Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be bringing the curtain down on scheduled diesel loco-hauled workings for the 2025 season when she completes the 80-mile diagrams that start at Minehead on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September. Pictured at Blue Anchor on a positioning move from Williton to Minehead on Tuesday 23rd September 2025 by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0
This weekend sees the end of the scheduled diesel loco-hauled workings on the WSR, the occasion being marked by the use of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September, when the diesel-hydraulic will work the 80-mile diagram that originates from Minehead on both days. The loco moved ‘Light Engine’ from Williton to Minehead on Tuesday 23rd September to be in position for this weekend. Normal ticketing applies, so please do try to come along and make the most of the opportunity to ride behind D7017.
From next Tuesday, the RED timetable will come into force (3 trains each way) with running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in addition to weekends. This timetable is based on the use of two steam locomotives or one steam loco and the WSR‘s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU).
The next event to be held on the WSR will be the AUTUMN STEAM WEEKEND that will take place from Friday 17th through Sunday 19th October and will (understandably) feature an ALL STEAM lineup including LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 and GWR Castle Class No. 5029 ‘NUNNEY CASTLE’.
The Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust (WSRHT), the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) and the West Somerset Railway WSR) will take place at Bishops Lydeard Village Hall on Saturday 27th September, in sequence and arranged to allow members who might be involved in all three organisations the chance to attend each AGM in turn (a formidable endurance challenge!).
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 information).
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.
The Weekly Roundup will be in a shortened format this week and next because it is holiday time again and for us, that means an opportunity to visit the ‘far South’ of the UK and stay at The Lizard, the most southerly point in the UK. The weather has been amazing so far with blue skies and temperatures of 18C, but no doubt that will soon change !
Here’s a photo taken yestarday at the HELSTON RAILWAY, a delightful example of a heritage railway that is still developing and gradually clawing back the trackbed of the line that used to branch from the Truro to Penzance main line at Gwinear Road station (near Cambourne) and run to Helston. The line closed to passengers in 1962 and to freight in 1964. The entire branch was devoid of trackwork and fittings by mid-1965, but the southerly section is gradually being cleared and restored now.
Truthall Halt is currently the terminus of the HELSTON RAILWAY and is therefore the most southerly railway station in the UK ! Non-functional Class 127 DMBS M51616 and a suburban Mark 1 coach were propelled by Barclay 0-4-0DM No 446 ‘KINGSWOOD’ on the short but steeply graded and winding climb from Prospidnick Halt on Thursday 25th September 2025. Well worth a visit ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work continues on the overhaul of the bogies, in an effort to do as much work outdoors as possible while the weather holds. So far, so good !
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco has now returned to Williton so that her planned maintenance work can be continued.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – although scheduled diesel loco-hauled services are close to completion for this season, this loco remains outstationed at Minehead and is available to support WSR operations should the need arise.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was pictured approaching Nornvis Bridge while working the 1640 service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Thursday 25th September 2025. A delightful late summer photo by Bernard Bates © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – currently in position at Minehead, this loco will work the weekend BLUE timetable services that originate from Minehead on Saturday and Sunday 27/28 September. The loco will return to Williton next Tuesday (30th) after working an Empty Coaching Stock train to Bishops Lydeard.
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 !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will be in use on the GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY (GCR) on Saturday 22nd November, this being a charter that has been organised by DTG and DEPG member STEVE FULCHER. Here are the details, please contact Steve directly using the details below if you would like to ride on this special train. WELL DONE STEVE for arranging this, we hope that it is the first of many such charters !
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work on the electrical system re-wire resumed last Saturday although this loco is having to share resource with her sister for the time being.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now indoors on No. 2 road at Williton and undergoing some maintenance and a completion of the repaint that was not complete when the loco was pressed into service during the very dry weather that affected steam loco operations in July and August.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is a popular choice for the diesel-hauled services on that railway. Our loco was in use on Wednesday 24th September and we would welcome any photos of her out and about.
47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was in use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) on Wednesday 24th September 2025. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and 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 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 (both in blue is also an option).
New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !
We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon, probably becoming available in November. Here’s a review 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 – due to holidays, we will have to skip this feature this week and next. 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 – with apologies for delays in shipping sales orders this week and next.
The FIFTH volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ by ANDY CHARD continues to sell well, as does the excellent ‘The Railways of SOUTH WALES 1975-1995‘ trilogy by Michael Rhodes, the latest release being PART 3 which is in stock at Williton now.
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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 next meeting of the Board of Directors and Trustees will take place at Williton on Saturday 18th October 2025. Please use our CONTACT FORM if you are a DEPG member and have a question that you would like to put to the Board.
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 !