Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was stabled in a very unusual place during the WSR’s ‘Forties Weekend’ – inside the steam shed at Minehead ! Pictured on 11th September 2023 by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Apologies, but this edition of Roundup is another abridged version because of annual vacation time.

 

Last weekend on the WSR had a 1940s theme centred on Minehead, so our 1961-vintage ‘Crompton’ was hidden away in the steam loco shed. Luckily, everything went to plan so the ‘Thunderbird’ was not called upon, and the many photos that are available via wsr.org.uk showed that the whole railway was well and truly in the 1940s mood. Click here to visit the 1940s event gallery on wsr.org.uk.

Williton signalbox was evidently under threat from an unexploded bomb when photographed on Saturday 9th September 2023 during the WSR’s ‘Forties Weekend‘. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Well done to all volunteers and staff for their massive efforts in delivering such an obviously enjoyable event !

 

 

As indicated in the last roundup, we were expecting a timetable revision for the weekend of 23rd/24th September and we can now share the details. The WSR is hosting two GWR ‘Castle’ class High Speed Trains (HSTs) for several weeks, to free up space at Laira depot (Plymouth) while that depot is being tasked with the withdrawal of ‘HSTs’ from frontline services.

 

By agreement between the WSR and GWR, the weekend of 23rd/24th September has been upgraded from Blue to Yellow timetable and will now include the opportunity for the public to travel the length of the wonderful WSR in air-conditioned comfort and style !

 

Click here for a link to the Yellow HST timetable

 

GWR ‘Castle’ class 43153 ‘Chûn Castle’ leads the 1400 Cardiff to Plymouth stopping service away from the Dawlish Warren stop on Sunday 27th August 2023. 43155 ‘Rougemont Castle’ was at the rear of the 4-coach consist. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The ‘HST’ was conceived in the early 1970s as a stop-gap to the ‘Advanced Passenger Train’ (APT) and turned out to be one of the most successful designs ever – and still delivers one of the best travel experiences on mainline railways more than 45 years after the type were first introduced on express passenger services out of Paddington and Kings Cross. This is a creditable achievement and a tribute to the people who conceived and developed the design and to those that operate and maintain these iconic machines.

 

The ‘HST’ running opportunity does impact the previous plans that were announced via DIESELGEN and ROUNDUP in relation to our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057) because the timetable for the weekend of 23rd/24th September has now been upgraded from Blue to YELLOW (5 trains each way per day). Here’s an updated table showing the revised workings:

September 2023 dates	Loco rostered	Timetable
Saturday 16th	D6575 (33 057)	MODIFIED BLUE timetable
Sunday 17th	D6575 (33 057)	BLUE timetable
Saturday 23rd	HST plus D6566 (33 048)	YELLOW HST timetable
Sunday 24th	HST plus D6566 (33 048)	YELLOW HST timetable

 

Apologies to all those who were hoping for a double-headed Class 33 ‘Crompton’ hauled service on Saturday 23rd, but the diesel running that weekend is now set to be attractive to a wider and hopefully new range of visitors, all of whom will be welcomed on the WSR.

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work continued on the ‘A’ transmission and on the bodywork of the loco. We will cover the progress in a combined update in the near future.

There are still some patches waiting for sponsors at the ‘B’ end of the loco, so GET IN QUICK TO HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED before the painters reach this end. Many thanks to those who placed their orders during this last few weeks.

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

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 WSR Standby Loco and is stabled at Bishops Lydeard.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is outstationed at Minehead and will handle the Blue timetable workings on 16/17th September.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was tucked away inside the steam shed at Minehead during the ‘Forties weekend’ of 9/10 September, but will be in use on the weekend of 16/17 September. Photo by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – no change this week, still awaiting electrical fault-finding work on the engine speeder valve circuit and the Vacuum Governor circuit.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the work taking place on this locomotive continues to be of an analytical nature as the Root Cause Analysis develops.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continues on several fronts. Details will be posted in a future 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 fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – now stabled at Williton and available for use at any time. This loco will be due for a 1000-hour service very soon.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 were pictured together at Williton on Friday 8th September 2023. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Work is proceeding well, but the amount of work being done means that the loco is unlikely to emerge until after the main running season ends, but she will be in very good shape for 2024 and beyond. 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – the cab of this loco is undergoing an internal repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

Barclay 0-4-0 DH 578 (ROF 1) was pictured enjoying the sunshine in a very tidy Williton south yard on Saturday 9th Septmber 2023, courtesy of the Permanent Way team who had dealt with the weeds that had been making the most of the warm and wet summer. Photo by Martin Howard © 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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – apologies, but we will have to skip this feature this week.

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

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the next Newsletter has been delayed by the need to prioritise the investigation work on D7018, but we expect to be able to distribute the Newsletter later this month. Work has begun on the 2024 Calendar and we hope to be able to sell an increased quantity this year.

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. To vote at the AGM, it is essential that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

  

KEY DATES for your diary:

GWR ‘Castle’ class HST and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) running on Sat/Sun 23/24 September

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was pictured at Blue Anchor station at the head of the 11:00 departure from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Tuesday 22nd August 2023. Photo by John Crocker © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The big event coming up next on the WSR is the FORTIES WEEKEND which will be an all-steam event, which is both appropriate and accurate, given that all of our locos date from the 1960s onwards! See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of loco allocations.

 

We may need to announce a deviation from the previous DIESELGEN and ROUNDUP announcements for Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057) running during the month of September. The details are not available to us yet, but it seems that running opportunities on Sat/Sun 23/24th September could be affected by a possible guest appearance that is in the planning stage at the time of writing. Here’s an updated table showing the situation as we currently see it:

September 2023 dates	Loco rostered	Timetable
Sat/Sun 9th/10th	All steam	FORTIES WEEKEND
Saturday 16th	D6575 (33 057)	MODIFIED BLUE timetable
Sunday 17th	D6575 (33 057)	BLUE timetable
Saturday 23rd	To be advised	BLUE timetable
Sunday 24th	To be advised	BLUE timetable

 

Apologies in advance to all those who were hoping for a double-headed Class 33 ‘Crompton’ hauled service on Saturday 23rd because this is now very unlikely to happen, but continue to keep this date available in your diary and await further announcements !

 

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the DEPG took place at Williton on Saturday 2nd September and was well attended, providing a great opportunity for members old and new to meet up and exchange their views on how our charity should be run. The meeting returned all six trustees to the Board for the coming twelve months and approved the financial report for the year ended 31-Dec-22, which will now be filed with Companies House and the Charity Commission, and thereby available for public scrutiny. A detailed report will be included in the next DEPG Newsletter, expected later this month.

One notable event following the AGM was the unveiling of a nameplate for the new oil store at Williton depot, named in honour of the volunteer who kept on about having such a facility until we couldn’t take any more and gave in and built it (see below photo for details) !

The new gated oil store at Williton features separate sections for new and used oil, each area having separate bunds to capture any accidental spills. The unveiling of the ‘Warship-style’ nameplate was performed by Neil on Saturday 2nd September 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The new gated oil store at Williton was completed by Graham and Paul T on Monday Saturday 28th August 2023. Photo by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The ‘WILLITON INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION’ T-shirt was modelled by volunteer Graham at Williton on Saturday 12th August 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Volunteer Paul T, the other member of the WILLITON INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION, was pictured taking a short break on Saturday 29th July 2023. Perhaps the caption should read ‘Phew, this kind of work is a lot harder than it used to be !’ Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Many thanks to our hard-working volunteers for their continuing efforts on infrastructure as well as loco maintenance and restoration !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the main focus of activities at Williton last week was the preparation for the AGM, but some work did take place on the ‘A’ transmission. We will cover the progress in a combined update in the near future.

The bodywork of the loco continues to progress, with ‘A’ end already having been repainted. There are still some patches waiting for sponsors at the ‘B’ end of the loco, so GET IN QUICK TO HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED before the painters reach this end. Many thanks to those who placed their orders during this last few weeks.

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

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 WSR Standby Loco and is stabled at Bishops Lydeard.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is outstationed at Minehead and will handle the Blue timetable workings on 16/17th September.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was in use on the weekend of 2/3 September on the 10:00 Minehead 80-mile diagram. The loco was pictured while departing from Bishops Lydeard station with the 16:35 return working. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – no change this week, still awaiting electrical fault-finding work on the engine speeder valve circuit and the Vacuum Governor circuit.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the work taking place on this locomotive continues to be of an analytical nature as the Root Cause Analysis develops. The loco did get towed out of the loco shed for a few hours, which made for a rare appearance this summer – we needed the space for the AGM !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was towed out into the open on 2nd September 2023 to make space for the AGM. Ahead of the errant ‘Hymek’ is Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and the whole consist had been hauled out by Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1). Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continues on several fronts, with progress even being made on the morning of the AGM, right up until the arrival of the members prevented the continuance of any kind of restoration activities. Details will be posted in a future 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 fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – now stabled at Williton and available for use at any time. This loco will be due for a 1000-hour service very soon.

Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 were pictured together in perfect late summer weather conditions at Williton on Saturday 2nd September 2023. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Work is proceeding well, but the amount of work being done means that the loco is unlikely to emerge until after the main running season ends, but she will be in very good shape for 2024 and beyond. 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco was in use to shunt the yard on Saturday 2nd September. The cab is undergoing an internal repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

 

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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – we are now able to share the detailed book review that was prepared by regular contributor NEALE LONG in relation to the very interesting new book CHANGING ENGINES by Michael Hollick of the LNWR Society. Apologies to Neale for the delay in publishing his review, but here it is now:

     “For many enthusiasts, one of the most fascinating periods in railway history was the period from the late 1950s to late 1960s when steam traction was replaced by diesel and electric traction on Britain’s railways. The need for economies and dire labour shortages drove this process and ……” CLICK HERE to read the rest of Neale’s review via our website.

This book is in stock at Williton and is priced at £30 per copy. It can be ordered from our online store by clicking on the image above or by clicking this link.

MANY THANKS to Neale for taking the time to provide us with this detailed review (and for buying the first copy of this new book) !

 

 

ON SHED – last week we shared this photo of D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ pouring on the power at Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ) on the through road heading towards Chepstow and Gloucester. What was not apparent was that the loco had just arrived from Paddington via the Severn Tunnel and had run around her train at STJ. Here’s some more detail from the photographer, Kelvin Lumb:

     “D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ arrived at STJ via the tunnel, ran-round its train at the cross-over points in the distance and is photographed departing in the Chepstow direction on Sunday afternoon 22nd August 1976. D1033 ‘WESTERN TROOPER’ is in the background line-up of locos, together with a few ‘Spotters’”.

Does anyone have any information as to why this working reversed at STJ ? Perhaps engineering work on the Swindon-Cheltenham ‘Golden Valley’ line ?

Class 52 D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ pours on the power from a standing start at Severn Tunnel Junction depot, en route to Gloucester on Sunday 22nd August 1976. This loco has been preserved and is now at the Midland Railway in Butterley, Derbyshire. Photo by Kelvin Lumb © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the next Newsletter has been delayed by the need to prioritise the investigation work on D7018, but we expect to be able to distribute the Newsletter later this month. Work has begun on the 2024 Calendar and we hope to be able to sell an increased quantity this year.

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

   

     

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was pictured on the approach to the delightful Stogumber station with the 11:00 departure from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Tuesday 22nd August 2023. Photo by Shirley Turner © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR’s Yellow Timetable came to an end on Saturday 26th August with Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 working the final service of the peak season. Public services from now until 28th September have reverted to the BLUE timetable and include diesel-hauled services on most weekends except for the FORTIES WEEKEND (9th and 10th) which will be an all-steam event, which is both appropriate and accurate, given that all of our locos date from the 1960s onwards! See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of loco allocations.

 

As a result of the suspension of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ operations as announced in the previous DIESELGEN and ROUNDUP, our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057) will be covering the diesel loco-hauled workings throughout the month of September, as per the WSR’s BLUE timetable. Note that Saturday 16th has a slightly modified timetable, available via the link in the table below:

 

September 2023 dates	Loco rostered	Timetable
Saturday 2nd	D6575 (33 057)	BLUE timetable
Sunday 3rd	D6575 (33 057)	BLUE timetable
Saturday 16th	D6575 (33 057)	MODIFIED BLUE timetable
Sunday 17th	D6575 (33 057)	BLUE timetable
Saturday 23rd	D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057) DOUBLE HEADING	BLUE timetable
Sunday 24th	D6566 (33 048)	BLUE timetable

 

We will be running a double-headed Class 33 ‘Crompton’ hauled service on Saturday 23rd so keep this date available in your diary!

 

Here’s the plan for Saturday 23rd September:

     10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard worked by D6575 (33 057)

     12:30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead worked by D6566 (33 048) AND D6575 (33 057)

     14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard worked by D6566 (33 048) AND D6575 (33 057)

     16:35 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead worked by D6566 (33 048)

 

We look forward to welcoming you on board these enhanced services (standard WSR ticketing applies).

 

 

An unexpected but most welcome event took place at Minehead Station on the evening of Saturday 26th August when the WSR invited all volunteers from all branches of the ‘WSR family’ to attend a BBQ and social evening, during which a steam loco provided footplate rides and basic footplate tuition. Several of our active volunteers attended and were tempted to try out the steam footplate rides. Two of the ‘defectors’ were caught on camera. No, seriously, I love steam locos as well so I am only sorry that I couldn’t attend !

BR(WR) 4-6-0 7828 ‘ODNEY MANOR’ provided the basic footplate experiences during the BBQ evening at Minehead station on Saturday 26th August 2023. DEPG volunteers Pat (left) and Steve (right) were tempted by the magic of steam. Photos by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Well done to the WSR for recognising the invaluable contribution of volunteers from all of the related WSR support organisations.

 

Speaking of steam, the FORTIES WEEKEND event will take place on September 9th and 10th and is always very popular with a wide range of related exhibits and themed activities, including the now-customary evening dance on the platform at Minehead ! Click here to go to the WSR website for details of this event.

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the transmission work is progressing and the peripherals are being dealt with in the early stages so that known good assemblies can be stored and cleared from the working area before the turbine rail is opened up. The amount of space required to disassemble such complex and inter-related parts is staggering, so good houskeeping is essential. Apologies for the lack of photos this week.

On the loco itself, the electrical wiring under the driver’s desk at ‘B’ end is being carefully reinstated by Steve, with each crimp terminal being inspected and replaced whenever any doubt exists about the integrity of the existing part. We want this loco to be reliable so that we can attract swarms of vistors to ride behind the loco on the WSR as soon as we are up and running again.

The bodywork of the loco continues to progress, with ‘A’ end already having been repainted. There are still some patches waiting for sponsors at the ‘B’ end of the loco, so GET IN QUICK TO HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED before the painters reach this end (the weather is delaying this work). Many thanks to those who placed their orders during this last week.

D1010 and D7017 – the two locos were pictured on number 1 road at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023 while undergoing attention from our team of volunteers. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

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 WSR Standby Loco and is now stabled at Bishops Lydeard after working Blue timetable duties for the past three months. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details. As you will have noticed from your DEPG calendars, this loco enjoyed her 62nd birthday on Saturday 26th August !

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is outstationed at Minehead and will handle the Blue timetable until handing the baton back to her slightly older sister on the last Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service of the day on 23rd September.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was in use on Sunday 27th August 2023 with DEPG and PW volunteer Chris L (right) on secondman duties and former Eurostar driver Baz (left) on route learning duties. Pictured while standing at Williton Station by driver Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – both ‘Hymeks’ were ‘grounded’ while our updated Risk Assessment was being scrutinised by the WSR, but this document has now been approved so we can at least move the locos subject to the additional control measures being put in place.

However, we still have two electrical faults to deal with on this loco, then we will need to do a Vehicle Inspection and Brake Test (VIBT), then arrange a test run to ensure that the loco is reliable enough to be rostered for duty. This is not going to happen in time for the loco to do any public service work this year, which is why the two ‘Cromptons’ have stepped in to cover the remaining turns that were formerly booked for the ‘Hymeks’.

Although this is disappointing for all of us, it does provide a breathing space to allow us resolve the issues properly and get the loco reliable again, so that she can perform as often as possible in 2024.

D7017 – the engine speeder valve solenoid that failed while the loco was in service on Sunday 2nd July 2023 has now been fitted with a new winding, thanks to Carwood Rewind of Yeovil. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the work taking place on this locomotive continues to be of an analytical nature, digging deeper into the inner workings of the transmission control block to establish the list of probable causes and rank them in order of criticality. This work will take a few more weeks and will then clear the way for the transmission to be partly disassembled to check if the theories fit with the actual findings.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – although some effort has had to be diverted towards classmate D9526, several tasks on D9518 have been moving along in the background. The cardan shafts are currently undergoing inspection before being balanced at H J Chard in Bristol. Results will be shared ASAP, but early indications were not good, so we are braced for some expensive news. Back at Williton, the driver’s power and direction controller has been disamantled for cleaning and inspection. This task was very kindly carried out by Martin R and revealed some areas of wear that will need to be assessed and possibly repaired before the controller is re-assembled. Master electrician John C has resumed his work on the driver’s desk wiring loom and is in the process of mapping out the many conenctions so that a replacement loom can be assembled. There is plenty of work to be done on this restoration project !

D9518 – the cardan shafts were transported to H J Chard in Bristol for inspection and balancing. Pictured on 1st August 2023 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the driver’s power and direction controller has been stripped down for cleaning. It will now be inspected and any areas of wear corrected before being reassembled. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 26th August 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 was in use for three of the five weeks of the YELLOW timetable services that ran during the peak summer period, concluding on Saturday 26th August. These 4-coach workings were ideal for the quiet and purposeful 650 HP loco and also provided opportunities for six different drivers to develop experience on the type, making rostering much easier in future. Well done D9526 !

D9526 – the loco worked the 11:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return on Thursday 24th August 2023. Pictured at Blue Anchor by Steve Lewis © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Work is proceeding well, but the amount of work being done means that the loco is unlikely to emerge until after the main running season ends, but she will be in very good shape for 2024 and beyond. 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is in full working order and is stabled in the South Yard. The cab is undergoing a repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

 

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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – the weight of other news has caused us to miss several weeks of book reviews, but waiting patiently to be presented via Roundup is a very interesting new book CHANGING ENGINES by Michael Hollick of the LNWR Society, covering a very interesting period in early diesel traction history. We already have a full book review from Neale Long and will include that next week, but to get us started, here is an extract from the publisher’s own press release:

     “CHANGING ENGINES tells the story of the transition from steam power to diesel and electric traction in the Birmingham and Rugby Districts of the London Midland Region, encompassing the former London and North Western Lines, and those of other companies subsumed into the Birmingham Division in the 1960s.

     Starting with the early prototype diesel locomotives, it then covers the introduction of diesel shunters and multiple units during the 1950s, working through to the final elimination of steam in 1967 and the changes made to the end of the decade.

     The book covers the organisation of the changes, ordering and allocation of locomotives, development of diesel and electric depots, reliability issues with the new traction, and the final rundown of steam duties. It is based on extensive research into surviving official records as well as contemporary reports and the reminisces of some of those involved, backed up with a comprehensive selection of colour and black and white photographs.”

This 140-page A4 hardback book is in stock at Williton and is priced at £30 per copy. It can be ordered from our online store by clicking on the image above or by clicking this link.

 

ON SHED – or close to a shed in this case, we see D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ at Severn Tunnel Junction on the through road towards Chepstow and Gloucester, complete with a coach or two full of ‘Western’ admirers making the most of her last months in front-line service. Just look at the array of motive power lined up in the yard – classes 25, 37, 45, 47 and 52 with 11 locos visible and probably more out of camera. Many thanks to Kelvin Lumb for sharing his image with us all.

Class 52 D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ pours on the power at Severn Tunnel Junction depot en route to Gloucester on 22nd August 1976. This loco has been preserved and is now at the Midland Railway in Butterley, Derbyshire. Photo by Kelvin Lumb © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will take place at Williton on Saturday 2nd September, starting at 14:00 and all DEPG members are entitled to attend (formal calling notices were sent by post or email earlier this month). To save paper and postage, any member who wishes to see the minutes of the previous AGM or the draft of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022 is asked to contact us via our CONTACT FORM and we will respond by sending the requested items. This approach has saved reams of paper and £££s of ink, most of which would otherwise have gone straight from the doormat to the recycling container. Thank you for your understanding. 

NOTE – Members will not need to show their membership cards at the AGM (we ony issue cards on special request these days), but the register of members will be checked to ensure that all present are fully paid-up members.

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. To vote at the AGM, it is essential that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

   

DOUBLE-HEADED Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ – Saturday 23rd September 

     

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) has now taken over the Blue timetable workings from sister D6566 (33 048) to balance up the mileage being worked by the two locos. Pictured while being prepared for the 10:00 departure from Minehead on Sunday 20th August 2023 by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR’s peak summer YELLOW timetable has been keeping our locomotives busy, with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) covering the week under review and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 working the final week of the peak season. Dates beyond the 26th revert to the BLUE timetable and include diesel-hauled services on most weekends. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of loco allocations.

 

The postponement of the ‘DEPG at 50’ event was explained in the roundup last week, but please be aware that some of our locos will be working on Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th September as per the WSR’s BLUE timetable. We will be running a double-headed Class 33 ‘Crompton’ hauled service on the Saturday and we might be able to run ‘Hymek’ D7017 on the Sunday if our updated Risk Assessments are approved in time. The WSR may also be announcing another special working for the Saturday, so keep this date available in your diary!

 

Here’s the plan for Saturday 23rd September:

     10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard worked by D6575 (33 057)

     12:30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead worked by D6566 (33 048) AND D6575 (33 057)

     14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard worked by D6566 (33 048) AND D6575 (33 057)

     16:35 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead worked by D6566 (33 048)

 

The FORTIES WEEKEND event will take place on September 9th and 10th and is always very popular with a wide range of related exhibits and themed activities, including the now-customary evening dance on the platform at Minehead ! Click here to go to the WSR website for details of this event.

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the dismantling of the ‘A’ transmission has progressed and the turbine rail has now been lifted out of the main casing, which will now be closed up and covered up to protect it while work takes place on the more complicated part. The main findings so far are corrosion caused by condensation, the long-term effects of which can be seen on the inside of the top casing (photo below). The reverser assembly shows evidence of wear and will need some specialist attention, but it is all repairable and will not present a challenge. The turbine rail spins quietly, so this should also be a much more straightforward overhaul, compared to the damage evident in the ‘B’ transmission.

The bodywork of the loco has also been progressed, although the Great British Summer has made it a challenge for the team as they try to work between the showers. Gordon had the last laugh when he re-fitted the headcode indicator at the ‘B’ end and set the blinds to I’M 62 to remind everyone that our loco is racking up the years. There are still some patches waiting for sponsors at this end of the loco, so GET IN QUICK TO HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED before the painters reach this end of the loco.

D1010 – the headcode indicators have been reinstated after being rebuilt by Gordon, who mischievously set the headcode to I’M 62 to show off the age of our prized locomotive. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the corrosion caused by condensation is the only evidence of degradation in this view of the ‘A’ transmission top cover, taken while the cover was standing on its side and being supported by the crane. Pictured at Williton on 15th August 2023 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the turbine rail was carefully lifted out of the ‘A’ transmission at Williton on 15th August 2023. This piece of precision engineering is the heart of the transmission and includes three torque converters of different diameters. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

 

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 WSR Standby Loco and is now stabled at Bishops Lydeard after working Blue timetable duties for the past three months. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has been working the YELLOW timetable duties but has now taken over from sister D6566 (33 048) and will handle the Blue timetable for the rest of this season.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured from the signal box at Williton on Sunday 20th August 2023 while working a Minehead to Bishops Lydeard service on a typical (meaning wet) 2023 summer day. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – both ‘Hymeks’ remain ‘grounded’ until our updated Risk Assessment receives approval from the WSR, so in the meantime, work proceeds apace to get at least one of our ‘Hymeks’ ready to resume service subject to the additional controls. The new window glass was fitted to the driver’s side window at ‘A’ end, which may not sound like a big deal, but that side of the cab is festooned with equipment from the old BR(WR) Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, all of which had to be removed and countless corroded screws drilled out to gain access to the window mechanism. This coming weekend’s task is to put it all back together again !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 had to undergo significant dismantling to gain access to replace a broken window glass on the driver’s side at ‘A’ end. The scissor mechanism can be clearly seen in this view, taken at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

D7017 viewed from the ‘B’ cab, shows the equipment that has to be removed to gain access to the window mechanism. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

D7017 viewed from the ‘B’ cab, with a closer view of the equipment that has to be removed to gain access to the window mechanism. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

D7017 is fitted with the BR(WR) Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, the components of which are attached to the side wall in the cab, blocking access to the window mechanism. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 19th August 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the work taking place on this locomotive is of an analytical nature, to establish the probable causes of the un-commanded move that took place following engine start-up on Friday 4th August 2023. This work has already resulted in an updated Risk Assessment that includes additional controls that must be put in place before the next engine start-up. The next step is to submit the Root Cause Analysis for review, and that step should be reached by the end of this week. Once approved, we will be able to resume testing and the remedial work can be planned.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – with the diversion of effort resulting from the running of classmate D9526, the progress on this project has had to be slowed, but has not stopped. The most obvious demonstration of progress has been the reinstatement of the black ‘wasp stripes’ at the ‘B’ end of the locomotive, and they are certainly attention-grabbing !

D9518 – the black ‘wasp stripes’ have now been applied to the ‘B’ end of the locomotive, making her instantly recognisable as a ‘Teddy Bear’. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th August by Martin Howard © 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 in use for three of the last five weeks in place of the DMU on the YELLOW timetable services that ran during the peak summer period, concluding on Saturday 26th August. Take a look at our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of the running dates and loco allocations. The loco is now approaching her 1,000 hour engine service, which will be quite a thorough process and is aimed at keeping this much-loved locomotive in top condition.

   

D9526 – the meters show 925 hours since the last engine overhaul and 10597.8 miles since entering preservation. Photos taken on 19th August 2023 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9526 – an unusual sight in some ways, but not in others. A ‘Teddy Bear’ works goods through the West Country during the holiday season. What’s strange about that ! Pictured at the WSRA Steam Rally, Norton Fitzwarren, on Saturday 5th August 2023 by Mike Pinn © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Work is proceeding well, so the loco should be out and about again within a few weeks, hopefully still in time to do some running this season.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is in full working order and is stabled in the South Yard. The cab is undergoing a repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

 

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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW and ON SHED – we will have to skip these two features this week due to the weight of other news and the need to prioritise. Hopefully we will be back with these two popular features soon.

 

DEPG NEWS – the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will take place at Williton on Saturday 2nd September, starting at 14:00 and all DEPG members are entitled to attend (formal calling notices were sent by post or email earlier this month). To save paper and postage, any member who wishes to see the minutes of the previous AGM or the draft of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022 is asked to contact us by email or via our CONTACT FORM and we will respond by sending the requested items. This will save reams of paper and £££s of ink, most of which would otherwise go straight from the doormat to the recyling container. We will also save postage because of the lower weight in the mailings. Thank you for your understanding. 

NOTE – Members will not need to show their membership cards at the AGM (we ony issue cards on special request these days), but the register of members will be checked to ensure that all present are fully paid-up members.

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. To vote at the AGM, it is essential that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

   

DOUBLE-HEADED Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ – Saturday 23rd September 

     

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 has been quarantined pending investigation into the un-commanded move that took place shortly after engine start-up at Williton on Friday 4th August 2023. Pictured inside the loco shed carrying a ‘NOT TO BE MOVED‘ board on Saturday 12th August 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Sadly, we have to open this edition of Roundup with news of an incident that took place at Williton on Friday 4th August 2023 involving Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018. The official press release is reproduced below in full:

 

 

PRESS RELEASE – dated 14th August 2023

 

On Friday 4th August 2023, preparations were underway at Williton for a static test of ‘Hymek’ D7018 after some adjustments and checks had been made to the transmission. Following the engine start and while the preparations for the actual test were still in progress, the locomotive started to move uncommanded. This was against the parking brakes and included riding over scotches (or wheel chocks). The movement was only stopped by shutting down the engine. Some minor damage resulted, both to the locomotive and to some of DEPG’s equipment and spares. Thankfully, no-one was hurt in this incident. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail & Road (ORR) were informed routinely.

As an immediate consequence, an extraordinary meeting of the DEPG Board of Trustees has taken the decision to cease all operational ‘Hymek’ activities until further notice while we review the cause of the incident and develop additional controls to ensure that these precious locomotives remain safe to use.

This regrettably means that the planned ‘DEPG at 50’ celebrations at the end of September must be postponed until a later date. We particularly regret that neither ‘Hymek’ D7017 or D7018 will be able to attend the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ event in the Autumn as working locomotives. We recognise that this will disappoint many of our fans and followers, but it will be appreciated that the safety of both the public and our own volunteers cannot be put at risk.

Martin Howard
Chairman, DEPG Board of Directors and Trustees

 

 

 

We are all disappointed that our locos will not be able to feature in these two events this year, but most of all we are thankful that no-one was hurt. We are putting a considerable effort into the root cause analysis so that we can devise and implement the additional controls that will ensure that all of our locomotives are operated safely.

 

The response from our members, supporters and fellow preservation groups has been very supportive and encouraging. This is really helpful and is very much appreciated. The negative comments can be counted on the fingers of one hand, such comments being mostly due to the obvious disappointment. 

 

The postponement of the ‘DEPG at 50’ event will particularly affect those who booked non-refundable accommodation in the West Somerset area, but please be aware that some of our locos will be working on Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th September as per the WSR’s BLUE timetable. We plan to run a double-headed Class 33 ‘Crompton’ hauled service on the Saturday and we might be able to run a ‘hydraulic’ on the Sunday.

 

 

Meanwhile, the WSR’s peak summer YELLOW timetable has been keeping our locomotives busy, with Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 working during three of the five weeks and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) covering the other two weeks. Here are just a few of the excellent images that we have received recently:

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 worked the YELLOW timetable services during the week ending 13th August 2023 and was pictured at Minehead on Saturday 12th with a 10-coach mainline charter alongside. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 also worked the YELLOW timetable services on Tuesday 8th August 2023 – which was unexpected because Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) had been booked for that turn. Pictured at the delightful Blue Anchor station by Tony Latham © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048, left) was waiting at the platform at Williton as sister loco D6575 (33 057, right) arrived with a train from Minehead on Thursday 3rd August 2023. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The YELLOW timetable runs until the 26th August (Sundays excepted), the diesel-hauled service being the 1100 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and the 1525 return service. Sundays and dates beyond the 27th revert to the BLUE timetable and include diesel-hauled services on most weekends. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of loco allocations.

 

The FORTIES WEEKEND event will take place on September 9th and 10th and is always very popular with a wide range of related exhibits and themed activities, including the now-customary evening dance on the platform at Minehead ! Click here to go to the WSR website for details of this event.

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work continues on the dismantling of the ‘A’ transmission and the assessment of the components removed. The most significant area of wear discovered so far is in the reverser mechanism, and some parts will need to be replaced or repaired when the time comes to put this part of the assembly back in position. Otherwise, corrosion caused by condensation is the main source of degradation. Heritage locos take in moisture due to our variable climate and do not get enough use to dry them out, the result being internal condensation and the resulting corrosion.

Elsewhere on the loco, Steve has been progressing the electrical work in the ‘B’ cab while Gordon, Ian F and Roy attend to the many bodywork-related tasks. The repairs to the cooler group assemblies are being planned out by Tony and work will start as soon as the plan has been agreed and the materials sourced.

 

D1010 – the Standstill Detector valve on the ‘A’ transmission has been the recipient of some severe hammer blows at some time in the past, probably in response to the valve sticking. This valve will be disassembled and overhauled along with all of the other ancillary components. Pictured at Williton on 7th August 2023 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the amount of corrosion caused by condensation is evident from this view, taken immediately after removing the top cover. This transmission was working well before being removed for overhaul and the oil was clean, so the bearings are all in fairly good condition (so far so good). Pictured at Williton on 8th August 2023 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – this borescope image shows the state of the bore hole that runs through the centre of the splined part of the turbine rail secondary shaft. The wire probe shows a 2mm gap where the tapered end of the main shaft was not pushed fully home when the transmission was last overhauled at Swindon Works. There is a critical oilway somewhere amongst all that sludge. Pictured at Williton on 7th August 2023 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

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 WSR Standby Loco and is stabled at Minehead, ready for her next duties under the BLUE timetable. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has been stabled at Bishops Lydeard in connection with her YELLOW timetable duties, but had to return to Williton on Saturday 12th August for attention to her Automatic Warning System (AWS). The work was carried out by volunteer loco manager Ian R and his assistant Tom, and the loco returned to Bishops Lydeard later in the day.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) returned to Williton on Saturday 12th August 2023 for Ian R and Tom to give some attention to her Automatic Warning System (AWS). This useful BR-era mainline system allows the loco to be operated without a secondman, the additional safety vigilance being provided by the AWS. The loco was repaired and returned to Bishops Lydeard later in the day. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as covered at the start of this roundup, both ‘Hymeks’ have been ‘grounded’ pending the outcome of an investigation into the uncommanded move of D7018 upon startup. The additional controls that will be developed as a result of the risk assessment will be applied equally to D7017 and will impact her return to service date. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long before she can be released from captivity.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 has been ‘grounded’ pending investigation into the un-commanded move of sister loco D7018 that took place shortly after engine start-up at Williton on Friday 4th August 2023. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th August 2023 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the transmission control block in this locomotive has been causing trouble for some time but nowhere near the kind of trouble that occurred on the 4th August and as outlined in the Press Release statement at the beginning of this roundup. We are working through the list of probable causes using industry-standard tools such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). All of this work takes time and diverts attention from other activities, and we are all volunteers with other commitments that also have to be covered, so please allow us a little time to work the problem and come up with a robust solution. Thanks !

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – with Colin G and Terry heavily involved with the running of classmate D9526, the rate of progress on this project has slowed, so the addition of effort from Andy P and Tony was very welcome indeed. During cleanup work in the little spaces in between the frames of the loco, a genuine lump of 300-million-year-old coal was discovered, no doubt resting there since the 1970s and 80s when the loco worked at Ashington Colliery in Northumberland. There is plenty more yet to be extracted, but the steam crews should not get too excited – because this piece was only as big as a baked bean !

D9518 – black gold – a genuine piece of Northumberland coal, discovered in between the frames of the loco during clean-up work at Williton on 8th August 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

D9518 – Colin G was concentrating hard when marking out the lines for the black ‘wasp stripes’ that will soon be applied to this ‘B’ end of the locomotive, making her instantly recognisable as a ‘Teddy Bear’. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th August by Mike Evans © 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 is fully serviceable and ready for use in place of the DMU on some of the YELLOW timetable services during the peak summer period that runs until Saturday 26th August. Take a look at our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of the running dates and loco allocations.

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Work is proceeding well, so the loco should be out and about again within a few weeks, hopefully still in time to do some running this season.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is in full working order and is stabled in the South Yard. The cab is undergoing a repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

 

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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW and ON SHED – we will have to skip these two features this week due to the weight of other news and the need to prioritise. Hopefully we will be back with these two popular features soon.

 

DEPG NEWS – the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will take place at Williton on Saturday 2nd September, starting at 14:00 and all DEPG members are entitled to attend (formal calling notices were sent by post or email earlier this month – click here for the pdf version if you didn’t receive your copy). To save paper and postage, any member who wishes to see the minutes of the previous AGM or the draft of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022 is asked to contact us by email or post and we will respond by sending the requested items. This will save reams of paper and £££s of ink, most of which would otherwise go straight from the doormat to the recyling container. We will also save postage because of the lower weight in the mailings. Thank you for your understanding. 

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. To vote at the AGM, it is essential that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

 

EVENT POSTPONED to 2024: DEPG 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS : Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd September 2023.

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

    

 

The sun was evidently shining for one of the days of the WSRA STEAM RALLY that took place at Norton Fitzwarren on 5/6^th August 2023. Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 provided the power for the Brake Van rides along the truncated remains of the former Barnstaple branch. Well done to all volunteers for delivering such an excellent event! Pictured on Sunday 6th by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The expanse of the STEAM RALLY site is evident in this ‘over-the-bonnet’ view from the cab of Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 while taking on another load of passengers for a Brake Van ride along the truncated remains of the former Barnstaple branch. Pictured on Sunday 6th by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

The annual STEAM RALLY took place last Saturday and Sunday 5/6^th August, and the many exhibitors and campers braved some totally unseasonal weather on the Saturday but were paid back handsomely on the Sunday as the skies cleared and it felt like summer again. Although it is billed as a steam rally, there are plenty of exhibits that cover other areas such as arts and crafts, heavy horses, vintage agricultural machines, commercial vehicles, military vehicles, cars and motor bikes, coaches and wagons, so there is something for everyone. This event attracts many thousands of visitors and is well worth a visit.

 

Always a very popular feature of the event, the brake van rides along the 1.1 mile remnant of the Taunton to Barnstaple branch were provided by the DEPG this year, with our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 making a total of 41 runs over the two days and generating a very useful income for the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA), in fact the proceeds from the whole event will be put to very good uses across the length and breadth of the railway.

 

The shuttle services that ran between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren were rostered for the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), but were handled by a top-and-tail formation of Class 09 shunter D4107 (09 019) at the Taunton end and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) at the Minehead end. These two locos worked a total of 17 round trips and provided the rare opportunity for Class 09 haulage !

With the BLUE timetable in operation over the weekend with Class 33 D6566 (33 048) in use, Bishops Lydeard station had a distinctly ‘diesel dominated’ feel to it !

Class 09 ‘Gronk’ D4107 (09 019) prepares to depart from Bishops Lydeard with one of the 17 shuttle services that ran to the Norton Fitzwarren platform over the weekend of 5/6th August 2023. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was at the rear of the shuttle while sister D6566 (33 048) stood alongside with the arrival from Minehead. Pictured on Saturday 5th August 2023 by Josh Brinsford  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Two Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ were in action at Bishops Lydeard with D6575 (33 057) at the rear of the Norton Fitzwarren shuttle while sister D6566 (33 048) worked the BLUE timetable. Pictured on Saturday 5th August 2023 by Josh Brinsford  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

On the YELLOW timetable that runs until the 26th August (Sundays excepted), the 1100 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and the 1525 return service (1350 on 12th August) are being handled by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057), working alternate weeks. This out-and-back 40-mile diagram provides additional capacity for the peak holiday season.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) takes a break in the bay platform at the head of the 15:25 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard while WSR ‘Mogul’ 9351 prepares to depart with the 14:30 service on Tuesday 1st August 2023. Photo by Tim Edmonds © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

The FORTIES WEEKEND event will take place on September 9th and 10th and is always very popular with a wide range of related exhibits and themed activities, including the now-customary evening dance on the platform at Minehead ! Click here to go to the WSR website for details of this event.

 

Updated 17-Aug-23: The DEPG at 50 event has had to be postponed. Click here for details.

Then, the DEPG at 50 event will feature a full day of diesel-hauled services on FRIDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER and mixed traction days on the Saturday and Sunday. Details are being finalised and will be published as soon as possible, hopefully next week. A Friday evening service will run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back and will offer food and drinks to all ticketed travellers (DEPG members will enjoy significant multiple discounts and privileges) so KEEP THIS DATE FREE and make a plan to attend !

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work has begun on the dismantling of the ‘A’ transmission to assess the amount of work required to overhaul it. The findings so far are encouraging and the accessible bearings appear to be in good condition, although there is evidence elsewhere of corrosion that has resulted from condensation. The bearings that we really need to inspect are buried deep within the converter rail, but doing the job in the absence of damage will make the overhaul work a lot easier.

D1010 – Before any dismantling work began, the ‘A’ transmission received a thorough and careful clean-up from Colin F (left) and Geoff at Williton on Monday 31st July 2023. This preparation work ensures that the minimum amount of contamination enters this valuable piece of 1960s high-precision engineering. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored the restoration work, but we are still short of volunteer resources and have not yet been able to catch up with this obligation and deliver the documents. Apologies for the delay, we will get it done ASAP. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support and your patience!

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 WSR Standby Loco and is stabled at Minehead, ready for her next duties under the BLUE timetable. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has been stabled at Bishops Lydeard and worked the shutle services for the STEAM RALLY on the weekend of 5/6th August. The loco will return to Williton in the early morning of Saturday 12th August for maintenance purposes, then return to Bishops Lydeard in readiness for her YELLOW timetable duties.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as advised via our recent DIESELGEN bulletin, this loco has had to stand down from the next two Sunday services under the BLUE timetable as we have to attend to several maintenance issues and test the loco before she can resume normal service. The wiring has been reconnected but some faults still remain and will be attended to during the coming weekend. The driver’s side window that broke during the diesel gala has been removed and the new glass ordered, so another week should see this task completed also. We apologise for not being able to provide this loco for the 13th and 20th, but we are doing our best to get her ready in time for Sunday 27th August.

Updated 17-Aug-23: Class 35 ‘Hymek’ running has had to be suspended temporarily. Click here for details.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is causing us some trouble at the moment and is absorbing a lof of our time as we investigate the transmission control issue. Although we are working hard to resolve this, we still have some way to go and the loco will also need a significant amount of testing before she will be able to return to service. A more detailed report will be included in the next roundup.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – as reported earlier, the team have been involved with and have been supporting the running of classmate D9526, so the work on D9518 has had to be slowed (but not stopped). Work has progressed on the bead blasting and priming of 30 different sheet metal panels and covers that have been gathered up and treated over the past few weeks. Have a go at counting the freshly painted green parts in the photo below:

D9518 – 30 different panels and covers have just receved a coat of green primer following bead blasting at MAX COLOUR RENOVATIONS Ltd in Frome, Somerset. Photo dated 5th August 2023 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the restored fire bell in the customary red colour, ready to be re-installed in the cab of the locomotive when the time comes. Photo dated 5th August 2023 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 fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is fully serviceable and ready for use in place of the DMU on some of the YELLOW timetable services during the peak summer period that runs until Saturday 26th August. Take a look at our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of the running dates and loco allocations.

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The latest news is that the work is proceeding well with seven of the 12 cylinder heads overhauled and ready to re-fit. The exhaust plenum chamber has been repaired and re-fitted, so the loco should be out and about again within a few weeks, hopefully still in time to do some running this season.

47077 – the loco was pictured while undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 8th August 2023. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

47077 – the loco was pictured in the busy loco works at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway where she is undergoing a ‘top end’ engine overhaul. Pictured on 8th August 2023 by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

47077 – the plenum chamber that combines the four exhaust flows and feeds the massive turbocharger has been repaired and refitted at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Pictured on 8th August 2023 by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is in full working order and is stabled in the South Yard. The cab is undergoing a repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action.

 

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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW and ON SHED – we will have to skip these two features this week due to the weight of other news and the need to prioritise. Hopefully we will be back with these two popular features next week.

 

DEPG NEWS – the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will take place at Williton on Saturday 2nd September, starting at 14:00 and covering the items as listed in the AGM CALLING NOTICE (pdf version). All DEPG members are entitled to attend the AGM. To save paper and postage, any member who wishes to see the minutes of the previous AGM or the draft of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022 is asked to contact us by email or post and we will respond by sending the requested items. This will save reams of paper and £££s of ink, most of which would otherwise go straight from the doormat to the recyling container. We will also save postage because of the lower weight in the mailings. Thank you for your understanding. 

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. To vote at the AGM, it is essential that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

 

EVENT POSTPONED to 2024: DEPG 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS : Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd September 2023.

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

     

 

Exactly 48 years ago – Class 25 25162 hauled recently-withdrawn ‘Hymek’ D7017 through Reading General station on a hot and sunny Wednesday 30th July 1975, en route from Old Oak Common to Taunton. The ‘Hymek’ had been saved from the scrapman because of funds raised by the D+EG and was destined for the fledgling West Somerset Railway, but had to take up temporary residence at Taunton because the WSR was not able to receive traffic at that time. Photo by Michael Cheetham © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (forerunner of the DEPG) will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary as a preservation organisation in September of this year, but on a very hot day 48 years ago, the first object of it’s attention was moved from British Rail’s Old Oak Common depot (three miles outside Paddington) to Taunton after being acquired by the group. The loco was destined for Minehead on the West Somerset Railway, but the line was not ready to receive traffic, having been closed by BR in January 1971 and left unmaintained for several years. The loco stayed initially at Taunton stabling point, and was later moved to be within the confines of Taunton station itself, where work was done by volunteers to tidy up the loco and perform some basic maintenance.

The move to Taunton took place on 25th March 1976 and the loco hauled the first passenger service in the hands of a preserved ex-mainline loco when she worked the ‘Quantock Flyer’ from Minehead to Williton and back on 19th March 1977. Well done to all those who worked so hard to save this wonderful machine and start an organisation that now owns six locomotives and has three other locomotives in its care.

 

2023 is a year that is filled with golden anniversaries in the field of railway preservation. One such anniversary is that of the very first ex-mainline diesel to be saved for preservation, Class 42 ‘Warship’ D821 ‘GREYHOUND’, now based on the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) in the care of the DIESEL TRACTION GROUP (DTG) along with the DTG’s other locomotives, D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7029 and Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568.

The DEPG have been invited to send D7017 and her sister D7018 to the SVR to take part in their late September ‘MAGNIFICENT SEVEN‘ event, which will feature intensive operations using mostly diesel-hydraulic locomotives. As wonderful as this opportunity is, it puts a lot of stress on our volunteers at Williton to not only get the two locos working reliably on our ‘home’ line for our own anniversary event, but to do additional work to allow them to travel to an ‘away’ railway where they will be scrutinised and expected to perform without fault. This is a massive challenge, but we will do our level best to get them ready so as not to disappoint !

 

Here’s a short video clip of D7017 undergoing a test start-up at Williton after reinstatement of her wiring:

MANY THANKS to John, Neil, Ian R and Tom for getting this work done !

 

 

The YELLOW timetable is now in effect for weekdays and Saturdays until 26th August, and the diesel turns are being shared by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on alternate weeks. This additional diesel loco-hauled working is covering for the Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) which had been out of service undergoing heavy maintenance work, but has happily now passed inspection and will gradually return to active use, initially on crew training turns.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of which loco will be rostered for which service.

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 worked the YELLOW timetable on Saturday 29th July 2023 and was pictured at Williton with Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 on number 1 road alongside. Behind the ‘Hymek’, D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ is partly hidden by tarpaulins that are covering the roof apertures created by the removal of the cooler groups. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) was out on a test run on Saturday 29th July 2023, running from Minehead to Williton and back. The newly overhauled unit was gleaming in a welcome moment of sunshine when pictured at Williton by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0 

 

This coming weekend sees the WSRA’s ANNUAL STEAM RALLY taking place at Norton Fitzwarren, and it is an event that is well worth supporting, regardless of the weather !

Although the event has steam in the title, it includes a vast range of exhibits from horses to tractors to vintage cars, trucks and buses. The DEPG will also be participating with Class 14 D9526 providing brake van rides over the truncated remains of the Barnstaple branch line, but we are unable to fulfil our previous intention of having one of our Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ on static display, due to the over-run of their repair work. We will also have a SALES STAND at the show, manned by stalwart Chris Shields with support from other DEPG volunteers.

This event is lots of fun and is WELL WORTH A VISIT. There will be a frequent FREE (for rally-goers) shuttle service from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren worked by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) and Class 09 ‘Gronk’ D4107 (09019) and a FREE bus connection from Silk Mills Park & Ride.

 

Click here or on the images below to go to the Steam Rally website:

Click here to go to the WSR’s STEAM RALLY page.

 

Beyond that, the FORTIES WEEKEND event will take place on September 9th and 10th and is always very popular with a wide range of related exhibits and themed activities, including the now-customary evening dance on the platform at Minehead ! Click here to go to the WSR website for details of this event.

 

Then, the DEPG at 50 event will feature a full day of diesel-hauled services on FRIDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER and mixed traction days on the Saturday and Sunday. Details are being finalised and will be published as soon as possible, hopefully next week. A Friday evening service will run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back and will offer food and drinks to all ticketed travellers (DEPG members will enjoy significant multiple discounts and privileges) so KEEP THIS DATE FREE and make a plan to attend !

 

 

Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is updated several times per week and is kept as accurate as we can make it. The loco allocations are subject to availability (of course), but we do try to field the allocated loco wherever possible. Click on the banner below to go to the website page:

The DIESEL RUNNING DATES pages is supplemented by our DIESELGEN bulletin service which captures non-public running such as special trains and engineering workings (where we have sufficient notice to publish such workings). Sign up for DIESELGEN emails or keep an eye on our website homepage.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – as sneakily reported in the last roundup, the lifting of the two cooler groups and the ‘A’ transmission came to fruition on Monday 24th July 2023 in one crane hire session, thanks to the close co-operation of George from HEAVER BROTHERS of Exeter who operated the truck-mounted knuckle boom crane. There are literally hundreds of photos and hours of video footage to be worked through in order to create a video for the DEPG channel, but the focus on the repair work on the two ‘Hymeks’ is priority so the media work will just have to wait in line until resources are available. Meanwhile, here are some more photos that give a flavour of that very interesting day:

D1010 – the heavy-duty knuckle-boom crane was provided by HEAVER BROTHERS of Exeter. Driver and crane operator George (on the right) received his pre-lift briefing from DEPG Chairman Martin Howard at Williton on Monday 24th July 2023. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 1 – the cooler group was lifted out from ‘A’ end of the loco at Williton on Monday 24th July 2023. This made space for our volunteers to get inside and release the bolts that held the ‘A’ transmission. Leroy appears to be satisfied with the proceedings ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 2 – with the cooler group lifted out and the drive shaft disconnected, the ‘A’ transmission was prepared for lifting out at Williton on Monday 24th July 2023. Volunteers Geoff (yellow hat) and Leroy (white hat) make the final preparations for lifting. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the 4.5 tonne Voith hydraulic transmission was lifted out from ‘A’ end of the loco at Williton on Monday 24th July 2023 so that it can undergo a complete overhaul in the care of the DEPG ‘transmission team’. Lift team members Martin (L) and Leroy (R) appear happy with the rate of progress. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – where the sun don’t shine ….. the lifting of the ‘A’ transmission exposed the inner axle of the ‘A’ bogie, covered with the dirt accumulated over 50 years of running, including many miles on the mainline before the loco entered preservation in 1977. Pictured at Williton on 24th July 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the ‘A’ transmission was given a quick external clean then moved to the DEPG’s nearby transmission repair facility. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 25th July 2023 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Step 3 – the cooler group was lifted out from ‘B’ end of the loco at Williton on Monday 24th July 2023. This assembly had already been partly stripped down while still in the loco, so it was lighter and easier to move without risk of damage. Pictured from a very unusual angle by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the cooler group from ‘A” end now has to be stripped of radiator elements so that it can undergo repairs to corroded sections. Pictured in ‘selfie’ mode at Williton on Tuesday 25th July 2023 by volunteer Nick Boyce © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Having the loco outdoors has generated an increased interest in our SPONSOR A PATCH scheme, with several more patches being engraved with their sponsor’s names or messages. This initiative remains the single most successful fund-raising activity and has allowed us to make significant progress with the restoration work. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US FUND THIS PROJECT.

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored 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 and your patience!

 

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 WSR Standby Loco and is stabled at Minehead, ready for her next duties under the BLUE timetable. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is stabled at Bishops Lydeard and will work the shutle services for the STEAM RALLY that run between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren on the weekend of 5/6th August. The loco will then remain at Bishops Lydeard in readiness for her YELLOW timetable duties.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is undergoing the re-connection of the wiring that was removed during the fault-finding that took place during the previous weekend. The driver’s side window is next on the list for attention, along with a few other electrical issues that will be repaired in time for her next booked working on Sunday 13th August.

D7017 – the engine was started up at Williton on Saturday 29th July 2023 so that the electrical systems could be tested. Volunteers Tom (L) and Neil (R) gave the ‘all clear’ after completing the tests. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco is undergoing detailed investigation work on the transmission control block to trace the source of the issue that has prevented the use of the loco this season. The most likely outcome will be that the control block will need to be swapped back with the previous block that did not change gear automatically, because this at least allows the loco to be operated at reduced power. The investigation work is needed so that we can understand the issues and repair the block on the bench without the benefit of a test rig. This is taking a lot of time, hence the late roundup, but is a priority task !

The Stone-Maybach ‘Mekydro’ hydraulic transmission control schematic depicts a 1960s computer comprising almost entirely of circuits formed from fluid pressure flows, with 39 valves, some of which have multiple cores and time-dependent functions. It is from another era, and is not exactly straightforward. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – as reported earlier, the team have been involved with and have been supporting the running of classmate D9526, so the work on D9518 has been slowed (but not stopped) to allow our volunteers to have a breather. We will return to this loco in a later edition of 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 fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is fully serviceable and ready for use in place of the DMU on some of the YELLOW timetable services during the peak summer period that started on Tuesday 25th July. Take a look at our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of the running dates and loco allocations.

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is undergoing a cylinder head overhaul (same massive type as the Class 33s, but 12 of them!) at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The latest news is that the broken studs have been replaced and the cylinder heads are undergoing overhauls to get them all up to a high standard for future reliability. Some cracks have been found in the casting of the plenum chamber that feeds the exhaust gases into the turbocharger. These will either need specialist repair of the plenum chamber will have to be replaced. We have spares at Williton but their condition is unknown. Sounds like a weekend task coming on !

47077 – the plenum chamber that feeds exhaust gases into the turbocharger has been found to have multiple cracks that will need specialist repair – or the whole casting will need replacement. Pictured on 28th July 2023 at Grosmont Works on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway by Josh Smith © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is in full working order and is stabled in the South Yard. The cab is undergoing a repaint in the capable hands of Jon T, but the loco remains serviceable and ready for action. Progress is good and the upper half of the interior is looking good already !

Barclay 578 (ROF 1) – the upper half of the cab interior was treated to multiple coats of cream-coloured paint over the weekend of 29th July 2023 and is certainly looking much better for the attention. Many thanks to volunteer and photographer Jon Tooke © 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 !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW and ON SHED – we will have to skip these two features this week due to the weight of other news and the need to prioritise. Hopefully we will be back with these two popular features next week.

 

DEPG NEWS – the synopsis of the Board Meeting that was held at Williton on Saturday 22nd July is in progress and will be e-mailed to all DEPG members for whom we hold a valid email address, hopefully some time next week.

The ‘Williton Infrastructure Division’ – which comprises several volunteers with a long history of handling infrastructure projects at Williton – were very busy in the inclement weather last weekend, and made considerable progress on multiple fronts. WELL DONE TEAM WID ! Here is one of several photos that we will be sharing over the coming weeks:

Williton infrastructure projects absorbed considerable effort over the weekend of 29th July 2023. The first of several work sessions involved the delivery of concrete and the team of (L-R) Mike H, Tom and Graham (plus Paul T, out of camera) were worn out by the end of the day ! Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

The DEPG depends on the support of all of our members, so please make sure that your membership is up to date. If you are not sure about your membership status, please click here or on the image below to access your membership record via MEMBERMOJO. Thank you very much !

 

 

KEY DATES for your diary:

WSRA STEAM RALLY: Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August at Norton Fitzwarren

WSR FORTIES WEEKEND: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September

DEPG 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS : Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd September 2023.

       

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post