Mainline-registered Class 202 ‘Hastings‘ unit 1013 made an unusual but welcome sight (and sound) when it visited the Minehead branch on a mainline tour from Tonbridge in Kent. The ‘Thumper‘ was pictured while climbing through Stogumber on the return leg of the journey on Saturday 16th August 2025. Photo by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 3.0
The big news this week is announcement of the details for the HYMEK 50 WEEKEND that takes place on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August 2025, when both D7017 and D7018 will be hard at work on an enhanced 120-mile daily diagram that includes 40 miles of DOUBLE HEADING each day !
Click here for the Saturday timetable and Sunday timetable. The ticketing is standard ‘BLUE TIMETABLE‘ so the WSR’s standard Rover tickets will allow the maximum mileage for the minimum cost.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is now back at Williton after a ten-month stay at Minehead where this loco has undergone a thorough bodywork overhaul and a complete re-paint into the early BR-blue with the small yellow warning panels. The loco carries the ‘D+EG‘ logo as it did in the early days of the WSR when BR would not allow their double-arrow symbol to be displayed on non-BR locos.
MANY THANKS to all who have donated to and carried out the work on D7017 to bring her up to the standard that we see today.
D7017 – another excellent repaint carried out by Christoff (L) and Harry (R) and the team at the Minehead facillity. We are very grateful to Harry for doing the bulk of the loco body painting in his own time. Thanks also to all of the team at Minehead for the high quality work repair carried out on this loco. Pictured at Minehead on Thursday 15th August 2025 by Harry Spencer © CC BY-NC 3.0
Click here to go to the WSR’s events page for the ‘Hymek’ weekend.
The coming week offers another interesting mixture of pure steam, pure diesel and possibly some mixed traction on the WSR, so please keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page in case the motive power allocations change (we will TRY and keep this page aligned with the latest changes).
Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.
Sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned services.
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the team were working on both bogies last weekend, with the ‘B’ bogie receiving a coat of primer from Ian F in the areas where the dye penetrant inspection is not going to be required, while Gordon and Glenn concentrated on the removal of the equalising beams and pedestals from the ‘A’ bogie so that the replacement parts can be made for both bogies at the same time, which will be more economical in terms of machine shop setup costs. The seemingly never-ending task of scraping dirt and grease from the bogie frame was entrusted to Ethan W who seemed to be enjoying the challenge.
In parallel, work proceeds on the cleaning and painting of the brake components from the ‘B’ bogie, with help from the ‘Tuesday Team’ being very much appreciated. We want to get this loco back on its bogies before the winter. If this sounds like a tall order, it is, so COME ALONG AND HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN !
Get in touch using our CONTACT FORM and we will send you the volunteering application form and take it from there.
Apologies, but issues with uploading of photos to our website have restricted the number of photos that we can include in the roundup this week. Please check our website in a day or two, we hope to have resolved the issue by then.
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations.
Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) is often to be seen at Bishops Lydeard station, where she is typically engaged with carriage shunting and the loading or unloading of locomotives onto and from road transport vehicles. Pictured in August 2025 by Bill Johnson © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco has been kept very busy and is looking forward to a rest at Williton so that Ian R and his team can carry out planned maintenance and cleanup tasks. The loco will work the Minehead diagram on Saturday morning 23rd before handing over to D6575 at Williton at around 1300.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco was ‘released to traffic’ on Sunday 17th August and apart from a fairly low fuel level, was ready to take over as ‘Duty Loco’ to allow her sister D6566 to get her regular dose of TLC from Ian and his team. D6575 was fuelled at Williton on Tuesday 19th and will swap roles with D6566 at approximately 1300 on Saturday 23rd when the 1225 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service calls at Williton.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is now back at Williton and will be going out on a test run next week to prove her reliability and provide driver refresher training. No issues arose during the engine start and run to Williton, so everything is looking good for our 50 YEARS of HYMEKS weekend, the 30th and 31st August, where we expect to have both of our ‘Hymeks’ in use, both singly and together.
We are very grateful to everyone who has donated to or worked on D7017 during her bodywork overhaul. Your efforts are a fitting tribute to this loco, in HER FIFTIETH YEAR IN PRESERVATION !
A lineup of service-ready motive power at Williton on Thursday 21st August 2025. Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is ahead of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) on No. 1 road with Class 14 D9526 also visible on No. 4 road. Photo by Bill Johnson © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is at Williton and is fully serviceable and available to the WSR for use as a ‘Thunderbird’ loco if required. Meanwhile, with two Class 33s and a Class 14 available for service, the opportunity has been taken to move D7018 into the loco shed so that she can receive a thorough clean-up and a coat of varnish in readiness for her HYMEK 50 WEEKEND (30/31st August) and her subsequent appearance at the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY’S AUTUMN DIESEL GALA that runs from the 4th to the 6th of September. We want her to look her best !
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work on the engine rebuild has slowed down due to resources being applied to D9526 to support the WSR through the peak summer season, but the team will get back onto this project in the coming weeks.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco has now been serviced and moved onto No. 4 road at Williton, where she stands at the ready, in case she is called upon to assist a steam loco at short notice.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is being kept busy by the steam ban that has been re-introduced following some significant fires on the moors. If you have been enjoying riding behind our ‘celebrity‘ loco, please send us some photos to share with our readers !
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is available for use 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 !
NEW CLOTHING RANGE:
Shipments are now flowing out again as our supplier gets to grips with their order backlog. APOLOGIES if your order has been delayed, but don’t delay if you haven’t yet ordered and are missing out on this new clothing. PLACE YOUR ORDER via our ONLINE STORE, just 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 September. 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
Last week, we featured the photo below and we asked for information regarding the white disc-like object on the cab window of the Class 50. We received several responses from readers, but the first to arrive was from an ex-BR Toton Depot fitter, DAVID GODFREY, and he responded as follows:
“With regards to the featured photograph, what appears to be a white disc on the windscreen is actually an air train pipe “master gauge” which is connected to the loco’s buffer beam air train pipe by a coiled flexible pipe connected to a standard air train pipe coupling.
These gauges were more accurate and more regularly calibrated than those fitted in the cab and would have been used during a comprehensive brake test carried out at either a major exam, or in the event of an operational incident such as a signal passed at danger, station over run etc., where the loco’s brake performance may have been brought in to question. They may also have been used whilst carrying out adjustments to the drivers brake valve etc.
As an ex-Toton fitter I used these gauges numerous times.”
Many thanks to David for providing this insight and thanks to Andy Galpin for providing the photo.
Crewe Diesel Depot on Wednesday 26th August 1970 and 416 (50016 later ‘Barham’) was on shed alongside 1728 (47136, 47621, 47839). The white disc on the cab window of the ’50’ was the subject of the question that was posed last week. It is in fact a piece of test equipment, a ‘brake pressure master gauge’. Photo by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
An example of a brake pressure master gauge, but this time looking at the face of the gauge rather than at the back of the housing !
Photo by Budenburg Gauge Co. Ltd.
Here are two more of Andy Galpin’s photos, this time from his ‘local’ depot, as he explains below:
“Here are a couple more shots taken at or near to what was my ‘home’ depot – Frodingham 36C. In this instance I am pleased to advise that the Depot Foreman would normally agree to let you go round, if you asked him first. By this time, the diesel depot’s allocation was only ever Class 08 shunters that patrolled the yards and link lines in connection with the steelworks. However there were many visitors for fuel and light attention, primarily from 40B (Immingham) and 41A (Tinsley).”
Frodingham’s own D3281 (dating from 1956) standing alongside Frodingham Trent Junction signal box on 10th January 1971, with Frodingham diesel depot (36C) visible in the distance to the left. Photo by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
The front view of Frodingham depot on 11th July 1971 with four ‘Brush’ locos on shed, (L-R) Class 47 D1552 (47436), Class 31 D5817 (31285), Class 47 D1551 (47529) and Class 31 D5674 (31246, 31455, 31555). These were all Immingham (40B) locos at this time. D5817 survives as 31285 and is based on the Weardale Railway. Photo by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 3.0
MANY THANKS to Andy for sharing his photos with us all.
Please 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 BOOK ON SALE
The FIFTH volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ has now been released and is available to order via the DEPG’s online store. This series of books by ANDY CHARD has been an amazing success, and we expect this fifth volume to be equally impressive and as successful as the earlier releases. Well done Andy !
And competing for your hard-earned cash, we now have PART 3 of the excellent ‘The Railways of SOUTH WALES 1975-1995‘ trilogy in stock, which is quite a surprise, given that Parts 1 and 2 were only released in February and July of this year. Author MICHAEL RHODES has been very busy !
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| Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £35.95 per copy) | Click here or on the image above to get your copy (priced at £21.95 per copy) |
There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.
DEPG NEWS:
The date of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will be Saturday 13th September and the meeting will be held at Williton as usual. We will be sending the AGM information package out to all members who are on the fully-paid-up register on 21st August. We will use the ‘paper’ or ‘paperless’ setting in your ‘Membermojo’ account to determine if you want a mailed or emailed version of the AGM calling notice, so check your setting by using the link or simply scan the QR code further below. Thank you !
The August edition (#70) of the DEPG Quarterly Newsletter has now been sent out by mail or email to all members who were on the register of members on 28th July. Please get in touch using our CONTACT FORM if you are a DEPG member and have not yet received your copy. Many thanks to Mark B for keeping the Newsletter production running on time !
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 !