DIESELGEN | The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group

DIESELGEN – ‘Hymek’ special working

Beyer-Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 digs in to the 1 in 75 gradient as she approaches Longlands Bridge on the climb from Norton Fitzwarren to Bishops Lydeard on 7th August 2021. Photo by Mark Ireland© CC BY-NC 3.0

On Tuesday 7th June 2022, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 will haul a ‘Quantock Belle‘ special charter service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back.

NOTE: This service is not available for public use.

The booked departure times for this special charter service are as follows:

Depart BL 1315 arrive MD 1501

Depart MD 1730 arrive BL 1850

Other services are also scheduled to run – see the WSR BLUE timetable page for details.

UPDATED INFORMATION – the 1000 MD diagram in the BLUE timetable on Sunday 12th June is now rostered for the visiting Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568, not the Class 35 ‘Hymek’ as previously advertised.

We have just introduced a new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and we will be maintaining this in parallel to DIESELGEN bulletins. This new page is a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to diesel running on the WSR.

The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

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Social media channels:

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DIESELGEN – Weekends in May 2022

BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was stabled at Minehead in the company of BR(W) 0-6-0PT 9466 on Thursday 5th May 2022. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) will haul the 1000 and 1430 departures from Minehead (MD) to Bishops Lydeard (BL) and the 1230 and 1635 return services on Saturday 14th May and Sunday 15th May 2022.

Also, either D6566 (33 048) or D6575 (33 057) will haul these services on Saturday 21st May and Sunday 22nd May 2022.

The booked departure times for these BLUE TIMETABLE services are as follows:

Depart MD 1000 arrive BL 1130

Depart BL 1230 arrive MD 1350

Depart MD 1430 arrive BL 1555

Depart BL 1635 arrive MD 1800

Other services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details. Please do try and come along to enjoy a ride on the WSR behind a 1961-vintage BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ !

ADVANCE INFORMATION – the 1000 MD diagram (as above) will be hauled by one of our Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ on Sunday 12th June, Sat/Sun 18/19 June and again on Sat/Sun 25/26 June. Dates in July, August and September will be announced in a separate DIESELGEN post.

The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.

Social media channels:

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DIESELGEN – 28-Apr-22

BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) worked the 1230 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return on Sunday 24th April 2022 and was pictured at Williton on the return leg with ex-SR ‘PMV’ in the consist. The recently-restored ‘PMV’ was moving to Bishops Lydeard so that it could participate in a photographic charter the following day. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) will haul the 1000 and 1430 departures from Minehead (MD) to Bishops Lydeard (BL) and the 1230 and 1635 return services on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May 2022 under the BLUE timetable that comes into effect on Saturday.

The booked departure times for these services are as follows:

Depart MD 1000 arrive BL 1130

Depart BL 1230 arrive MD 1350

Depart MD 1430 arrive BL 1555

Depart BL 1635 arrive MD 1800

Other services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details. Please do try and come along to enjoy a ride on the WSR behind a Class 33 ‘Crompton’ !

ADVANCE INFORMATION – we anticipate that the 1000 MD diagram (as above) will again be hauled by one of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ on Sat/Sun 14/15 May and 21/22 May. This will be confirmed nearer the time via DIESELGEN.

The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.

Social media channels:

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DIESELGEN – 20-Mar-22

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured arriving at Williton on the 1230 BL-MD covering for GWR 2-6-2T 5199 on Saturday 19th March 2022. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) will cover the 1230 departure from Bishops Lydeard (BL) to Minehead (MD) and the 1430 return service on Sunday 20th March 2022. The Class 33 is standing-in for GWR 2-6-2T number 5199.

The booked departure times for these services are as follows:

Depart BL 1230 arrive MD 1350

Depart MD 1430 arrive BL 1555

The weather forecast is good , so please do try and ride on this service if you can. Other services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details.

NOTE: for clarification, although the red timetable shows ‘STEAM/DIESEL’ for the midday service, the DEPG locos are unable to provide steam heating for the train so these services will normally be rostered for steam haulage throughout March and April. The DMU will take over the weekday services when it completes its overhaul.

The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – 16-Mar-22

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) leads sister loco D6566 (33 048) up Castle Hill near Williton on an Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) move with the then newly-painted maroon ‘Quantock Belle’ set on 2nd November 2020. Photo by Peter Nicholson © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) will move from Williton (WN) to Bishops Lydeard (BL) on Wednesday 16th March by attaching to the rear of a steam-hauled Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) working from Minehead (MD) to Bishops Lydeard when it passes through Williton.

The approximate times for these movements are as follows:

Depart MD 1230 arrive WN 1310 (steam)

Depart WN 1400 arrive BL 1435 (steam with diesel at rear)

As this move is for operational purposes only, the timings are approximate and the movement may be delayed or postponed or cancelled as circumstances require. It may also run early.

Upon arrival at Bishops Lydeard, the coaches will be shunted to their designated stabling points in preparation for an engineering working that will run the following day Thursday 17th March 2022 between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe Heathfield, using both Class 33s in top-and-tail mode. This working has a booked departure time from BL of 1030 but again this may be varied according to operational needs.

The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – D6566 on ECS 05-Nov-21

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was at the tail end of the 1230 service to Dunster on Saturday 18th September 2021 as sister loco D6566 (33 048) prepared to depart with the 1225 service to Norton Fitzwarren. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) is rostered for a light engine (LE) move from Bishops Lydeard (BL) to Minehead (MD) on Friday 5th November 2021 to collect empty coaching stock (ECS) and haul it to BL using the newly-upgraded Seaward Way Level Crossing.

The approximate times for these movements are as follows:

Depart BL 0857 arrive MD 1009 (LE)

Depart MD 1030 arrive BL 1141 (ECS)

As these moves are for operational purposes only, the timings are approximate and the movement may be delayed or postponed or cancelled as circumstances require.

If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

CH: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

BA: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Please note the the two webcams at Minehead are now back online. Here are the links:

Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm

Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – D7018 on 16-Oct-21

Beyer-Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 waits alongside the signalbox at Bishops Lydeard with a service to Norton Fitzwarren during the Mixed Traction Event on Saturday 18th September 2021. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

This season’s final chance to ride behind ‘Hymek’ D7018 will be the ‘excursion special‘ that will run this Saturday 16th October 2021 featuring haulage from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster and return with an extension to Norton Fitzwarren on the return leg. The load will be five Mark 1 coaches so there will be plenty of ‘Maybach Music’.

The departure time is 1135 from Bishops Lydeard, returning at 1535.

Tickets can be pre-booked via the WSR website or can be purchased on the day.

The departure time is 1135 from Bishops Lydeard, returning at 1535.

Please do try to come along and support the WSR and the DEPG and enjoy the occasion !

If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

CH: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

BA: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – D6575 covering for D7018 today 03-Oct-21

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 at Blue Anchor at the tail end of an ‘up’ service from Dunster to Norton Fitzwarren on Friday 1st October 2021 while BR(W) 4-6-0 7822 ‘FOXCOTE MANOR’ waits with a ‘down’ service to Dunster (for Minehead). Note the tail lamp hanging from the drawbar hook of the diesel. Photo by Steve Edge © CC BY-NC 3.0

Apologies to ‘Hymek’ followers, but after two succesful days of supporting the home steam fleet at the AUTUMN STEAM GALA, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 has to give up her turn today due to an operational issue. Her place will be taken by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on the top-and-tail steam-diesel working covering the full length of the line between Norton Fitzwarren and Dunster, as per the timetable below.

The working timetable for SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2021 is:

Note: B/F and T/F refer to ‘Bunker First’ and ‘Tender First’ in the case of the steam locos.

The next (and last planned for this season) running opportunity for D7018 will be the ‘excursion’ special on Saturday 16th October 2021 where she will haul a service from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster, returning with an extension to Norton Fitzwarren. Both pre-booked and walk-up tickets are available for this event.

We apologise for the disappointment today, but the good news is that the loco is OK and will run again on the 16th.

If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

CH: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

BA: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – Autumn Steam Gala 01-03 Oct

Class 33 ‘Crompton D6575 (33 057) arrives at Crowcombe Heathfield with a service to Dunster (for Minehead) on 18th September 2021 as GWR 2-6-2T ‘Large Prairie’ 5199 waits with the ‘up local’ from Williton to Norton Fitzwarren. Photo by Malcolm Anderson © CC BY-NC 3.0

To allow you to plan your visits and pick your photopgraphic locations, we can now release the detailed timetables covering the AUTUMN STEAM GALA of Friday 1st through Sunday 3rd October during which the home-based steam loco fleet will be supported by the DEPG’s Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018. Both locos will share a top-and-tail steam-diesel working covering the full length of the line between Norton Fitzwarren and Dunster (for Minehead), with the ‘Crompton’ covering the morning turns and the ‘Hymek’ covering the afternoon turns.

The working timetable for FRIDAY 1st OCTOBER 2021 is:

The working timetable for SATURDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2021 is:

The working timetable for SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2021 is:

Note: B/F and T/F refer to ‘Bunker First’ and ‘Tender First’ in the case of the steam locos.

Both D6575 (33 057) and D7018 will be hauling trains up the 3-mile incline from Norton Fitzwarren on several occasions throughout the event, and additional photo opportunities are provided by running the last train of the day (steam-hauled both ways) after sunset on the Saturday adding to what already promises to be a very interesting event.

Please do your best to attend to support both the DEPG and the WSR at this event. We look forward to seeing you. Thanks in advance!

Both pre-booked and walk-up tickets are available for this event.

If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

CH: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

BA: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.
DIESELGEN – change to D7018 run date

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 digs in to the 1 in 75 gradient as she approaches Longlands Bridge on the climb from Norton Fitzwarren to Bishops Lydeard on 7th August 2021. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

The Diesel Traction Group’s (DTG’s) Class 52 D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ will return to the mainline on the 25th September hauling ‘THE CHAMPION TORBAY EXPRESS’ from Gloucester to Kingswear and return, and this special event has naturally drawn the attention of many of our members and supporters, with the result that bookings on our Hymek-hauled ‘excursion’ that was scheduled for that same day are too low to make the run viable.

The WSR has offered an alternative day, so we are now planning to run ‘Hymek’ D7018 on the same itinerary but on Saturday 16th October 2021 instead.

If you have already made a booking for the 25th September run, we apologise for the inconvenience and we ask for your understanding. The WSR will be in touch with you soon to change your booking, so we hope to see you on 16th October instead.

This news is ‘hot off the press’ so the WSR website has not yet been updated, but it will be updated ASAP. We look forward to seeing you at this rescheduled event. Thanks in advance!

If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:

BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm

CH: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm

WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm

BA: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm

Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.

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