Visiting Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568 was used on the scheduled diesel turn on Sunday 12th June 2022 to provide additional entertainment to those that remained after the gala and to those that attended to ride the 80-mile diesel diagram. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
The WSR’s ‘Sixties Diesel Gala’ has dominated the Roundup this week, but on this page, we focus on the locos and the activities surrounding them, so here’s a quick rundown on which loco did what and when:
In numerical order by the carried number:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – as the depot was open to the public, it was not possible to do any work on the loco, and the semi-disassembled state of both cabs preventing the customary ‘cabbing’ activities. Instead, the loco was dressed up with her special promotional ‘CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER‘ nameplate and we provided visitors with a detailed explanaion of the work that has been taking place on and around the loco. We also showed the Voith hydraulic transmission internals to those visitors who asked to see this marvellous piece of 1950s engineering.
The DEPG sales stand at Williton was postioned below the longest ‘Western’ nameplate ever produced – our special ‘CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER’ plate measuring just over 3 metres (9’11”) and specially made by Rob Riley. Photo by Josh Brinsford © 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 ‘Westerns’ 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 D1010 to full operational condition.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) – this loco performed perfectly and provided 166 miles of public haulage during the gala, including one trip to Norton Fitzwarren and back.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was the standby loco at Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 9th June in case of late arrival of the visiting locomotives, but joined the action on the first train of the day on the Friday. Pictured at Dunster West on Friday 10th June 2022 by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) – this loco performed perfectly and provided 275 miles of public haulage during the gala, including three trips to Norton Fitzwarren and back and one ‘Thunderbird’ rescue when she went to the aid of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 …. more on this later.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) achieved the highest public haulage mileage during the gala due to having to take over the last leg of D7017’s diagram on Thursday 9th June. The stalwart loco was photographed while approaching Crowcombe Heathfield on Saturday 11th June 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco performed perfectly for most of the first day of the gala, providing several examples of the sprightly performance that ‘Hymeks’ were renowned for. However, on the last leg of her 80-mile diagram, it all became too much for her and she was failed at Blue Anchor with a leaking cylinder head seal ring on number 1 cylinder that was causing oil to be sprayed from a compromised transition rubber in the cylinder head interface. To prevent further damage, the engine was shut down and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 was sent out from Minehead to effect a rescue.
D7017 and her train were towed forward to Williton where the errant loco was removed from the train and collected by Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF1) who shunted her to the yard of shame. The ‘Crompton’ then completed the journey to Bishops Lydeard so that the passengers could disembark, somewhat later than planned.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 stands at Williton Station on Friday 10th June 2022 alongside sister D7017 who had been banished to the ‘wrong’ side of the fence after failing with a leaking Number 1 cylinder head joint when working the last service of the previous day, and having to be withdrawn from the gala lineup. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
The repairs will take several weeks and will have to be fitted in with other priority work that is necessary to keep our other fleet members operational and revenue-earning. We hope to see D7017 back in action in the late summer.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco performed perfectly and provided 240 miles of public haulage during the gala, although being locked in second gear and limited to 1200 rpm meant that she was sluggish by comparison to D7017 and struggled to maintain line speed when on longer rakes of coaches. The work that needs to take place on the transmission will take several weekends to complete, so it needs to be done when the loco is not scheduled for haulage, so we expect to get this done during the month of August.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – this loco was on display during the ‘open depot’ sessions at Williton and received several compliemnts as to the obvious quality of the work being undertaken.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 was dressed up for the occasion by applying a coat of yellow paint to her buffer beam, giving a hint of the future look of this carefully restored machine when she is eventually outshopped in NCB Ashington Colliery livery. The photo also shows the carefully made (by Colin G of course) presentation boards mounted on the depot wall, giving the history of the class and of D9518 in particular. Very interesting and very nicely done ! Click here to donate to the D9518 Restoration Fund. Photo by Josh Brinsford © 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 is based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway for the rest of this year and has now clocked up more than 400 hours of use since moving to this railway in June of last year. The loco had some difficulty starting during the last week and the issue was traced to the governor, but this has now been repaired. Unfortunately, the starter motor took a beating and now needs to be changed for the recently reconditioned spare. The worn-out motor will then go off to ICS in Preston for overhaul.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco has finally moved from Pickering to Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This move will allow the swift completion of the remaining overhaul tasks that have so far prevented her from entering service on the NYMR and will allow crew training turns to be planned.
BR-Brush Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ arrived in the yard at Grosmont Loco Works on the NYMR on Wednesday 8th June 2022 where she will undergo completion of her overhaul before entering service for crew training. Pictured along with B1 61264 and WD 3672 and Class 24 D5061 and other locos by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this useful little engine handled several yard shunts during the last week, including an unexpected shunt when Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 had to be removed from her train and returned to the yard. Resplendent in her new coat of MOD deep bronze green, this loco attracted a lot of attention while in the yard during the ‘open depot’ sessions.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers who are hard at work cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !