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Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) had some good company in the form of English Electric Class 37 37423 D6996, 37296) for the first two weeks of the year, thanks to a filming contract. The two locos were pictured in Westridge shed on 17th January 2025 by Europhoenix driver Matt Hunt © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR got off to a great start in 2025 with plenty of activity at Bishops Lydeard and elsewhere on the line in connection with a filming contract. We were not able to cover this at the time, but the restrictions have now been lifted and we have a lot to talk about, although our scope has to be limited to traction and vehicles !

English Electric Class 37 37423 D6996, 37296) is almost 60 years old and is still busy at work on the main line, now in the care of Europhoenix. Pictured in Westridge shed at Bishops Lydeard with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) on 17th January 2025. Photo by Matt Hunt © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The filming involved the use of four coaches (three Mk 2 and one Mk 3 sleeper) that had been hired and specially prepared ‘elsewhere’ and arrived on the WSR on Monday 6th January behind the ’37’. An issue arose almost immediately, when it was realised that the train was the wrong way around for the filming, and it had to be turned on the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren (the existence of which was quite convenient and saved a lot of time and cost). This gave an opportunity for Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) to top and tail the stock with the Class 37, both locos being air brake fitted. Photos of this movement are rare indeed, but we happen to have the following:

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) led the consist along the west chord of the Norton Fitzwarren triangle, heading for Allerford along the truncated spur of the Barnstaple branch. Class 37 37423 D6996, 37296) was at the tail end. Pictured on Tuesday 7th January 2025 by Matt Hunt © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

A little later and with some decent daylight brightening the picture, a reversing movement placed English Electric Class 37 37423 D6996, 37296) at the head of the consist, ready to draw forward to Barnstaple Junction where the ’33’ would then take charge again and haul the train back to Bishops Lydeard via the east chord. Pictured on 7th January 2025 by Matt Hunt © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This extract from the WSR Rule Book, Map 10 shows that the Allerford spur is all that remains of the Barnstaple branch. To see the Rule Book maps and many more, go to the wsr.org.uk website by clicking this link. Image courtesy of WSR plc © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The actual filming sequences were ‘off limits’ to all but essential staff and volunteers, so we will have to wait to see the results (we will share the screening information when we receive it), but the visiting loco and stock and associated movements certainly brightened up the month ! WELL DONE to all involved in winning the contract for the WSR and delivering exactly what the director wanted !

 

With filming duties completed, the loco and stock departed from Bishops Lydeard on Sunday 19th January 2025 and headed for Great Yarmouth. The raw power of the type was clearly being demonstrated as 37423 D6996, 37296) accelerated her train to line speed. Photo by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Away from the excitement of the film set, the two ‘Cromptons’ were both in action on a ‘Tidy Train’ working on Saturday 18th January, with D6566 (33048) working the train as far as Williton where sister D6575 (33057) swapped places and took the train back to Norton Fitzwarren. The regular swap-over allows both locos to get a balanced share of useage and maintenance, which contributes to their excellent reliability.

Class 33 D6566 (33048) hauled the ‘Tidy Train’ from Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 18th January 2025, seen here at Greenway Wood, just north of Bishops Lydeard station on the outward leg of the journey. Photo by Paul Main © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The locos were swapped at Williton, so Class 33 D6575 (33057) worked the return leg and was pictured in the afternoon of Saturday 18th January 2025 while at standstill with a well loaded train at Quarkhill Bridge on the approach to Stogumber Station. Photo by Paul Main © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

AN EVENT ON THE EAST LANCS RAILWAY (ELR)

On Saturday 18th January, the ELR held an event that showcased their fleet of diesel shunting locos, with rides in their ‘Pacer’ units included for those who wanted a reminder of the riding qualities of those wonderful (!) machines. Demand was so high that a second set had to be coupled up to create a 4-car set. The event was enhanced further by a wide range of preserved diesels being on static display, including Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7076.

WELL DONE to the ELR … and food for thought for the WSR …

 

Hudswell Clarke ‘Arundel Castle’, works number D1076 of 1959, previously operated as 4002 on the Manchester Ship Canal Railway System and was in use for passenger haulage on the ELR on Saturday 18th January 2025. Pictured at Summerseat Halt by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7076 was on static display at Bury Bolton Street Station on the ELR on Saturday 18th January 2025 along with several other preserved mainline diesels. Photo by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

D7017 UPDATE

Work is proceeding apace at Minehead, as a combined WSR and DEPG team make progress on the bodywork repairs that are necessary to allow this loco to celebrate her 50th year in preservation in fine style. The team have been removing the bodyside windows and grilles to repair the corrosion damage beneath them, and this has also exposed some additional corrosion that has had to be dealt with.

As we reported last week, the fundraiser for the bodywork repairs for ‘Hymek’ D7017 has now passed the target of £10,000 with a total of £10,684 being raised in the eleven weeks since launching the appeal.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT !

We set the target at £10,000 to cover the expected cost of the work that is already taking place at the WSR’s workshops at Minehead. This sub-contract route was taken to make sure that the loco gets repaired during the winter and is able to take pole position in the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hymek’ preservation that will take place in the summer of this year.

The target has been reached, but we are going to keep the fundraiser open until the work is completed, to make sure that we have sufficient funding to cover any unexpected costs, and make sure that a thorough and long-lasting repair is carried out. All funds donated via this appeal will be allocated to returning D7017 to service in time for the forthcoming season.

 

 

Can you help ? Click here to donate £17 to D7017 !

 

 

 

 

 

If you can help with this short-term appeal, please make a donation via our website (click on the icons above or below) or by bank app or by sending a cheque to the DEPG at Williton. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

        

 

 

The aluminium bodyside windows and grille surrounds have been removed from Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and are now back at Williton to undergo restoration prior to being refitted to the loco. Pictured on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Preparation work for the re-paint of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 has revealed the corrosion that has been taking place behind the trims and grilles along the bodyside. Pictured at Minehead on Friday 17th January 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The air vent of the former boiler room of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 has suffered from corrosion that has been taking place out of sight, behind the aluminium trim. This area will need to be cut out and new sheet steel welded in. Pictured at Minehead on Friday 17th January 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

WSR NEWS

The WSR have now published their running calendar for 2025 on their website and social media channels, and we have updated our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page including provisional loco allocations, some of which are subject to change to align with the availability of the locos and the crews. As the information becomes available, we will update our page and send out a DIESELGEN bulletin with the clarification.

Click here or on the image below to visit the WSR’s timetable page:

 

The WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL has been confirmed as being Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th with a Mixed Traction Day  on Sunday 8th of June 2025.

 

Click here to join the DEPG

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’ – the priority during the last week has been to remove the cardan shafts from the ‘A’ bogie and get them sent out to specialist subcontractor FIROW PROPSHAFTS for assessment and any repairs that may be necessary. The ‘A’ bogie has been largely untouched since being released from under the loco back in July 2024, because effort has been concentrated on the ‘B’ bogie which was known to be showing more advanced signs of wear than the ‘A’ bogie.

As several cardan shafts have now been overhauled and returned to Williton, it has become necessary to send the remaining shafts so that we know what we have that is good and what we have that needs money spent on it. The list is currently as follows:

Shaft	Loco end	Status
Engine to transmission	A	At Firow, awaiting assessment
	B	At Firow, awaiting assessment
Transmission to Intermediate Gearbox	A	Overhauled, being returned to Williton
	B	Overhauled, being returned to Williton
Transmission to Dynastarter	A	Overhauled, already back in store at Williton
	B	Overhauled, already back in store at Williton
Transmission to Serck pump	A	Overhauled, already back in store at Williton
	B	Overhauled, already back in store at Williton
Bogie shaft 1	A	Not yet removed from the bogie
	B	At Firow, in need of repair
Bogie shaft 2	A	Not yet removed from the bogie
	B	At Firow, in need of repair
Bogie shaft 3	A	Not yet removed from the bogie
	B	At Firow, in need of repair

 

This table will be updated as we receive the reports for the shafts that have yet to be assessed. It is no surprise that some of the 50-year-old shafts on the bogies will need repair or replacement – they have lasted a long time already – but we do need to know precisely so that we can budget for the expenditure. Hopefully the remaining three shafts (which have already been freed from their fastenings) will be lifted off the bogie during the next week or two and will be found to be in better condition than those on the ‘B’ bogie.

D1010 – pictured while removing the cardan shafts from the ‘A’ bogie at Williton on a very cold Saturday 18th January 2025, recent recruit Ethan lets his dad Jason release the lock tabs before they both work together to undo the very close-fitting bolts that hold the shafts tight against the flanges. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

The bodyside of a ‘Western’ has three windows per side, one in each engine compartment with sliding glass panes, and a central window with a single fixed pane. The central window on the ‘A’ side of D1010 has been missing for many years and had been replaced by a ‘temporary’ Perspex window and has since been boarded up.

HERE IS A QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE A WINDOW FROM A ‘WESTERN’ ? We know that some centre windows were removed from scrap locos by souvenir hunters during the open days at Swindon Works (all done with permission, of course) and such items might have found their way into garden sheds or perhaps have other innovative uses. If you have one, then D1010 could benefit from you donating it. Here’s a photo that shows the internal detail of one of these windows.

D1010 – this photo shows the rather complicated internal detail of the centre window on the ‘B’ side of the loco. The equivalent on the ‘A’ side of the loco is missing altogether and has been boarded up. CAN YOU HELP ? Pictured at Williton on 4th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Our appeals for MORE VOLUNTEERS are working because we have had two additional potential volunteers come forward in the last week, which is great news, 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. The bitterly cold weather is preventing us from spending outdoor time on the engraving, so we will need to leave this work a little longer, at least until the temperature is back in double digits.

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) – there is a big push being made to get the work on this loco completed so that she can return to service in time for the start of the season (mid-March). The major tasks are close to completion, so another week or two should allow us to prepare the loco for her Vehicle Inspection and Brake Test (VIBT). The replacement compressor was re-installed in the loco last Saturday and now needs the electrical connections to be hooked up and the compartment doors fitted back in place. The Oleo buffers have been overhauled and will be delived back to Williton soon. The various welding repairs and other maintenance tasks have been progressed by the team and are close to being finished, so we are getting there!

D4107 (09019) – the replacement compressor has now been installed in the loco and is ready for the electrical hook-up. DEPG Chairman and volunteer Martin gives instruction to Bob while Terry approaches with some additional lighting. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D4107 (09019) – Bob provides some encouragement to the electrical conduit to get it to line up with the compressor housing so that the electrical hook-up can take place. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – as already mentioned, this loco has now returned to Williton to enjoy some rest and relaxation while her sister takes on the role of Duty Loco.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has now become the Duty Loco, after moving to Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 18th January.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – already covered. This loco celebrated her 63rd birthday on Thursday 8th January 2025, after entering service at Bristol Bath Road depot on Monday 8th January 1962.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco celebrated her 63rd birthday on Saturday 18th January and was given the ‘gift’ of an overhauled transmission, all nicely painted in ‘Rail Grey’ and ready to be lifted back into the loco. The crane has been booked for Saturday 8th February, after which the loco will undergo some static tests before an engine start is attempted. After startup, there will be more tests before the loco will be allowed to exercise in the yard and eventually go out on a test run.

Between now and the 8th February, work will take place within the loco to prepare for the re-installation of the transmission. One item that needs cleaning and inspection before re-attachment is the transmission heat exchanger, which has the important job of cooling the transmission fluid to keep the temperature within limits when the loco is working hard. The drawing for the heat exchanger was reviewed last Saturday and the data table on the drawing was seen to include some jaw-dropping figures that show just how much work these relatively simple components have to do. Take a look at this:

D7018 – Beyer Peacock drawing number 135335 gives details of the heat exchangers. The item most of interest is that for the transmission, pictured above. The data table includes some interesting information. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – zooming in on the data table of Beyer Peacock drawing number 135335, the flow rates and heat transfer capacities are significant! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the crane has been booked to visit site to lift the cab assembly back on to the frames on Saturday 8th February, so work has now shifted to the engine overhaul and the restoration of the many small parts that have been removed from the loco in the past and will soon need to be re-installed. These driver’s desk gauges show the attention to detail that the team is building into this restoration project. Excellent work indeed !

D9518 – the missing gauges from the driver’s desk have been found and restored to their former glory. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the original AEI pressure switches (Start Oil Pressure Switch and Run Oil Pressure Switch) from the loco have been overhauled and found to be working perfectly, even though they are 60 years old ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 – this loco celebrated her 60th birthday on Monday 6th January, as announced in an earlier post (click here for the post and for a video clip of her most recent engine run). This loco will enter the loco shed some time in the spring and will undergo engine maintenance and receive a paint refresh in time for her appearance at the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL 2025.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we look forward to seeing this loco being in regular use during 2025 !

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco has been very busy shunting both yards at Williton in connection with the re-location of the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust’s carriage collection from Williton to Washford. This loco will be in use again next week, so we look forward to being able to share some more photos in a future roundup. Here’s a photo of one of the coaches that this little loco has been shunting:

The WSRHT‘s Collett 1935-vintage Third Class Corridor coach, TK 5856, pictured at Williton on Saturday 18th January 2025 by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 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 are featuring a new release from Pen & Sword, another in the series of locomotive studies by ANTHONY P. SAYER and no doubt destined for similar positive reviews, as has been the case for other publications from this author (click here for details). His target this time is the short-lived Class 23 ‘Baby Deltic’, a rare example of a product from the English Electric stable that did not deliver on it’s promises. Anthony digs deep into the background and presents the story in his usual style, complete with fine detail.

Here’s the description text that has been provided by the publisher, Pen & Sword:

     “The British Railways ‘Pilot Scheme’ orders of 1955 included ten English Electric Type 2 diesel-electric locomotives deploying Napier ‘Deltic’ engines. These locomotives, more colloquially known as the ‘Baby Deltics’, were introduced into traffic during 1959 for use on the Eastern Region of British Railways. This book looks at the history of the Class 23s, making extensive use of available but previously unpublished archive material, covering their introduction, technical idiosyncrasies, appearance design and performance. Issues with the original ‘Deltic’ engines were ultimately dealt with via a major rehabilitation exercise during the 1963-65 period; whilst various re-engining options were considered , including a new ‘U’ series English Electric high-speed engine design, the original Napier engines were ultimately retained. The work involved in the whole rehabilitation process is discussed in detail using internal English Electric archive material and forms a central focus of research. The fleet survived intact until 1968, when withdrawal commenced as a direct result of declining traffic levels across the UK, with successive National Traction Plans progressively selecting the less successful, non-standard and ‘numerically-challenged’ classes for removal from traffic. All ten locomotives were withdrawn by March 1971. Individual locomotive histories, allocations, fire and accident incidents, liveries and detail differences, storage and disposals are provided for each locomotive.”

Price £32 – NOTE: RRP is £35 so save £3 by buying from the DEPG !

Click here to obtain your copy of this new book.

Other books in this popular series are also available from the DEPG online store (classes 14, 17 and 22)

More new books will be added to our website during the coming days. Here’s a quick preview – please use our CONTACT FORM if you would like us to reserve one or more of these titles for you:

The Railways of South Wales 1975-1995 Part 1 – by Michael Rhodes – price £21.95	The Berks & Hants Line – 40 Years from the Lineside – by Stephen Dance – price £22.95
Railways of Cornwall – A Decade of Change – Part 1 – by Keith Barrow – price £20.95	Winners & Losers – Loco Bashing Tales from the 1990s – by Andy Chard – £18.95

 

 

ON SHED: this week, we move to South Wales and a photo of a nice clean Class 37 (there were some!) at Cardiff Canton (CF) shed, taken by the late Mike Evans in June of 1984. The ’37s’ were the backbone of South Wales operations, covering most of the numerous freight workings of the time, but some (with steam heat boilers) also covering passenger workings.

The subject loco, 37229 (formerly D6929) had been named ‘The Cardiff Rod Mill‘ just one month prior, which explains the tidy condition of the loco when it was captured by Mike’s camera. The loco was delivered new to Swansea Landore (LE) depot in February of 1964 and was a steady performer for the next 40 years before ending up at Booth’s scrap yard in Rotherham.

Class 37 37229 (D6929) ‘The Cardiff Rod Mill’ was on shed at Cardiff Canton in the company of a Class 45/46 ‘Peak’ and a Class 33 ‘Crompton’ in June of 1984. Photo by the late Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the next meeting of the Board of Trustees will take place at Williton on Saturday 25th January. If you have any questions that you would like to place before the Board, please get in touch by using the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

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 !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

DEPG volunteer Ashley, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) and the Wolf Moon were pictured together on a chilly Saturday evening 11th January 2025 while the loco underwent some routine maintenance at Williton. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Volunteering at a railway yard in January can be a rather cold experience, but the solution is to wear plenty of layers and to keep busy. This was certainly the case last Saturday 11th January, when the yard was alive with activities taking place both inside and outside of the loco shed. As usual, there were multiple priorities being tackled by several teams, all with a view to getting their key tasks completed before the end of the working day.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) has been the ‘duty loco’ at Bishops Lydeard for the last few months while D6575 (33057) has been residing at the yard for planned maintenance, but the two will swap places on Saturday 18th so that the slightly older loco can receive some TLC at Williton. Other locos receiving attention at Williton were Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018, both outside the shed, and Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear D9518 receiving attention inside the shed.

In parallel, another team of volunteers (both DEPG and WSR) were at work at Minehead, progressing the bodywork repairs on Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017, with a view to getting all of the corroded areas of bodywork cut out and new metal welded in. The roof, the skirts, the bodyside grilles and now the bodyside windows have all been removed so that the repairs can be as thorough as possible, to give the loco another long lease of life as she approaches her 50th year in preservation !

 

As we reported last week, the fundraiser for the bodywork repairs for ‘Hymek’ D7017 has now passed the target of £10,000 with a total of £10,366 being raised in the ten weeks since launching the appeal.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT !

We set the target at £10,000 to cover the expected cost of the work that is already taking place at the WSR’s workshops at Minehead. This sub-contract route was taken to make sure that the loco gets repaired during the winter and is ready to take pole position in the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hymek’ preservation that will take place in the summer of this year.

The work is progressing but we are finding more corroded metal as we go along, so are going to keep the fundraiser open for a while longer to make sure that we have sufficient funding to cover the costs, and make sure that a thorough and long-lasting repair is carried out. All funds donated via this appeal will be allocated to returning D7017 to service in time for the forthcoming season.

 

Can you help ? Click here to donate £17 to D7017 !

 

 

 

 

 

If you can help with this short-term appeal, please make a donation via our website (click on the icons above or below) or by bank app or by sending a cheque to the DEPG at Williton. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

        

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured at Minehead on Tuesday 7th January 2025 after being hauled out of the loco shed by the WSR’s Class 03 D2133 to undergo removal of her roof sections, courtesy of the WSR’s ‘Atlas’ rail-mounted crane. Photo by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is slowly being stripped back to reveal the areas of corrosion and allow repairs to be carried out. Pictured at Minehead on Tuesday 7th January 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Back in the warm and dry loco shed, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 minus her roof, skirts and radiator grille is looking a little sad, but this is only temporary. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible – thanks to your help ! Pictured at Minehead on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

WSR NEWS

The WSR have now published their running calendar for 2025 on their website and social media channels, and we have updated our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page including provisional loco allocations, some of which are subject to change to align with the availability of the locos and the crews. As the information becomes available, we will update our page and send out a DIESELGEN bulletin with the clarification.

Click here or on the image below to visit the WSR’s timetable page:

 

The WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL has been confirmed as being Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th with a Mixed Traction Day  on Sunday 8th of June 2025.

 

Click here to join the DEPG

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’ – as reported last week, the stormy weather had dislodged the wooden beams that support the tarpaulins over the cooler group apertures, with the result that the tarpaulins had sagged into the apertures and then filled up with water. We couldn’t resolve this at the time of discovery because the water was still partly frozen, but the ‘warmer’ weather on Saturday 11th allowed us to tackle the job and get the beams back in place. We found that several of the ratchet straps had failed and allowed the tarpaulins to become slack, after which is was simply a matter of time before the beams became dislodged. Here are the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs:

D1010 – the tarpaulin had sagged into the cooler group aperture and filled with water, which had to be removed before the beam could be put back in place and the tarpaulin repositioned. This is the ‘B’ end, pictured at Williton on 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the tarpaulin at ‘A’ end was corrected first, and is pictured with the beam in place and the tarpaulin back in the proper position. Photo dated 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Another task that needed doing was to re-dose the heat exchangers with anti-freeze to make sure that they could resist any sustained cold spell that might make it as far south as Williton. Although the engines and cooler groups have been removed from the loco and are safely stored, the heat exchangers remain inside the loco body and have water trapped within them. Adding a dose of anti-freeze helps to ensure that we do not get a nasty – and expensive – surprise when the time comes to put coolant back in the system.

D1010 – the heat exchangers were dosed with anti-freeze by Ian F and Gordon to make sure that they do not get damaged by sub-zero weather conditions. Photo of the ‘A’ end dated 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This weekend, the focus will shift to the ‘A’ bogie which will undergo the removal of the cardan shafts to allow them to be sent out to a specialist subcontractor for inspection and repair if necessary. The shafts from ‘B’ bogie have already been evaluated and we have a mixed report, some good, some bad, and we will provide more details on this subject in the next roundup.

Our appeals for MORE VOLUNTEERS are working because we have had three potential volunteers come forward in the last week, but WE 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.

D1010 – Gordon was pictured while making sure that his beloved locomotive was properly protected against the vagaries of the Great British climate. Photo dated 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Apologies to those D1010 sponsors who have yet to receive the photos and certificates for the patches that they have sponsored. The bitterly cold weather is preventing us from spending outdoor time on the engraving, so we will need to leave this work a little longer, at least until the temperature is back in double digits.

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 14 cardan shafts and 32 springs.

MANY THANKS to all who have sponsored and supported the RESTORATION of D1010 !

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – great progress this week on several fronts, with the ‘top end’ engine work being handled by Ian R, Tom and Ashley while Tony continued with the repairs to the corrosion damage that has affected some parts of the bodywork of this 63-year-old loco. Meanwhile, John was also at work in the loco cab installing the electronic Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) which will provide a much higher level of protection for the electrical equipment on board the loco in the event of a fault arising. There is still quite a lot of work to do on this loco, including the re-installation of the compressor and the fitting of the refurbished buffers, but we are getting there.

Radiator housing with holes …	Radiator housing welded …	Radiator housing painted !

D4107 (09019) – DEPG volunteer Tony has been busy repairing the corroded areas of the radiator housing. The three photos above show the typical progression from rotted to repaired. Pictured at Williton on Friday 10th January 2025 by Tony Austin © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D4107 (09019) – general maintenance – the new air filter material is being cut to size by Tom and will be installed in the filter housings that are being cleaned by Ashley, in the background. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D4107 (09019) – some of the filter housings do not want to come apart and need some attention. This is being provided by Tom at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025. Photo by Andy Royal  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco has been outstationed at Bishops Lydeard where she has covered the role of duty loco, but it is now her turn to enjoy some rest and relaxation at Williton, so she will swap roles with her slightly younger sister on Saturday 18th January.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is fully serviceable and will take over the role of duty loco, moving to Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 18th January.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – already covered. This loco celebrated her 63rd birthday on Thursday 8th January 2025, after entering service at Bristol Bath Road depot on Monday 8th January 1962.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – what a fantastic birthday present ! This loco will celebrate her 63rd birthday on Saturday 18th January by which time her repaired Stone-Maybach Mekydro transmission will be fully repainted into ‘Rail Grey’ and ready for re-installation. This is the culmination of many months of patient and careful work by the ‘transmission team’ led by Colin F.

We are also delighted to report that Colin F returned to work last week after suffering a stroke in the runup to Christmas. He has made a marvellous and rapid recovery, no doubt because he couldn’t wait to get back to the task of completing this project. A massive vote of thanks goes to the NHS in Taunton for their very fast response and the top-notch care and attention that they gave to Colin.

The crane has been booked for Saturday 8th February, after which the loco will undergo some static tests before an engine start is attempted. After startup, there will be more tests before the loco will be allowed to exercise in the yard and eventually go out on a test run.

We look forward to seeing this loco back in service again. GREAT JOB, TEAM T !

D7018 – the Stone-Maybach ‘Mekydro’ k184u transmission has been re-assembled and was pictured at Williton on Tuesday 7th January 2025 wearing a coat of green primer before receiving grey undercoat and grey gloss. Photo by Tim Zilkha © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – and a view from the input end – pictured at Williton on Tuesday 7th January 2025 by Tim Zilkha © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – while the team wait for the crane to visit site to lift the cab assembly back on to the frames (now planned for Saturday February 8th), work proceeds on the engine overhaul and on the many parts that have been removed from the engine and that are soon to be needed for the rebuild stage.

The engine has a story to tell, because it was originally built as a demonstrator for an electrical power generator project, but after completing that task it returned to the Paxman factory and was used as a training engine for apprentices. When production of this type of engine ended, it entered the spare parts pool and was acquired for D9526, which it powered for many years before being removed for overhaul in 2017. There is a bit more to this story and we will share that news in the next roundup.

D9518 – the Paxman 6YJXL engine is being rebuilt by Terry (pictured) and the ‘Tuesday Team’. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the crankshaft of the Paxman 6YJXL engine is being shown off by Terry while one of the six cylinder heads gets a coat of paint from Colin G at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the worksplate of the engine was pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the serial number is prefixed with the year of manufacture – 1964 – pictured at Williton on Saturday 11th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 – this loco celebrated her 60th birthday on Monday 6th January, as announced in our previous post (click here for the post and for a video clip of her most recent engine run). This loco will enter the loco shed some time in the spring and will undergo engine maintenance and receive a paint refresh in time for her appearance at the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL 2025.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we look forward to seeing this loco being in regular use during 2025 !

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco has been very busy shunting both yards at Williton in connection with the re-location of the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust’s carriage collection from Williton to Washford. This loco will be in use again in the coming week, and photos have already appeared elsewhere covering this work, so here is one from Tuesday 14th January, slightly outside the date range of this roundup:

Barclay 578 (ROF 1) has seen quite a lot of use lately in connection with the re-location of heritage coaches from Williton to Washford. Pictured in the South Yard at Williton on Tuesday 14th January 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 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: sorry, but we will have to skip this feature this week due to lack of time.

 

ON SHED: this week we have another photo from Trevor Tremethick’s collection, this time featuring well turned out Class 47 47602 (D1780, 47185, 47824 ‘Glorious Devon’ waiting in the yard at Truro. The footbridge is crowded with spectators waiting for BR(W) 4-6-0 7029 ‘CLUN CASTLE’ to charge through with a charter service. Knowing of the friendly (?) rivalry between Devon and Cornwall, Trevor’s caption made me smile:

47602 ‘Glorious Devon’ at Truro 06.09.85. Obviously sent to wind up the Cornish on the day of Clun Castle’s visit.

Many thanks to Trevor for sharing his photo with us all.

Class 47 47602 (D1780, 47185, 47824 ‘Glorious Devon’ waits in the yard at Truro for a charter service headed by preserved steam loco 7029 ‘CLUN CASTLE’ to pass through. Photo dated 6th September 1985 by Trevor Tremethick © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the next meeting of the Board of Trustees will take place at Williton on Saturday 25th January. If you have any questions that you would like to place before the Board, please get in touch by using the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

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 !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured at Minehead sandwiched between WSR 2-6-0 ‘Mogul’ 9351 and Class 03 D2133 while undergoing removal of her roof sections on a cold but sunny Tuesday 7th January 2025. Photo by Harry Spencer © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

GREAT NEWS – the fundraiser for the bodywork repairs for ‘Hymek’ D7017 has now passed the target of £10,000 with a total of £10,150 being raised in the nine weeks since launching the appeal.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT !

We set the target at £10,000 to cover the cost of the work that is already taking place at the WSR’s workshops at Minehead. This sub-contract route was taken to make sure that the loco gets repaired during the winter and is ready to take pole position in the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hymek’ preservation that will take place in 2025.

The work has now reached the roof of the loco which is formed of five separate sections, all of which were lifted off during a work session at Minehead on Tuesday 7th January using the WSR’s Atlas rail-mounted crane under the supervision of well-known preservationist Andy Forster. Many thanks to Andy and all of the staff and volunteers who have put so much effort into getting the work on this loco progressed. We still have plenty more to do and are finding more tasks as we go along, so we will keep the fund-raising going while the work is in progress. All funds donated via this appeal will be allocated to returning D7017 to service in time for the forthcoming season.

If you can help with this short-term appeal, please make a donation via our website (click on the icons below) or by bank app or by sending a cheque to the DEPG at Williton. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

        

 

Six members of the team who have been working on Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 were gathered to pose for a photo at Minehead on Tuesday 7th January 2025. From left to right, Buzz, Neil, Rich, Terry, Nick and Gwyn. Photo by Harry Spencer © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is undergoing a bodywork overhaul at the WSR’s Minehead workshop with a combined team effort from WSR staff and DEPG volunteers. On Tuesday 7th January 2025, the Atlas rail-mounted crane was used to remove the roof sections so that they can be repainted at ground level. Photo by Harry Spencer © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

As ‘insurance’ against unexpected costs, we are keeping the appeal open a little while longer, so if you can help, simply click on the icon to donate £17 to D7017 ! Thank you very much !

 

 

 

 

WSR NEWS

January started with the NEW YEAR’S DAY WHISTLE-UP which celebrated the start of the RAIL 200 CELEBRATIONS ! Click here or on the image below to find out more about the forthcoming 200th anniversary event.

 

As West Somerset Railway’s youngest volunteer, Elliott had the honour of being asked to honk the horn of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) at Bishops Lydeard as part of the Railway 200 whistle-up celebrations on 1st January 2025. Photo by Lisa Freegard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048), displaying ’25’ to welcome the New Year, was then put to work on an Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) move from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, then she delivered a coach to Williton on the return leg of the journey. Pictured in fading light on 1st January 2025 by Ashley Harris © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES for 2025

The WSR have now published their running calendar for 2025 on their website and social media channels, and we will be updating our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page during the next few days and including provisional loco allocations where possible. Click here or on the image below to visit the WSR’s timetable page:

 

The WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL has been confirmed as being Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th with a Mixed Traction Day  on Sunday 8th of June 2025.

 

Click here to join the DEPG

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’ – the poor weather impacted the number of volunteers available to work on the loco and we also had to do some checks on the weather resistance of the loco, up on the stands at the far end of the yard. The stormy weather had dislodged the wooden beams that support the tarpaulins over the cooler group apertures, with the result that the tarpaulins had sagged into the apertures and then filled up with water, which had then become partly frozen !

Being unable to shift 30kg icebergs without risking failure of the tarpaulins, it was decided to leave them alone and tackle them when the weather becomes warmer – hopefully on Saturday 11th when a tropical +7°C is forecast.

To make some space in the loco shed, Martin and Terry moved the overhauled ‘B’ cooler group to an outdoor storage location and then covered it up with tarpaulins. The ‘A’ cooler group is undergong repair in the shed and is vying for welding resource with Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019), but D1010 is patient and her time will come soon enough.

Meanwhile, in the ‘relative warmth’ of the loco shed, Gordon continued his work on the disassembly and inspection of the six brake cylinders from the ‘B’ bogie. The internal condition of the cylinders was excellent, which is very good news, considering that some of them haven’t seen the light of day for 50 years. The cylinders will be re-assembled with new seals and will be tested before being put back in store, ready for re-installation when the bogie is ready for them.

 

There is a lot of work still to be done on the bogies, the next step will be to clean up the springs and send them out to a specialist firm to determine if they are fit for further use, or if they need to be reconditioned or replaced. Meanwhile, the cardan shafts are out at FIROW PROPSHAFTS for inspection and repair as necessary. We are appealing for MORE VOLUNTEERS to work on this loco in 2025 so that we can pick up the pace. Please get in touch by using our CONTACT FORM if you are able to join the team.

D1010 – Gordon tackled the dismantling and cleaning of the brake cylinders from ‘B’ bogie, so that they could be inspected before being reassembled with new seals. Pictured at Williton on 4th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the overhauled ‘B’ cooler group (minus cooler elements) has now been moved outdoors to make space in the loco shed. Pictured at Williton on 4th January 2025 with Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 as a backdrop, by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – a different view of the overhauled ‘B’ cooler group with Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 as a backdrop. Pictured at Williton on 4th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Apologies to those D1010 sponsors who have yet to receive the photos and certificates for the patches that they have sponsored. The bitterly cold weather is preventing us from spending outdoor time on the engraving, so we will need to leave this work a little longer, at least until the temperature is back in double digits.

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 14 cardan shafts and 32 springs.

MANY THANKS to all who have sponsored and supported the RESTORATION of D1010 !

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – the overhauled compressor was wired up to a set of loco batteries for testing, and after a ‘bit of hassle’ getting it going, the compressor ran until the batteries went flat. The verdict was a ‘pass’ subject to dealing with some oil leaks, after which the compressor will be installed into the loco (hopefully this coming weekend) which will tick one major item from the to-do list.

Another of the major items is the perforating corrosion in some of the body panels. Tony has already started work on the welding repairs, his first task being to cut out the corroded metal in the shrouds around the radiator and weld-in some new metal. There are several sections that need repair, but he has made a very good start. More on this next week.

D4107 (09019) – DEPG volunteer Tony has been busy cutting out corroded metal from the radiator shrouding and welding-in new metal. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 4th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is outstationed at Bishops Lydeard where she has the role of duty loco.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is stabled at Williton and is fully serviceable and available if called upon.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – already covered. This loco celebrated her 63rd birthday on Thursday 8th January 2025, after entering service at Bristol Bath Road depot on Monday 8th January 1962.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will celebrate her 63rd birthday on Sunday 18th January by which time her repaired Stone-Maybach Mekydro transmission will be either ready for re-installation or very close to it. The transmission is fully assembled and is undergoing a repaint while on the stand and in the warm. Once back in the loco, only the uppermost 10% of the surface area is accessible, so now is the time to get this job done. More on this next week.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the team have completed the preparation of the loco frames for the re-mounting of the cab assembly and are awaiting an appointment with a crane to handle the 2-tonne lift. The cost of hiring a crane is significant and includes the ‘dead time’ of travelling to and from it’s base, so we try to group several lifting tasks together and share the fixed costs between several projects.

Meanwhile, work continues on applying the many coats of paint to the cab itself, all except the top gloss coat, because the temperature is too low for gloss and it will end up dull if painted now. The most likely date for the lifting is Saturday 8th February, if this ties in with the other projects.

D9518 – the cab assembly has been rubbed down and is now receiving a coat of primer in the careful hands of Colin G. This will be followed by several undercoats and several gloss coats to build up the paint thickness and get the required level of protection. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 4th January 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 – this loco celebrated her 60th birthday on Monday 6th January, as announced in our previous post (click here for the post and for a video clip of her most recent engine run). This loco will enter the loco shed some time in the spring and will undergo engine maintenance and receive a paint refresh in time for her appearance at the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL 2025.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and was in use on several occasions last December, working ‘top and tail’ with a steam loco on their version of the ‘Santa Express’. We look forward to seeing this loco being in regular use during 2025 !

A very interesting YouTube video featuring 47077 has been brought to our attention by several readers and the link is well worth sharing. This video shows that the loco is being very well looked after by the team based at Grosmont. Click here or on the image below to go to YouTube.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco has been busy shunting both yards at Williton in connection with the re-location of the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust’s carriage collection from Williton to Washford. This is the most work that this powerful little loco has done in years – and she is loving it !

 

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: As the year 2025 is now upon us, we are making one last effort to sell the remaining few copies of our 2025 DEPG calendar after which we will be out of stock and working on the 2026 edition.

If you have not yet bought your copy, click on the image below to get a taste of what is waiting inside the calendar and see what you will be missing. Click here or on the image below to launch the animation:

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR has 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being so kindly provided by members and supporters. Click here to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £12 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: we start the year with a photo that has been provided by well-known author and photographer ROGER GEACH, featuring our very own D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and taken at Plymouth Station in June of 1974, when the loco was a regular performer on the West of England services. In this view, the loco is waiting on the centre road to take over the incoming 1B29 Paddington to Penzance service, which she will work forward from Plymouth. Many thanks to Roger for sharing his photo with us all.

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ stands on the centre road at Plymouth station on Sunday 16th June 1974, waiting to take over the incoming 1B29 12:30 Paddington to Penzance service, which she will work forward from Plymouth. Photo by Roger Geach © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – in addition to our well-known fleet of locos, the DEPG also owns a number of freight vehicles, some of which are at Williton and some are outstationed at Minehead. These vehicles deteriorate over time and occasionally need an overhaul, and we are very grateful to the Minehead Wagon Group for taking on the work to restore our BR ‘Vanwide’ B784676. What a great job, we look forward to seeing this van running in the goods trains on the WSR this year.

The DEPG’s ex-BR ‘Vanwide’ goods van B784676 is undergoing a major restoration in the hands of the WSR WAGON GROUP at Minehead and is close to completion. Pictured on 4th January 2025 by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of our members and supporters ! Let’s hope that 2025 is going to be a better year for everyone, wherever they are in the world.

Here’s a quick roundup of the last 12 months to remind us of the highs and lows that we encountered during 2024:

 

JANUARY 2024 – the workhorse of the railway, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was back in harness when pictured at Williton while hauling the ‘Tidy Train’.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) propelled the ‘Tidy Train’ back from Dunster and deposited the wagons in the ‘up’ platform at Williton station. The loco was pictured alongside Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 in fading light on Saturday 20th January 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

FEBRUARY 2024 – the DEPG invested in four new (one-trip) 20-ft ISO containers, complete with internal lights and power sockets. Two of our oldest and most heavily corroded containers were replaced and we gained two for additional storage space.

The first of two new ‘one trip’ containers being offloaded by the supplier HEAVER BROTHERS at Williton on Friday 9th February 2024. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

MARCH 2024 – the DEPG acquired the Bishops Lydeard pilot loco, Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) and entered into a long-term operating agreement with the WSR to keep this very useful loco at Bishops Lydeard – but now under the care of the DEPG.

Bishops Lydeard-based Class 09 Shunter D4107 (09019) has now been acquired by the DEPG and will continue to support the WSR under a combined hire and maintenance agreement. Pictured at Williton following completion of winter maintenance on 1st April 2023 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

APRIL 2024 – after receiving attention throughout the winter period to address several electrical faults that had affected her reliability, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 successfully completed a three-day ‘shakedown’ with a coolant leak attended to on the first day but faultless running on the subsequent two days, clearing her for a return to service !

D7017 – pictured at Williton on Tuesday 9th April 2024 on the first leg of the three-day test ‘shakedown’ – with Class 33 D6566 (33048) tagging along for extra ballast (and insurance!). Photo by Dean Goodenough © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

MAY 2024 – a very busy month for the entire serviceable fleet, but also a welcome return to regular service for our ‘celebrity’ Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway !

Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was kept busy on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in May because of a temporary shortage of serviceable steam locos. Pictured in the sunshine at Grosmont on 15th May 2024 by Michael David Stuart © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

JUNE 2024 – the highlight of the year is the WSR’s diesel gala event, which gives our home fleet a chance to shine while also welcoming some unusual traction, with examples of Classes 20, 24, 46, 50 and a ‘Castle’ class HST delighting the bumper crowds !

D9526 – on a positioning move from Williton to Minehead in preparation for the gala, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) and Class 46 ‘Peak’ D182 (46045) were whisked away from a standing start in an impressive demonstration of diesel-hydraulic tractive effort! Pictured at Williton on Wednesday 5th June 2024 by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Visiting Class 50 50033 (D433) ‘Glorious’ was a very popular loco, fresh from overhaul at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway and delivering some fine performances over a four-day period. Pictured on the approach to Crowcombe Heathfield on 7th June 2024 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

GWR ‘Castle’ Class HST set comprising power cars 43155 (formerly ‘Rougemont Castle’, leading) and 43154 (formerly ‘Compton Castle’, trailing) and four coaches provided a very interesting alternative form of transport, ideal for a smooth, quiet and comfortable journey along the picturesque West Somerset Railway. Pictured at Stogumber on Sunday 9th June 2024 by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

JULY 2024 – our Class 52 ‘Western’ D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ featured in a ‘first’ for preservation, being the only example of the Class to be lifted by overhead crane and lowered onto stands since BR-Swindon days. The lift was required to allow the bogies to be overhauled as part of the restoration programme for this loco. 

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was lifted from her bogies at Williton on Monday 8th July 2024 by two giant road cranes that were provided by BALDWINS CRANE HIRE from their Newport, South Wales branch. The two cranes made light work of the job! Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Sadly, the heritage diesel preservation movement lost another of its well known and highly capable volunteers, with the passing of ANDY VENN at the age of 61 on Monday 1st July 2024. A legend amongst diesel-hydraulic locomotive owning groups, he had not long retired from GWR’s Reading Traction Maintenance Depot when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and sadly, he didn’t get to live out his retirement dreams.

Andy played a major role in the overhaul and return to mainline service of D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ and provided essential information and guidance to our own ‘transmission team’, to get them started on the repair of D1010‘s Voith L630rV transmission. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

 

 

AUGUST 2024 – the WSRA’s annual STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren provided an opportunity for our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 to power the numerous brake van rides that took place over the two days of the event, offering passengers a rare chance to travel on all that the remains of the Taunton to Barnstaple line.

After putting in some sterling service on the brake van rides at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren throughout the previous weekend, our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was used to return the ‘Quantock Belle‘ dining set to Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 6th August 2024. Pictured on the double track section at Norton Bridge by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Sad news reached us regarding the loss of a former DEPG volunteer and WSR secondman PAUL BRITTON who had played a significant role in the restoration of Class 33 D6575 (33057) in the mid-2000s. Although Paul had not been a member for a while, the fond memories of his DEPG colleagues were clearly evident at Williton.

The late Paul Britton at work, coupling Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ on the left to Class 42 ‘Warship’ D832 ‘ONSLAUGHT’ at Williton on 16th June 2007. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

SEPTEMBER 2024 – the restoration of Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 (NCB Ashington No. 7) made further progress at Williton when the pistons were removed from the engine that is undergoing overhaul and will ultimately power the restored loco. The wiring of the refurbished cab assembly also neared completion, allowing thoughts to to turn to the re-fitting of the cab to the frames, scheduled for early 2025.

D9518 – the six pistons from the Paxman ‘Ventura’ 6YJXL engine were removed and arranged on the steel table in front of the ‘Tuesday Team’ (L-R, Terry, Nick, Tony and Linda) at Williton on 10th September 2024. Photo by Mark Bladwell © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG took place on Saturday 7th September, an essential and mandatory gathering of members to listen to the reports presented by the Chairman and Treasurer and approve them and appoint the Board of Trustees and Directors for another year.

Several members arrived on the Class 33-hauled service from Bishops Lydeard at 13:07 and departed on the 15:17, treating themselves to a double dose of ‘Crompton’ haulage. The AGM proceedings were timed to fit into this well-established pattern.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was pictured during the Williton station stop on Saturday 7th September 2024. Stabled in the DEPG yard on the left are Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

OCTOBER 2024 – the first locomotive to be saved for preservation by the Diesel & Electric Group (the forerunner of the DEPG) back in 1975 was Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and she has been based on the WSR ever since. This loco had an excellent year, working public service trains on 10 separate days and achieving 100% availability, although her bodywork was looking rather shabby in places. Arrangements have been made for a complete bodywork overhaul to be carried out at the Minehead workshops of the WSR and a fundraiser was kicked off to help with the estimated £10,000 cost of the work.

D7017 – a very unusual sight – a diesel in the steam shed at Minehead ! Pictured while being assessed for the required repair work on 26th October 2024 by Adrian Read © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

NOVEMBER 2024 – our Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) entered the loco shed at Williton to undergo repairs and winter maintenance, with a view to returning her to Bishops Lydeard before the spring of 2025. The task list included the replacement of the compressor and the overhaul of the front buffers, along with a number of bodywork corrosion repairs in addition to the scheduled maintenance tasks.

D4107 (09019) – this loco was the centre of attention at Williton on Saturday 16th November 2024 as our volunteers tackled the lengthy list of repair and maintenance tasks. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DECEMBER 2024 – a major milestone was reached in the overhaul of the hydraulic transmission of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 when the repaired assembly was subjected to a static test with simulated inputs and outputs being provided by simple crank handles while the hydraulic control pressure was provided by an electric pump. This allowed the control block to be put through it’s paces and be confirmed as fully functional, clearing the way for the re-installation into the loco.

D7018 – the static transmission test rig was being powered by Jason on the ‘input’ side (nearest the camera) and Ethan on the ‘output’ side. Both had some work to do to keep up with the many changes of rotation direction and power flow that were required to complete the test program. Extract from a video taken at Williton on 14th December 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Closing the year 2024, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was making considerable progress with her bodywork repairs and the fundraiser passed the three-quarters mark, putting us well on the way to getting this loco back in service for her 50th anniversary of preservation. Many thanks to all who have helped make this possible !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured while undergoing surgery at Minehead on 20th December 2024 to deal with the corrosion that was breaking through the skin from the inside. The rusty metal has been cut out and new sheet steel will be welded in before repainting takes place. Photo by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

As always, we are very grateful for another year of support from our members, volunteers and all who have contributed their time and funds to allow the DEPG to continue its work. Your continued patronage and financial help is essential and very much appreciated. Thank you !

 

Many more items of news from 2024 can be found by browsing our website. Sign up for ROUNDUP to have the news delivered to your emailbox on a weekly basis.

 

VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2025 Diesel Gala will take place from Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th June 2025, with mixed traction on Sunday 8th, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend !

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured while undergoing surgery at Minehead on 20th December 2024 to deal with the corrosion that was breaking through the skin from the inside. The rusty metal has been cut out and new sheet steel will be welded in before repainting takes place. Photo by Neil McCannon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Some GREAT NEWS – the fundraiser for the bodywork repairs for ‘Hymek’ D7017 has passed the halfway mark with a total of £5,875 being raised in the seven weeks since launching the appeal.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT !

We are aiming to reach £10,000 to cover the cost of the work that is well advanced and taking place inside the WSR’s workshops at Minehead. This sub-contract route was taken to make sure that the loco is repaired during the winter and is ready to take pole position in the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hymek’ preservation that will take place in 2025.

The work also includes the overhaul of the two cardan shafts that connect the transmission to the dynastarter and the Serck pump, both of which have now been returned to the loco after thorough overhaul at FIROW PROPSHAFTS in Crewe – with thanks for their excellent service and fast turnaround time !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is being fitted with two fully-refurbished cardan shafts, recently overhauled by FIROW PROPSHAFTS in Crewe. Pictured at Williton on 14th December 2024 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Can you help us reach our target of £10,000 ? Times are hard and money is tight, but if you love the sight, the sound and the sparkling performance of the ‘Hymeks’ then please do what you can to support our efforts. This is a short-term appeal so please give this your attention and help by making a donation via our website (click on the icons below) or by bank app or by sending a cheque to the DEPG at Williton. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

        

 

Another MAJOR MILESTONE was reached with the overhaul of the Mekydro transmission from sister ‘Hymek’ D7018 with a successful conclusion of the static testing that took place at Williton on Saturday 14th December. The demonstration and test was the culmination of months of work by Colin F and his team, as they worked through a test plan that had been carefully derived to ensure that all 30 valves in the control system were exercised as much as possible in the absence of the engine itself, the ‘motive power’ being provided by new volunteers, the father and son team of Jason and Ethan !

D7018 – the static transmission test rig was being powered by Jason on the ‘input’ side (nearest the camera) and Ethan on the ‘output’ side. Both had some work to do to keep up with the many changes of rotation direction and power flow that were required to complete the test program. Extract from a video taken at Williton on 14th December 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The testing was filmed by Martin so that the evidence of each test being performed and the results obtained can be reviewed and verified as part of the sign-off, but all reviewers on site agreed that there were no causes for concern and the ‘transmission team’ could move on and complete the re-assembly work. The next phase of testing will take place with the transmission back in the loco and the engine providing the driving force.

D7018 – the transmission team wasted no time and soon had the torque converter and input shaft assemblies re-installed in the transmission, as evidenced by this photo of Tim guiding the top housing down onto the transmission. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 17th December 2024 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

STOP PRESS: We heard today that team leader Colin F has suffered a stroke and was hospitalised, but has now returned home. He has been in touch with his fellow volunteers and it is evident from his messages that he is doing very well and the outlook is GOOD. We wish Colin all the best for a speedy and full recovery !

 

 

Away from all this excitement, the SANTA EXPRESS and PANTO TRAIN services were in and out of Williton station on a regular basis, with entertainment both on the trains and on the platforms. The loadings this year are thinner than in previous years, so the railway will need every ounce of support to reach its financial objectives. If you were sitting on the fence and thinking that you might give it a try, then PLEASE DO because a lot of effort has gone into preparing and offering these services, and they deserve the patronage of WSR supporters. PLEASE HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE by booking your tickets now !

 

Something NEW and very SPECIAL is the NEW YEAR’S DAY WHISTLE-UP which will celebrate the start of the RAIL 200 celebrations ! Click here or on the link below to find out more, and PLEASE JOIN IN and start the year with a blast !

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES for 2025

We don’t yet have the details available for 2025 but we understand that the running pattern will be very similar to that of 2024, so the 2024 DIESEL RUNNING DATES page can be used as a guide, temporarily. Good news – the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL has been confirmed as being Thursday 5th through Saturday 7th with a Mixed Traction Day  on Sunday 8th of June 2025.

 

Click here to join the DEPG

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’ – the team concentrated on the ‘A’ cooler group last weekend to get it painted and ready for a move to another part of the shed, to allow Class 14 D9518 to be moved in connection with the re-mounting of her cab assembly. There is a lot of work still to be done on the bogies, the next step will be to test the springs and determine if they are fit for further use or if they need to be reconditioned or replaced. Meanwhile, the cardan shafts are out at FIROW PROPSHAFTS for inspection and repair as necessary. We will be making an appeal for MORE VOLUNTEERS to work on this loco in 2025 so that we can pick up the pace. Please get in touch by using our CONTACT FORM if you are able to join the team.

D1010 – volunteers Roy (foreground) and Ian F continued their work on the cooler group of many colours, in this case for the ‘A’ end of the locomotive. Pictured at Williton on 14th December 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the camera flash captures the hi-vis stripes of ‘Tuesday Team’ volunteers (L-R) Nick and Mark B with the ‘B’ bogie in the foreground. Pictured at Williton on 11th December 2024 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Apologies to those D1010 sponsors who have yet to receive the photos and certificates for the patches that they have sponsored. We did do some more engraving last Saturday, but the bitterly cold wind made it a very uncomfortable process, so we had to curtail the effort to maintain the quality of the markings.

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 14 cardan shafts and 32 springs.

MANY THANKS to all who have sponsored and supported the RESTORATION of D1010 !

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – the team returned their attention to this loco last weekend with more progress made on preparing the overhauled compressor for re-installation, and the delivery of a complete set of reconditioned fuel injection components that will be installed during the Christmas holiday period.

The corrosion in several areas of the bonnet and side panels has been assessed and the worst areas will be dealt with during this visit to the ‘works’. Some cosmetic areas will have to be left for next winter, the priority being to get the loco back into service without a long and protracted stay at Williton. She is needed at Bishops Lydeard !

D4107 (09019) – a view along the cantrail shows that corrosion is becoming established. This will require further attention next winter. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 14th December 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D4107 (09019) – this section of bonnet above the cantrail is too far gone and will need to be patched before the loco is released back into service. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 14th December 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is outstationed at Bishops Lydeard where she has the role of duty loco. The ’33’ will be available to support the WSR Christmas services that originate from Bishops Lydeard.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now back at Williton and is undergoing some planned maintenance, mostly in relation to oil leaks that keep on cropping up. This loco is fully serviceable and is available to support WSR services if called upon.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – already covered, but here are a few more photos of the work that is being carried out at Minehead:

D7017 – work has already started on preparing the bodyside for a repaint, with attention being given to rusty areas as and when they are discovered. Pictured at Minehead on Friday 13th December 2024 by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – with the corrosion being more advanced on the other side of the loco, the skirt panels had to be removed for repair and this has allowed access to the electrical conduit beneath. Pictured at Minehead on Friday 13th December 2024 by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – there is plenty of work to do, but progress is rapid because of the resource being applied to the job. Pictured at Minehead on Friday 13th December 2024 by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – already covered.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the team have been preparing the loco frames for the re-mounting of the cab assembly by cutting, drilling and fitting the special ‘Tico‘ insulating gasket material that forms the interface between the cab and the frames. The frames have been coated with thick black paint to resist the inevitable pooling of rainwater, and this work is almost complete. The cab assembly has been weighed and the method of lifting is being worked out and will ideally be when we have a crane on site to do other lifting jobs, thereby making the most of the fixed costs of the crane travelling to and from site. In parallel, other members of the team have been steam cleaning the engine block to prepare it for re-assembly, a task that is guaranteed to transfer some of the dirt from the engine to the operator !

D9518 – the cab underframe has now been painted with thick black protective paint, to resist the pooling of rainwater that will occur if the loco is stabled outdoors and not in regular use. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 11th December 2024 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the ‘Tico‘ insulation strips have been trimmed to size and drilled to match the cab mounting bolts, four of which can be seen in this picture, taken at Williton on Tuesday 11th December 2024 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

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 help us by making a donation via our online store (click here or on the image below) or by sending a cheque to the address at the bottom of this email. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – no change – this loco is now stabled outside on Number 1 road at Williton and is likely to remain there until the new year. When space becomes available in the loco shed, she will be going ‘indoors’ for some maintenance work, which will include attention to her engine and her bodywork, to make sure that she is in good shape for the 2025 running season.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been in use on several occasions, working ‘top and tail’ with a steam loco on their version of the ‘Santa Express’. Our local correspondent Martin Fisher was on hand to capture the following image of the loco at work on Saturday 14th December 2024. Many thanks to Martin for sharing his work with us !

47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was in use between Grosmont and Pickering on Saturday 14th December 2024 and was pictured approaching New Bridge on the last leg of the journey. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

A very interesting YouTube video featuring 47077 has been brought to our attention by several readers and the link is well worth sharing. This video shows that the loco is being very well looked after by the team based at Grosmont. Click here or on the image below to go to YouTube.

 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is fully serviceable and is stabled in the South Yard on number 2 road.

 

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: As the year is quickly running to a close, we also need to give a final push to the sales of our 2025 DEPG calendar and to point out that stocks are limited and strictly on a first-come-first-served basis. To give a taste of what is waiting inside the calendar to adorn your walls throughout the coming year, we have put together an animation that flips through the pages. Click here or on the image below to launch the animation:

 

Alternatively, here is a different presentation with a thumbnail of each page brought together into a single sheet. The actual calendar has one A3 page for each month.

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being so kindly provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: as the year 2024 comes to a close, it seems appropriate to ‘re-gift’ the Christmas Card that was send to the DEPG by regular contributor Trevor Tremethick, being a rare image of Class 50s in the Cornish snow in their unrefurbished state and before receiving their nameplates. This photo has a particularly festive feel to it and we use it (with Trevor’s permission) to wish all of our members and supporters all the best for Christmas and the New Year !

Many thanks to Trevor for sharing his photo with us all.

English Electric Class 50s 50024 (D424, later ‘Vanguard’ front) and 50025 (D425, later ‘Invincible’ behind) were pictured in Truro Yard in March of 1978, before receiving the nameplates which were fitted in the summer of that year. Photo by Trevor Tremethick © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – that’s all we have for this year, we are going to take a break and we will be back with the ROUNDUP OF THE YEAR 2024 so keep an eye on your emails and on our website and social media channels. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT !

 

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 !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post