Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR‘ was pictured at Darnholm, just north of Goathland on the NYMR on 3rd August 2022 by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – there was plenty of progress on this loco, as can be seen from the photos below. Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that needs engraving ! 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 corroded upper buffer beam valance strip at ‘A’ end was removed to assess the underlying structure and this is what we found ! Evidence of previous collision damage, probably dating back to 1972 which was when the loco was last repaired at Swindon Works. Don’t worry, it will all be sorted out by the next roundup. Pictured at Williton on 2nd August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – Step 1 is to put shape and strength back into the structure that sits behind the valance strip, as this photo of the left side of ‘A’ end shows. Step 2 will be presented in the next roundup. Pictured at Williton on 2nd August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – one of the headcode frames has been fitted with new rubber seals around the glass – a task that was every bit as difficult as it looks. Well done Gordon for persevering ! Pictured at Williton on 6th August 2022 by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the re-sealed headcode frame was trial fitted to the aperture at ‘A’ end to ensure that everything was properly aligned. Pictured at Williton on 6th August 2022 by Tom Courtney © 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 was stabled at Williton throughout the weekend and moved to Minehead on Monday morning to take up her unexpected additional duties covering the steam rosters due to the temporary steam ban on the WSR.
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.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – no change last week due to non-availaibilty of the people with the appropriate knowledge and the continuing need to perform some maintenance tasks on sister loco D7018. Progress is expected to resume THIS Saturday with a view to getting the loco out on test later this month.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – some light maintenance tasks were performed on this loco last weekend.
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, 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 – efforts are currently focussed on the restoration of the braking mechanism, with the various components such as bushes and pins needing replacing to return the system to the working tolerances that are needed for safe and reliable operation. The photo below shows the trial fitment of one of the brake blocks. In parallel, John Cooke continued his work on the restoration of the electrical control cubicle, having removed all of the control parts from the hinged front panel so that it can be repainted.
D9518 – the braking mechanism is currently undergoing refurbishment at Williton. This view shows the trial fitment of one of the new cast iron brake blocks mounted on the brake hanger. Pictured on 6th August 2022 by Terry Deacon© 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 – as already covered, this loco is in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The week before last, a fractured exhaust bellows caused a bit of an uproar (literally) but the local team saved the day and installed a new spare part from their stock. Here’s a picture of the fractured part that was returned to Williton by Colin G, who went to the KESR last week for driver refresher training.
D9526’s fractured exhaust bellows showing the point at which this item failed after a long period of service on the loco. Pictured at Williton on 6th August 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – covered previously – now in regular service on the NYMR.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco is fully operational and is stabled in the yard at Williton. She is hiding under a tarpaulin to prevent the fresh paintwork from being damaged by seagull droppings. We need help to complete the livery details on this locomotive. Please let us know if you could help with this work. Click here for the CONTACT form. Thanks !
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 !