The DEPG’s Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ are undergoing preparation for their forthcoming duties. Both D7017 and D7018 are fully serviceable and ready to perform. D7018 was pictured at Loughborough while having her engine started in readiness for her Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT) on Wednesday 18th March 2026. She passed with flying colours. Image from a video by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 4.0
Click here or on the image below to watch the video of the start-up:
D7018 was started up at Loughborough in readiness for her Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT) on Wednesday 18th March 2026. Video by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 4.0
All DEPG efforts are being directed toward preparing our locos for their service commitments in the coming weeks, with D7018 in action on the GCR next week and D7017 in action on the WSR next weekend.
The WSR Infrastructure teams (both full-time and volunteer teams) have also been working flat-out to prepare the line for re-opening and the results will be clearly visible when the line reopens next weekend. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to both teams for their hard work – as evidenced by the photos below:
The WSR’s Class 03 shunter D2133 was put to good use on this special working from Minehead to Blue Anchor on Monday 16th March 2026 with the ‘Atlas’ crane, in connection with the refurbishment of the down inner home signal at Blue Anchor Station. Photo by Robin Wichard © CC BY-NC 4.0
A concrete retaining wall has been constructed to protect the line, following a minor landslip that occurred during the very wet weather in February. Pictured at Blue Anchor on Thursday 19th March 2026 by Robin Wichard © CC BY-NC 4.0
Evidence of a very neat and tidy lineside with spring flowers in abundance, the result of very hard work by the full-time and volunteer infrastructure teams. Pictured at Washford on Thursday 19th March 2026 by Jake Genge © CC BY-NC 4.0
After D7017 spent a week basking in the limelight of the HRA awards, this coming weekend will see her undergo an engine start and take some gentle exercise in the yard at Williton, as final preparation for her appearance in the WSR’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in ONE WEEK from now.
Sister loco D7018 is also being prepared for a Diesel Driver Experience Course at the GCR next week and 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 |
The much-travelled loco will then head back to the WSR in time for the DIESELS AT 65 EVENT that takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, where all five of our 65-year-olds (Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019), Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ D6566 (33048) and D6575 (33057) and Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ D7017 and D7018) will participate in a special birthday event featuring some very interesting combinations. Details will be announced nearer the time, but meanwhile GO AHEAD AND BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION to make the most of the long weekend !
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the re-opening, long-term WSR resident Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be in use on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2026 and will be working alongside home fleet steam locos to both kick-off the 2026 season and to commemorate the hard work and dedication of all those who made the re-opening possible, 50 years ago. The DEPG will be hosting an ‘OPEN YARD‘ with public access to lineside seating and viewing, with the ‘Irie 7’ hot food van and Rod’s Model Railway sales stand also available. Click here or on the image below for more details of this anniversary weekend.
The DIESELS at 65 event adds to the WSR 50 EVENTS FOR 2026, all of which covered in the graphic below. The WSR’s EVENTS and EXPERIENCES web page gives details on some of these events, and will be expanding soon to include the recently-announced events. Click here or on the graphic below to go to the WSR Calendar Page for details and dates.
SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL
The WSR have announced another visitor from the Wensleydale Railway in the form of Class 47 47714 (D1955, 47511), wearing the striking ‘Rail Express Systems (RES)‘ livery. This loco was built by Brush Traction at Loughborough and was one of later deliveries, entering service as D1955 in November 1966 and allocated to the ‘Western Lines’ pool of the London Midland Region (LMR). The loco became 47511 after conversion to Electric Train Heating (ETH) in March 1974 and was selected for conversion to push-pull operation, becoming 47714 in March 1985. While our own Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ is away at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, it will be great to have a ‘47‘ back at work on the WSR and this loco will no doubt be very popular.
Previously-announced Class 37 37250 (D6950) is another crowd-pleaser and will definitely help swell the crowds and make the event even more enjoyable than usual.
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 or on the image below to go to the WSR’s event page:
Our popular DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is in the process of being updated to cover the planned diesel-hauled services for 2026, but it will take a little longer to define the loco allocations. Meanwhile, the basic framework is there and the loco allocations will be added as soon as the information has been confirmed by the WSR. 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’ – the pace is quickening as the weather improves and allows for longer working hours in far more pleasant working conditions. The underside of the loco has now been painted and is looking very smart indeed. There has been more progress on the ‘B’ bogie and we are planning to get the equalising beams installed during the first week of April, then the primary springs can go back in. All in all, it feels like we are making progress !
D1010 – the fresh paint on the underframe at the ‘B’ end of the loco is evidence of the increasing pace of restoration work on this loco. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 14th March 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – more progress on the NDT work on the ‘B’ bogie with volunteer Thomas A pictured while preparing another area for the dye penetrant inspection process. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 14th March 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – on the other side of the ‘B’ bogie, volunteer Ian F surveys the next area to receive the attention of the Dye Penetrant. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 14th March 2026 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0
D1010 – one of the equalising beams from the primary suspension of the ‘B’ bogie was undergoing refurbishment at the workshops of subcontractor MATT HIGHAM on Saturday 14th March 2026. We expect to get these beams and the refurbished pedestal mounts back in the bogie during the first week of April. Photo by Matt Higham © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 08 08401 (D3516) – this loco is stabled on No. 2 road n the South Yard at Williton and will be in use on Saturday 21st March to shunt the yard and re-position various locos for maintenance and for return to service. Work continues in preparing this loco for her conversion to dual braking, with an equipment cabinet being installed earlier this week to house the control gear for the exhausters.
08401 (D3516) – the equipment cabinet that houses the exhauster control gear was installed onto the loco at Williton on Tuesday 17th March 2026. Photo by Tony Austin © CC BY-NC 4.0
Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is still a few weeks away from a return to duty at Bishops Lydeard, but the number of outstanding tasks has reduced to just a handful and the loco will then be ready for her annual Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT). This weekend should see the cab flooring being completed (thank you JT) and the repaired coolant pump refitted (thank you Colin F and Reece), leaving Ian R and Tom with the oil leak to sort out and the compressor governor to adjust. All in a day’s work !
Just to make life interesting, this loco will have to vacate the loco shed on Saturday 21st March to make way for Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048), but the outstanding tasks can be carried out in the nice weather that we are currently enjoying, so it will all work out well.
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is due to move indoors on Saturday 21st March by swapping places with Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). This will allow her roof to be removed for repair and will also allow her repaired exhauster to be lowered-in via the designated route, rather than manhandled along the narrow walkway alongside the engine!
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ and available for use if required.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is fully serviceable and will undergo some ‘yard exercise’ at Williton this weekend, to ensure that she is fully ready for her booked appearance at the WSR’s 50th ANNIVERSARY weekend on 28/29 March.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will remain at the GCR for some charter services and also 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.
Please do try and go along to one or more of these events to show your support for D7018 and help ensure that her visits are a big success !
Here are the running dates for D7018 on the GCR:
| Day and Date | Event | Notes |
| 25-26 March | D7018 Driver Experience | Contact the GCR for more info |
| 15 April | Photo Charter – tank train | Contact the GCR for more info |
| 23-26 April | Spring Diesel Gala | Contact the GCR for more info |
| 29th April | D7018 Driver Experience | Contact the GCR for more info |
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the need for pre-season training depleted the team on this loco this week, but the training has now been done and the team will be back on the case during this coming week.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain until relieved by Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).
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 been taken from stock at Williton and the motor has been sent to a specialist subcontractor for reconditioning. It will then be sent to the NYMR for installation into 47077. This work is taking longer than planned because it required the complete rewinding of the armature, so it is likely to take another week or so and will cost around £4,000.
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, when the line re-opens.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco was moved from Number 1 road to Number 2 road at Williton last Saturday so that she could receive some attention to her fuel filters. Meanwhile, Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) is available for shunting duties.
Barclay 578 (ROF 1) – the coarse fuel strainer has become coated with gummy residue and this is resulting in fuel starvation. The fuel tank and fuel system will need to be cleaned and purged (again) to resolve this problem and make this loco reliable again. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 17th March 2026 by Tony Austin © CC BY-NC 4.0
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 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 – this week, we have some more photos from DAVID HINGSTON, being scans from old slides dating back to the 1960s that did not carry any identification, so a bit of detective work has been required. Starting with the easy ones (easy for me, anyway), here are two images taken from opposite ends of platform 3 at Cardiff General Station (renamed as Cardiff Central from May 1973 onward).
The first image is looking across to platforms 1 and 2 which are the ‘up’ platforms (heading East), and a 6-car Swindon-built Class 120 ‘Cross-Country’ DMU can be seen at Platform 2, most likely destined for Birmingham Snow Hill. Taking the up relief line through the station is Class 47 D1673 (47087, 47624) ‘CYCLOPS’ running light engine. This sets the date as AFTER June 1966 because ‘CYCLOPS‘ was named in that month and her nameplate is visible in this image.
Here are some of the notes that David sent with his photos:
“Cardiff General – that pic was almost certainly taken while waiting for the Plymouth Argyle special to return to Devon after probably an early exit from the FA cup at the hands of Cardiff City.
Although … through the wonderful resources of the internet, I find that the only three dates that Argyle played Cardiff away in the second half of the 1960s was 1 Jan 1966, 15 Oct 1966 and 19 August 1967.
The first two of those matches resulted in 5-1 and 7-1 trounces and after the third match Argyle were relegated !
I know it was the second half of the 1960s because I had started as an apprentice in Devonport Dockyard in 1965 and made a friend who was a serious Argle fan and railway enthusiast, so that was when I started occasionally going to away matches by train.”
Also in the collection of ‘mystery slides’ was another image taken at Cardiff, most likely on the same day as the other photo, this time from the far end of platform 3 looking east, with a Cardiff-based Class 37 approaching with a train of loose coupled 21-t mineral wagons, which, if full of coal, were on their way to Aberthaw Power Station on the west side of Cardiff (beyond Barry), but if empty, would only make it as far as Woodham’s Yard in Barry which is where they would be cut up for scrap, and helping to save all those ex-GWR steam engines for future preservation ! From close inspection of the image, the loco is is either D6875 (37175) or D6975 (37275). Both were green with small yellow panel at that time and both were vacuum braked and steam heat, so it is difficult to choose between them. Interestingly, both ’37s’ are still in service today, but the ’47’ and the DMU went for scrap a long time ago.
Many thanks to David for sharing his memories and photos with us all.
Class 47 D1673 (47087, 47624) ‘CYCLOPS’ takes the up relief through Cardiff General Station while a 6-car Swindon-built Class 120 ‘Cross-Country’ DMU waits at Platform 2 before heading east then north toward Birmingham Snow Hill. The date – either 15th October 1966 or 19th August 1967. Photo by David Hingston © CC BY-NC 4.0
A Cardiff Canton-based Class 37, either D6875 (37175) or D6975 (37275) approaches Cardiff General Station from the east with a trainload of 21-t mineral wagons destined for Aberthaw Power Station if loaded with coal – or otherwise for Woodham’s Yard! The date – either 15th October 1966 or 19th August 1967. Photo by David Hingston © CC BY-NC 4.0
Today’s plan view of Cardiff Central Station differs only in the addition of Platforms 0 and 8, but has changed beyond all recognition in terms of surroundings, as the city has grown up around it and low-level dwellings have been swept away and replaced by hi-rise hotels. All through roads are now electrified. Image by OpenSteetMaps © 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
This week, we are pleased to announce 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 with a release date of Sunday 22nd March 2026. This new book will be flying off the shelves, so CLICK HERE to place your order NOW. This is a hardback book that is close to A4 in size and has 176 pages with 230 images, so the price of £29.95 is well justified.
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: our recently-restored ‘NiftyLift’ Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP or ‘Cherry Picker’ in common parlance) gained it’s LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) certificate earlier this week and was immediately put to use by our insurance assessor to inspect the 2 tonne gantry crane in the loco shed. The restoration of this 2001-vintage machine is the result of many hours of patient work by Tony, Gwyn, JT and several others, who have together managed to bring this machine back from near-total dilapidation to the fully working and certificated machine that we see today. WELL DONE TEAM!
The fully-restored and certificated ‘NiftyLift’ MEWP was put to use by Allianz Insurance Assessor Steve at Williton on Tuesday 17th March 2026 for the purpose of inspecting the 2 tonne gantry crane. Pictured alongside Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) by Tony Austin © 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 !