depgstaff

Former GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST was pictured approaching Blue Anchor station on Wednesday 14th August 2025 with power car 43155 leading and 43154 trailing. A wonderful image of summer on the WSR – captured by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 4.0

LOCO NEWS: The heavy demands on our volunteers at this time of year have temporarily reduced the available working hours as we all struggle to fit in domestic duties, seasonal duties and the occasional festive event ! Therefore, the loco update will be a bit on the brief side, but normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the focus is on the ‘B’ bogie and the need to get it ready for Non-Destructive Testing so that we can get it painted and then start building the bogie up again. In parallel, Colin F and Reece are overhauling the water pumps and planning the logistics for the repositioning of the ‘A’ engine to allow attention to the known trouble spots (cylinders 3 and 12).

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is outdoors on No, 1 road and will soon be receiving a new set of brushes for her generator – which involves having to remove the recently-installed Westinghouse compressor to get access to the generator ! Luckily, we don’t have to do this very often, which is just as well because the set of 18 brushes cost over £500 !

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She is rostered for use on Saturday 20th December for night driver training, during which she will operate between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead under cover of darkness !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled outdoors on number 1 road at Williton and is receiving some light maintenance and undergoing internal cleaning. The loco will undergo Ultrasonic Axle Testing some time in the New Year.

D9518 – another view from within the cab, looking down to where the floor plates will eventually be fitted. The copper pipework had to be adjusted to pass under the electrical conduit (orange). Pictured at Williton on 16th December 2025 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 4.0

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). This loco will be in use on Monday 29th December for Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) moves between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, returning to Bishops Lydeard by the end of the day.

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has just encountered an issue with her ‘triple pump’ – which is an electrical machine that is a combined water pump, oil pump and fuel pump, all driven from one DC electric motor.

The motor has suffered an internal fault that has resulted in some segments of the commutator bring burned, so the loco has had to be stopped to prevent further damage pending a replacement triple pump being obtained and fitted.

DEPG volunteer Viv Jones alerted us to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance in the THIRD and fourth episodes, substituting for a steam loco during the period of high fire risk, earlier this year. Click this link or the image below for details. MANY THANKS to Viv for letting us know about this TV coverage.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 4 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, go ahead and place your orders via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

These garments are really nice pieces of work, and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – this week, we go further northwards and feature a photo of an ex-works Class 37 at York, but it is a ’37’ that has a story to tell. Here’s the narrative that was provided by the photographer, ANDY GALPIN:

     “This was 10^th March 1979 – I was living in York and had just saved up for a half decent SLR camera. My first couple of test shots were at the station and this was 37154 which looks ex-works and may well be out on test from Doncaster? I seem to recall that it came in piloting a southbound passenger service hauled by a ‘Peak’, but I’ve no further detail. 

     It struck a bit of a chord with me, as 6 years previously I’d seen the then D6854 (of Eastfield I believe) pretty well smashed at both ends and awaiting serious attention at Doncaster Works. At that time I thought it would be lucky to survive.”

English Electric Class 37 37154 (D6854) was the subject of some discussion at York Station on Saturday 10th March 1979. The loco was in ex-works condition and might have been on a test run from Doncaster Works. Can you help provide the backstory on this loco ? Pictured alongside 45019 (D33) by Andy Galpin © CC BY-NC 4.0

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. There is no time to ship them before Christmas, but why not order now for delivery in January ?

GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is definitely a big success. Click here to place your order.

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers, including those who are not based in or come from the North-East. Click here to place your order.

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The last box of DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDARS has been opened and the last copies will soon be heading out of the door, so if you haven’t ordered yours already, then NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT !

Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: the most important message that we can give at the end of another year is the message of thanks, thanks for the hard work of our volunteers and thanks for the people who contribute their hard-earned cash to provide our volunteers with a place to work and materials and equipment with which to do their restoration and maintenance work on the DEPG fleet.

There are many who work at home for the benefit of the DEPG and many whose efforts never make it into the roundup or newsletter, but who are nonetheless essential parts of the greater DEPG machine.

WE THANK YOU ALL and wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR !

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 Roundup post

The DEPG’s Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019) along with driver ‘Baz’ Banthorp provided the background for the trainee secondmen and their trainer at Williton on a cold and showery Saturday 6th December 2025. From Left to Right, Carolyn (Kaz), Ashley, Linda, Ben and WSR Diesel Traction Inspector John Leach. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– despite the poor weather during the morning of Saturday 6th December, the preparations were made for the release of the ‘B’ bogie from No. 3 road outside the shed and its move to No 2 road INSIDE the shed, which took place later that same day !

This immediately put a smile on Gordon’s face, as he and his fellow team members had to work around the deteriorating weather over the past few weeks. The team will now be able to apply their resources to the task of getting the bogie frame ready for Non-Destructive Testing so that we can get it painted and then start building the bogie up again.

While the shunt was taking place, the team kept out of the way and concentrated on other parts such as the brake cylinders. Colin F took the opportunity to make special tools to assist with the overhaul of the engine water pumps, so it was a busy day all round !

D1010 – the ‘B’ bogie has now come in from the cold and is going to be the target of the team’s efforts over the coming weeks. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 6th December 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – two more brake cylinders from the ‘B’ bogie were cleaned, inspected and were undergoing painting at Williton on Saturday 6th December 2025. The ‘A’ cooler group provided the background. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – Gordon and Thomas worked on the brake cylinders while Colin F made special tools for use on the water pumps. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 6th December 2025 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – as already covered, this loco was used for secondman shunting training on Saturday 6th December.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She is rostered for use on Saturday 7th December for night driver training, during which she will operate between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead under cover of darkness !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and is receiving some light maintenance and undergoing internal cleaning. The engine was run up on Saturday 29th November to keep her in good condition and to exercise her systems.

Here are the remaining running dates for D7018 on the GCR:

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the engine and on the many components that all need to be cleaned up, inspected and re-painted before the engine is completed, to facilitate the next major step of the project.

D9518 – Terry, Colin G and Mike H (L-R) met with NCB No. 7 to discuss the next steps in this total restoration project. Pictured at Williton on 6th December 2025 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0

D9518 – the somewhat complicated turbocharger mounting bracket had received a thorough cleanup and a fresh coat of paint when pictured at Williton on 6th December 2025. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). This loco was in use on Saturday 6th December to assist the rostered steam loco on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield with the first train of the day, to aid with timekeeping.

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition. DEPG volunteer Viv Jones has brought our attention to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance in the THIRD and fourth episodes, substituting for a steam loco during the period of high fire risk, earlier this year. Click this link or the image below for details. MANY THANKS to Viv for letting us know about this TV coverage.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 4 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – last week, we featured a photo of Class 45 ‘Peak’ D124 (45131) at an ‘unknown location’ and we received the biggest response yet, all with the same opinion, so we will go with the flow and state BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS STATION as being the location. The FIRST PRIZE (!) goes to long-time DEPG member Neville Sloper who answered within minutes of the Roundup being transmitted ! For his sins, he was asked to provide the material for this week’s feature and we include his two photos further below.

We received too many responses to provide them all in detail, but here are some extracts from some of the responses that combine to give a fairly complete picture:

From Neville Sloper: “The photo of D124 in December 5th roundup is the north end of Bristol Temple Meads. The semaphore signal above the loco is in the adjacent goods yard.”

From Paul Mear: “The photo of D124/45131 about 1968 has got to be the north end of Bristol Temple Meads station. As has been suggested the 45 will be taking over from a diesel hydraulic on a South West – North East service. Another comment is whilst we agree that the photo is likely to be taken 1968, prior to 12/69 it was possible for Bristol-Gloucester trains to take the now closed route via Fishponds.”

From Don Bishop: “This is the north end of Bristol Temple Meads station. The loco is waiting on the loco spur there, probably to take over a North East bound service from a diesel hydraulic. The city scape background and the lower quadrant semaphore signal behind indicate a Western Region location and the elevated location with a city scape behind is (was – now changed a lot!) quite familiar.”

From Neale Long: “I think that the fine picture of D124 is taken at Bristol TM – I looked up 1968 on The Diadem Files website and found one reference to 1V62 being the 0705 Leicester-Paignton.”

From Bob Meanley: “Re the pic of D124, it looks to me to be the north end of Bristol Temple Meads from what I remember back in those days. It has been quite a while since Bristol looked like this photo, particularly the background. Obviously anything 1V** was southbound from Birmingham to the WR, Northbound would have been 1E** or 1M** depending on how far it was going. The signal in the background, I think, puts this view prior to the inauguration of the Bristol MAS scheme in 1969? It is quite probably associated with the goods lines coming from TM Goods or the docks.”

From Viv Jones: “Regarding the photo of D124, this is loco is on the approach to Bristol Temple Meads, platform 5 or 7 (on the Lawrence Hill end of BTM). The loco would have come off Bath Road shed and then after reversing at the signal gantry on the way to Dr Days junction, it would be backing onto a South West to North of England train. This would be after removal of a ‘Western’ or ‘Warship’ which would have brought the train up from Devon.

     Many hours were spent by me and my brothers at Bristol TM in 1969/70 observing these loco changes which also happened in reverse at platform 12 when a Peak would be replaced by a Western (and sometimes a Warship) and they would then reverse to go back to Bath Road shed underneath the A4 road bridge on the west depot side of BTM. I think this swapping locos practice was inherited from steam days when a Jubilee would swap to a GWR loco. It was great to see the coupling and uncoupling going on, and the movements to and from Bath Road shed of the locos concerned. It was a pity (ed: only from the spotters point of view LOL) when the practice stopped and Peaks were allowed to continue to the South West, and the occasional Western went to Birmingham. 

     I recall a Sunday in October 1969 when a ‘Peak’ was not available and 1024 ‘WESTERN HUNTSMAN’ continued from the South West to Birmingham via Fishponds, Mangotsfield and Westerleigh. A lot of the trains then were half maroon coaches and half blue and grey/white coaches. They were often packed, despite 12 coaches, and coming back from Cheltenham to Bristol we had to sit on the floor in the corridor, whilst pulled by a Brush Type 4 (later known as class 47).”

And finally, some more from Don Bishop along with an image taken from the book ‘GWR PRINCIPAL STATIONS‘ by Colin G. Maggs and reproduced below:

Many thanks to David for sharing his photos with us all and to EVERYONE who responded and provided their opinions. Sorry that we couldn’t reproduce them all.

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. There is ONE MORE SHIPPING WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, so please GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is definitely a big success. Click here to place your order.

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers, including those who are not based in or come from the North-East. Click here to place your order.

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: the next Board of Trustees meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 13th December. If you are a DEPG member and you have a question that you would like to put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM or write to us at our registered address.

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 Roundup post

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was preparing to haul the ‘Tidy Train’ from Williton to Bishops Lydeard when pictured alongside Platform 1 on Saturday 22nd November 2025. This loco will be in use on Saturday 6th December 2025 to assist the ‘Santa Express‘ on the climb from Bishops Lydeard to Crowcombe Heathfield. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the continuing inclement weather at Williton kept the focus of the work on the various parts that needed cleaning, inspecting and painting, there being enough of these in progress to keep the team busy for several weeks !

The plan is to shunt the yard on Saturday 6th December (weather permitting) to get at least one of the bogies inside the loco shed so that work can proceed regardless of the weather. Repositioning the engines has to wait until two ‘moons’ align, one being the need to have a crane on site, which will now be some time in January, and the other being the need to have the WSR‘s 7-tonne Fork Lift Truck available and ‘in ticket’ to reposition the engines once they have been lifted from the boiler trolley and lowered onto their stands at ground level.

Meanwhile, after completing the fabrication of a towbar intended for use when moving D1010‘s bogies around the shed, Colin F and Reece turned their attention to the water pumps with a view to overhauling them while the engines are not available to work on, and will continue their preparations by obtaining or making the special tools that are needed for the work ahead.

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco will be in use in the afternoon of Saturday 6th December 2025 for shunting the South Yard at Williton in connection with secondmen training that is kindly being provided by DEPG member, WSR Diesel Traction Inspector and author, John Leach.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She may not get much use because all of the Christmas services are rostered for steam haulage this year, but the upside is that she will be under cover throughout the winter.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and is receiving some light maintenance work and internal cleaning.

Here are the remaining running dates for D7018 on the GCR:

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the engine, with all six pistons installed and all six cylinder heads fitted by the end of the day on Tuesday 2nd December. Great progress, well done team !

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). This loco will be in use on Saturday 6th December to assist the rostered steam loco on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield with the first train of the day. This has been found to be helpful to protect timekeeping, given the wet and slippery railhead conditions that result from the currently wet and windy weather.

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition. DEPG volunteer Viv Jones has brought our attention to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance in the THIRD episode, substituting for a steam loco during the period of high fire risk, earlier this year. Click this link or the image below for details. MANY THANKS to Viv for letting us know about this TV coverage.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – this week, we feature the first of many photos that have been recovered from slides by DEPG member David Hingston. Some detective work is necessary to identify some of the locations, so the quickest and easiest way to do that is to include them in this feature and let our wise and learned readers respond with their opinions via email or by using our CONTACT FORM. The countdown has begun !

In this slide, Class 45 ‘Peak’ D124 (45131) is in a location that is slightly elevated and has a mixture of colour-light and semaphore signalling. Where is this ? Having a freshly outshopped appearance in BR-blue, vacuum braked and displaying a headcode, the year is likely to be 1968.

This loco was built at Crewe Works and entered service in Derby as D124 on 21st October 1961, becoming 45131 after conversion from steam to electric train heating in June of 1974. The loco worked for almost 25 years before being withdrawn on 30th September 1986 and was reduced to scrap metal at Vic Berry’s yard by August of 1988.

Many thanks to David for sharing his photos with us all.

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. Apologies for the delay in getting these new books shipped out, but the the backlog has now been cleared, so please GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is definitely a big success. Click here to place your order.

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers, including those who are not based in or come from the North-East. Click here to place your order.

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: the next Board of Trustees meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 13th December. If you are a DEPG member and you have a question that you would like to put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM or write to us at our registered address.

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 Roundup post

Despite the dismal weather, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 (and the GCR Steam Van) delighted the passengers aboard Steve Fulcher’s charter special on the Great Central Railway on Saturday 22nd November 2025. The loco was pictured passing Swithland Sidings Signal Box, photo by Andrew Royle © CC BY-NC 4.0

Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.

All of the Christmas Specials are rostered for steam haulage, but keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned or diesel-assisted services.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the dismal weather at Williton last Saturday split the team in three directions, with some volunteers braving the elements to work on the ‘A’ bogie, some volunteers going underneath D1010‘s body out in the yard to prepare the underframe for painting, and some volunteers working on tasks associated with the need to unload the engines from the boiler trolley upon which they have been mounted since July 2024.

The plan is to shunt the yard on Saturday 6th December to get at least one of the bogies inside the loco shed so that work can proceed regardless of the weather. Repositioning the engines will have to wait until we have crane on site, probably in January, but that is not far away in terms of working days.

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco has now arrived at Williton so that she can receive attention to bodywork corrosion around the cab roof and bonnet. Having the loco available at the yard is quite convenient for studying the layout of her dual braking equipment, as can be seen in this photo which shows the vacuum exhauster installation.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She may not get much use because all of the Christmas services are rostered for steam haulage this year, but the upside is that she will be under cover throughout the winter.

D6575 (33057) is now based at Bishops Lydeard along with Class 14 D9526. Both will provide support to the WSR over the winter and will stay under cover as part of the bargain. Pictured on Wednesday 26th November 2025 by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 4.0

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and will undergo some light maintenance work and internal cleaning.

Here are the remaining running dates:

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work was paused because of the need to support sister loco D9526 and relocate her to Bishops Lydeard. The team will be back at work on D9518 as soon as possible.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is now based at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition. DEPG volunteer Viv Jones has brought our attention to the new Channel 4 series ‘STEAM TRAIN DIARIES’ in which ‘NORTH STAR‘ makes an appearance, substituting for a steam loco during the period of high fire risk, earlier this year. Click this link or the image below for details. MANY THANKS to Viv for letting us know about this TV coverage.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – this week, our attention shifts back to Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and her arrival at Taunton from Old Oak Common on 30th July 1975, more than FIFTY YEARS AGO, to start her new life with the D+EG (predecessor of the DEPG). Thanks to information received from Glyn Newing, we have become aware of some very interesting (but very short) footage of D7017 that he found on the marvellous British Film Institute archive site, showing the condition of the loco in the weeks or months after her arrival at Taunton. Click here or on the image below to view this 50-year-old footage.

This 50-year-old film footage shows D7017 at Taunton some time between July 1975 and March 1976, waiting for the fledgling WSR to open and allow her to move to Minehead along with industrial steam locos ‘VICTOR’ and ‘VULCAN’. The move eventually took place on 26th March 1976. Video courtesy of the British Film Institute.

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. Apologies for the delay in getting these new books shipped out, but the the backlog has now been cleared, so please GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is sure to be a big success. Click here to place your order.

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers. Click here to place your order.

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: the next Board of Trustees meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 13th December. If you are a DEPG member and you have a question that you would like to put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM or write to us at our registered address.

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 Roundup post

GB Railfreight Class 66 66710 ‘Karen Harrison‘ was pictured at Bishops Lydeard at the rear of the Railway 200 ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train, shortly after arrival on Wednesday 19th November 2025. The travelling exhibition will be open from Monday 24th through Saturday 29th November – tickets are required but are FREE – click here for details. Photo by Brenden Hill © CC BY-NC 4.0

Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.

All of the Christmas Specials are rostered for steam haulage, but keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned or diesel-assisted services.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the cold and wet weather at Williton last Saturday didn’t deter the team from their seemingly never-ending task of scraping dirt from the bogies, in fact they seemed to be quite happy doing it. Sadly, the duty photographer was not as hardy and didn’t venture out to get any photos, so apologies for that!

The photos that I did take (within striking distance from the shed doors and later in the afternoon) were of the pallets of parts that resulted from their efforts, to show how much more work will be required to clean, inspect, test and restore just this small collection of secondary suspension parts (from just one bogie !)

D1010 – the secondary coil springs and spring hangers from just one side of one bogie are enough to fill a pallet. It will take many hours of work to clean up each of these component parts and make them ready for inspection and test. Pictured at Williton on 15th November 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – the coil springs are fitted around guides that take the form of tubes welded to baseplates that are in turn bolted to the bogie frame. The giant ‘mushrooms’ in the previous photo fit inside these guides, and the centre void is then filled with grease (crude, but it seems to have been effective). Pictured at Williton on 15th November 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

Rain stopped play on the marking of more sponsored patches, which was annoying because the areas to be marked were ready and waiting. Tomorrow’s weather looks very doubtful, but hopefully we will get a good day soon. Thank you all for your patience !

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco will be moving to Williton tomorrow, Saturday 22nd November, so that she can receive attention to bodywork corrosion around the cab roof and bonnet. Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 will be moving to Bishops Lydeard to cover for the ’09’ – click here to view the DIESELGEN bulletin to get the details.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is moving to Bishops Lydeard tomorrow, Saturday 22nd November, where she will be ‘on duty’ in support of the Christmas seasonal steam-hauled services. She may not get much use because all of the Christmas services are rostered for steam haulage this year, but the upside is that she will be under cover throughout the winter. Click here to view the DIESELGEN bulletin to get the details.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and will undergo some light maintenance work before being ‘winterised’ later this month.

Here are the running dates:

On Saturday 22nd November, a charter has been organised by DTG and DEPG member STEVE FULCHER. Here are the details (D7018 services show as ‘Loco D2‘ and are highlighted in yellow), please contact Steve directly using the details below OR SIMPLY SHOW UP AND PAY STEVE ON THE DAY (cash or card) if you would like to ride on this special train. WELL DONE STEVE for arranging this. PLEASE DO TRY AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT because that is the way to ensure that this will be the first of many such ‘Hymek’ charters on this and other lines!

Steve has advised that the Griddle Car will be included in the train and will be open all day, and will offer CURRY in the evening, so if you were in two minds about going along, then this should clinch it.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the electrical system re-wire and on the rebuild of the Paxman ‘Ventura’ 6YJXL engine that last served in sister loco D9526, and volunteer Andy P made good progress on painting the battery box lids. The full team will be back on D9518 once D9526 departs for Bishops Lydeard.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco will be working a ‘Tidy Train’ on Saturday 22nd November, starting at Williton but ending her day at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). Click here to view the DIESELGEN bulletin to get the details.

In readiness for her return to service, the recently-applied cabside transfers were treated to a spray coat of varnish, which will help protect the transfers from the worst of the weather.

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition. This loco makes an appearance in the ‘On Shed’ feature later in this issue of Roundup.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and is fully serviceable, and has been used several times during the last few weeks to move locos around the yard.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – this week, we have received permission to share a photo that was taken at Crewe Works in late 1983 or early 1984, where our very own 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ was receiving a heavy overhaul and being converted to Electric Train Heating (ETH), to subsequently emerge as 47613.

As stated on our Loco Timeline page, her steam boiler had been isolated in February of 1982, probably as a result of a boiler failure, thereby restricting the loco to freight-only use in the colder months and reducing her overall usefulness. Luckily, the decision was taken to upgrade her to ETH, a move that guaranteed her long-term survival.

It is interesting to note that the loco had been so thoroughly disassembled, but still displayed her nameplates proudly !

This photo of 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was taken at Crewe Works some time in late 1983 or early 1984, during a heavy overhaul that resulted in the loco being upgraded to Electric Train Heating (ETH) capability and being renumbered as 47613. Photo by Peter Blunn © CC BY-NC 4.0

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store in the last few weeks, with varied themes but all of great interest. Apologies for the delay in getting these new books shipped out, but they are on their way now and the backlog is clearing, so please GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is sure to be a big success. Click here to place your order.

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers. Click here to place your order.

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: the next Board of Trustees meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 13th December. If you are a DEPG member and you have a question that you would like to put to the Board, please use our CONTACT FORM or write to us at our registered address.

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 Roundup post

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 will be in use at the ‘Last Hurrah’ Gala on the Great Central Railway this coming weekend 15/16th November and again on Saturday 22nd November. The unique features of the GCR allow the re-creation of authentic BR-era scenes such as the above, pictured at Swithland Sidings on Tuesday 28th October 2025 by Cameron Walker © CC BY-NC 4.0

Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.

All of the Christmas Specials are rostered for steam haulage, but keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned or diesel-assisted services.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the weather at Williton turned out to be quite nice last weekend, allowing the team to complete the removal of the secondary springs from the ‘A’ bogie while clean-up work progressed on the ‘B’ bogie.

A welcome boost to morale was the delivery of the refurbished and tested springs, comprising all 12 primary leaf springs (6 per bogie, fully refurbished and each fitted with a new buckle) plus eight secondary coil springs (from the ‘B’ bogie, tested OK) and the two giant secondary leaf springs from the ‘B’ bogie, which were also (thankfully) fit for further use without needing repair. MANY THANKS to OWEN SPRINGS of Rotherham for doing such a fine job on these springs.

D1010 – meanwhile, the ‘A’ bogie was finally separated from it’s secondary springs after a massive effort that had spanned several weeks! Team member Glenn was cleaning up around the coil spring guides when surprised by the photographer at Williton on 8th November 2025. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – the ‘A’ bogie with her centre wheelset exposed, now ready for the cleanup to begin. Pictured at Williton on 8th November 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – the two massive secondary leaf springs from the ‘A’ bogie were finally extracted and now await cleaning, inspection and testing. Each spring carries one quarter of the weight of the loco body, therefore 19 tons ! Pictured at Williton on 8th November 2025 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 4.0

We also made progress on the marking of a new batch of sponsored patches, with four separate areas marked out in a grid pattern and made ready for engraving. The drawings are also being updated to include these new patch areas and this will allow us to generate the certificates as part of the catch-up batch that we are currently working on. Thank you all for your patience !

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations. This loco will move to Williton at the end of the operating season so that the most urgent of the bodywork repairs that were started last winter can be continued. Class 14 D9526 will be moving to Bishops Lydeard to cover for the ’09’.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco underwent an oil change last Saturday and also had a new set of engine oil filters, which should keep her engine in good shape for another three or four years. The cost of buying the new oil and filters and disposing of the old oil and the contaminated filters is around £2,000 in total, so we only do the oil change when the periodic oil sample reports tell us that it is necessary. This is the same practice that has been used on mainline diesels since the 1970s and saves a lot of waste, while also flagging up the first signs of engine issues such as coolant leaking into the oil or unburnt fuel that ends up diluting the oil. The old adage ‘a stitch in time saves nine‘ is absolutely right in this case.

This loco will soon be moving to Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ and under cover throughout the winter.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and will undergo some light maintenance work before being ‘winterised’ later this month.

Here are the running dates:

On Saturday 22nd November, a charter has been organised by DTG and DEPG member STEVE FULCHER. Here are the details (D7018 services show as ‘Loco D2‘ and are highlighted in yellow), please contact Steve directly using the details below if you would like to ride on this special train. WELL DONE STEVE for arranging this. PLEASE DO TRY AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT because that is the way to ensure that this will be the first of many such ‘Hymek’ charters on this and other lines!

Steve has advised that the Griddle Car will be included in the train and will be open all day, and will offer CURRY in the evening, so if you were in two minds about going along, then this should clinch it. GET ON THE PHONE to Steve or email him and book your ticket now !

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the electrical system re-wire and on the rebuild of the Paxman ‘Ventura’ 6YJXL engine that last served in sister loco D9526. The need to prepare sister loco D9526 for service took some of the resources away temporarily, but the team will be back on D9518 once D9526 departs for Bishops Lydeard.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco will be working a ‘Tidy Train’ on Saturday 22nd November, starting at Williton but ending her day at Bishops Lydeard where she will remain throughout the winter to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019). Last weekend, a modification was applied to D9526 to allow her coolant level to be topped up without having to climb onto the loco bonnet. This modification involved adding a hose connection, a gate valve and a non-return valve to the existing cooling system pipework to allow a top-up to take place using a standard carriage hose when at the platform. A much safer way of working !

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we hope that she will be rostered to assist with some of the Christmas Specials, to help keep her in good operating condition.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and is fully serviceable.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – as mentioned previously, this week we have a fine shot of two Class 08 shunters that have both made it safely into preservation and are both currently serviceable, 08401 (D3516) having joined the DEPG fleet in October 2025 and 08444 (D3559) having been based at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Cornwall since 1987.

Both were built at Derby Works in 1958 and were allocated to Doncaster (36A) at the time of the below photograph before heading in different directions, one east, one west. However, both are now together again in the West Country, and their future is assured.

This photo of 08401 (D3516) and sister 08444 (D3559) was taken at Doncaster Works on Saturday 22nd October 1977. Both 1958-vintage locos survive in preservation today. Photo by Ian Sugden © CC BY-NC 4.0

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store last week, with varied themes but all of great interest. The new Platform 5 books are arriving tomorrow and will be shipped out over the weekend, so GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS via the DEPG online store now !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is sure to be a big success. Click here to place your order (for shipment in mid-November).

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers. Click here to place your order (for shipment in mid-November).

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: our Publicity Officer Mark Bladwell has been busy again, this time producing another edition of the DEPG Quarterly Newsletter, right on time as usual!

This 32-page edition has been sent out to all DEPG members who were on the membership register on 3rd November, either by mail or email according to the preferences set in your membership account. Please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM if you are a member but haven’t received your copy one way or another. Not a member ? Then click here to sign up to become a member or to re-join!

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 Roundup post

The WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) worked the last scheduled service to Minehead on Sunday 2nd November 2025 while BR(WR) 4-6-0 7828 ‘ODNEY MANOR’ worked the ‘up’ service towards Bishops Lydeard, to bring the 2025 running season to a close. Both were pictured at Williton by Mike Lanning © CC BY-NC 4.0

Click here to go to the WSR’s Timetable page then click on the day of interest then click VIEW TIMETABLE.

All of the Christmas Specials are rostered for steam haulage, but keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to our DIESELGEN bulletin service for advance notification of unplanned or diesel-assisted services.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’– the weather interfered with progress on the removal of the secondary springs of ‘A’ bogie at Williton last weekend, but some springs were eventually removed and the rest will be tackled during this coming weekend, the weather forecast being much more favourable – if it turns out to be correct, of course !

In parallel with the work on the bogies, attention is being given to planning some remedial work on the ‘A’ engine, which exhibited some coolant leakage from between some of the cylinder heads when cold, before the last engine run, back in November 2021. Our friends at the DTG have advised that the upper cylinder liner seals are probably the cause, this being a known issue on this type of diesel engine and for which there is a known fix. However, the engine is currently mounted on a stand on a Boiler Trolley along with the ‘B’ engine, so it cannot be worked on until it is brought back down to ground level. This is going to take some planning and will involve a crane lift. The engine work also needs to be thought through so that we come up with a remediation plan that does not go further than necessary, the engine being otherwise OK.

Here’s a reminder of the last time that the ‘A’ engine was run-up, which was just before the electrical systems within the loco were disconnected as her bodywork overhaul progressed. Click here or on the image below to go to the Weekly Roundup of 07-Nov-21 and scroll down to the D1010 section.

D1010 – click here or on the image above to go to the Weekly Roundup from 7th November 2021 to view video clips from the last occasion when the ‘A’ engine was run up. Video clips by Leroy Ford  © CC BY-NC 4.0

D1010 – the two stored Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD655 engines from D1010 dominate the corner of the shed at Williton. Pictured along with John C on Saturday 8th March 2025 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 4.0

The funding that we already have in place for D1010 is sufficient to carry us through for the time being, but we will be needing to top up to get the loco completed in time for the 2027 running season.

Before asking for more funding, we will be writing up a report on how much has been raised, how much has been spent and on what, and provide the estimates to get the job done. We expect to remain within the £100,000 that was originally set as a target.

Several sponsors have been reminding us that we still haven’t completed the marking of a number of patches, and some certificates have yet to be sent out. Apologies for this, but we will be straightening this out over the coming weeks and getting up to date with the administration of this very successful fundraising scheme.

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – outstationed at Bishops Lydeard in support of WSR operations. This loco will move to Williton at the end of the operating season so that the most urgent of the bodywork repairs that were started last winter can be continued. Class 14 D9526 will be moving to Bishops Lydeard to cover for the ’09’.

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has also returned to Williton and will undergo an oil change this coming weekend. The downside is that her Sulzer 8LDA28 engine requires 105 gallons of oil, which converts to 400 litres, which costs around £2,000 these days !

We carry out regular oil condition monitoring and only change the oil when necessary (the previous oil change on this loco was in December 2021) but the latest sample report stated that the time has come again. The oil filters will also be replaced and then there will be 400 litres of used oil and three dirty filters that will have to be disposed of, which will be another expense that has to be offset against the running income.

The loco will then move to Bishops Lydeard where she will remain ‘on duty’ and under cover throughout the winter.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled on number 1 road at Williton and will undergo some light maintenance work before being ‘winterised’ later this month.

Here are the running dates:

On Saturday 22nd November, a charter has been organised by DTG and DEPG member STEVE FULCHER. Here are the details (D7018 services show as ‘Loco D2‘ and are highlighted in yellow), please contact Steve directly using the details below if you would like to ride on this special train. WELL DONE STEVE for arranging this. PLEASE DO TRY AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT because that is the way to ensure that this will be the first of many such ‘Hymek’ charters on this and other lines!

Steve has advised that the Griddle Car will be included in the train and will be open all day, and will offer CURRY in the evening, so if you were in two minds about going along, then this should clinch it. GET ON THE PHONE to Steve or email him and book your ticket now !

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work on the electrical system re-wire has resumed and further progress has also been made on the rebuild of the Paxman ‘Ventura’ 6YJXL engine that last served in sister loco D9526. The photos below show two more pistons being installed by the ‘Tuesday Team’, after which the engine received a coat of light grey gloss, courtesy of Colin G:

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently indoors on No. 2 road at Williton and is undergoing an underframe cleanup and repaint in the careful hands of Colin G, and the results are in line with his usual high standard. This loco will move to Bishops Lydeard later in November to cover for Class 09 shunter D4107 (09019).

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and was recently the subject of a social media post by the West Somerset Railway – click this link to go the WSR Facebook page.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is stabled outdoors on Number 3 road at Williton and was used to move Class 08 shunter 08401 (D3516) from the North Yard to the South Yard on Saturday 25th October.

If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

NEW CLOTHING RANGE:

Good news – we believe that our supplier is now up to date with deliveries, so if you think otherwise then please get in touch with us by using our CONTACT FORM.  So, now is the time to place your NEW order via our ONLINE STORE, just click this link to give it a go !

So far, we have launched the 50 YEARS of HYMEKS range and a configurable HYMEK and WESTERN range, and we now have the new design for the Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ featuring two locos side by side, one in green livery and the other in blue, or both in blue. Please let us know if you would like to order a combination that is not obvious on our online store – we are adding more options on a weekly basis.

New design for the DEPG Class 33 ‘Cromptons’. Click here to place your order !

We hope to have a new design for the Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ soon. Here’s a review of what is on offer and available to order NOW via our website:

Polo shirt in Black with 50 YEARS of HYMEKS logo	Polo shirt in Royal Blue with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP
Polo shirt in Burgundy with 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ logo	Polo shirt in Seal Grey with D7017 in green SYP and D1010 in maroon SYP
T-shirt with D7018 and D1010 design (this type of printing is only available on a T-shirt)	Sweatshirt with D7018 in blue FYE and D1010 in maroon SYP

The range of colours has now been expanded and the range of sizes now includes LADIES SIZES. Please let us know via our CONTACT FORM if the colour and size combination that you want is not showing as an option online.

The new designs are available in the following garment types, some of which have not yet been added to our website, so again please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you want. Here are the prices:

Although the prices of the new range are higher than before, the prices are competitive and are in line with the quality of the garments. These are really nice pieces of work and the ability to personalise your choice is another definite advantage.

We look forward to receiving your order, the profits from which will directly support the DEPG !

ON SHED – this week, we feature something different, a loco of a fading Class pictured when almost new at a location that once boasted a huge marshalling yard but has long since closed down, namely Healey Mills, near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Here’s the narrative that was provided by the photographer, Rob Crispin:

     “As South Devon Railway have announced a 2 day diesel gala (8-9th November), and their guest locos are two Class 56s, I thought I’d dig out a photo of one of those from the 1980s.

     56109 was less than a year old when I took this photo of it at Healey Mills in February, 1983. The memories of this trip were that it was the worst trip due to the fog not lifting at all, the fact that hardly anything was visible, and the freezing cold temperature which teenagers were never going to be fully prepared for.

     This was the only photo that made it to an album. I can remember seeing the outline of an 08 coupled to a brake van, which clearly had a fire raging inside, as well as probably half the depot staff!

     56109 managed just over 20 years in service before being withdrawn. It then managed another 8 years before it was scrapped. Although cases can be made for other places, if I could time travel and revisit another school trip location again, I’d probably pick Healey Mills as I only ever visited there on that day.

Class 56 ‘Grid’ 56109 was less than one year old when pictured through the fog at Healey Mills depot on a very cold and dismal Friday 25th February 1983. Photo by Rob Crispin © CC BY-NC 4.0

NEW BOOKS ON SALE

Not one but THREE new books were added to our online store last week, with varied themes but all of great interest. The publishers have confirmed that the new books have arrived in their stock and we expect to receive our allocation during next week, so GO AHEAD AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS !

Part 1 of a 3-part series by Bernard Mills, this new book is sure to be a big success. Click here to place your order (for shipment in mid-November).

Volume 2 of a 3-volume series by Michael Rhodes, this new book is going to be of great interest to many readers. Click here to place your order (for shipment in mid-November).

A rugged A5 wirebound booklet that will be essential reading for operators and crew of the popular Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, this book will also be of value to those with a broader technical interest. Click here to order your copy.

There are many other new and pre-owned book titles on our online store – click here for details.

The DEPG 2026 A3 CALENDAR is available for sale and the recent uptick in shipments has prompted us to include it in the roundup ! Click here or on the following image to see a mini-presentation that steps through each page and gives the flavour of the contents. MANY THANKS to all of the photographers who donated their work for the benefit of the DEPG !

DEPG NEWS: our Publicity Officer Mark Bladwell has been busy again, this time producing another edition of the DEPG Quarterly Newsletter, right on time as usual!

This 32-page edition will be sent out to all DEPG members who were on the membership register on 3rd November, either by mail or email according to the preferences set in your membership account. Please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM if you are a member but haven’t received your copy by the end of the coming week. Not a member ? Then click here to sign up to become a member or to re-join!

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 Roundup post