Weekly Roundup

After completing every one of her booked duties (plus some that were booked for her sister) throughout July and August, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) returned to Williton after her last working on Saturday 27th August 2022 so that her brake blocks could be replaced. Pictured shortly after her arrival, alongside Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 (left) and Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

After four weeks of regular (and unexpected) working under the BLUE and YELLOW timetables, Saturday 27th August marked the return of steam-only rostering on the BLUE timetable, except for the three weekends where our diesels will cover the 10:00 Minehead departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams (see our Diesel Running Dates page). The need to replace the failed heat exchanger in Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) had transferred the workload to sister D6575 (33 057) who performed admirably throughout, but her brake blocks had worn down to the limit and she was brought back to Williton upon completion of her duties last Saturday. The changing of the 16 cast-iron brake blocks was performed on Sunday morning by Ian, Tom and Martin with a subsequent inspection and brake test being completed before the loco was declared as available to the WSR at 13:30 that day. Well done all !

 

This weekend, we have Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 running for 80 miles on Saturday 3rd and again on Sunday 4th, so please do come along an enjoy the ‘Maybach Music’ that will entertain you throughout your journey. We also have the DEPG Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 14:00 on Saturday 3rd, so our members will be treated to ‘live action’ when the loco departs from Williton at 15:17 heading towards Bishops Lydeard.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 will be working the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard diagram (2 x round trips, 80 miles total) on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September 2022. The loco was pictured while departing from the yard at Williton on Saturday 13th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the recent timetable and traction changes, with links to the WSR timetables, so this page can be used as a one-stop-shop for diesel-hauled services on the WSR. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR. The season is not over yet – there is MORE TO COME so click on the banner below to visit the page and get the details:

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to deliver the published program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – we continue to progress with the work needed to return this loco to service. This week, we have been attending to the battery box frames and also doing some adjustments to get the headcode frames to fit nicely. After some delay, we have also restarted work on the transmission, with the third stage torque converter being dismantled last Saturday, leaving only the first stage to be separated from the shaft. Many thanks to all of our volunteers for their massive effort on this massive locomotive !

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that still needs engraving and it is in a prime location, right at the front of the loco at ‘A’ end. Thank you in advance for your support !

Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – the apertures for the headcode frames needed some adjustment to allow the frames to fit properly. This entailed altering the height at which the almost-vertical front sheet was folded inwards to create the bottom edge of the aperture. Job done! Pictured at Williton on 23rd August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – last week, we showed the badly corroded steel section and this week we are showing the repair, which makes use of a piece of steel box section from a redundant steel table. We economise on steel purchases whenever we can. Pictured at Williton on 23rd August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – this partially-dismantled section of the turbine rail of the Voith L630rV transmission shows the exposed guide wheel from the third stage torque converter at the top. The large helical gear on the input shaft is just visible through the rectangular aperture. Transmission experts Andy Venn (left) and Paul Koch visited Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022 to help us make progress with the repair of this 60-year-old piece of complex engineering. Thank you very much ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – in this view, the same assembly has been inverted to allow separation of the larger diameter first stage torque converter. The first stage housing has been freed up and has been lifted to expose the turbine, but more dismantling work is needed before the housing can be removed. Pictured at Williton on 27th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – the efforts made last week by Ian, Tom and Richard allowed the failed heat exchanger to be removed from the loco early on Saturday morning, and it was on a custom-made pallet and wrapped ready for shipment by midday. The failed unit has been sent to a specialist firm for repair and the turnaround time is expected to be four to five weeks, after which the loco will need to be test run before being declared ready to resume duties.

The cylindrical heat exchanger of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was removed from the loco by Ian R, Tom and Ian F and prepared for shipment to a specialist firm for repair. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th August by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) has been drained of oil and water and awaits the return of the repaired heat exchanger before work can recommence. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – covered previously.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – a flurry of activity on this loco last weekend has resulted in the fuel injectors being re-installed and the fuel pipes and covers fitted, leaving only the air intake and cooling system pipework to be reinstated. Then, after checking and priming the fuel system, the engine will be ready for a test run. It may be possible to return the loco to service before the final diesel-hauled service of the year (Sunday 25th September) but it is a little too close for comfort. We can but hope !

D7017 – Leroy at work re-installing the fuel injectors into the cylinder heads on the  Maybach MD870. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – a close-up view of the fuel injection pump which is powered by the worm drive shaft in the upper part of the picture and activated by the camshaft in the foreground. Pictured at Williton on 27th August 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – Simon B worked alongside Leroy to re-install the fuel delivery pipework for all eight cylinders on this bank of the V16 engine. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – a clear view of the fuel delivery pipework and a glimpse of Leroy’s head at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – at the end of the day, the cam box covers are back in place and the air intake manifold is inside the loco, ready to be re-fitted during the next work session. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is ready for use. The next scheduled dates for ‘Hymek’ running are the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 3rd/4th September. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the Class 14 team have been working on the many component parts that are needed for the reinstatement of pipework and wiring on the brake frame – plus some other parts, as can be seen in these pictures:

D9518 – this carefully restored component is a solenoid valve for the compressed air system. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the side frame for the SHORT bonnet (not the long bonnet as previously reported) that was restored the previous week by Andy P was given a coat of primer by Colin G at Williton on Saturday 27th August 2022. Photo by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – engine control buttons – as removed from the loco, original 1960s parts, tired and very dirty. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – engine control buttons restored – after the usual amount of TLC had been administered by Colin G. Excellent work indeed ! Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco has been beavering away on the Kent & East Sussex Railway while that railway endured a long period of high fire risk and a resulting ban on the use of steam locomotives. This has resulted in considerably more than 100 hours of running for D9526 during the month of August and to keep the loco properly maintained and available, the local team of Mike, Jon and Will have been working hard to do the inspections and perform the planned and unplanned maintenance that has been necessary. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Team D9504 for looking after D9526 so well !

D9526 was pictured while arriving at Tenterden Town station on Saturday 27th August 2022 with the last train of the day on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Photo by Robin White © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular service on the NYMR and was particularly busy last Saturday when only one diesel was available for the Whitby services (which run on Network Rail metals and therefore need mainline certified locomotives). This resulted in a ‘baton change’ operation taking place at Levisham, where the service returning from Whitby changed locomotives with the loco heading to Grosmont, to allow the mainline certified loco to head back to Whitby. This unusual movement was captured on film by our local correspondent, Martin Fisher, who provided us with the following images, so THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARTIN, for sharing these images with us.

Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR‘ was pictured approaching Levisham station on Saturday 27th August 2022 after having left her train beyond the signal on the south side of the station. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR‘ then stopped at the platform in Levisham while mainline certified Class 31 31128 ‘CHARYBDIS’ left her train outside the station on the north side, and ran ‘light engine’ through the station to attach to the train that ‘NORTH STAR’ had left on the south side. Pictured on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR‘ then ran northwards and attached to the train that was previously hauled by the Class 31, and then headed south towards Levisham and Pickering. All in a days’ work ! Pictured on Saturday 27th August 2022 by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – as mentioned last week, well-known DEPG and WSR volunteer Jon Tooke is going to be completing the livery work on this locomotive, and is planning to do the work from mid-September onwards, so we will report further when the work has progressed.

 

 

If you can help by donating your time, 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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – a review of our stock of donated PRE-OWNED BOOKS has revealed plenty of interesting titles, many of which are in as-new condition. We will be loading these onto our online store for the benefit of the D1010 RESTORATION FUND so WATCH THIS SPACE for details. All we need is some time to be able to create the entries on our online store system. Use our CONTACT FORM if you see a title that you want to buy. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED TO THIS WONDERFUL STOCKPILE !

Pre-owned (but as-new) hardbacks from Strathwood’s ‘Looking back at’ series, in stock at Williton on 27th August 2022.

Pre-owned (but with many in as-new condition) hardbacks from Ian Allan Publishing, in stock at Williton on 27th August 2022 along with many other titles.

 

We have added several NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – we will need to skip this feature this week due to lack of time and space !

 

DEPG NEWS – The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The DEPG will take place at 14:00 at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. If you are a member, take your opportunity to vote by attending at the AGM. Please let me know if you have not yet received your AGM information package. If you are a DEPG member and have not received your Newsletter, please let us know so that we can investigate and resend the package, either by email or by post.

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org

 

WSR NEWS: coming up very soon on the WSR will be the ‘FORTIES WEEKEND‘ that takes place from Saturday 10th through Sunday 11th September when the DEPG facility at Williton will be open to the public, complete with ROD SAUNDERS and his model railway sales stand. Please make a plan to come along to this event in support of both the WSR and the DEPG. Timetables for this event have now been released and all services are steam-hauled except a DMU shuttle service between Minehead and Dunster. Any changes will be published via our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and any updates will be shared via our DIESELGEN email bulletin service.

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

The WSR’s Blue timetable was worked entirely by diesel traction during the recent period of high fire risk. Class member D6575 (33 057) was pictured hauling her train out of Stogumber on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield on Tuesday 16th August 2022 by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR introduced a temporary steam ban from Monday 8th through Wednesday 17th August due to the exceptionally dry lineside conditions, so our two ‘Cromptons’ were pressed into service on an almost daily basis. As reported last week, we encountered some issues with Class 33 D6566 (33 048) resulting in some of her turns being worked by Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 and some by the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU).

After repair at Williton on Saturday 13th, all went well from Sunday onwards with both ‘Cromptons’ back at work, with D6566 starting from the Minehead end of the line and D6575 starting from the Bishops Lydeard end. On the Thursday, the WSR re-introduced steam on the 10:15 from Bishops Lydeard, as a precursor to returning to the normal steam-hauled pattern. Then, that afternoon, the heat exchanger in D6566 finally decided that it had held out for long enough, and the loco arrived at Bishops Lydeard with an oil stain down the side, with oily water escaping from the overflow. The engine oil pressure is higher than the water pressure, so the fracture in the heat exchanger was allowing oil to be pushed into the water – and oil floats on water, so it comes out of the overflow first !

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was taken out of service upon arrival at Bishops Lydeard with the 14:30 from Minehead on Thursday 16th August 2022 with oily water escaping from the cooling system overflow – the result of a fracture in the heat exchanger. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Luckily, D6575 was available at Bishops Lydeard and took over the rest of the diagram which ended in Minehead – but this meant that there was no loco available at Bishops Lydeard to work the 11:00 service to Minehead on Saturday 20th, so a ‘light engine’ move was planned for the Saturday to move the loco back to Bishops Lydeard. This allowed Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 to be attached in front of D6575 at Williton so that D7018 could collect D6566 without any impact on the timetable.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured at Crowcombe Heathfield leading Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on a ‘light engine’ move to Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 20th August 2022. Pictured by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 20th August 2022 to tow Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) to Williton for repairs to her failed heat exchanger. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was the focus of attention at Williton on the weekend, with the coolant drained on the Saturday and the engine oil being pumped out on the Sunday. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The cylindrical heat exchanger of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) can be seen clearly in this photo taken at Williton on Sunday 21st August 2022. The photo shows that the pipes have already been disconnected from both ends of this large and heavy piece of equipment. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the recent timetable and traction changes, with links to the WSR timetables, so this page can be used as a one-stop-shop for diesel-hauled services on the WSR. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR. The season is not over yet – there is MORE TO COME so click on the banner below to visit the page and get the details:

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to deliver the published program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – further progress on this loco this week, with the last bodyside patch being welded in place. Attention now shifts to the battery boxes and headcode boxes. Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that needs engraving and it is in a prime location, right at the front of the loco at ‘A’ end ! Thank you in advance for your support !

The ‘CAMPAIGNER’ team continue their work on restoring this massive and complex locomotive. Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

D1010 – the upper buffer beam valance panel repair at ‘A’ end has been dressed to remove high spots and is ready for the bodywork team to start their work of filling, rubbing down and painting. Pictured at Williton on 16th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – installation of this patch near the leading sand box on ‘A’ side at ‘A’ end marks the completion of the bodyside corrosion repairs that have been needed on this locomotive. MANY THANKS to volunteers Colin F, Geoff and Tim for contributing so many hours of their time to complete this work. Pictured at Williton on 16th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the bodyside welding has been completed, but some other tasks remain – such as repairing the corroded areas within the battery boxes, behind the central valances on both sides of the locomotive. Pictured at Williton on Sunday 21st August 2022 by Paul Tucker © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – as previously reported.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use as per our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page. In between their work on sister loco D6566, volunteer Class 33 loco manager Ian R and new Board Member Tom had to find time to attend at Bishops Lydeard on the morning of Sunday 21st August 2022 to perform an ‘A’ exam in recognition of the completion of yet another 50 hours of running. MANY THANKS to Ian R and Tom for their work in keeping this loco running and available for use by the WSR.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – other priorities meant that there were no available volunteers to work on this loco last weekend. The engine needs to have the timing adjustments made and checked before the reinstatement of the air intake ducting and the intercoolers. When everything has been confirmed as being OK, the engine will then be test run, hopefully during the next two weeks.

D7017 – the mighty 87-litre Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD870 V16 engine remains covered up, awaiting a timing check before re-instatement of her air intake ducting and intercoolers. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – the disassembled intercooler allows for a clear view of the preheater, mounted on a tray on the far side of the locomotive. This device ensures that the engine is warmed up prior to starting, to minimise engine wear and ensure quick and clean startups. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is ready for use. The next scheduled dates for ‘Hymek’ running are the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 3rd/4th September. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – in parallel with the continuing work on brake rigging and components, the Class 14 team returned to their detailed work on the reinstatement of pipework and wiring on the brake frame, as see in these pictures:

D9518 – the brake frame is located under the ‘short’ bonnet of the ‘Teddy Bear’ and is mounted directly above the generator. Volunteer Class 14 team leader Simon P was pictured at Williton on 20th August 2022 installing parts that had been restored and painted while off the loco. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – on the other side of the brake frame, Colin G was busy painting the compressed air system pipework in the designated colour – white. Pictured at Williton on 20th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway and underwent a 600 hour examination last week, marking a period of intensive use while that railway endures ongoing restrictions on the operation of its steam locomotives. To share the workload, the K&ESR have hired Class 33 ‘Slim Jim Crompton’ 33202 (D6587) ‘DENNIS G. ROBINSON’ to provide timetable resilience and allow our loco to have a rest now and then !

D9526 was pictured while crossing Hexden Channel on 2nd August 2022 with a service train on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is now in regular service on the NYMR – except that last week, she lost some time due to an electrical fault in her power controller that was caused by a dirty set of contacts. This issue was quickly remedied by the local team and the loco resumed her duties.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – as mentioned last week, well-known DEPG and WSR volunteer Jon Tooke is going to be completing the livery work on this locomotive, and is planning to do the work from mid-September onwards.

 

If you can help by donating your time, 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 !

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – a flurry of automated messages from our online store system prompted us to review our offering of PRE-OWNED BOOKS and we were pleasantly surprised to find that all but four of the previously available titles had been sold, and all for the benefit of the D1010 RESTORATION FUND ! This has left our store offering a little bare, but we have received several very generous donations of pre-owned books and magazines recently, including several sought-after titles. We are going to allocate some time to get them loaded onto our online store system, so WATCH THIS SPACE for details.

We have added several NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – this week, we feature the oldest working diesel locomotive in the UK, courtesy of long-term DEPG member and regular contributor Neale Long who made a visit to the TANFIELD RAILWAY near Gateshead. The first rails were laid on the surviving section in 1725, making it the oldest operational railway in the UK. It’s origins date back to 1621 when it first opened as a horse-drawn wagonway that carried coal from the mines of County Durham to the banks of the River Tyne. A 3-mile section of this line still operates as a Heritage Railway and rides are offered using industrial steam and diesel locomotives. It is quite fitting that the oldest operational diesel-electric locomotive in the UK (see below) is based there and is still in frequent use. Many thanks to Neale for making us aware of these pieces of history.

Armstrong Whitworth 0-4-0 Diesel-Electric ‘No. 2’ was built in 1933 and still operates today on the TANFIELD RAILWAY. Pictured outside Marley Hill Shed on 21st August 2022 by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the August Newsletter has been printed and mailed out to DEPG members, along with the AGM calling notice and the synopses of the last three Board Meetings. If you are a DEPG member and have not yet received your Newsletter, please let us know (click here for the CONTACT FORM) so that we can investigate and resend the package, either by email or by post.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The DEPG takes place at 14:00 at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. If you are a DEPG member, take your opportunity to vote by attending at the AGM. Please let us know (click here for the CONTACT FORM) if you have not yet received your AGM information package.

 

The DEPG Board met last Saturday 20th August and worked through a full agenda. The synopsis of the meeting will be prepared ASAP and emailed to all DEPG members for whom we hold valid email addresses.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org

 

 

WSR NEWS: the next event on the WSR will be the ‘FORTIES WEEKEND‘ that takes place from Saturday 10th through Sunday 11th September when the DEPG facility at Williton will again be open to the public, complete with ROD SAUNDERS and his model railway sales stand. Please make a plan to come along to this event in support of both the WSR and the DEPG. Timetables for this event have now been released and include a diesel-hauled service departing Bishops Lydeard at 11:00 and returning from Minehead at 15:25 on both the Saturday and the Sunday along with a DMU shuttle service between Minehead and Dunster. The details will be published via our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and any updates will be shared via our DIESELGEN email bulletin service.

The timetables and the dates for the 2022 special events are as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

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The WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS railtour from London Paddington to Minehead and return was operated by two West Coast Railways Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ throughout on Saturday 13th August 2022 because of the high fire risk of using the booked steam locomotives. The return leg was captured on film as it rolled through Williton with 33029 (D6547) leading 33025 (D6543, formerly ‘SULTAN’). Photo by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR resonated to the sound of FOUR ‘CROMPTONS’ and ONE ‘HYMEK’ on Saturday 13th August when the combination of a high fire risk warning from the Met Office caused the booked steam traction of the WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS railtour to be substituted with two Class 33s from West Coast Railways, adding to the two ‘Cromptons’ from the DEPG that were already running as a result of the temporary steam ban on the WSR. This unprecedented situation was enough to get the ‘Crompton’ fans heading toward the WSR, but a concern about a water leak in the cooling system of D6566 (33 048) led to additional complications due to the loco being substituted for part of her diagram by Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 while the errant ‘Crompton’ received attention at Williton.

The railtour had planned to use LMS ‘Jubilee’ 6P Class 4-6-0 5596 ‘BAHAMAS‘ as traction between London Paddington and Bishops Lydeard, where WSR steam traction would have taken over and hauled the railtour forward to Minehead. Given the steam ban on the WSR due to the lineside fires of the previous weekend, all available DEPG locomotives were either in use or not suitable for the 10-coach rake of Mark 1 coaches, so the tour operator substituted a pair of Class 33s to meet both the axle loading requirements of the WSR and provide the required tractive effort.

The return leg of the WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS railtour from Minehead to London Paddington was pictured arriving at Bishops Lydeard where it paused before heading to Norton Fitwarren to rejoin the main line on Saturday 13th August 2022. Traction was 33029 (D6547) leading 33025 (D6543, formerly ‘SULTAN’). Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The original concept for the railtour was steam haulage from Paddington to Bishops Lydeard where the mainline loco would come off and be replaced by WSR steam locos. When the fire risk first became elevated, the railtour was modified to include a Class 47 diesel to support the steam loco and reduce the liklihood of cinders being emitted from the steam loco. The railtour was modified again when the WSR introduced a temporary steam ban. The DEPG fleet was already booked to take over the WSR steam rosters, so the railtour operator planned to send a pair of ‘Cromptons’ from their Southall depot to Bishops Lydeard on the day before the railtour, so that the WSR leg could be hauled by locos that were compliant with the axle loading restriction that is currently in force on the WSR. This plan was modified again when the Met Office issued their higher-level warning for fire risk and the decision was taken to work the railtour with the Class 33s throughout.

This was no doubt disappointing for steam lovers and also for those who had planned to attend or participate in the planned renaming ceremony for ‘BAHAMAS‘ that was to take place at Bishops Lydeard, in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the South Atlantic Conflict. The loco was to be temporarily re-named ‘FALKLAND ISLANDS‘ which was the name carried by long-lost sister loco 45606, but the ceremony will now be postponed until another suitable opportunity presents itself.

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was removed from the 12:30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service at Williton on Saturday 13th August and substituted by ‘Hymek’ D7018 so that the ’33’ could receive attention to a leaking hose in her cooling system. The repair only took an hour or so and the loco then repositioned to Bishops Lydeard to pick up her 16:30 duty from there, to avoid disrupting timetabled services. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Our very own Falkland Islands veteran and DEPG Chairman Martin Howard was called into action on Saturday when Class 33 D6566 (33 048) was found to be at risk of overheating due to a low coolant level that was in turn caused by a leaking hose. The loco had already worked the 10:00 service from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and worked the 12:30 return service as far as Williton where ‘Hymek’ D7018 had been prepared as the ‘Thunderbird’ loco and was ready to take over the train while the ‘Crompton’ received attention. Many thanks to Martin and Tom for stepping in to keep the timetable in good shape. After repair, the ‘Crompton’ ran light engine to Bishops Lydeard to take charge of the 16:30 service to Minehead and the ‘Hymek’ remained attached to the back of the train to hitch a ride home.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was at the tail end of the 16:30 departure from Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 13th August 2022, seen here at Crowcombe Heathfield where the service crossed with the return leg of the WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS railtour from Minehead to London Paddington, which was being hauled by West Coast Railways ‘Crompton’ pair 33029 (D6547) leading 33025 (D6543, formerly ‘SULTAN’). Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Now an IMPORTANT STATEMENT FROM DEPG CHAIRMAN MARTIN HOWARD:

I want to offer a huge thank you to our volunteers. They have, in many diverse ways, stepped up to answer the challenge of helping to maintain public train services on the WSR. This has initially been in response to the Railway seeking to control costs as a result of the recent massive increases in the cost of coal, but latterly in response to the extremely high fire risk and subsequent total dieselisation of services. Many of the changes have of necessity been made at very short notice which has made planning and publicity particularly challenging. Considering we weren’t expecting to be running any diesel services at all in August, we have done incredibly well and we are only half way through the month! It has not gone un-noticed by either the DEPG or the WSR Boards. Well done to everyone involved, and thank you for your efforts.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of these changes, and we can see that the diesel-hauled services are being used, so MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to deliver the published program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – more progress on this loco this week, as can be seen from the photos below. Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that needs engraving and it is in a prime location, right at the front of the loco at ‘A’ end ! Thank you in advance for your support !

The ‘CAMPAIGNER’ team continue their work on restoring this massive and complex locomotive. Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – the upper buffer beam valance panel has been removed and it is obvious that it had lost all of its support, so a new structure was created so that the repair would be properly supported. Let’s call this Step 1. Pictured at Williton on 8th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 2 – the old corroded buffer beam valance panel has been re-fitted along with a new patch to fill an area that could not be saved. Using the old panel helps ensure that the previous shape and form of the locomotive is retained. Pictured at Williton on 8th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 3 – the corroded bottom edge of the buffer beam valance panel has been cut away and replaced with new steel that is seam welded at the top and plug welded to the support structure at the bottom. Pictured at Williton on 9th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 4 – the left hand side of the buffer beam valance panel has been dealt with similarly, with a seam weld in the centre to maintain the original profile. Pictured at Williton on 9th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the welds around the newly-repaired areas need dressing, but the rest of ‘A’ end has received a coat of primer. Quite a difference ! Pictured at Williton on 13th August 2022 by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – this massive loco needs a lot of time and effort put into the preparation of her bodysides, to be closely followed by the application of multiple coats of paint, with rubbing down between coats. Volunteer team member Karl was pictured at work with the orbital sander at Williton on 13th August 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – meanwhile, Gordon continued his work on the restoration of the headcode boxes so that they can be re-assembled and re-fitted to the locomotive. Pictured at Williton on 13th August 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco had a very eventful week and caused a lot of trouble ! It all started on Monday morning, 8th August when the loco was moved from Williton to Minehead to substitute for a steam loco on the first day of the WSR’s temporary ban on steam (as a result of the two lineside fires of the previous weekend). The departure from Minehead was uneventful but upon arrival at Bishops Lydeard, the engine room was found to be awash with oil and the engine had to be shut down.

With no steam locos available and no drivers available for the ‘Hymek’, the WSR called upon their Class 115 DMU to take over the return leg of the journey and to operate the remaining 60 miles of the diagram. Luckily, the driver on duty that day was rated on both the Class 33 and the DMU, so was able to keep the Blue timetable running with the minimum of delay.

D6566 was coupled inside D6575 on the latter’s return journey from Bishops Lydeard at 16:30 and was delivered to Williton so that the oil leak could be investigated.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was returned to the yard at Williton in disgrace by sister loco D6575 (33 057) on Monday 8th August 2022 after being failed by her driver due to an oil leak in her engine room, later traced to the Serck tank pipework (the hydraulic power circuit for the radiator fan). Photo by Geoff Miles © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

On Tuesday 9th, the fault was isolated and replacement pipes were ordered for fitment on the Wednesday. Meanwhile, the DMU was soldiering on but was down to two working engines out of four by the end of Wednesday and could not be relied upon for further service. Luckily, D6566 was repaired on the Wednesday and repositioned to Minehead to be ready to take up her duties again on the 10:00 service from Thursday morning.

As previously reported, D6566 returned to Williton again on Saturday for attention to a hose in the cooling system that had developed a leak, thought to be as a result of mild overheating when her cooling fan circuit was not operating as it should have been. One issue leads to another. The hose was changed and the loco put back in service !

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use as per our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page – and is performing very well indeed, which is how a ‘Crompton’ is supposed to perform !

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) pauses at Williton while working the 16:35 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and finds ‘Hymek’ D7018 at the tail end of the Minehead-bound service, returning home after performing ‘Thunderbird’ duties while D6566 (33 048) received attention at Williton earlier in the day. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – a flurry of activity on this loco, with the available efforts boosted by the Class 14 team who combined forces with Leroy to get the cam box and fuel injectors refitted and ready for timing adjustments. The next steps after timing will be the reinstatement of the air intake ducting and the intercoolers, and then the engine can be test run. Many thanks to all involved for their efforts on this loco.

D7017 – Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD870 cam box being secured after adjustment and alignment at Williton on Saturday 13th August 2022. Pictured from front to back are Simon, Leroy and Terry. Photo by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7017 – also receiving attention at Williton on Saturday 13th August 2022 were the sanding valves that had been removed from the loco during the spring replacement work and had yet to be re-fitted. Photo by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – as reported earlier, this loco was called into action on Saturday 13th August (much to the surpise of the photographers who were expecting ‘Cromptons’!) and performed perfectly.

The next scheduled dates for ‘Hymek’ running are the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 3rd/4th September. Between now and then, our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ will be in regular use (we hope!), so keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the Class 14 team lent a hand on D7017 this last weekend so photos of work on D9518 are few, except that Andy P turned his attention to the framework that forms the side of the bonnet with a view to getting it ready for priming and painting. As explained during the last few weeks, progress will need to be focused on component parts for a while, to get ready for the next ‘big step’.

D9518 – the frame that forms one side of the ‘long’ bonnet of the ‘Teddy Bear’ was subjected to the restorative skills of Andy P at Williton on Saturday 13th August 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The scheduled 500 hour inspection that was performed last weekend revealed what looked like a loose rivet that had to be further investigated, so the loco was out of service for a few days while the local team resolved the issue (which involved lifting the loco). Luckily, the issue was not serious and the loco resumed service during the week. Well done and thank you very much to Team Grimwood at the K&ESR for their hard work in very hot conditions !

D9526 was pictured while traversing the acres of parched farmland at Ewhurst in the southeast corner of the UK on 2nd August 2022 with a service train on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is now in regular service on the NYMR – except that last weekend, she had to have a new set of brake blocks fitted and this resulted in several days out of service while this was done and while some other issues with the braking system were being attended to. This meant that for the first few days of last week, the only one of our locos that was actually in revenue-earning service was Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) so she definitely wins the reliability prize this month !

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – last week we mentioned that we needed some help to complete the livery details on this locomotive, and DEPG and WSR volunteer Jon Tooke stepped forward and grabbed the opportunity, so WELL DONE JON ! We look forward to this work being carried out from mid-September onwards.

 

If you can help by donating your time, 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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – being short of time again this week, we will just include this reminder that we have added several new books to our online store recently, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Here below are some examples. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – apologies, but we will have to skip this feature again this week.

 

DEPG NEWS – the August Newsletter has been printed and mailed out to DEPG members, along with the AGM calling notice and the synopses of the last three Board Meetings. If you are a DEPG member and have not received your Newsletter, please let us know (click here for the CONTACT FORM) so that we can investigate and resend the package, either by email or by post.

 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The DEPG takes place at 14:00 at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. If you are a member, take your opportunity to vote by attending at the AGM. Please let us know if you have not yet received your AGM information package. Click here to use our CONTACT FORM.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or click here to use our CONTACT FORM.

 

WSR NEWS: the next event on the WSR will be the ‘FORTIES WEEKEND‘ that takes place from Saturday 10th through Sunday 11th September when the DEPG facility at Williton will again be open to the public, complete with ROD SAUNDERS and his model railway sales stand. Please make a plan to come along to this event in support of both the WSR and the DEPG. Timetables for planned diesel running are now being published via our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and any updates will be shared via our DIESELGEN email bulletin service.

 

The timetables and the dates for the 2022 special events are as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

NOTE : Apologies for the lateness of the roundup posting this week.

Beyer Peacock Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was busy working the Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return service (two full round trips) on both Saturday and Sunday 25th/26th June. The 60-year-old loco looked like new and sounded absolutely wonderful ! D7018 was pictured at the first Williton station stop of the day on Saturday 25th June 2022 with DEPG stalwart Terry Deacon covering the secondman duties. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0