Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured while waiting for a ‘down’ service to pass at Crowcombe Heathfield Station on Saturday 20th August 2022′ The ‘Hymek’ was leading Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on their journey to Bishops Lydeard where they both had work to do. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco remained inside the loco shed for the duration of the ‘Forties Weekend’ so that work could progress on getting a coat of primer on all exposed areas of metalwork. Only when getting ‘up close and personal’ to this loco does it become apparent just how much area there is to be painted, rubbed down and painted again. 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 – one of the battery box doors made a ‘sloshing’ noise when opened and was found to contain a quantity of rusty water! The well-rotted bottom section of the door had to be replaced. Pictured at Williton on 6th September 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the new metal of the replacement bottom section of the battery box door is provided with drain holes to prevent water build-up inside the closed section, courtesy of volunteer Tim at Williton on 6th September 2022. Photo by Colin Foxhall © 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 is undergoing preparation work for the re-installation of her refurbished heat exchanger, expected to be received some time in October. This has allowed time for the crankcase to be cleaned out and the oil strainer and filter housings to be cleaned and refitted before the heat exchanger comes back and the fresh oil goes in. We expect this loco to be back in action some time in October.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Williton and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She will move to Minehead on the morning of Saturday 17th September to be in position for her weekend duties under the BLUE timetable. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for more information.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is edging closer to completion and should be ready for an engine run later this month.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will be in use on the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 24th/25th 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 continue to work on the re-installation of the compressed air system and the associated valves and pipework. In parallel to this work, the ‘short nose end’ sections have been retrieved from storage so that they can be restored and made ready for re-fitting when the pipework has been completed. Hopefully we will have pictures in the next roundup.
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 although the return of steam to the line will have reduced the pressure on this loco considerably. We expect the loco to remain at the KESR until some time in the spring of 2023.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, which is great news for the loco and for the DEPG. The travelling public seem to like her as well, which is good news and will help ensure that she gets used regularly in future.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco remains in the yard at Williton, ready for service.
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 !