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 !
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 !
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.
The D+EG’s first acquisition: ex-BR Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 waiting at Taunton in 1975 for onward transfer to the West Somerset Railway. Photographed by Barry Gay (c) CC BY-NC 3.0DEPG ‘Hymek’ D7017 seen at Mineral Line Bridge near Watchet on the 7th of May 1978. Photo by Steve Edge (c) CC BY-NC 3.0
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.
DEPG Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 passes Dunster with the 13:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard service on the 23rd of September 2017. Photograph by Gary Lemon (c) CC BY-NC 3.0
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.
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.
