‘Cuckoo Line Gala’ event !
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now outstationed at Minehead as the ‘duty loco’, ready and waiting to be called upon at short notice. This loco is rostered to work the first diesel loco-hauled services of the season on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May – see our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the pace of work is hotting up as the gala looms into sight and provides additional impetus to get the job completed. Volunteers from the DEPG have been working alongside the WSR staff in a number of areas, with the cabs given a fresh coat of paint by Graham last weekend – the results being up to his usual high standard. Thank you, Graham !
D7017 – the newly-repainted cabs offer a major improvement for the crews and really make a difference to the presentation of this loco. Pictured at Minehead on Saturday 3rd May 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0
Elsewhere on the loco, the WSR team comprising Buzz (welding) and Harry (painting) are handling the bodywork repairs and carefully preparing the loco for a complete repaint. Thank you, guys !
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D7017 – work proceeds apace at Minehead, as evidenced by these photos, all taken on Saturday 3rd May 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco underwent another session of ‘yard exercise’ at Williton on Tuesday 29th April 2025 and everything went well, so permission has now been obtained for a test run from Williton to Bishops Lydeard, then to Minehead, then back to Williton with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) tagging along for ‘insurance’. This test run might take place on Saturday 10th May if circumstances allow. The loco has been wired up with sensors and a datalogger so that the correct performance of the transmission can be verified and the evidence gathered in support of her release to traffic, which is not too far away now.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the need to prepare sister D9526 for her period of occupation of the loco shed has drawn resources away from D9518 temporarily, but work continues on the electrical rewiring and on the restoration of the many component parts.
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 – preparations for the ‘open shed’ event and the subsequent restrictions on the type of work that could be carried out during the event caused a curtailment of the work on this loco, but some engine work was progressed without making noise or mess. Progress continued to be made on the bodywork with the side panels being repainted off site and free from restrictions. We look forward to having this loco outshopped in pristine condition in time for her appearance at the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL 2025.
D9526 – the engine block has been prepared for the refitting of the cylinder heads, with new seals and gaskets at the ready and aimed at reducing the amount of oil leakage. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 29th April 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – as previously stated, this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been out and about on most days in the last four weeks because the NYMR has had to switch to a diesel-hauled service in the face of an elevated lineside fire risk. Luckily, ‘NORTH STAR’ is performing well and is able to share in the increased diesel fleet workload, much to the obvious delight of the DEPG Treasurer.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is available for service as 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 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 !
BOOK REVIEW: This week, we have a NEW BOOK entitled ABSOLUTELY WESTERNS and published TODAY (Friday 9th May 2025) by Totem Publishing and compiled by Roger Geach from photos taken by the late Peter Crawley. Here’s the publisher’s write up on their newest book:
“The Western Region’s mighty Class 52 locomotives left an enduring legacy, captivating rail enthusiasts across the country. In ‘Absolutely Westerns’, the late Peter Crawley’s passion for these legendary machines is brought to life through his rare and evocative photographs.
Compiled and expanded with detailed captions and additional research, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the final years of the Westerns, from their workings on the Swansea to Leeds service to memorable moments at Plymouth, Reading, and Dawlish. Featuring insights into the excursions and railtours of the era, this is an essential read for those who fondly remember the Westerns and the golden age of British Rail.
A long-awaited publication, this book stands as a fitting tribute to Peter Crawley and the enthusiasts who dedicated themselves to documenting these iconic locomotives.”
Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, supporting the restoration of D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’.
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
ON SHED: not on shed on 13th August 1970 but definitely on the move was another product of the North British Locomotive Company, this time one of a batch of 33 ‘Warships’ made to the BR-Swindon design but with NBL-MAN engines and NBL-Voith transmissions as an alternative to the Bristol Siddeley Maybach engines and Stone-Mekydro transmissions that were installed in the batch of 38 Swindon-built machines (designated Class 42).
The Glasgow-built machines (designated Class 43) were early targets for the campaign of standardisation and rationalisation that swept through the BR diesel locomotive fleet from the late 1960s onwards. Being only 33 in number and differing from their Swindon counterparts in so many ways, they never achieved their full potential and ended up being banned from some routes such as Waterloo-Exeter because of their chronic unreliability.
Luckily, DEPG member Andy Galpin caught this one in action at Didcot as it led the 1A37 express passenger service towards the capital. What was the 1A37 service ? If anyone can provide more information, we will gladly share it in a future roundup.
Many thanks to Andy for sharing his photos with us all.
If you have photos that you would like to share, please let us know via contact@depg.org and we will happily include them in future editions.
North British Class 43 ‘Warship’ 853 ‘THRUSTER’ was carrying the headcode ’1A37’ when pictured at Didcot on 13th August 1970. This nine-year-old loco only gave another 14 months of service before being declared non-standard and surplus to requirements. Photo by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
DEPG NEWS – after the success of the WSR’s Spring Steam Spectacular where we opened our yard and shed to welcome the gala visitors on each of the four days of the event, we are now preparing for our next major event which will be the SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL where we will again be open to the public for the three gala days and also for the mixed traction Sunday.
The very popular model railway trader ROD SAUNDERS will have his sales stand in our shed at Williton and we will also have our own sales stand in operation with new merchandise and many other attractions and facilities such as tea, coffee and hot snacks, but all of this takes organising and we will be short of ‘boots on the ground’ because so many of our volunteers will be crewing locos. We need help to prepare our locos including such basic but essential activities as WASHING AND POLISHING !
CAN YOU HELP ? WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH DEPOT DUTIES AND SALES ! If you can help, please use our CONTACT FORM and let us know. Thanks in advance !
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 !