DIESELGEN

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.

 

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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.

 

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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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Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 arrives at Crowcombe Heathfield on 22nd June 2019 during the ‘Diesels to the Seaside 2019’ event on the West Somerset Railway. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The Gala Planning Team have now released the detailed timetables covering the MIXED TRACTION WEEKEND of Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September and we can now share these details with our members and supporters.

The working timetable for FRIDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2021 is:

The working timetable for SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2021 is:

Note: L/E refers to Light Engine – these are not public services.

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

 

The DEPG locos rostered for the event are Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 and Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057).

The ‘Cromptons’ work to Norton Fitzwarren on the Friday afternoon and all three locos get their chance to work in that interesting section on the Saturday, all subject to their being no High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) operations from Network Rail at that time (none are planned at the current time). 

Additional photo opportunities are provided by running the last train of the day after sunset on the Saturday.

 

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.

 

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In addition to the ‘Crompton 60th birthday special’ that is running between Bishops Lydeard (BL) and Dunster (DR) today, our Beyer-Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 has been called into action to provide cover for a steam locomotive that has developed an issue.

The workings today are:

1135 BL – DR with D6575 (33 057) leading and D6566 (33 048) trailing

1325 DR – BL with D6566 (33 048) leading and D6575 (33 057) trailing

and

1235 BL – Minehead (MD) with haulage by D7018 and bus connection to MD from DR

1410 MD – BL with haulage by D7018 and departure from DR at 1440

 

Walk-up tickets are available for these services.

 

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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Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 prepares to depart from Williton to Bishops Lydeard to pick up her train on the morning of 31st July 2021. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Beyer-Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 is the booked locomotive for this Saturday’s diesel-hauled excursion from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster and back plus an extension to Norton Fitzwarren on the return journey. This gives a total running distance of 42 miles, departing from Bishops Lydeard at 11:35 and returning from Norton Fitwarren at 15:25.

Advance bookings on this service are looking strong so BOOK NOW to ensure that you get a chance to ride and enjoy the ‘Maybach Music’ !

Space will be allocated for walk-up passengers on the day, but BOOK NOW to make sure that you don’t get left behind.

The remaining diesel running days for 2021 will be as follows (both are Saturdays):

• 21 August        (Crompton pair, top and tail, celebrating their 60th birthdays!)
• 25 September  (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)

 

     

Please try to support these diesel running days as a way of showing your support for running diesels on the WSR. Thanks !

 

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, we have been advised that our diesels will be in use for the MIXED TRAFFIC WEEKEND on 17-18 September, the timetable for which has not yet been released but promises to be diesel-action-packed on both days. This event will feature an extension to Norton Fitzwarren to provide both additional mileage and additional interest from this little-used section of the line. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we have firm details. Meanwhile, mark the date in you diary and buy a ticket using the link below !

 

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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Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 climbs towards Washford during the 2019 “Diesels to the Seaside” event on 21st  June 2019. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

The WSR have announced the dates and times for the DIESEL RUNNING DAYS and have also released the ticketing, which can be found by following these links:

   

The running days will be as follows (all are Saturdays):

• 17 July              (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
• 31 July              (‘Hymek’ D7018)
• 07 August        (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
• 21 August        (Crompton pair, top and tail, celebrating their 60th birthdays!)
• 25 September  (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)

 

Please try to support these diesel running days – we need to show the strength of support for running diesels on the WSR, even though the offering this year is far from ideal. Please consider this as way to show your support for the WSR and the DEPG. Thanks !

 

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, we have been advised that our diesels will be in use for the MIXED TRAFFIC WEEKEND on 17-18 September, the timetable for which has not yet been released. This new running opportunity will feature an extension to Norton Fitzwarren to provide both additional mileage and additional interest from this little-used section of the line. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we have firm details. Meanwhile, mark the date in you diary !

 

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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Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 climbs the 1 in 65 section of Washford Bank with the route refresher special on 18th June 2021. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This is a short-notice bulletin to let you know that Class 14 D9526 is lined up to perform a loaded test run between Williton and Bishops Lydeard today, with our Class 33 ‘Crompton’ pair D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057) in tow. 

Planned movements are as follows:

Saturday 26th June 2021

     1315 WN to BL (passing CH at 1340) arriving 1352

     1420 BL to WN (passing CH at 1435) arriving 1455

 

Following completion of the Route Refresher workings yesterday, Class 33 D6575 (33 057) will move the WSRA’s Hawkworth-designed Taunton Inspector’s Observation Saloon W80976W to BL on Monday and will remain at BL in support of WSR operations.

Planned movements are as follows:

Monday 28th June 2021

     1100 WN to BL and stable at BL (timings are approximate)

 

Other workings (scheduled or otherwise) may take place. The railway is to be considered as LIVE at all times.

 

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.

 

You can join the DIESELGEN mailing list at any time by emailing contact@depg.org with DIESELGEN ADD as the subject.

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

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) prepares to propel the WSRA’s Hawkworth-designed Taunton Inspector’s Observation Saloon W80976W to Dunster on Saturday 19th June 2021 as sister loco D6566 (33 048) and Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ reposition in the background. Image courtesy of Railcam UK and the WSR ©

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) will be working a crew training (route refresher) special between Williton (WN) and Dunster (DR) this week in support of the extension of WSR public services to Dunster (DR). Info – there will be a connecting bus service to Minehead during the period of reconstruction of the Seaward Way level crossing.

Planned movements are as follows:

Monday 21st and Friday 25th June 2021

     0930 WN to DR to WN 1300

 

Other workings (scheduled or otherwise) may take place. The railway is to be considered as LIVE at all times.

 

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.

There is a change to the booked route refresher working this Friday 18th June with Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 taking over the diagram instead of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048).

This is a crew training (route refresher) special between Williton (WN) and Dunster (DR) in support of the extension of WSR public services to Dunster (DR). Info – there will be a connecting bus service to Minehead during the period of reconstruction of the Seaward Way level crossing.

Planned movements are as follows:

Friday 18th June 2021

     0930 WN to DR to WN 1300

 

Other workings (scheduled or otherwise) may take place. The railway is to be considered as LIVE at all times.

 

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.