Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) stands on number 1 road at Williton Depot (left) while sister loco D6566 (33 048) is on the ‘down’ line at Williton Station (right), performing a shunt before heading off to Minehead in preparation for driver training activities. Pictured in the afternoon of Saturday 25th February 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
In preparation for the re-opening of the WSR on 19th March 2023, refresher training and competency reviews taking the form of exams and practical sessions are being arranged for all crew members. In the case of diesel crews, a locomotive needed to be available for the competency renewals, so Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was prepared for service and dispatched from Williton to Minehead on Saturday 25th February to support the practical tests. This has been the first opportunity for this loco to be called into action since the completion of her heat exchanger replacement and loaded test run, last December.
Class 09 shunter D4107 (09 019) continues to receive attention from Ian, Tom, John and Martin, the focus of attention last weekend being the engine oil cooler elements, which appear to be leaking. The elements are mounted in the nose of the loco, behind the radiator shutters. The design is simple but the work required to reach the cooler elements is significant, so access platforms had to be positioned around the front and side of the loco so that the access covers could be removed safely. The photos below show the work involved:
Class 09 D4107 (09 019) was surrounded by access platforms on number 2 road at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023, so that work could place to rectify an oil leak from the engine oil cooler elements that are mounted on the nose, to the right of the radiator, just behind the yellow shutters. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 09 D4107 (09 019) was pictured with her radiator access cover removed at Williton on Sunday 26th February 2023. The engine oil cooler elements are mounted behind the shutters. The bolts that hold the shutters in place have to be accessed via this cover. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – further progress on multiple fronts during the last week as we push ahead with work both inside and outside of the loco. Here are some photos to show the wide range of activities:
D1010 – the ‘B’ cab is receiving attention from new volunteer Steve, who brings his experience in electrical control systems to bear upon the many electrical items in the cab and in the electrical frames under the desk. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – meanwhile, at ‘A’ end, Natalie continued her renovation work in the electrical bay behind the headcode indicators. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the radiator elements have now been removed from the cooler group at ‘B’ end, providing a view straight through the loco from the compressor access grille at ‘B’ end – except for the space that is being occupied by Leroy. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the damage that was incurred on ‘B’ side back in BR days (thought to be 1972 but precise details are still unknown) is being filled and sanded by Ian in preparation for a few more coats of paint. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010 – the horns from ‘A’ end were treated to some renovation and TLC by Gordon at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023. Photos by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0
To continue our rate of progress requires FUNDING and we give our thanks to everyone who has supported D1010 by sponsoring or donating during these difficult times. If you are able to do so, please SPONSOR A PATCH because there is plenty of recently-added metal that still needs engraving. Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored this phase of the restoration work, and we are applying more resources to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support !
See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details. We still have a lot of work to do on this massive locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is the duty loco and has moved to Minehead to support the training activities that are taking place there during the coming weeks. Luckily, this loco escaped the attention of the vandals last Sunday.
Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is at Williton and is also fully serviceable and ready to take up active duty on the WSR if required.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – on Tuesday 21st, Terry and Nick continued their work on the re-fitting of the sanding gear that had to be removed when the loco had to have her bogie springs changed last March.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco has a list of items requiring attention and will be allocated resources shortly.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the cardan shafts received another coat of paint while Andy P worked on restoring the safety guards that protect the loco and occupants in the event of a cardan shaft failure. In parallel, John installed the wiring for the electro-pneumatic reverser valves. The newly-restored battery boxes (Colin G’s homework!) were brought into the loco shed, ready for re-fitting. The pictures tell the stories:
D9518 – one of the cardan shafts was painted in primer coat along with some of the safety hardware items at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518 – the cardan shaft cover was retrieved from storage and straightened out using some careful blacksmith moves by Andy P at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518 – the electro-pneumatic valves that control the direction of the loco (forward/reverse) were wired up by John at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518 – the fully restored battery boxes are now positioned alongside the loco, ready to be lifted into position. These are further examples of top quality restoration work by Colin G. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 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 fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco has been rostered to work the 80-mile ‘BLUE’ timetable services on the WSR on the following dates:
- Sunday 16th April
- Sunday 21st May
- Saturday 3rd June
- Sunday 4th June
More dates for later in the year will be added in the near future. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page or sign up to DIESELGEN email bullletin service to get the information as soon as it becomes available.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is currently stabled at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is rostered for crew training duties during the next few weeks.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is waiting for delivery of the new oil filter and housing that are being specially made by BRITISH FILTERS in Plymouth to be directly compatible with the original Vokes type, after which she will receive a fill of fresh engine oil and be ready to start up. Once started, a number of maintenance and setup tasks will need to be carried out before the work can be signed off as complete, in particular the setting-up of the newly-overhauled engine governor. We are getting close !
Barclay 578 – the old oil filter is a non-standard size and a replacement has had to be made to order by BRITISH FILTERS in Plymouth. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 14th February 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Barclay 578 – the recently-overhauled engine governor has to be set up as soon as possible after the engine has been started. The red label serves as a reminder. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
If you can help by donating your time to any of these projects, 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 !