Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) had the honour of working the last scheduled diesel-hauled service of the 2022 season on Sunday 16th October 2022. Pictured when hauling her train up the rising gradient into Blue Anchor station on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The 2022 running season drew to a close last Sunday 16th October when Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) worked the last of the scheduled diesel-hauled trains of the 2022 timetable, the 14:30 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.

In total, our locos worked public services on 46 different days of the 2022 season and covered more than 4,000 miles in the process !

 

Reliability was good with almost all scheduled diesel-hauled trains starting as booked. The star performers this year have been Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) with 100% despatch reliability, covering 1,935 miles over 27 days without any issues, and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 also with 100% despatch reliability and covering 1,070 miles over 14 days without any issues.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) started well with 100% reliability through to mid-August when the heat got to her and she suffered a number of issues resulting in her withdrawal from service on the 18th August. This loco still managed to run a creditable 1,056 miles over 15 days before running into trouble, the result of which was that 11 of her booked departures were covered by the DMU and the rest by sister loco D6575.

The other casualty was ‘Hymek’ D7017 back in June when she suffered a cylinder head joint ring failure on the first day of the Diesel Gala. Her place was taken by other locos from the home fleet and only one service was changed to steam haulage as a result of the failure.

So, the overall reliability total for the year was 202 actual DEPG departures out of 216 booked departures, therefore 94% which does not seem unreasonable for a fleet of 60-year old locos, especially considering that we had not expected to be running diesels at all during August.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the timetable and traction changes that took place during the year and will keep this page available as a detailed record of public running for 2022. The above running statistics have now been added to that page. We will create a new page for 2023 as soon as timetables have been agreed and published.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco celebrated her 60th birthday last Saturday – and that gave us the opportunity for a bit of fun and a slice of cake !

D1010 pictured at Williton on her 60th birthday, 15th October 2022, with Gordon about to cut the cake. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 entered service at Old Oak Common depot on 15th October 1962 making her the oldest survivor of this famous class of locomotives that once totalled 74 machines. Do you have a photo of her from her early days ? If yes, please consider sharing it with us all. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 pictured at Williton on her 60th birthday, 15th October 2022 with Gordon on the left and Ian F on the right. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The restoration of D1010 continues to make progress, with the bodywork of the loco improving every week as our volunteers continue their work. In parallel with the bodywork, we are making progress on the disassembly of the ‘B’ end hydraulic transmission and achieved the separation of the first stage turbine from the housing. This revealed evidence of severe corrosion on the input shaft bearings, clear evidence of water ingress in years gone by. The complete set of bearings will be replaced when the transmission is reassembled.

D1010 – the input shaft bearing on the first torque converter stage of the ‘B’-end transmission shows clear evidence of corrosion caused by water ingress. This bearing will be replaced along with all of the others on the turbine rail assembly. Pictured through a greasy lens at Williton on 10th October 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To continue our rate of progress requires FUNDING which is becoming harder to get as belts are being tightened everywhere. If you are able to do so, please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of recently-added metal that still needs engraving. We engraved 50 patches recently and we have another 100+ still to do, so the scheme has been very successful (well done Colin F for suggesting it).

Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored this phase of the restoration work, but please bear with us because our admin resources are severely stretched at the moment. Click the image below to sponsor a patch. Thank you in advance for your support !

We still have a lot of work to do on this massive locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – the failed heat exchanger appears to be beyond repair, so the next option being investigated is to have the core of the heat exchanger rebuilt. This is the most expensive option and will also take a long time. The next best option is to acquire a used heat exchanger from one of the Class 33 owner groups and have it overhauled. Hopefully it will be fully functional or repairable without too much time or expense. The third option is to adapt a heat exchanger from a Class 56 (of which we have several) and have new pipework made to compensate for the slightly shorter length (the reduced heat transfer capacity will not be an issue when used at heritage railway speeds and loads). All three options are being investigated at the moment.

D6566 (33 048) – the complications with the repair of the failed heat exchanger are likely to keep this loco confined to barracks for some considerable time. Pictured in the yard at Williton on 8th October 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is the WSR Duty Loco and is fully serviceable. Following the completion of her scheduled public service duties on Sunday 16th, she moved from Bishops Lydeard to Williton ‘light engine’ to be in position for the first DIESEL DRIVER EXPERIENCE COURSE (DDEC) to be run since 2019 !

There are two DDECs scheduled this month, the first on Friday 28th October and the second on Saturday 29th. These have not been advertised because they are already fully booked, fulfilling obligations from 2020. There will be a new program of DDECs for 2023 and the WSR will soon be announcing the dates for these very popular courses.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – there was no time available to continue the inspection work on this loco because of the need to re-organise the loco shed to put everything back in the position it was in before this loco had to be accomodated for her engine work. Everything in the shed had been compressed into the smallest possible space, so one project blocked another, and this had to be rectified. Hopefully, D7017 will get her inspection next weekend.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco also has to wait in line for her turn for attention. The work list on this loco comprises a number of small but important tasks that will be tackled during the coming weeks.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the work on this loco is continuing on several fronts, both on-site at Williton and off-site at subcontractors, where specialised components such as drive shafts and electric motors are being evaluated and reconditioned. The team purchased some brand-new heavy-duty electrical switches for the vacuum exhauster control panel and these expensive items were paid for by a matching donation from one of the restoration team members, which reminds us that the rapid progress on this loco is due to the generosity and support of the many donors who are so keen to see this project through to its conclusion. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED !

D9518 – team leader Simon P was pictured between the frames at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022 as he continued the re-installation of the many pipes and conduits that connect the brake frame and generator. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of the recently refurbished brake relay valves was re-fitted to the relevant side frame at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022. It looks like new, but it is 58 years old ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – two brand-new ‘Santon’ heavy-duty rotary switches were purchased to provide high reliability for the vacuum exhauster controls. These switches were made to the exact same specification as the original equipment that was fitted to the loco when built in 1964. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the Paxman 6YJXL V6 diesel engine has been repositioned to allow workbenches to be erected alongside. This will allow Terry to make a start on the overhaul of this engine (previously used in D9526). Pictured at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022 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 continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway working alongside the steam locos and the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), sharing the work of hauling the public services. Work on locally-based sister D9504 has progressed well, so we expect to see D9526 returning to Williton early in the New Year.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, although usage is reducing as autumn sets in. During the last three months, this loco has covered more than 2,500 miles, so her first season in service has been a big success !

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – after receiving attention to her paintwork over the last few weeks, our smallest loco did not repay the favour and decided to develop a fuel system fault which prevented her engine from starting. The fuel lift pump was serviced and the various seals and gaskets replaced, then the fuel lines were primed, but she still refused to start. Further work will take place this coming weekend, weather permitting.

 

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – many thanks to all who placed their advance orders for the DEPG 2023 CALENDAR, further details of which will be posted here and on our webstore soon. To prevent waste and maximise the contribution to DEPG funds, we will be limiting the number of calendars that we order to match demand and no more. The printing costs have risen but if we control the quantity that we order, we can keep the price the same as last year, which is £12 including VAT excluding postage. Click here or on the image below to place your ADVANCE ORDER. Thank you to all of our contributors for allowing us to use their work for this important purpose.

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including THE BEATEN TRACK Vol.1 and Vol.2 and GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

 

ON SHED – regular contributor and DEPG member Keith Fender has provided us with some shots of our very own D6575 (33 057) in BR livery, taken when the loco was a regular performer on the South Coast to South Wales route. The journey involved a change of direction and a change of traction at Bristol Temple Meads, with one Class 33 hauling the train in and detaching while another Class 33 attached at the other end to haul the train out again. This meant that the same loco would appear on it’s relevant ‘shuttle’ leg for several days at a time. Luckily, Keith has captured some images from those memorable days. Here’s one such image below:

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ 33 057 (D6575) was pictured at Brighton Station at the head of the 0830 service to Cardiff on 26th March 1988. The dull and dirty appearance was typical of the era, although a clean and shiny ‘namer’ did appear on this working on more than one occasion. Photo by Keith Fender © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Many thanks to Keith for sharing his work with us.

 

 

DEPG NEWS:

We have received confirmation that the funeral of former DEPG Chairman JOHN CRONIN will take place in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, on Friday 4th November 2022. Please use our CONTACT FORM or email contact@depg.org to let us know if you want to attend at the memorial service that will take place at 12:45 later that day.

Former DEPG Chairman the late John Cronin was pictured at Bishops Lydeard on 20th August 2017 by Bob Tiller © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

If you want to make a donation to John’s chosen causes, a JustGiving page has been set up for that purpose. Here’s the link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johncronin

 

The synopsis of the DEPG Board Meeting that took place on 1st October 2022 has been prepared and will be shared with DEPG members (for whom we hold valid email addresses) later this week (apologies for the delay).

 

While reorganising our loco shed last weekend, a decision was taken to dismantle a 2-tonne manual gantry crane and offer it for sale, because it has been made redundant by a larger 5-tonne electric gantry crane that gets used in preference. Here’s a picture of the crane that is now available for sale:

This two-tonne gantry crane with manual hoist (dated 2008) is available for sale, with proceeds to go to the DEPG general fund. Use our CONTACT FORM or email contact@depg.org if you are interested in acquiring this crane. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This two-tonne gantry crane with manual hoist (dated 2008) is available for sale, with proceeds to go to the DEPG general fund. Use our CONTACT FORM or email contact@depg.org if you are interested in acquiring this crane. Pictured after disassembly at Williton on Saturday 15th October 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, but please be aware that WE STILL OFFER THE TRADITIONAL PAPER-BASED MEMBERSHIP via cheques and mail, by using the form available via this link. If you want a form mailed to you, just use our CONTACT FORM or email our Membership Secretary CHRIS SHIELDS via members@depg.org

 

Of particular importance is the GIFT AID option. If you are a taxpayer, please consider setting your GIFT AID status to YES so that the DEPG can claim the tax that you paid on your subscription and/or donation. This increases the value of your payment by 25% and that makes a significant amount of difference to our fundraising. Thanks !

 

For our new online membership system, click here or on the image below and log in (no password required) to create a new membership or to check the details of your current membership. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE DEPG !

 

WSR NEWS: 

The WSR is now taking bookings for the 2022 ‘WINTERLIGHTS‘ trains which will be steam hauled on the journey to Crowcombe Heathfield and diesel hauled on the return leg, using one of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’.

The colours and sights of last years’ services resulted in a sell-out and demand is going to be solid again this year, so don’t leave it until later to make a booking. If you and/or your family want to experience it, then now is the time to make a booking. Click here or click on the image below.

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

DEPG volunteers gathered as a mark of respect for former DEPG Chairman the late John Cronin who passed away on Tuesday 4th October 2022. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was suitably adorned with a wreath and carried the headcode ‘JC’ in tribute to the well-known railwayman. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Following on from the sad news that our former Chairman John Cronin passed away in the early afternoon of Tuesday 4th October at the age of 80, our volunteers gathered for a minute of silence and for a group photograph in front of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) at Williton on Saturday. The loco carried a wreath and displayed the headcode ‘JC’ as a mark of respect for the man who led the DEPG from 2009 through to 2017 and who continued to work for the benefit of the group after retirement from the role.

Tributes have been reaching us from his former colleagues throughout the railway fraternity, but John was the kind of person who would not have wanted any fuss to be made and he would have simply said “get on with it then“, so that is exactly what we are going to do.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 hauled the ‘Quantock Belle‘ dining service on 20th August 2017, during which our former Chairman the late John Cronin was presented with a special birthday cake on the occasion of his 75th Birthday and his second ‘retirement’. Pictured at Bishops Lydeard by Bob Tiller © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Returning to the activities of last weekend, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) worked the 12:30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and the 14:30 return service under the RED timetable on both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October and is rostered for the same services this coming weekend, which will be the last of the diesel-hauled public services for the 2022 season. One of our two ‘Cromptons’ will be in use on the Christmas ‘WINTERLIGHTS’ services that start on 18th November, but this coming weekend is the last chance for a scheduled diesel-hauled round trip along the length of the line, so grab the opportunity, if you can.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) came to a stand at Blue Anchor Signal Box on Saturday 8th October 2022 so that the signlman could converse with loco driver Paul Fleet. The loco was working the 14:30 service from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

THIS COMING WEEKEND 15th/16th October, we have the LAST opportunity for scheduled public service diesel haulage with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) running for 40 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back each day, under the RED timetable.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the timetable and traction changes that took place during the year and will keep this page available as a detailed record of public running for 2022. We will create a new page for 2023 as soon as timetables have been agreed and published.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

Another activity that took place at Williton last week was the visit of Williton Beaver Scout Troop on the late afternoon of Monday 3rd October, where the children were given a lesson in railway safety before touring the depot and visiting the cabs of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 in addition to a look inside our BR standard 20t Brake Van B952527. The youngsters had a great time, the culmination of which was a very carefully supervised group photo staged on the smallest locomotive in our care, Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1). Overall, a very worthwhile event for everyone involved, and a very much appreciated donation to Depot funds !

 

On Saturday 8th, the DEPG hosted a visit from a convoy of vintage trucks from the South West Vintage Truck Road Run group, bringing some additional interest to the South Yard at Williton on what turned out to be a very busy day. Although we had expected a seven-truck convoy, only four actually made it into our yard, which given the lack of turning space was probably just as well ! Click here to see more photos on the South West Road Runs Twitter account.

This 1939 Bedford dropside truck was the oldest of the four vehicles that visited the South Yard at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022 as part of the SOUTH WEST VINTAGE TRUCK ROAD RUN. Photo by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

LOCO NEWS:

 

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – more progress has been made on multiple fronts on this loco as she approaches her 60th birthday – this coming Saturday !

Introduced to service on 15th October 1962, our loco was put to work on the Paddington to Birmingham services which were heavily loaded at that time due to the construction work taking place at Euston station and elsewhere on the West Coast Main Line. The loco entered service in overall maroon with a yellow buffer beam and apron, and ran in this condition for 16 weeks before making a short visit to Swindon Works for remedial work and being outshopped with a small yellow warning panel and black bufferbeams. Photos of D1010 in her early livery are rare, but we do have one on our website. We would welcome any additional photos from those early days.

 

Bringing the story right up to date, our team at Williton have started to transition from disassembly mode to reassembly mode. The various parts that were removed to allow body repairs to take place are now being restored and re-fitted, although there is still a lot of filling and rubbing down to be done before the bodywork can be considered as finished.

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of recently-added metal that still needs engraving. We engraved 30 patches recently and we have another 100+ still to do, so the scheme has been very successful (well done Colin F for suggesting it). Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored this phase of the restoration work, but please bear with us because our admin resources are stretched at the moment. Click the image below and sponsor a patch now. Thank you in advance for your support !

We still have a lot of work to do on this massive locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

D1010 – long-time DEPG member and volunteer Geoff was pictured re-installing the secondman’s side window at the ‘A’ end of the loco at Williton on Monday 3rd October 2022. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – where necessary, the repaired battery compartment doors now have new hinges and are ready for priming and painting, which will then allow the batteries to be re-installed, releasing some floor space in the loco shed. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Roy attends to the details of painting around the headcode apertures at ‘A’ end at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the ‘A’ end of the loco has undergone major reconstruction and is now structually sound, although the cosmetic work of filling and sanding still needs to be done before it can be considered as finished. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word of your choice will be engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – the subcontractor that has been assessing the failed heat exchanger has now reported that it is beyond repair because of severe erosion of the tube plate, which has allowed leaks to develop in multiple areas. The tubeplate will have to be replaced and all 600 joints re-made, so it is probably more cost-effective to have the complete core replaced. We are assessing the options which include repair, replacement or modification of the end plates to allow a heat exchanger from a Class 56 to be used instead. We have several in our spares stock, so this might become the lowest cost option, if it meets the technical requirements.

D6566 (33 048) – close-up view of the heavily eroded tubeplate on the leaking heat exchanger, showing unrepairable damage to the joints between the majority of tubes and the tubeplate. Photo dated 5th October 2022 via Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D6575 (33 057) – for comparison, this photo shows the tubeplate for the heat exchanger fitted to sister loco D6575, pictured during planned maintenance cleaning in January 2019. There are approximately 600 tubes of 6mm (1/4 inch) diameter and 1.65m (65 inches) in length through which the cooling water flows. The engine oil flows around the outside of these tubes via the pink pipes. The heat transfers from the hottest fluid to the coolest fluid. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Bishops Lydeard and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She has one more weekend of scheduled public service duties to perform, as listed on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page, but it is already evident that she has been the busiest loco of our home fleet this year. Well done D6575 !

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the BIG NEWS is that the loco was checked over carefully then started up on Saturday 8th October 2022 and everything went to plan, with the engine running smoothly again. WELL DONE to all of our volunteers who have been involved with this work ! We are preparing a collection of video clips covering the successful engine run and will post them on the DEPG YouTube channel shortly. Click here or on the image below for a short clip of the engine running with the cam box covers removed for inspection purposes (beware – it is LOUD!):

 

D7017 has now vacated the loco shed and is standing on Number 3 road so that she can undergo her Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test (VIBT) and completion of some other outstanding work before going out on a test run at some time in the near future. Pictured on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco watched and waited patiently as her sister received all of the attention during last weekend. The work list on this loco comprises a number of small but important tasks that will be tackled during the coming weeks.

D7018 has now been reunited with her sister loco D7017 in the South Yard at Williton and they both await completion of various small tasks before going out on a test run at some time in the near future. Pictured on Saturday 8th October 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the re-fitting of the side and end frames at the ‘B’ end of the main frames has transformed her appearance and she is now starting to look like a locomotive again ! These frames provide anchor points for many of the pipes and items of electrical control gear, so they needed to be back in place to allow work to progress. Well done Team D9518 !

D9518 – the short nose end (‘B’ end) of the loco takes shape following the re-fitting of the side and end frames at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – highly visible progress at the ‘B’ end of the locomotive – the side frames and end frames were re-fitted at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to fully operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway working alongside the steam locos and the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), sharing the work of hauling the public services. Work on locally-based sister D9504 has progressed well, so we expect to see D9526 returning to Williton early in the New Year.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, although usage is reducing as autumn sets in. During the last three months, this loco has covered more than 2,500 miles, so her first season in service has been a big success !

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco received plenty of attention last weekend when a team including Darren and Karl and led by Jon set about the completion of the detail paintwork at the buffer beams. Having prevously attended to the leading end of the loco and done a great job, Jon marked out the diagonal stripes at the trailing end with his customary level of care, and then painted the black stripes. Meanwhile, Karl and Darren attended to the orange paint for the electrical conduits and the red and yellow paint for the air pipes. Some small details remain to be completed and then we will be ready for the cabside lettering to be reinstated. GREAT JOB, well done guys ! 

Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1) received plenty of attention at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022. This picture shows Karl painting the electrical conduit with the designated colour, orange. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1) at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022, showing her newly-acquired diagonal stripes at her ‘short end’, carefully applied by Jon. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1) at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022, with Darren attending to the details at the ‘long end’ of the loco. The air pipe connections and levers are in grey undercoat in this view. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1) at Williton on Saturday 8th October 2022, with the detailing around the buffer beam completed and looking very good indeed. Photo by Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – not a book but a printed item so worthy of a mention here, we are now taking orders for the DEPG 2023 CALENDAR, further details of which will be posted here and on our webstore soon. To prevent waste and maximise the contribution to DEPG funds, we will be limiting the number of calendars that we order to match demand and no more. The printing costs have risen but if we control the quantity that we order, we can keep the price the same as last year, which is £12 including VAT excluding postage. Click here or on the image below to place your ADVANCE ORDER. Thank you to all of our contributors for allowing us to use their work for this important purpose.

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including THE BEATEN TRACK Vol.1 and Vol.2 and GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

 

ON SHED – as we approach the middle of October, it is my annual opportunity to indulge in a picture of Class 43 ‘Warship’ D842 ‘ROYAL OAK‘, named after the battleship upon which my grandfather lost his life on 14th October 1939, along with 833 other men and boys in what was the first major naval loss of WWII. The pictured diesel-hydraulic did not make it into preservation, but the name was carried again by successor Class 50 number 50 017 and that loco survives today and can be seen at work on the Great Central Railway.

North British Locomotive Co. Class 43 ‘Warship’ D842 ‘Royal Oak’ was pictured while moving the empty coaching stock of the 2B84 Exeter St. Davids to Newton Abbot service from Exeter carriage siding on 15th June 1971. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Many thanks to Barry for sharing his photograph with us. As this locomotive is a particular favourite of mine, if any readers have photos of D842 (or 50017) that they would be willing to share, then please do let me know. Thank you.

 

 

DEPG NEWS – The synopsis of the DEPG Board Meeting that took place on 1st October 2022 is being prepared and will be shared with DEPG members (for whom we hold valid email addresses) later this week.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

Of particular importance is the GIFT AID option. If you are a taxpayer, please consider setting your GIFT AID status to YES so that the DEPG can claim the tax that you paid on your subscription and/or donation. This increases the value of your payment by 25% and that makes a significant amount of difference to our fundraising. Thanks !

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend is the final weekend for scheduled diesel haulage under the RED timetable. It is possible that a diesel may be rostered on other days at short notice, to cover for a steam locomotive, but such things are unplanned and unpredictable. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information.

 

The WSR is now taking bookings for the 2022 ‘WINTERLIGHTS‘ trains which will be steam hauled on the journey to Crowcombe Heathfield and diesel hauled on the return leg, using one of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’.

Love it or loathe it, the colours and sights of last years’ services resulted in a sell-out and demand is going to be solid again this year, so don’t leave it until later to make a booking. If you want to experience it, then now is the time to make a booking. Click here or click on the image below.

 

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

 

Former DEPG Chairman the late John Cronin was presented with a special birthday cake on the occasion of his 75th Birthday in August 2017, after dining aboard the ‘Quantock Belle‘. Photo from the DEPG archives © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Some sad news reached us as this edition of Roundup was being prepared. Our former Chairman John Cronin passed away in the early afternoon of Tuesday 4th October at the age of 80, after a long fight with illness that affected his mobility in recent years.

Well-known in railway circles, having been the manager of BR’s Bristol Bath Road Traction Maintenance Depot until its closure in 1995, John joined the DEPG after retirement from BR, quickly becoming involved in our quarterly newsletter production before becoming Company Secretary in the year 2000. John succeeded Bob Tiller as Chairman in 2009 and made his mark on the Group before stepping down from the role upon reaching the age of 75, back in 2017.

John was very proud of his Yorkshire roots and we have found some photos of the ‘Quantock Belle’ dining train that carried ‘THE YORKSHIREMAN’ headboard for the occasion of his 75th birthday. During this journey, John was presented with an appropriately decorated birthday cake !

We remember John for his massive contribution to the DEPG over many years and we offer our condolences to all affected by this loss.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 hauled the ‘Quantock Belle‘ dining service on 20th August 2017, during which our former Chairman the late John Cronin was presented with a special birthday cake on the occasion of his 75th Birthday. Pictured at Minehead, ready for the return leg of the journey. Photo from the DEPG archives © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Those of us who have worked with John will know that his instructions following his demise would be simply “get on with it then“, so that is exactly what we intend to do.

 

Last Friday 30th September, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was employed on a freight working out and back from Minehead. This was an engineering train to pick up and drop off various items at various points along the line, so the travelling crane was included in the consist. The weather deteriorated as the day wore on, but a lucky glimpse at the Seaward Way Railcam allowed a screen shot to be captured just as the working cleared the level crossing, as below:

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured returning to Minehead after working an engineering train to Bishops Lydeard and back on Friday 30th September 2022. Image captured from the Seaward Way Railcam, courtesy of Railcam UK and the WSR © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

As from Saturday 1st October, the RED timetable came into effect, with services reduced from 4 to 3 trains each way per day. THIS COMING WEEKEND 8th/9th and again on 15th/16th October, we have Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) running for 40 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back, under the RED timetable.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the timetable and traction changes that took place during the year and will keep this page available as a detailed record of public running for 2022. We will create a new page for 2023 as soon as timetables have been agreed and published.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

LOCO NEWS:

The last week was the ‘AUTUMN WORK WEEK’ where those volunteers who were able to spend a block of time at Williton engaged in the kind of tasks that otherwise take ages if stretched out over many weekends. MANY THANKS to all who gave their time at Williton last week.

 

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco was the major beneficiary of the ‘work week’ effort and was painted in her first coat of maroon using gloss paint in case the loco has to spend some time outside during the winter. At present, D1010 occupies one of the two roads inside our loco shed at Williton, but if the covered space is needed for heavy maintenance on one of our other locos, D1010 will need to vacate to make space. In that eventuality, the use of gloss paint will give additional protection. While the loco remains inside the loco shed, the team will work along the locomotive in small areas, section by section, rubbing back, filling and painting again, to improve the surface finish and ensure proper protection.

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of recently-added metal that still needs engraving. We engraved 30 patches recently and we have another 100+ still to do, so the scheme has been very successful (well done Colin F for suggesting it). Photographs and certificates of sponsorship will be sent out to all who have sponsored this phase of the restoration work, but please bear with us because our admin resources are stretched at the moment. Click the image below and sponsor a patch now. Thank you in advance for your support !

We still have a lot of work to do on this massive locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – long-time DEPG member and regular work week volunteer Gary was pictured while painting the buffer beam at the ‘A’ end of the loco at Williton on Wednesday 28th September 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the centre valances and battery compartment doors were also painted at Williton on Wednesday 28th September 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Paul T stands aside before resuming his work on the ‘A’ side of the ‘B’ end of the loco at Williton on Wednesday 28th September 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the ‘A’ end now carries the original colour scheme that the loco carried for the first 16 weeks of her BR service, prior to the addition of the small yellow warning panel. The finish will improve when our volunteers reach this area with their rubbing-down and filling work. Pictured at Williton on Thursday 29th September 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – by Friday, the ‘B’ end was similary adorned and the ‘B’ side completed. CONGRATULATIONS to our whole team of volunteers and the many sponsors for transforming the fortunes of this loco during the last fifteen months. Pictured at Williton on Friday 30th September 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word of your choice will be engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco continues to get attention to various small tasks while waiting for her heat exchanger to return from contract repair, which is expected some time in mid-October.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Minehead and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She will move to Bishops Lydeard when convenient for the Operations Department, prior to taking up her remaining public service duties, as listed on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page, which shows that she has been the busiest loco of our home fleet this year. Well done D6575 !

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the turbocharger oil feed issue that prevented the previous start-up attempt was resolved and the engine checked carefully in preparation for a start-up, but time ran out and the start was postponed to next weekend. We hope to bring news of this in the next roundup.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco was also the subject of attention during work week. The transmission casing was opened up so that the transmission control block could be exchanged with a known good spare that had to be taken out of the transmission that was last used in D7018 back in 1995. So, a known good spare, but dormant for 27 years, so fingers crossed !

D7018 – the spare Stone-Maybach Mekydro K184u transmission was opened up to extract the control block which was then exchanged for the defective part in D7018 that was preventing the automatic gear change from functioning. Pictured at Williton on 28th September 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Static testing was then performed with pressure gauges hooked up to the various test points, and it was confirmed that the elusive ‘FDR’ pressure had been restored, so the prognosis is good. Being of German (Maybach) design, ‘FDR’ is an acronym for Flüssigkeitsdruckregelung which translates to Fluid Pressure Regulator. The next step is to perform more testing and make sure that the various pressure settings are all correctly adjusted before arranging a test run. There is plenty more news to come on this story !

D7018 – after installation of the spare Stone-Maybach Mekydro K184u control block, the engine was started up and the repaired transmission was subjected to pressure monitoring. The ‘FD’ and ‘FDR’ pressures were shown to be back to normal. Pictured at Williton on 29th September 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – work continued on the side frames and end frame for the short nose-end structure. These outer frames provide the attachment points for the many pipes and cables around the compressor and generator. Work proceeded in parallel on the overhaul of the brake relay valves that will be mounted to the frames. Here’s some photos to show the progress:

D9518 – the side frames for the short nose end were painted at Williton on Saturday 1st October 2022, pictured while being inspected under the keen eye of Colin G with D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ providing the background. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the nose end frames were also painted at Williton on Saturday 1st October 2022. The chains will be re-attached to the nose end doors, to prevent them being opened too far. Pictured alongside ‘Hymek’ D7017 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of several brake relay valves undergoing stripdown and inspection at Williton on Saturday 1st October 2022. The fact that all of the components remain fully serviceable after more then 40 years without use is a testament to the quality of the original materials. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of several brake relay valves in the fully assembled condition, pictured at Williton on Saturday 1st October 2022 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 continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway working alongside the steam locos and the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), sharing the work of hauling the public services. Work on locally-based sister D9504 has progressed well, so we expect to see D9526 returning to Williton early in the New Year.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, although usage is reducing as autumn sets in. During the last three months, this loco has covered more than 2,500 miles, so her first season in service has been a big success !

47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ hauls her train into Levisham in the direction of Pickering on the NYMR on 27th August 2022. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – after receiving diagonal stripes on her leading buffer beam, this little loco now awaits similar attention to her trailing buffer beam and also the restoration of cabside lettering. We hope to make further progress on this work during October.

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – our website now carries the book review of the first volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ provided by long-time DEPG member and regular correspondent, Neale Long, and we look forward to receiving his review of the second volume soon. We have stock of both volumes and are ready to mail out, so please follow this link to our ONLINE STORE.

Another interesting book that has been reviewed and reported upon by Neale recently is Anthony P. Sayer’s analysis of the Clayton Type 1, BR’s Class 17, the last surviving example of which proved to be a crowd puller at the WSR’s diesel gala last June. Click here or on the image below to find out more about this excellent book, including links to the book review by Neale Long.

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

 

ON SHED – this week, we mix it up a little and feature a photo that could almost be an in-service on-shed view from the late 1960s, but not quite. The glimpse of Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 43106 on the far right would set the date at August 1968 or before, because that loco lasted in BR service to the end, being withdrawn from Lostock Hall shed at the very end of steam on BR. The ‘Westerns’ were amongst the first locos on BR to carry the new corporate image, so this could easily have been 1968 – except that D1040 ‘WESTERN QUEEN’ did not receive her blue overcoat until April 1970. So, what do we have here ?

Class 52 D1040 ‘WESTERN QUEEN’ in a scene that could almost be from 1968, disregarding the JCB on coaling duties! In fact, it is D1062 ‘WESTERN COURIER’ pictured at Bridgnorth on the SVR on Sunday 2nd October 2022 by Paul Mear © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The loco pictured is in fact the resplendent D1062 ‘WESTERN COURIER’, owned by the Western Locomotive Association and based on the Severn Valley Railway, carrying the special identity for this special year. As D1062, this loco went blue in October of 1968 and entered preservation in November 1976, but D1040 was not one of the survivors, being withdrawn from service in February 1976 and reduced to scrap by August of that same year. 

Many thanks to Paul for sharing his photograph with us.

 

 

DEPG NEWS – The DEPG Board Meeting took place last Saturday as planned and the synopsis will be prepared and shared with DEPG members (for whom we hold valid email addresses) ASAP.

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend is the penultimate weekend for scheduled diesel haulage under the RED timetable. We expect to run a diesel-hauled service again on 15/16th October, but that will then be the end of scheduled diesel running for this season, although it is possible that a diesel may be rostered on other days at short notice. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information.

The WSR is now taking bookings for the 2022 ‘WINTERLIGHTS‘ trains which will be steam hauled on the journey to Crowcombe Heathfield and diesel hauled on the return leg.

Love it or loathe it, the colours and sights of last years’ services resulted in a sell-out and demand is going to be solid again this year, so don’t leave it until later. If you want to experience it, then now is the time to make a booking. Click here or click on the image below.

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 approaches Blue Anchor with the 1230 from Bishops Lydeard on Sunday 25th September 2022, the last day of scheduled diesel-hydraulic-hauled services on the WSR. Photo by Glyn Warren © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

In last week’s Roundup, we announced that the weekend just passed would be the last weekend for scheduled 2022 DEPG diesel running, but within minutes of the roundup being sent out, this was pointed out as being incorrect because two weekends in October are currently rostered for DEPG Class 33 diesel haulage. Apologies for that error !

We can safely say that last weekend was the end of scheduled diesel-hydraulic-haulage, as Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 has now returned to Williton to undergo transmission control block investigation work after running the entire season locked in second gear. Although her engine was limited to 1200 rpm instead of the usual 1500 rpm, reducing power to prevent overheating during standing starts, the ‘Hymek’ has performed all of it its duties in style and with a decent amount of ‘Maybach Music’ accompaniment.

Here’s a short video that we have posted on our DEPG YouTube channel. Click here or on the image below to watch this video on YouTube:

D7018 departing from Williton for Minehead on Saturday 24th September 2022. Click on the image to watch the video on the DEPG’s YouTube channel. Video by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

As from Saturday 1st October, the railway enters the quieter ‘shoulder’ of the 2022 season and the RED timetable will come into effect, with services reduced from 4 to 3 trains each way per day. Two weekends in October are currently rostered for diesel haulage (8-9th and 15-16th), with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) booked to cover the 12:30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 14:30 return 40-mile duty.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured when stabled in the headshunt at Minehead on Saturday 24th September 2022. This loco will move to Bishops Lydeard in preparation for her duties under the RED timetable for the weekends of 8-9th and 15-16th October 2022. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

In summary:

On the weekend of 8th and 9th and again on 15th and 16th October, we have Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) running for 40 miles under the RED timetable.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the timetable and traction changes that took place during the year and will keep this page available as a detailed record of public running for 2022. We will create a new page for 2023 as soon as timetables have been agreed and published.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco is set to be painted in her first coat of maroon during this week and we will be using gloss paint in case the loco has to spend some time outside during the winter. At present, D1010 occupies one of the two roads inside our loco shed at Williton, but if the covered space is needed for heavy maintenance on one of our other locos, D1010 will need to vacate to make space. In that eventuality, the use of gloss paint will give additional protection. In spring of 2023, the loco will be sanded down so that work can continue on the surface finish of the many patches that have been added during the last twelve months.

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of recently-added metal that still needs engraving. We engraved 30 patches last weekend and have another engraving session planned for this coming Saturday, after which we will be preparing the photographs and certificates of sponsorship to send out to all who have sponsored this phase of the restoration work. Click the image below and sponsor your patch now. Thank you in advance for your support !

We still have a lot of work to do on this massive locomotive, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – long-time DEPG volunteer Roy completes the grey primer coat on the ‘A’ side of the loco at ‘A’ end. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 24th September 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the battery box door that was acting as a water tank was cut open for repairs to take place at Williton on Tuesday 20th September 2022. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the battery box door after repair at Williton on Tuesday 20th September 2022. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – volunteer Tim refitted the repaired door on the ‘B’ side of the loco at Williton on Tuesday 20th September 2022. Photo (and boot) by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word of your choice will be engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco continues to get attention to various small tasks while waiting for her heat exchanger to return from contract repair, which is expected some time in mid-October.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Minehead and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She will move to Bishops Lydeard when convenient for the Operations Department, prior to taking up her remaining public service duties, as listed on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page, which shows that she has been the busiest loco of our home fleet this year. Well done D6575 !

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – we came very close to an engine start-up at Williton on Saturday 24th September but the pre-start checks revealed that the oil primer feed to one of the two turbochargers was not delivering oil as it should, so the start-up attempt was abandoned. The oil primer lines are being investigated. This careful precautionary work is essential to avoid a turbocharger bearing failure and subsequent damage. We expect to get this issue resolved and get the loco started up during ‘work week’ – which happens to be this week !

D7017 was prepared for start-up at Williton on Saturday 24th September 2022 but the oil primer for the turbocharger was found to be in need of a clean-out, so the start-up attempt was abandoned. The large rusty component in the photo is the exhaust outlet from the turbocharger. It is devoid of paint and rusts easily because it gets very hot ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco was in use on the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 24th/25th September and has now completed her public service duties for this season. The loco returned to Williton late on Sunday evening and work will now re-start on investigating the reason why the automatic gear change control system is not working as it should.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the re-installation of the many pipes and cables around the compressor and generator requires that the framework that forms the short nose end is in place, because the frames provide many of the attachment points. So, the Class 14 team have stepped up the work on these frames, as shown in the photographs below:

D9518 – the end frame for the short nose end underwent restoration at Williton on Saturday 24th September 2022 in the capable hands of Colin G. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the end frame for the short nose end restored and ready for painting at Williton on Saturday 24th September 2022. Photo 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 continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway working alongside the steam locos and the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), sharing the work of hauling the public services. Work on locally-based sister D9504 has progressed well, so we expect to see D9526 returning to Williton early in the New Year.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, although usage will reduce as autumn sets in. Last week, in the ‘ON SHED’ feature we included a photo of ‘NORTH STAR’ when she was still in mainline service, running as 47840. This photograph showed that the loco carried a ‘BRISTOL BLUEBIRDS’ headboard which prompted a question, and former DEPG Chairman Bob Tiller was quick to respond as follows:

   “The Bristol Bluebirds headboard is used by GBRf train crew in Gloucester / Bristol. 

   At that time, 47840 ‘NORTH STAR’ was being used as a spare loco by First Great Western (FGW) and I was the FGW Fleet Engineer. The 47 was used to move empty stock and perform sleeper moves when a Class 57 was not available. We had other 47s, 830 and 832, but handed them back as more 57s came into service. 

   47840 would have had to go to conversion or sale or scrap, so as I was liaising with GBRf in my FGW role and also with Porterbrook, I decided along with assistance from Porterbrook management that 47840 should be saved as a ‘celebrity’ 47, a lot of us having a close affinity with this loco.

   When the hire of 47840 ended with FGW, it went for 6 months to GBRf in effect with me, as I had left FGW and moved to GBRf as Fleet Engineer then as Engineering Director. The 47 was used both for stock moves and rail services.

   Due to my friendship and the spirit of cooperation with both Brush Traction and Porterbrook, we were able to get some work done at Brush as they too realised that the preservation of 47840 was worthwhile and was their product. We therefore took 47840 off hire at GBRf and Train Manager Stu Priday and myself collected her from Old Oak Common going via Swindon, Golden Valley and Sheet Stores (Long Eaton, Derbyshire), light loco to Loughborough.

   At Brush, they very kindly undertook a complete repaint in two tone green, rewired and refitted exhausters for dual braking along with all relevant pipework, fitted headcode blind boxes and wired all lighting. Brush also undertook some engine repairs and bogie work before we moved 47840 from Loughborough to Derby to haul its special train to Minehead and into preservation.”

 

Many thanks to Bob for providing us with this information !

D1661 (47077 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ resplendent in two-tone green and entering into semi-retirement on the West Somerset Railway after arrival at the head of a railtour from Derby. Pictured at Minehead on 28th May 2007 by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – after receiving diagonal stripes on her leading buffer beam, this little loco now awaits similar attention to he trailing buffer beam and also the restoration of cabside lettering. We hope to make further progress on this work during October.

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – our website now carries the book review of the first volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ provided by DEPG member and regular correspondent, Neale Long. Here’s an extract below to give a quick flavour to the review. Click here for the full article.

   “This 176-page hardback book published by Platform 5 illustrates Britain’s somewhat tired and rundown network in 1970 up to the period where reform and reorganisation began in 1985. Many railway locations and practices were disappearing as indeed were various types of traction. With those parameters in mind, the volume concentrates on the many and various branches, some well-known, others less so. Throw in some of the disappearing traction types of the era, and a truly comprehensive picture is illustrated in this wonderful evocation of the period.

   The author, Andy Chard, by skilfully using the talents of four very well-known photographers, Ian Mortimer, Gordon Edgar, Geoff Plumb and Steve Marshall, has produced one of the finest photographic albums of recent times. What makes this more commendable is that ….” CLICK HERE to read the full review.

Many thanks to Neale for providing us with his book review !

 

We have stock of the newly-released second volume which we understand lives up to the same standard as the first volume. Both books are in stock at our ‘Tiverton warehouse’ and are ready to mail out, so please click on the images to go to the links on our ONLINE STORE.

     

 

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

 

ON SHED – this week, we visit Taunton Stabling Point where Beyer Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 was found to be resting on a dull day in March 1970. Contributing photographer Barry Gay provides us with his recollections of his day out:

“Tuesday, March 10th 1970, Taunton stabling point. There usually was a Class 35 here to work the Bason Bridge milk trains as well as a few local trips. I had just arrived from Exeter behind D1020 ‘WESTERN HERO’ (what a great name!!) on the 1E21 09:50 Penzance-Bradford service. The ‘Hymek’ was only a few weeks out of Swindon Works after a general overhaul.”

Many thanks to Barry for sharing another gem from his vast collection !

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ 7018 (the letter ‘D’ has been painted over) was pictured at Taunton Stabling Point on 10th March 1970 in ex-works condition, two weeks after being outshopped from Swindon Works after her final general overhaul of her BR service era. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS – This week is our annual ‘work week’ where we invite our volunteers to spare as much time as they can to come along to Williton and lend a hand on the major projects of the moment. We have plenty of progress to report, so the next edition of roundup will be jam packed with photos of the work that has been taking place.

The next DEPG Board Meeting will take place on Saturday 1st October, so if you have a question that you would like to put to the meeting, please let me know or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

Williton Depot will be hosting another visit from WILLITON BEAVER SCOUT TROOP on the late afternoon of Monday 3rd October, so let’s hope for some nice dry weather so that we can teach the youngsters something about outdoor railway safety, as well as showing them what goes on inside our loco depot.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend sees the introduction of the RED timetable which provides three trains per day in each direction and remains in force throughout October. The Saturday and Sunday turns on the weekends of 8/9th and 15/16th will be DEPG diesel hauled, but it is possible that a diesel may be rostered on other days at short notice. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information. The ‘Hymek’ hauled services last weekend were well patronised, which was great to see, and we are very grateful to everyone who supported us, but please do come along and continue to support the remainder of the diesel running program to make sure that we get invited to run our heritage diesels next year as well !

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

 

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) stands at Platform 1 at the delightful and well-presented Williton Station on Saturday 17th September 2022 as she prepared for her light engine move to Minehead, to take up her weekend duties under the BLUE timetable. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The last opportunities for scheduled 2022 diesel-hydraulic running are upon us. This coming weekend is the last weekend of the BLUE timetable (4 trains each way per day) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 is rostered to haul the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and return diagram that includes two out-and-back runs totalling 80 miles. Last weekend, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) covered this duty, but now it is time for some ‘Maybach Music’ to end the main season.

As from Saturday 1st October, the railway enters the quieter ‘shoulder’ of the season and the RED timetable will come into effect, with services reduced from 4 to 3 trains each way per day. We note that Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) has been rostered for the weekends of 8/9th October and again on 15/16th October so we will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin to cover these additions.

 

In summary:

On the weekend of 24th and 25th September, we have Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 running for 80 miles under the BLUE timetable. These will be the LAST scheduled diesel-hydraulic-hauled services of the season, so please come along and enjoy the ride, to the accompaniment of ‘Maybach Music’ !

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the timetable and traction changes that took place during the year and will keep this page available as a historical record of public running for 2022. We will create a new page for 2023 as soon as timetables have been agreed and published.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR.

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco continues to get the lion’s share of the attention, with body repair work progressing in parallel with work on her battery compartments and cab windows and headcode boxes. Theere is plenty of work still to be done on this massive locomotive and we need to continue raising funds to allow us to plan further work on the transmissions and bogies.

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that still needs engraving. We have an engraving session planned for this Saturday and the list of sponsors is still open, so click the image below and sponsor your patch now. Thank you in advance for your support !

Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – continued effort on the ‘A’ end of the loco has resulted in completion of all bodywork repairs and an overall coat of grey primer has now been applied. The headcode frames have been re-fitted (temporarily) and now include new rubber seals for the glass panels. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th September 2022 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the rusted remains of the sheared screws that held the side windows have to be removed carefully to ensure that the replacement screws will align correctly. This simple and effective tool has been made from a set of worn-out vice grips and engages with the broken screws and aligns the drill with the centre of the hole. Pictured at Williton on 10th September 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word of your choice will be engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco has had her oil strainer, oil filter housings and crankcase cleaned out and fresh oil pumped in while she waits for the return of her heat exchanger. The latest news is that it will be some time in mid-October before we get the heat exchanger returned to us, so work continues to prepare everything else as far as possible. We hope that this loco will be back in action some time in October, but it depends entirely on the specialist firm that is undertaking the repair work.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Minehead and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She covered the diesel duties last weekend as planned and as listed on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and has been the busiest loco of our home fleet so far this year. Well done D6575 !

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the work on this loco has progressed very well and the loco will be ready for an engine run during our annual ‘work week’ (which happens to be next week).  The photo below shows that her roof has been re-fitted in preparation for the start-up, which will take place after the loco has been towed outdoors. Well done to Team D7017 for getting this work done !

A view from the mezzanine floor – Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured in the loco shed at Williton on Saturday 17th September 2022 with the frames and cooler group of Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 in front of her on the left and Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ filling up the shed on the right. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will be in use on the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 24th/25th September. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the Class 14 team continue to work on the re-installation of the compressed air system and the associated valves and pipework while, in parallel, restoration work is taking place on some of the many parts that are going to be needed in the near future – such as those shown in the photographs below:

D9518 – under the layers of NCB blue, the cab door reveals the original Sherwood Green from BR days. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the cab door has now been restored and painted in green primer. The pipe assembly, freshly painted in Salmon Pink (the designated colour for lubricating oil), is for the engine oil drain. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the electrical switch panel from the control cubicle is also undergoing careful restoration and repainting. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of the doors from the electrical control cubicle revealed handwritten operating instructions that had been added in NCB days. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – “USE SUPREME 50 OIL” says the handwritten operating instruction that had been added in NCB days. Photo 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 full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway working alongside the steam locos and the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), sharing the work of hauling the public services. Here’s a link to a YouTube video by Andrew Howard from a few days ago that shows D9526 working a train that includes a very old 4-wheeled coach. Click here or on the image below to open the YouTube video:

D9526 at work on the KESR – a YouTube video by Andrew Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, which is great news, both for the loco and for the DEPG. Our correspondent in the area, Martin Fisher, is keeping us well-fed with photographs of our ‘celebrity’ loco at work on the NYMR – thank you very much, Martin !

47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ waits with her train while another train approaches to pass at Goathland Station on Wednesday 14th September 2022. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco was the subject of the attention of well-known WSR and DEPG volunteer Jon Tooke on Saturday, when he went to great lengths to establish the correct width and angle of the black diagonal stripes that needed to be added to the yellow buffer beam to achieve authenticity with the original paint scheme. The photos below show the work in progress and also show the finished result. A fine piece of work indeed – thank you Jon !

Barclay 578 (ROF 1) received her stripes at Williton on Saturday 17th September 2022 courtesy of volunteer Jon Tooke, who carefully and accurately masked up the buffer beam before adding the black paint. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Barclay 578 (ROF 1) displays the new stripes on her buffer beam while Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 basks in the sunshine in Williton South Yard on Saturday 17th September 2022. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – we have a book review of the first volume of ‘THE BEATEN TRACK’ from regular correspondent Neale Long but we will need to defer it to the next edition of roundup (next week) due to other priorities that have made the roundup run very late this week. We have stock of the newly-released second volume which we hope will live up to the same standard as the first volume. Both books are in stock at our ‘Tiverton warehouse’ and are ready to mail out, so please click on the images to go to the links on our ONLINE STORE.

 

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – this week, we can’t resist featuring this ‘off shed’ photo of our very own 47840 (D1661, 47077, 47613) ‘NORTH STAR’, pictured when operating the 5F70 First Great Western Mk 3 HST buffet car move from Plymouth Laira depot to Old Oak Common depot. The buffet car is quite appropropriately ‘sandwiched’ between two Mark 2 coaches that have been modified as barrier vehicles. The location is Rockstone Bridge, Dawlish and the date was Saturday 7th April 2007, just three weeks before the loco ended her mainline career and joined the DEPG fleet. The loco is carrying a ‘BRISTOL BLUEBIRDS’ headboard, which is a curious addition on an empty stock movement! Many thanks to DEPG volunteer and secondman Darren Hill for sharing his photo with us all.

47840 (D1661 47077 47613) ‘NORTH STAR’ worked the 5F70 Plymouth Laira to Old Oak Common rolling stock transfer move on Saturday 7th April 2007, pictured from Rockstone Bridge, Dawlish by Darren Hill © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

DEPG NEWS – Our online store was subjected to abuse last week, resulting in 2,000 bogus orders being processed within 24 hours and causing a lot of stress while we worked to block the attack. As a temporary measure, we had to make a change to the checkout procedure which now uses PayPal as our service provider. Although PayPal like to encourage users to sign up for a PayPal account, it is still easy to bypass this and pay in the normal way by using the ‘guest’ option. We will try to reinstate the earlier ‘Stripe’ gateway but we will need to add a Captcha step to block automated attacks. Please let us know (via our CONTACT form) if you encounter any difficulty using the revised checkout procedure. Thanks !

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend on the WSR will be the LAST scheduled diesel-hydraulic haulage opportunity of the season, so please do come along and support the 2022 diesel running program of the WSR and the DEPG to make sure that we get invited to run our heritage diesels next year as well !

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

A pair of GWR Class 150/2 diesel-hydraulic ‘Sprinters’ worked the 30-minute interval shuttle service between St Erth and St Ives on Monday 12th September 2022, pictured leaving St Erth at 1748 and framed with semaphore signals and a signal box. The very well-kept and well-organised park-and-ride station, the very friendly staff and the wonderful views combine to make the journey an absolute pleasure. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The opening photo of this roundup may appear a strange choice, but your author is on holiday in Cornwall and under orders to keep this edition short and to the point. The normal array of photographs is not available to me this week so here’s a quick summary of what has been going on at the DEPG (as far as I know!):

 

We at the DEPG were saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II after a lifetime of service and duty that spoke for itself and deserves to be acknowledged by all. Unfortunately, we have our own sad news to add to this, as follows:

 

John Benson, founder and former President of the DEPG, passed away recently. His funeral was held on Tuesday 13^th September at St Mary’s Church, Marden (near Hereford). The DEPG was represented by Terry Deacon. We will document the backstory to John’s role in the creation of our group and his subsequent contribution, and include it in a future edition of the DEPG quarterly newsletter.

 

The WSR ‘Forties Weekend’ took place on Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th September and the DEPG provided an ‘open depot’ in support of the event. After the slim pickings of recent open days, we had plenty of locos available to view, including ‘Hymek’ D7017 undergoing the final stages of her engine repair inside the loco shed and Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) in the yard undergoing preparation work while she waits for her refurbished heat exchanger. Fully serviceable locos on shed were ‘Hymek’ D7018 and ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) along with Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF 1).

 

Work continued on our two long-term restoration projects, Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518, although the type of task being undertaken had to be modified to be a little more friendly to the public who were allowed to get up close to the locos that were the subject of the work.

 

Sales team stalwart and Membership Secretary Chris Shields manned the DEPG sales stand throughout the weekend, offering DEPG-branded hats, polo shirts, sweatshirts and the like, along with our ever-growing selection of new books. Many thanks to Chris for his tireless efforts to raise money to support the DEPG fleet.

 

Looking ahead:

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured while waiting for a ‘down’ service to pass at Crowcombe Heathfield Station on Saturday 20th August 2022′ The ‘Hymek’ was leading Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on their journey to Bishops Lydeard where they both had work to do. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

On the weekend of 17th and 18th September, we have Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) running for 80 miles as per the BLUE timetable.

 

On the weekend of 24th and 25th September, we have Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 running for 80 miles also as per the BLUE timetable. This will be the LAST scheduled diesel-hauled service of the season, so please come along and enjoy the ride.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the recent timetable and traction changes, with links to the WSR timetables, so this page can be used as a one-stop-shop for diesel-hauled services on the WSR. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR. The season is not over yet – there is MORE TO COME so click on the banner below to visit the page and get the details:

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to deliver the published program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – this loco remained inside the loco shed for the duration of the ‘Forties Weekend’ so that work could progress on getting a coat of primer on all exposed areas of metalwork. Only when getting ‘up close and personal’ to this loco does it become apparent just how much area there is to be painted, rubbed down and painted again.  Many thanks to all of our volunteers for their massive effort on this massive locomotive !

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that still needs engraving and it is in a prime location, right at the front of the loco at ‘A’ end ! Thank you in advance for your support !

Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

 

D1010 – one of the battery box doors made a ‘sloshing’ noise when opened and was found to contain a quantity of rusty water! The well-rotted bottom section of the door had to be replaced. Pictured at Williton on 6th September 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the new metal of the replacement bottom section of the battery box door is provided with drain holes to prevent water build-up inside the closed section, courtesy of volunteer Tim at Williton on 6th September 2022. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is undergoing preparation work for the re-installation of her refurbished heat exchanger, expected to be received some time in October. This has allowed time for the crankcase to be cleaned out and the oil strainer and filter housings to be cleaned and refitted before the heat exchanger comes back and the fresh oil goes in. We expect this loco to be back in action some time in October.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Williton and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She will move to Minehead on the morning of Saturday 17th September to be in position for her weekend duties under the BLUE timetable. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for more information.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is edging closer to completion and should be ready for an engine run later this month.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco will be in use on the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 24th/25th September. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the Class 14 team continue to work on the re-installation of the compressed air system and the associated valves and pipework. In parallel to this work, the ‘short nose end’ sections have been retrieved from storage so that they can be restored and made ready for re-fitting when the pipework has been completed. Hopefully we will have pictures in the next roundup.

 

This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco continues to be in regular use on the Kent & East Sussex Railway although the return of steam to the line will have reduced the pressure on this loco considerably. We expect the loco to remain at the KESR until some time in the spring of 2023.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco continues to be in regular use at the NYMR, which is great news for the loco and for the DEPG. The travelling public seem to like her as well, which is good news and will help ensure that she gets used regularly in future.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco remains in the yard at Williton, ready for service.

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – we now have a book review of the first volume from regular correspondent Neale Long and will be including it in the roundup next week and posting it to our website ASAP. We also have stock of the newly-released second volume which we hope will live up to the same standard as the first volume. Both books are in stock at our ‘Tiverton warehouse’ and are ready to mail out, so please click on the images to go to the links on our ONLINE STORE.

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – this feature will return ASAP.

 

DEPG NEWS – The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at 14:00 at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. A full report of the AGM will be included in the next edition of the DEPG Newsletter, due for distribution in November. If you are a member and would like to receive an advance copy of the report, please get in touch by replying to this email or by using the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend on the WSR will be the penultimate scheduled diesel haulage opportunity, the ultimate will be the weekend of 24th/25th September, so please do come along and support the remainder of the 2022 diesel running program of the WSR and the DEPG to make sure that we get invited to run our heritage diesels next year as well !

 

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The DEPG Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place inside the diesel loco shed at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. DEPG Chairman Martin Howard was pictured while delivering his annual report to the meeting, with Board members Paul Tucker (left) and Tom Courtney (right) alongside. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the DEPG took place at Williton in the afternoon of Saturday 3rd September 2022. The formal business of the meeting included a report from the Chairman and from the acting Treasurer, and also a summary of progress from Matt Webb of Azets, our new Independent Examiner. The voting then took place to confirm the appointments to the Board with the outcome as per the table below:

Trustee (also Directors) Designation	Period ending 03-Sept-22	Period commencing 03-Sept-22
Chairman	Martin Howard	Martin Howard
Vice Chairman	Neil McCannon	Andy Royal
Treasurer	Julien Weston (resigned 24-June-22) Andy Royal (from 24-June-22)	Paul Tucker
Company Secretary	Ian Robins	Ian Robins
Staff Representative	Andy Royal	Andy Royal
Without Portfolio	Paul Tucker	Neil McCannon
Without Portfolio	Tom Courtney (from 22-July)	Tom Courtney
Without Portfolio	–	vacant

 

After completion of the formal business, WSR Director FRANK COURTNEY (himself a DEPG member) addressed the members and provided some insight into WSR financial and safety matters, concluding with an outlook for the future and also giving a big THANK-YOU TO THE DEPG for supporting the WSR through their fire risk period where diesels operated the railway for 10 consecutive running days. Many thanks to Frank for providing his address.

Full details of the AGM proceedings will be made available to DEPG members in the next DEPG Newsletter, due for distribution in November 2022. Please use our CONTACT FORM if you are a member and would like to get an advance copy of the detailed AGM report.

 

So that the AGM could be held inside the depot, a suitable space had to be created, so step 1 was to haul D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ outside and step 2 was to sweep up and start to move chairs and tables from the storage areas to the newly vacated space on number 2 road. Step 3 came at the end of the meeting when the area had to be cleared again and all of the chairs and tables stowed, before D1010 could be shunted back inside the shed. Luckily, the weather stayed dry, because we would have lost more working time if the tarpaulins had to come out to cover her up (her cabside windows have yet to be re-fitted). So, a big thank-you to all of our volunteers for their efforts last Saturday. Well done all !

D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was wearing her special nameplate ‘CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER’ while temporarily stabled outdoors at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The AGM concluded just in time for our members to move to the Williton Station platform to watch ‘Hymek’ D7018 departing with the afternoon service from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, with DEPG Trustee and Director Neil McCannon in charge. The photo below was taken when the earlier service, the 10:00 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, called at Williton station, and two-thirds of the Board managed to put in an appearance:

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured at the Williton Station stop while working the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard diagram (2 x round trips, 80 miles total) on Saturday 3rd September 2022. From left to right, driver Neil McCannon, Martin Howard, Terry Deacon, Tom Courtney and Paul Tucker. Photo by Mark Bladwell © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

On the weekend of 17th and 18th September, we have Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) running for 80 miles as per the BLUE timetable.

 

On the weekend of 24th and 25th September, we have Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 running for 80 miles as per the BLUE timetable. This will be the LAST scheduled diesel-hauled service of the season, so please come along and enjoy the ride.

 

We have kept our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page updated throughout all of the recent timetable and traction changes, with links to the WSR timetables, so this page can be used as a one-stop-shop for diesel-hauled services on the WSR. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE TRAVELLED for supporting this year’s DIESEL RUNNING program on the WSR. The season is not over yet – there is MORE TO COME so click on the banner below to visit the page and get the details:

The usual caveats of loco availability apply, but we aim to deliver the published program of running with the locos indicated and we will provide as much advance notice of any change as possible, using our DIESELGEN and Twitter feeds, so please sign up to keep up to date.

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – as shown previously, this loco was hauled out of the loco shed to make space for the AGM, so she enjoyed a little fresh air and luckily did not get rained upon. While outdoors, Ian F, Richard and Gordon made some more progress with bodywork preparation in advance of an overall light grey primer coat, dark grey undercoat and maroon first coat. That’s a lot of painting that needs to get done before the winter. Many thanks to all of our volunteers for their massive effort on this massive locomotive !

Please consider SPONSORING A PATCH because there is plenty of fresh metal that still needs engraving and it is in a prime location, right at the front of the loco at ‘A’ end. Thank you in advance for your support !

Although bodywork repairs have progressed well, we still have a lot of rubbing down and painting to do, so PLEASE DO COME ALONG AND HELP IF YOU CAN !

D1010 – this view shows one of the battery box doors stood on end to reveal the inside-to-outside corrosion that is inevitable when water enters the inside of the door and cannot get out except by corroding the metal through. Pictured at Williton on 31st August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the top of the battery box door has recessed areas that trap rainwater until it penetrates inside the door. The repairs include drain holes that will prevent pooling. Similar drain holes will be introduced at the bottom of the door. Pictured at Williton on 30th August 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – this battery box door has been repaired at the top and at the bottom and is now fully serviceable with properly operating hinges, locks and security catch. Of the eight doors, four will require this level of attention. Pictured at Williton on 31st August 2022 by Colin Foxhall  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

To support the work that is progressing in multiple areas on D1010, we launched our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER by offering ‘SPONSOR A PATCH’ where you can donate in support of the bodywork repairs that are taking place on D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ and HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE SPONSORED PATCH or PART.

For the sum of £25, this scheme offers you a chance to sponsor the restoration of this much-loved locomotive, with your personal contribution being recorded and documented on a set of drawings that will be made available at our Williton depot on running days and open days. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, a unique reference number or code word will be allocated and engraved instead.

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

 

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – the failed heat exchanger has been sent out to a specialist firm for overhaul, which is expected to take five or six weeks. During this time, the loco will undergo an oil change and will have her oil strainer and oil filters replaced, so that she is ready for the reconditioned heat exchanger to be fitted. Her return to service will probably take place in November.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was pictured on number 1 road at Williton Diesel Depot on Saturday 3rd September 2022 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is currently stabled at Williton and being the WSR Duty Loco, is fully serviceable. She was pressed into use on Saturday 3rd September to haul D1010 out of the loco shed so that the AGM could take place in the shed. Conveniently, WSR Diesel Traction Inspector (and DEPG member) John Leach was at Williton giving an introductory lecture to his new intake of trainee secondmen, so he was able to provide some hands-on training as seen in the picture below:

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was used to shunt D1010 back into the loco shed after the AGM on 3rd September 2022. WSR Diesel Traction Inspector John Leach can be seen at the controls, with trainee secondman Paddy Lockyer watching and learning. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – further progress was made on this loco with the air intake manifolds re-attached and now ready to accept the intercoolers. After that, the ducting between the air filters and the intercoolers will be re-fitted, the cooling system will be reconnected and the coolant pumped back in, then the loco will be ready for an engine test prior to re-fitting the roof. Many thanks to Leroy, Simon and Karl for their work on this loco.

D7017 – the air intake manifolds have been re-fitted and are now ready to accept the intercoolers. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – this loco was in use this weekend, as already covered. The next scheduled dates for ‘Hymek’ running are the 10:00 and 14:30 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard return services on Sat/Sun 24th/25th September. Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for updates or join the DIESELGEN email bulletin group (which also includes information about non-public services, where the information is available to us sufficiently in advance).

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the Class 14 team continue to work on the many component parts that are needed to support the restoration of this locomotive, while preparing for a pressure test of the compressed air system. Here’s a few pictures:

D9518 – this fire alarm test button has been carefully restored and is now ready for re-fitting to the locomotive. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – brand new pipework has been formed to the complex shapes required to fit around the various items of equipment on the frames. Pictured at Williton on 27th August 2022 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 full operational condition as ‘NCB No. 7‘.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – the steam ban has been lifted on the Kent & East Sussex Railway so our loco can take a break from what must have been an intensive month – and quite stressful for all of the staff and volunteers as they covered their planned workings with the locos that they had available. THANKS AGAIN to Team D9504 for looking after D9526 so well and keeping her serviceable !

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – although steam has now returned to the NYMR, our loco has continued to be in regular use and has proven very popular with both passengers and crews. In the photo below, once again from our local correspondent Martin Fisher, the loco can be seen after detaching from ‘THE MOORLANDER’ Pullman service at Pickering Station, and preparing to run around her train before heading back to Grosmont.

Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR‘ was pictured at Pickering station on Saturday 3rd September 2022 after having detached from ‘THE MOORLANDER’ Pullman set and preparing to run around her stock for the return trip to Grosmont. Several other photographers also capture the scene. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this little loco had D1010 for company in the yard on Saturday 3rd September. The largest and the smallest member of the DEPG fleet, alongside one another.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF No. 1) was stabled on number 3 road outside the loco shed at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022, with Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ on number 2 road alongside. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

If you can help by donating your time, then please JOIN US and come along to the depot for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. We currently have people on site from Saturday through to Tuesday and we can open on other days if we can be sure of getting at least two volunteers on site at all times, so there is plenty of scope. We have tasks of all types to suit most capabilities, both skilled and unskilled.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers who give up so much of their time to work on the cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – this week, we feature two books, one of which has been on sale for a while and has received excellent reviews, and now has a second volume released which we hope will live up to the same standard as the first volume. Both books are in stock at our ‘Tiverton warehouse’ and are ready to mail out, so please click on the images to go to the links on our ONLINE STORE. We hope to feature book reviews for both of these publications in the very near future.

 

We have added several other NEW BOOKS to our online store recently including GREEN DIESEL DAYS, so please visit our online store and browse then buy to support the work that is taking place on our locomotives. Thanks !

 

ON SHED – we will need to skip this feature again this week due to lack of time and space. Sorry !

 

DEPG NEWS – The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at 14:00 at Williton on Saturday 3rd September 2022. As stated previously, a full report of the AGM will be included in the next edition of the DEPG Newsletter, due for distribution in November. If you are a member and would like to receive an advance copy of the report, please get in touch by using the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

Our new online membership system is working well and feedback has been very positive, even though some anomalies have had to be corrected here and there. Membership is INCREASING STEADILY ! If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at your membership record and make sure that it is correct. You will also be able to select ‘paper’, ‘paperless’ or ‘paperless except newsletter’ communication, according to your preference. In the event of any discrepancies, please email Membership Secretary Chris Shields using email address members@depg.org or use the CONTACT FORM on our website.

 

WSR NEWS: this coming weekend on the WSR will be the ‘FORTIES WEEKEND‘ and the DEPG facility at Williton will be open to the public on both days, complete with ROD SAUNDERS and his model railway sales stand. Please make a plan to come along to this event in support of both the WSR and the DEPG. Click this link for timetable details – services are steam-hauled and there is an additional DMU shuttle service between Minehead and Dunster. This event is one of the highlights of the WSR calendar, so come along and join in !

 

Go to previous Weekly Roundup post