The fund to repair the bodywork of D7017 to make her ready for the 50th anniversary of ‘Hymek’ preservation is steadily increasing towards the target of £10,000 and we have passed the half way mark !
Thank you to everyone who has contributed, we will keep the fund open a little while longer in the hope that we will meet our target. Please click here if you are able to help ! Thank you very much !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 powers out of Watchet with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) and six Mark 1 coaches in tow. A successful result following three days of test running ! Photo by Keith Fender © CC BY-NC 3.0
After Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 having to cut short the first of her three days of test running on Tuesday 9th due to a low coolant level, the loco has now completed two further days of test running with no significant issues reported.
The trouble on Tuesday was traced to a split in a radiator joint on the through corridor side and was quickly repaired by the team at Williton. Subsequent running totalling 110 miles has produced a small list of minor tasks, all of which will be dealt with during the coming weeks. The loco will now undergo an oil change and will be cleaned up so that she is ready for the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL that takes place between the 6th and 8th of June.
CONGRATULATIONS to the team of volunteers who prepared D7017 for this test running and crewed her for three continuous days, enduring some highly variable weather in the process !
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After a succesful departure from Williton on the morning of Tuesday 9th April, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 has had to cut short the first of her three days of test running due to a low coolant level which appears to be caused by a split radiator joint in the through corridor.
The issue is being investigated at Williton this afternoon and hopefully the loco will be repaired and will resume her test running tomorrow.
Although disappointing, this is not entirely unexpected because the loco has not had much use in the last five years and establishing reliability is the reason why this test running has been arranged. The events today show why tickets cannot be sold for passenger haulage on these workings.
Apologies to lineside spectactors, but we hope to be back out and about tomorrow.
Keep an eye on our website and on our scial media channels for further updates.
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Another milestone has been reached in the project to replace D7017’s suspension springs when the first new set of three nested coil springs were installed into the ‘A bogie at the WSR Restorations ‘Swindon Shed’ at Williton last night.
Many thanks to the team led by Martin Howard and Paul Tucker for their continuing efforts in progressing this work !
For more details, click on this link to the DIARY INDEX page
NOTE – these pages are being developed, so check regularly for updates
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was lifted at the WSR Restorations ‘Swindon Shed’ on Tuesday 29th March 2022 so that her bogies could be rolled out for spring replacement work. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
On Tuesday 29th March, a milestone was reached in the project to replace D7017’s suspension springs when the loco was lifted using the four 25-ton electrically-powered jacks that were acquired from the former BR Bristol Bath Road depot and now reside in the WSR Restorations ‘Swindon Shed’ in the North Yard at Williton.
Many thanks to the team led by Martin Howard and Paul Tucker for their efforts in progressing this work !
For more details, click on this link or on the image below (NOTE – these pages are being developed so check regularly for updates) :
Our BEYER-PEACOCK (HYMEK) Ltd. Class 35 diesel-hydraulic number D7017 entered service with British Railways at Bristol Bath Road depot on the 8th of January 1962, so she is 59 years old today !
Way back in 1975, D7017 was the first loco that was acquired by the DEPG (known as the D+EG in those days) straight out of service with BR at Old Oak Common depot. The loco was moved to Taunton to await onward transfer to Minehead on the fledgling West Somerset Railway and became the first diesel locomotive to haul a service train on the WSR in 1977.
Since that time, D7017 has become a firm favourite of both regulars and visitors to the WSR and has covered many thousands of miles in service in various guises. She has also appeared as a guest loco at other railways and attended at several mainline depot open days.
Currently “stopped” for replacement of her bogie springs, we expect to see her back in service in time to celebrate her 60th birthday along with sister loco D7018 in 2022.