Weekly Roundup – 03-Jul-22

Beyer Peacock Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was again working the Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return service on both Saturday and Sunday 2nd/3rd July 2022. This drone image capture shows the loco and six-coach train climbing out of Bishops Lydeard, having just crossed Watersmeet Bridge (where the B3224 to Exmoor leaves the A358) on the return leg of the second round trip on the Sunday. Photo by Don Bishop © CC BY-NC 3.0

Another enjoyable weekend with ‘Hymek’ D7018 working the Minehead to Bishops Lydeard diagram (two round trips totalling 80 miles), the weather starting wet but ending with glorious sunshine and clear skies – what else would we expect for July !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 waits for the token at the delightful and colourful Williton station as the steam-hauled service to Minehead arrives at platform 1. The ‘Hymek’ will take a break for the next two weekends and hand the baton over to the ‘Cromptons’. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

For our next two running dates, Sat/Sun 09/10 and 16/17 July, the ‘Hymek’ is taking a well-earned rest. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) is currently in position at Minehead and is expected to haul these services, although Class 33 volunteer loco manager Ian has requested that the loco be swapped with D6575 (33 057) for the weekend of 16/17 July to even up the running hours (each loco needs an ‘A’ exam every 50 hours). If this change takes place, we will publish the change via our DIESELGEN email bulletin service.

The BLUE timetable applies and can be found by clicking this link or by visiting our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page. Any additional or updated information will be announced by the WSR and via DIESELGEN as soon as possible. MANY THANKS for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

DIESEL RUNNING DATES – we now have a dedicated page on our website and we update it on a regular basis to provide a quick and easy reference to PUBLIC SERVICE diesel running for the whole of the 2022 season. We will be adding the link to all of our most-visited pages soon, but meanwhile the link can be found on our home page or by looking under the DIESELGEN menu header.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we will be aiming to deliver the above program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

This last weekend was the launch of the restoration project for Railbus W79978 which is based at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. The Railbus had been prepared for a weekend of demonstration running, but this was curtailed after the first few runs on the Saturday due to sticking valves in the compressed air system – an issue that affects most rail-based machines that do not get used regularly. The restoration project will resolve all such issues, but the disappointment of DEPG member and Railbus owner Martin Rouse must have been palpable, after the massive effort that was made to get the machine into demonstration fitness, with several succesful runs having taken place on the Friday. We empathise, having been there many times ourselves.

Railbus W79978 had to be shunted by diminutive Fowler 0-4-0DM 21442 ‘Woodbine’ after failing during its demonstration running at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on 2nd July 2022. Click here to read more about this vintage machine. Photo by Martin Rouse © CC BY-NC 3.0

All was not lost, because Railbus W79978 was put to good use as a static exhibit where the public could enter and view the interior – which included an information stand that also offered some DEPG merchandise in the form of our D1010 booklet and D7018 booklet. Many thanks to Martin for keeping the DEPG in mind and making the most of this opportunity to remind Swindonians about the existence of the DEPG.

Railbus W79978 was open to visitors at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on 2nd/3rd July 2022 and included an information stand that offered DEPG booklets, membership forms and Newsletters alongside other fund-raising items. Photo by Martin Rouse © CC BY-NC 3.0

OTHER NEWS: We hosted two visitors from YOUCHOOS on Sunday 3rd July and the WSR kindly issued a cab pass so that they could travel in the cab of ‘Hymek’ D7018 to record the sounds of the loco in operation; not just the engine, but every small detail such as doors opening and closing, engine starting and the sound of controls being moved. The reason – YOUCHOOS provide electronic sound cards to railway modellers so that their miniature locos can sound like the real thing. We hope to provide a link to the finished product as soon as it is ready.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER continues to receive donations and sponsorship of patches, and we now have quite a backlog of patches to engrave. The holdup has been the need to have the patches prepared sufficiently to allow the engraving to work well and provide a proper lasting mark on the metal itself, not just a mark through paint or filler. We still have plenty of patch areas to engrave, but here’s an example of a BIRTHDAY PRESENT WITH A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE:

Many thanks to the photographers who shared their work under a Creative Commons licence for this not-for-profit DEPG-themed birthday card. The proceeds were allocated to the D1010 Restoration Fund. © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 now carries an engraving commorating the 30th Birthday of Christopher Schiller, thanks to the support of father and DEPG member Ken. Many thanks to all who have supported and continue to support D1010 ! Photo taken at Williton on 25th June 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP, so click on the images below for an update of fundraising status or to make a donation. We are making steady progress on the restoration of this massive locomotive but we have a lot of expenses ahead of us, so we need to keep our fund raising effort going for a while longer yet. We know that times are hard, but please do what you can to help.

Continued progress on D1010 has now reached a milestone as Colin and his team have completed ALL BODYWORK REPAIRS ON THE ‘A’ SIDE OF THE LOCOMOTIVE and have now turned their attention to the ‘A’ cab front. The photos below tell the story. Work also took place on the headcode boxes, removing the layers of old paint, attending to corrosion and overhauling the mechanisms so that the roller blinds can actually roll ! There is a lot to do on this massive and complex locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

D1010 – this view of the cab roof on the secondman’s side at ‘A’ end shows a cracked weld that ran almost to the centre of the roof, allowing rainwater to enter and slowly rot the skin, especially in the corners. Photo taken at Williton on Monday 27th June 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – the damaged skin was removed and the support structure beneath was found to be in good condition, avoiding the need for further peeling. Photo taken at Williton on Monday 27th June 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – the big hole that had existed in this corner has now been repaired. The inner weld will be dressed after the windscreen has been removed (the window seals are known source of water leakage). Photo taken at Williton on Tuesday 28th June 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – the cab roof has now been repaired – another task that can be ticked off the list. Many thanks to Colin and his assistants Geoff and Tim for this superb work. Photo taken at Williton on Tuesday 28th June 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – the headcode boxes are getting attention from Bob and Gordon so that they can be re-fitted to the already completed ‘B’ end of the loco. Photo taken at Williton on Saturday 2nd July 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – Bob is the kind of volunteer who always tackles his work with an infectious smile and a laugh ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 2nd July 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page or click on the image below for more details !

NOTE: EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY DONATED £25 OR MORE SINCE JULY 2021 HAS BEEN RECOGNISED and has been allocated an appropriate area on one of the patches or parts that have already been applied to the loco. Donations of smaller sums that accumulate to £25 are also eligible, so donate what you can when you can, and we will keep track of your total donations. Use our CONTACT FORM if you want to register your previous donations to D1010 for this campaign.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – in a demonstration of the close co-operation between all restoration teams at Williton, Saturday 2nd July saw a re-organisation in the loco shed that allowed Class 14 D9518 to be moved further into the shed so that D7017 could be brought inside as well. This was done to allow the roof of the ‘Hymek’ to be removed to gain access to the engine components that need to be lifted out through the roof aperture. The prospect of having to do this outdoors during seagull nesting season was too dangerous (and unsanitary) to contemplate!

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was shunted into the loco shed on number 3 road at Williton on Saturday 2nd July so that her roof can be removed and the large and heavy engine components lifted out, to allow access to the cylinder head. Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF1) provided the tractive effort, seen here in the careful hands of Martin Howard. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was moved inside the loco shed on number 3 road at Williton on Saturday 2nd July so that her engine repairs can be progressed without the participation of the local seagull population. A nice touch is the illumination of the road indicator (orange arrow, top left) that was acquired from Bristol Bath Road depot, although we suspect that Martin already knew which road he was to choose – it would be the one with the open door! Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0