An unusual study of Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) and DEPG volunteer and driver Colin G engaged on shunting activities at Williton on Saturday 7th September 2024. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The focus of activities at Williton last Saturday 7th September 2024 was the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG, an essential and mandatory gathering of members to listen to the reports presented by the Chairman and Treasurer and approve them and appoint the Board of Trustees and Directors for another year. The meeting started at 14:00 and the formal business was completed by 14:35, after which WSR Assistant General Manager SEB WELSH gave a presentation and outlined the performance of the railway in 2024 and the outlook for 2025. The meeting was attended by 30 members and proxy forms received from 20 more, so there were 50 votes in play.

The proposals made by the Board were accepted unchanged and the Board was voted back in for another year, again unchanged. Many thanks to those who came along to the AGM to take their opportunity to help guide the Group in the desired direction.

DEPG Chairman Martin Howard was pictured while presenting his report to the assembled members at the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the DEPG. Not many AGMs have a pair of Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD-655 engines as a backdrop, these two being those belonging to D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’. Pictured at Williton on 7th September 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Several members arrived on the Class 33-hauled service from Bishops Lydeard at 13:07 and departed on the 15:17, treating themselves to a double dose of ‘Crompton’ haulage. The AGM proceedings were timed to fit into this well-established pattern. Other members chose to arrive on earlier trains or by car, to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the depot and talk to the volunteers involved with the restoration of their favourite locomotives. Thank you to all who attended !

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was carrying the ‘GK’ headcode in memory of former DEPG volunteer the late PAUL BRITTON (covered in the Roundup on 01-Sep-24) when pictured during the Williton station stop on Saturday 7th September 2024. Stabled in the DEPG yard on the left are Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

This coming weekend is the WSR’s special FORTIES EVENT so our 1960s locos will play only a minor supporting role and be mostly concentrated in our yard at Williton, all except Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) which will be working the 08:55 departure from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 14th and the 16:10 return service to Minehead on Sunday 15th.

There will a main line diesel presence in the form of a WEST COAST RAILWAY COMPANY Class 47 which will be at the rear of the ‘BLACK FIVE‘ hauled ‘WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS‘ railtour. This railtour is due to arrive at Bishops Lydeard at 1137 on Saturday 14th, continuing to Minehead and arriving at 1305, departing from Minehead at 1520 to return to Paddington (departing Bishops Lydeard at 1640). The ‘Black Five’ and the ’47’ will be in charge of the train throughout.

Then, on Tuesday 17th, the MIDLAND PULLMAN will be visiting Dunster and Minehead on an out-and-back trip from Carnforth. The MIDLAND PULLMAN services are fully booked way in advance and showcase the HST which forms the basis for the service these days (the original 1960 train sets did not survive beyond 1975).

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be hauling the BLUE timetable diesel turns on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September with 80 miles of haulage available each day.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our ONLINE SHOP

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – with the AGM dominating the activities last weekend, the team only had time to gather up the parts and move the ‘B’ bogie out of the loco shed to allow space for the AGM attendees. The ‘B’ bogie was moved back inside as soon as the visitors had left the building, and work will start again this coming weekend.

The next step for the bogie is the cleaning out of the mass of dirt and grease that has accumulated in the spring pockets and the inside of the bogie frame, before attempting the removal of the equalising beams and pedestals. The general scheme of work is as follows, with status information added:

1. Remove the cardan shafts – completed on 10th August
2. Remove the brake rigging – completed on 24th August
3. Remove the primary springs – completed on 24th August
4. Remove the equalising beams and pedestals – planned for the weekend of 14th September.
5. Remove the secondary springs
6. Inspect the bogie frames, wheel bearings and gearboxes
7. Replace the torque reaction rubbers
8. Re-assemble using repaired or replacement parts as required.

 

As a parallel activity, the re-assembly of the first repaired cooler group is proceeding well, with the top coat of paint applied and the grilles and walkway re-fitted. As always, there is plenty to do on this massive locomotive, so please CONTACT US if you are a DEPG member and would like to come along to help.

 

D1010 – the space that is normally occupied by one of the primary suspension leaf springs can be seen to be full of oily dirt and grease from almost 50 years of running. All six spring pockets need to be thoroughly cleaned out so that we can inspect the bogie frames before repainting. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 31st August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the cooling fan grilles and disused (but authentic) walkway have now been re-fitted to the first repaired cooler group at Williton. This cooler group is now ready to turn over to allow repairs to take place on the other side. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jon Tooke  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – a corroded water pipe has been repaired by welding-in a patch of new steel. This pipe is now ready for painting into the designated colour for coolant pipes, which is ‘French Blue’. Pictured at Williton on Monday 16th August 2024 by Tony Austin  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

We are still offering the SPONSOR A PATCH scheme where your name or message will be engraved into the metal of the loco body as acknowledgement of your donations to the D1010 RESTORATION FUND. We are a bit behind with the engraving but now that the loco body has been determined as safe to work on, we can resume the engraving and catch up. There is plenty more metal yet to be engraved, so GET YOUR SPONSORED PATCH BY CLICKING THIS LINK !

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities.

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco is now back at Williton where she will undergo maintenance and attention to minor faults that have been reported by the loco crews. The loco remains serviceable and could be called upon at short notice.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now outstationed at Minehead and will be in use on a single 20-mile working during each day of the FORTIES EVENT that takes place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is ready for her next booked duties, which will be the diesel diagram of the BLUE TIMETABLE on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September. 

 

Click on this link or on the graphic below to visit our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – our ‘transmission team’ continued taking their well-earned break last week, so our coverage of work on this loco will be paused until next week, when there will be plenty to report !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the AGM prevented any work being done on Saturday 7th but the team had been busy on the previous Tuesday, preparing for the removal of the pistons from the Paxman 6YJXL engine that was previously installed in sister loco D9526. More news on this loco next week.

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently stabled at Williton, but will move to Minehead on Saturday 21st (along with ‘Hymek’ D7017) and will then position over the pit for an underframe exam and a brake adjustment. The loco will return to Williton later that same day, working ‘Light Engine’.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but is currently out of service because of a coolant leak from the liner of cylinder B3. Only one of the 12 cylinders appears to be affected, but further investigations will be carried out as part of the repair work. A subcontractor has been engaged to allow the work to proceed quickly, and the completion date is scheduled for early October.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco was inside the loco shed on No. 2 road but had to be moved out to make space for the AGM. This loco was then used to shunt the yard on Saturday 7th to make space to allow D1010‘s bogie to be rolled out of the loco shed, and then ended up boxed in between D6566 and D7017. This will be sorted out some time before Saturday 21st to allow D7017 and D9526 clear passage to depart from No. 1 road and run to Minehead,

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: with the closedown news from PROJECT 22 reported in the Roundup for 25-Aug-24 still fresh in our minds, we will continue to feature Anthony Sayer’s detailed analysis of the Class 22 and we will also include the Class in the ‘ON SHED’ feature further below. Both volumes of these books are in stock and ready for those who want to learn more about these extinct machines. Even though they were seldom at the top of the loco spotter’s list of favourites, they still have a right to exist and it is sad that not a single example of Classes 16, 21, 22, 29, 41 or 43 remain, a total of 164 main line locomotives that were built in Glasgow for BR by the North British Locomotive Company.

To find out more, consider purchasing VOLUMES 1 and 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

 

Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

 

DEPG CALENDAR 2025

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: staying with the Class 22 theme, we have another photo from regular contributor BARRY GAY, this one taken on a Sunday morning in February 1971 at Exeter Stabling Point, opposite Exeter St Davids station and at that time, absolutely brimming with North British diesel hydraulics. Here are Barry’s words on the subject:

     “This is a view of Exeter stabling point on Sunday, February 14, 1971, taken from where Exeter Panel Box is now, at midday. There were 15 locos on shed, comprising: L-R: D6315, 6323, 813 ‘DIADEM’, D864 ‘ZAMBESI’, D6307, D7005 and 867 ‘ZENITH’. On the single road in the yard were two Class 08s and 857 ‘UNDAUNTED’ (in the foreground). Hidden in the shed were D7040, D6334, D4167 and Class 45 ‘Peak’ 56 plus D826 ‘JUPITER’.

     This was my regular Sunday morning visit. I was after a photograph of D6307 in particular, as it was the only Class 22 to survive into 1971 fitted with larger headcode boxes. It was withdrawn six weeks later, on 27th March 1971.

     You could walk around the depot unhindered, take your time, get your photos. For me 1971 was the best year for variety of classes and liveries. It was possible to see around 13 different types of loco on an ordinary day. Of course we did not know what was just around the corner – the big hydraulic cull of October 1971.

     Going to Newton Abbot on October 10, I saw 30 diesel hydraulics withdrawn from traffic. 11 of which were in Hackney yard. The other 19 were in the depot and yard area. The locos were all classes 22, 42 and 43. I managed to get into Hackney yard unobserved to get my photos, the only ones I have of engines in there.

     Gradually over the weeks locos disappeared, but we still had plenty to see. Good job the ’52s’ lasted longer than anything else hydraulic.”

 

Many thanks to Barry for sharing his photos and his memories with us all.

Exeter St Davids stabling point on Sunday 14th February 1971, with (L-R) D6316, 6323, 813, D864, D6307, D7005 and 867. In the foreground is 857, so eight locos plus a DMU in view and another seven locos lurking nearby. By Class, there were 3 x 08, 4 x 22, 2 x 35, 2 x 42, 3 x 43, 1 x 45 on shed that day. All 15 locos were still registered as being in service at the end of that month, but only 6 survived beyond the end of the year, and only two of those were hydraulics. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: as reported above, the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG took place at Williton on Saturday 7th September. The Financial Report for 2023 will now be filed with Companies House (this must be done before 30th September) and the appropriate data extracted for filing with the Charity Commission (this must be done before 31st October). 

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

 

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

In a perfect example of teamwork, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was being shunted over the pit by resident Class 03 D2133 under the control of the Minehead Engineering team when pictured at Minehead on 28th August 2024. This very helpful positioning move allowed the DEPG volunteers to quickly gain access to the loco for an underframe inspection and a brake adjustment the following morning, after which the loco returned ‘light engine’ to Williton. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

On Saturday 31st August, the opportunity arose for Beyer Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7017 to go over the pit at Minehead for an underframe inspection and a routine brake slack adjustment before the loco departed ‘light engine’ for Williton. Next in use on Saturday and Sunday 21/22 September, the ‘Hymek’ would have been ahead of her time if she remained stabled at Minehead during the forthcoming ‘Forties Event‘ that the WSR will be staging next weekend (14/15th September), besides which we have a list of small but important maintenance tasks to carry out on the loco, for which she needed to be back at Wiliiton.

 

On Saturday 31st August, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) was in use on the diesel turn on Saturday, changing over to sister D6575 (33057) at Williton on the last leg of the journey back to Minehead. This loco swap was carried out to allow D6566 to undergo some maintenance work at Williton and to share the workload, which is a major step towards ensuring that both locos retain their excellent record for reliability.

 

Wednesday 28th August saw the last of the current set of four running opportunities for the GWR ‘Castle’ class HST that has been covering the peak-season 40-mile diesel turn on each Wednesday of August. The regular running proved very popular, with a significant uptick in the number of passengers on Wednesdays, with many travellers coming from far and wide to enjoy the WSR from the quiet and comfortable HST. As this running has been in addition to the scheduled DEPG loco running, it has showcased the wider appeal of mixed traction on the WSR and we look forward to more such running opportunities in the future. MANY THANKS to the volunteer GWR crew members who have worked alongside their WSR counterparts to deliver these services.

Visiting GWR ‘Castle’ Class HST (43154 leading, 43155 trailing) provided an interesting comparison with an earlier generation of diesel traction when calling at Williton with the 1100 service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Wednesday 28th August 2024. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was stabled between the HST and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 in this photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

PAUL BRITTON RIP

Some sad news has reached us regarding the loss of a former DEPG volunteer and WSR secondman who had played a significant role in the restoration of Class 33 D6575 (33057) in the mid-2000s. Although Paul had not been a member for a while, the fond memories of his DEPG colleagues were clearly evident at Williton last weekend and the headcodes of the Class 33s were set to ‘GK’ as a mark of respect. To find out why ‘GK’, it is necessary to ready the obituary below.

The late Paul Britton at work, coupling Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ on the left to Class 42 ‘Warship’ D832 ‘ONSLAUGHT’ at Williton on 16th June 2007. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The obituary that follows has been kindly provided by fellow DEPG volunteer Jon Tooke:

    PAUL BRITTON – A truly highly skilled, thoughtful and genuinely funny guy. An avid Bristol Rovers fan, he was a true ‘Gas’. He loved the BR Blue and Grey era and enjoyed seeing and travelling behind the BRCW class 33s so much so he became part owner of one based on the Swanage Railway, but he was never a fan of any any diesels from the ‘Evil Empire’ (EE) !

    Back in his younger days he would go spotting near his parent’s house in Keynsham (Bristol) and he especially enjoyed seeing all the 33 workings. Other Gricers and BR staff got very used to seeing him there and they gave him the nickname of ‘Gooner-Keynsham’. The ‘GK’ initials stuck and many knew and referred to him by these.

     As a mark of respect following his sudden passing, the DEPG ran their 33s over the weekend of 31st Aug/1st Sept with ’GK’ displayed in the route indicator boxes.

     Farewell Paul. Friend, colleague and fellow diesel preservation enthusiast. You will be remembered and sadly missed.
     R.I.P. GK.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) was pictured at the Stogumber station stop on Sunday 1st September 2024, displaying the ‘GK’ headcode in memory of the late Paul Britton. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use this coming weekend 7th and 8th September with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days.

We have added another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn and this loco will now work on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September with 80 miles of haulage available each day.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our ONLINE SHOP

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – it was time to consolidate the recent progress and start work on the cleaning and inspection of the many components that had been removed from the ‘B’ bogie during the past few weeks. The various parts were labelled then stacked on pallets, giving us plenty of work for the weeks ahead.

The next step for the bogie is the cleaning out of the mass of dirt and grease that has accumulated in the spring pockets and the inside of the bogie frame, before attempting the removal of the equalising beams and pedestals. The general scheme of work is as follows, with status information added:

1. Remove the cardan shafts – completed on 10th August
2. Remove the brake rigging – completed on 24th August
3. Remove the primary springs – completed on 24th August
4. Remove the equalising beams and pedestals – planned for the weekend of 14th September.
5. Remove the secondary springs
6. Inspect the bogie frames, wheel bearings and gearboxes
7. Replace the torque reaction rubbers
8. Re-assemble using repaired or replacement parts as required.

 

The repairs to the first of the two cooler groups have made very good progress, and photos from a few weeks back have been included in this roundup. Well done Tony ! As always, there is plenty to do so please CONTACT US if you are a DEPG member and would like to come along to help.

D1010 – the two leaf springs that provide the primary suspension for the inboard axle of the ‘B’ bogie were pictured along with their bearings at Williton on Saturday 31st August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the bearing fits inside the pocket at the bottom of the spring buckle and is free to rotate as the bogie negotiates curves in the track. The curved load bearing surface engages with a corresponding recess in the axle box and is faced with manganese steel for long life – and five of the six are in remarkably good condition. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 31st August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – which means that the sixth is not in good condition at all. This component – and the associated axle box – will require remedial work to restore the correct functionality. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 31st August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – curiously, this spring shows the date of manufacture as 8-75 which is proof that the loco either had a bogie change or a bogie repair at Laira some time after July 1975. Can you help us expand the detail in our loco timeline ? Pictured at Williton on Saturday 24th August 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – corrosion repairs to the first of the two cooler groups are progressing. Cutting open one of the weak sections revealed the extent of the damage. Pictured at Williton on Monday 16th August 2024 by Tony Austin  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the corroded steel has been cut out and replaced by new steel. This cooler group is now ready to turn over to allow repairs to take place on the other side. Pictured at Williton on Monday 16th August 2024 by Tony Austin  © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

We are still offering the SPONSOR A PATCH scheme where your name or message will be engraved into the metal of the loco body as acknowledgement of your donations to the D1010 RESTORATION FUND. We are a bit behind with the engraving but now that the loco body has been determined as safe to work on, we can resume the engraving and catch up. There is plenty more metal yet to be engraved, so GET YOUR SPONSORED PATCH BY CLICKING THIS LINK !

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities.

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco is now back at Williton where she will undergo maintenance and attention to minor faults that have been reported by the loco crews. The loco remains serviceable and could be called upon at short notice.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now outstationed at Minehead and will be in use on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September on the 10:00 service from Minehead and the associated 80-mile diagram on both days.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as covered previously, this loco received brake adjustment and an underframe inspection while over the pit at Minehead last Saturday, 31st August. The loco then returned to Williton to be made ready for her next booked duties, which will be on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September. 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was positioned over the pit at Minehead on Saturday 30th August 2024, ready for an underframe inspection and brake adjustment the following morning. Photo by Rich Hiscox © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – our ‘transmission team’ took a well-earned break last week, so our coverage of work on this loco will be paused until next week.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the engine work continues, with further dismantling of the engine block taking place while the preparation of the six replacement cylinder heads goes on in parallel. Meanwhile, John and Colin G continued their work on the cab restoration, with the re-fitting of the driver’s controller and reverser assemblies, one on each side of the desk in the cab.

D9518 – Colin G at work installing one of the two refurbished controller/reverser units into the driver’s desk at Williton on Saturday 30th August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – Colin G demonstrated the smooth and free motion of the fully refurbished power controller handle at Williton on Saturday 30th August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – and similarly on the other side of the cab. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 30th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is stabled at Williton, but a recent inspection revealed some issues that will cause the loco to be taken out of service for a month or two while remedial work takes place. The loco will need to go into the loco shed so that the engine bonnet can be removed to allow access to the turbocharger inlet bellows, which has split open. While the loco is in the shed, the opportunity will be taken to remove and replace the cylinder head seals and gaskets to try to resolve the persistent oil leaks that are making a nuisance of themselves. The loco will first be worked to Minehead to go over the pit for an underframe inspection, currently being planned for Saturday 21st September, entering the loco shed upon its return to Williton later that same day.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but is currently out of service because of a coolant leak from the liner of cylinder B3. Only one of the 12 cylinders appears to be affected, but further investigations will be carried out as part of the repair work. A subcontractor has been engaged to allow the work to proceed quickly, and the completion date is scheduled for early October.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently inside the loco shed on No. 2 road and remains fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: with the closedown news from PROJECT 22 that we reported last week, it is quite opportune that we have both volumes of Anthony Sayer’s detailed analysis of the Class 22s in stock and ready for those who want to learn more about these extinct machines. Even though they were often far from the top of the loco spotter’s list of favourites, they still have a right to exist and it is sad that not a single example of Classes 16, 21, 22, 29, 41 or 43 remain, a total of 164 main line locomotives that were built in Glasgow for BR by the North British Locomotive Company.

To find out more, consider purchasing VOLUMES 1 and 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

 

Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

 

DEPG CALENDAR 2025

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: staying with the Class 22 theme, we are delighted to report that regular contributor BARRY GAY has provided us with five more studies of the Class at work in Devon during their final years. The first photograph, below, was taken almost exactly 53 years ago and shows the very rare sight of a Class 22 passing one of the Class 25s that had been drafted in from the Midland Region to replace it. Here are Barry’s words on the subject:

     “On Saturday, September 11, D6334 comes down the yard at Exeter on the morning parcels from Barnstaple with 7 vans. On the left is Class 25 D7657 which had just arrived from D16 Nottingham Division for crew training at Exeter. The 25s took over the milk and parcels workings from the Class 22s in January 1972. “

Many thanks to Barry for sharing his photos with us all.

BR Type 2 diesel-electric Class 25 D7657 (25307, 25908), built under subcontract by Beyer Peacock in 1966, heads east while North British Locomotive Company Type 2 diesel-hydraulic Class 22 number D6334 heads west past Exeter St Davids station on a dismal Saturday 11th September 1971. The Class 25 was in use for crew training with the aim of replacing the Class 22s on the milk and parcels workings. The ’22’ was withdrawn just three weeks later and was cut up in April 1972. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG will take place at Williton on Saturday 7th September, starting at 1400. Formal AGM notices have been sent to all members according to their communication preferences (paper, paperless except newsletter or fully paperless). If you are a member, please do come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage locos and associated artefact collection.

Only fully paid-up members will be able to vote, so please make sure that you keep your membership account up to date. Thanks !

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

 

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

 

 

 

Diesels to the seaside – the classic summer scene on the West Somerset Railway. Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 crosses Lower Ker Moor after departing from Blue Anchor station with seven Mark 1 coaches in tow, en route to Dunster and Minehead. Pictured on Saturday 24th August 2024 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The early rainfall that gave us a wet and dull start to the weekend cleared by lunchtime and morphed into a wonderful summer Saturday afternoon, just right for a trip to the seaside behind Beyer Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7017 ! The loco was in fine form, making light work of the seven Mark 1 coaches that are typical of the peak summer season. The loco was in use again the following day and delivered another fine performance, marking her eighth appearance on public services this season.

The ‘Hymek’ will undergo an underframe exam and brake block adjustment at Minehead on Saturday 31st before running ‘light engine’ back to Williton where she will remain until her final rostered working of this season, the BLUE timetable diesel turns on Saturday and Sunday 21st/22nd September.

 

This coming weekend we will have both of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ in use with D6566 (33048) covering the diesel turn on Saturday, changing over to sister D6575 (33057) at Williton on the last leg of the journey back to Minehead. This loco swap is to allow D6566 to undergo some maintenance work at Williton to ensure that both locos retain their excellent record for reliability.

 

Visiting GWR ‘Castle’ Class HST (43155 leading, 43154 trailing) provided another classic WSR image when climbing past Castle Hill on the outskirts of Williton, cleanly and quietly, on her way to Bishops Lydeard. Pictured on Wednesday 14th August 2024 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

PROJECT 22 UPDATE

In March 2014, a group of like-minded people got together to set up ‘PROJECT 22‘ with the objective of building a NEW example of a class of locomotive that was not fortunate enough to be spared from the cutter’s torch – namely the NORTH BRITISH TYPE 2 DIESEL-HYDRAULIC, later to be known as Class 22. This ambitious project got off to a very good start and managed to acquire an engine of the correct type, in fact one that had previously been installed in Class 43 ‘Warship’ D850 ‘SWIFT’ !

However, the size of the task and the need for significant resources, both human and financial, proved too large for the relatively small number of enthusiasts who remembered these predominantly ‘West Country’ locos, so the lofty ideals could not be achieved. HATS OFF for trying though !

North British Type 2 Class 22 6356 was the penultimate of the 58 members of the class, entering service in September 1962. The loco was pictured at Exeter St Davids, where the type could often be seen on a wide range of duties until 1971 when the last four survivors of the class were culled. This loco only saw 9 years of service before being withdrawn as non-standard and surplus to requirements. Photo from the Project 22 collection © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Here’s a statement that has been provided to the DEPG by Richard Benyon of Project 22:

     “After 10 years, Project 22 has drawn to a close. The group’s aspiration to build a Class 22 failed, due to not being able to attract a management committee to take the project forward after many years of slow but steady technical design work and the collecting of components and assets which included a MAN engine number 220 last carried in a Warship. These assets have been protected should anyone come up with a plan to continue the project.

     It was felt that continuing to accept donations for a project that had almost come to a halt wasn’t practical, so all members were contacted and advised that the funds raised would be used to help other heritage railway projects in the form of donations to be split between the groups that had supported P22 in many ways over the years, namely:

• • The Western Locomotive Association
  • The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group
  • Bury Hydraulic Group
  • The Dean Forest Railway

     Over 10 years we have raised funds through donation and sales. We are very grateful to our members for many years of support and generosity and we are thankful that we can pass this generosity on to help these groups.”

     Project 22

 

As a direct result of the above, the DEPG has received a donation of £5,795 from Project 22 which has been allocated to the D1010 Restoration Fund as requested by the donor. Although it is sad to read that Project 22 has come to an end, the funds have been distributed for the continuance of diesel-hydraulic locomotive restoration elsewhere, and the DEPG very much appreciate being included in that distribution. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROJECT 22 !

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use this coming weekend 31st August and 1st September with Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ in charge, D6566 (33048) on Saturday and D6575 (33057) on Sunday, working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days.

We have added another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn and this loco will now work on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September with 80 miles of haulage available each day.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our ONLINE SHOP

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – some excellent progress has been made on the overhaul of the first of D1010‘s bogies, with volunteers David and Sid each providing four days of constant effort, plus a major effort from Martin, James and Karl on the Saturday. The ‘B’ bogie has now completed the third stage (see below) with all six primary springs having been lifted out. The general scheme of work is as follows, with status information added:

1. Remove the cardan shafts – completed on 10th August
2. Remove the brake rigging – completed on 24th August
3. Remove the primary springs – completed on 24th August
4. Remove the equalising beams and pedestals
5. Remove the secondary springs
6. Inspect the bogie frames, wheel bearings and gearboxes
7. Replace the torque reaction rubbers
8. Re-assemble using repaired or replacement parts as required.

Volunteer D1010 team member Ian F has resumed his work on the loco bodywork, his aim being to get as much done as possible before the weather turns, and Tony has the repairs to the cooler groups in hand with one assembly close to completion and treated to a coat of gloss by Julie on Friday 23rd. There’s plenty to do as always, so please CONTACT US if you are a DEPG member and would like to come along to help.

D1010 – Volunteers David and Sid took a break from dismantling the brake rigging on the ‘B’ bogie to do some therapeutic dirt scraping on the ‘A’ bogie outdoors at Williton on Wednesday 21st August 2024. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – volunteer guard and secondman James tackled the nuts on the primary suspension leaf springs that are hidden inside the bogie frame. Each of the six springs bears down directly onto an axle box. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 24th August 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – after much effort, all six primary suspension leaf springs were lifted out from the bogie and set aside for cleaning and inspection. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 24th August 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Meanwhile, Julie applied the top coat of ‘warning yellow’ (as left) to both fans of the repaired cooler group. These massive fans ensure that sufficient airflow passes through the cooler group to dissipate the heat from the engine, the intercoolers, the engine oil heat exchanger and the transmission fluid heat exchanger. Pictured at Williton on Friday 23rd August 2024 by Paul Tucker © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – volunteer Ian F took advantage of the good weather to get back to the massive task of preparing the bodywork of the loco for a repaint. He is working his way along every inch of the loco and we are very grateful for his commitment to the task. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 24th August 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

We are still offering the SPONSOR A PATCH scheme where your name or message will be engraved into the metal of the loco body as acknowledgement of your donations to the D1010 RESTORATION FUND. We are a bit behind with the engraving but now that the loco body has been determined as safe to work on, we can resume the engraving and catch up. There is plenty more metal yet to be engraved, so GET YOUR SPONSORED PATCH BY CLICKING THIS LINK !

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities.

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco has handled the role of Duty Loco and has been outstationed at Minehead throughout August. This loco will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday 31st August and will then change places with sister D6575 (33057) who will work the service on Sunday 1st September. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for additional dates.

D6566 (33048) was pictured at Crowcombe Heathfield on Sunday 18th August 2024 while working the last service of the day from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is Williton and is just awaiting the attention of the cleaning gang before returning to service. She will be changing places with her slightly older sister during the station stop at Williton, just after 5pm on Saturday 31st August.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as covered previously, this loco will be returning to Williton on Saturday 31st August to be made ready for her next booked duties, which will be on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September.

GWR 4-6-0 7812 ‘ERLESTOKE MANOR’ was pictured in the headshunt, alongside Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 at Minehead on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the careful work of re-assembly of the transmission continued, with the primary and secondary gear shaft assemblies being trial-fitted into the housing to check for the required dimensions and clearances. This work is laborious but is essential to ensuring that the transmission functions as intended, so it is time well spent. So far so good !

D7018 – the primary gear shaft assembly was lowered into the housing under the careful guidance of Geoff at Williton on Monday 19th August 2024. The helical teeth inside the shaft will engage with the output shaft from the torque converter at a later stage. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – a device was then made to set the required axial position of the primary gear shaft assembly so that the various clearances and tolerances could be measured along the length of the shaft. This is essential to ensure that everything will operate as it should when the rest of the assembly is added (by which time the opportunity to measure and adjust will have disappeared). Pictured at Williton on Monday 19th August 2024 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the major progress this week was with the engine overhaul, with the ‘turnover rig’ allowing relatively easy access to the camshaft that sits in the root of the V-shape between the two banks of cylinders. The camshaft was in good condition, the easily replaceable white metal bearing shells having sacrificed themselves to keep the camshaft rotating freely. The cylinder heads and valves are undergoing cleaning and re-profiling to ensure that the performance of the overhauled engine meets expectations.

Meanwhile, work done offsite by Colin G demonstrates both the degree of progress and the attention to detail, with the refurbishment of the driver’s controller/reverser handle assemblies now looking like they just came from the production line at the Brush Engineering factory, and almost ready to be re-installed and wired up by John. Well done team !

D9518 – the cylinder block of the Paxman ‘Ventura’ 6YJXL engine was rotated using the ‘turnover rig’ to allow access to the camshaft in the centre Vee space at Williton on Tuesday 20th August 2024. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the camshaft is mounted in the centre Vee space of the engine and runs in three plain bearings with a bushing at the free end. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 20th August 2024 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the 12-lobe camshaft is driven by the helical gear on the left of the shaft, which in turn meshes with the timing gear that is driven from the crankshaft. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 20th August 2024 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of the two refurbished controller/reverser units, complete with new parts for the Driver’s Safety Device (DSD) which comprises the white button at the end of the handle plus internal rods, springs and a microswitch that resets the DSD (power is cut and the brakes applied automatically if the DSD button is not held down). Detailed restoration work and photo dated 24th August 2024 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is waiting for her next job, which will hopefully be in September … (news will be posted on DIESEL RUNNING DATES and DIESELGEN pages).

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but is currently out of service because of a coolant leak from the liner of cylinder B3. Only one of the 12 cylinders appears to be affected, but further investigations will be carried out as part of the repair work. We hope to have reached agreement with the subcontractor and the NYMR during the next week or so, with the aim of getting the repair work completed by early October.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently inside the loco shed on No. 2 road and remains fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: with the closedown news from PROJECT 22 reported earlier, it is quite opportune that we have both volumes of Anthony Sayer’s detailed analysis of the Class 22s in stock and ready for those who want to learn more about these extinct machines. Even though they were far from the top of the loco spotter’s list of favourites, they still have a right to exist and it is sad that not a single example of Classes 16, 21, 22, 29, 41 or 43 remain, a total of 164 main line locomotives that were built in Glasgow for BR by the North British Locomotive Company.

To find out more, consider purchasing VOLUMES 1 and 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

 

Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

 

 

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: staying with the Class 22 theme of this roundup, we would welcome any photos of the Class that our readers could share, because our own archive is quite lacking in respect of the type. We do have this photo from regular contributor Barry Gay, and we first featured this photo in January 2022, but hopefully readers from those early days will excuse a repeat of this highly relevant capture. Many thanks to Barry for sharing his photo with us all.

North British Locomotive Company Type 2 diesel-hydraulic Class 22 number D6337 stands at Newton Abbot loco shed after being refuelled on the evening of 5th July 1971. This loco entered service at Newton Abbot on 13th March 1962 and was withdrawn on 21st October 1971 after a short operational life of less than 10 years. The loco was broken up at Swindon Works in May of 1972.  Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. Formal AGM notices have been sent to all members according to their communication preferences (paper, paperless except newsletter or fully paperless). Please make a note of this date and please do come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage locos and associated artefact collection.

Only fully paid-up members will be able to vote, so please make sure that you keep your membership account up to date ! Thanks !

A Board Meeting will be held at Williton on Saturday 31st August, so please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM if you are a member and have any questions that you would like to place before the board.

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

 

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

Saturday 15th June 2024 and Minehead had a distinctly diesel feel about it as the WSR’s Class 115 DMU was stabled alongside Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) while the crew of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 changed ends to run back onto the stock to form the 14:30 departure to Bishops Lydeard. Photo by Carolyn Nation © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The weather seems to have gone downhill since the blue sky days of June depicted in the photo above, but apart from that, ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be working from Minehead again this weekend as the loco is operating the diesel turn of the BLUE TIMETABLE on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August. The ‘Crompton’ is currently at Williton but sister loco D6566 (33048) is stabled at Minehead, whereas the DMU is currently stabled at Bishops Lydeard for use on the midweek YELLOW TIMETABLE, sharing duties with the GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST. There’s plenty of diesel action and variety on the WSR these days !

 

DEPG Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was sharing the siding at Westridge, Bishops Lydeard with visiting GWR HST ‘Castle’ set 43154 & 43155 when pictured on Tuesday 6th August 2024. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use this coming weekend 24th/25th August when Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 will be working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days.

Mid-week throughout August, the DMU will be operating the 11:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 15:25 return diesel service under the YELLOW timetable on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST will be operating the diesel service on WEDNESDAY 28th August. It is well worth a visit to ride on these heritage machines – the HSTs are not far off from being 50 years of age and can only be found on public mainline services in Scotland or in the Far West, between Exeter and Penzance.

We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on Saturday 21st September with 80 miles of haulage available, with one of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ in use on most weekends from late August through to end of September. We are currently looking into further running opportunities for September and October and will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin ASAP.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

Williton signal box on 9th September 2023 during the WSR’s ‘1940s’ event – which takes place again on Sat/Sun 14/15th September this year. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go to our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our ONLINE SHOP

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – feeling much more confident after the findings of the initial bogie inspection, our volunteers have pushed ahead with the dismantling of the brake rigging so that each component can be cleaned and inspected, and either repaired, replaced or simply repainted and set aside for re-fitting at a later stage. Some very large and very tight nuts remain to be removed by more persuasive means, and then we will be moving on to the removal of the primary leaf springs and the associated spring hangers and equalising beams. We are expecting these parts to be heavily worn with some in need of replacement, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. The general scheme of work is as follows:

1. Remove the cardan shafts
2. Remove the brake rigging
3. Remove the primary springs
4. Remove the equalising beams and pedestals
5. Remove the secondary springs
6. Inspect the bogie frames, wheel bearings and gearboxes
7. Replace the torque reaction rubbers
8. Re-assemble using repaired or replacement parts as required.

 

Work has re-commenced on the bodywork repairs and repainting to get this work done while still possible outdoors, and work continues on the cooler groups with one undergoing re-assembly during the next few weeks. There’s plenty to do as always, so please CONTACT US if you are a DEPG member and would like to come along to help.

D1010 – looking down onto the ‘B’ bogie which has now been moved inside the loco shed at Williton to undergo further dismantling and cleaning. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – a view of the inboard end of the ‘B’ bogie with the two Maybach engines from the loco still on the oversize trolley on the right. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – one of the access platforms was rigged up alongside the loco body at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 so that rubbing down, filling and painting could continue. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – Thomas finds that there is plenty to be done inside the loco, especially now that there is so much space to get to components that are normally inaccessible, such as the compressor on the far right. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the view through the engine bays from the ‘B’ end with the light coming through the cab door at the ‘A’ end, revealing a huge space that needs cleaning and painting. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

We are still offering the SPONSOR A PATCH scheme where your name or message will be engraved into the metal of the loco body as acknowledgement of your donations to the D1010 RESTORATION FUND. We are a bit behind with the engraving but now that the loco body has been determined as safe to work on, we can resume the engraving and catch up. There is plenty more metal yet to be engraved, so GET YOUR SPONSORED PATCH BY CLICKING THIS LINK !

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities.

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco has the role of Duty Loco and is outstationed at Minehead throughout August. This loco will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for additional dates.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is Williton and is just awaiting the attention of the cleaning gang before she can be returned to service, changing places with her slightly older sister when an opportunity arises.

D6575 (33057) and ‘Hymek’ D7018 were stabled on No. 2 and No. 3 roads respectively when pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is in good shape and is ready for her next booked duties, which will be on Saturday and Sunday 24/25th August and again on Saturday 21st September. The loco received maintenance attention from well-known DEPG media celebrity NEIL before being started up and used to shunt the yard.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was the platform of choice for Neil to show off his dazzling new overalls, complete with GOLD BR double-arrow logos. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the re-assembly of the transmission continues with the careful checking and double-checking that is the hallmark of the ‘transmission team’ under the leadership of Colin F. This week’s progress involved the placing of the clutch operating forks and the secondary shaft into the housings, all done with great care and attention to the specified clearances and tolerances. Well done team !

On the loco itself, volunteer engineer Thomas was set the challenge of barring over the engine, which first involved arranging for the cardan shaft to be supported so that the bar could be engaged without the shaft being constrained by the transmission that is usually attached to it ! Needless to say, the job was soon done and the engine rotated freely and with no cause for concern.

D7018 – the internal oilways of the Stone-Maybach ‘Mekydro’ k184u hydro-mechanical transmission were checked for cleanliness by the gentle application of compressed air. Volunteer Tim carried out the checks on the lower half of the gearbox casing at Williton on Wednesday 14th August 2024. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – the six clutch selector forks were installed and checked for free movement by volunteer Tim at Williton on Wednesday 14th August 2024. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – the geartrain secondary shaft was lowered into position with great care and under the watchful eye of volunteer Tim at Williton on Wednesday 14th August 2024. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – the output from the engine is transmitted to the input shaft of the transmission via this enormous cardan shaft. Arrangements had to be made to support this shaft so that the engine could be ‘barred over’ (rotated manually with the help of a long steel bar) to keep it free and allow oil to be passed through it. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – the space normally occupied by the transmission, with the engine cardan shaft dominating the view on the left side and one of the bogie drive shafts visible in the lower right of the photo. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the new Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) was wired up to the control cubicle and battery charging diode on Saturday 17th August, the job being carried out by John in his usual careful and professional style. Some more pipework was subjected to refurbishment and was hanging on the loco to dry, showing that parts continue to come to light and they invariably need cleaning, inspection, repair and repainting. The progress on the engine overhaul continues, mostly on Tuesdays, so we hope to have photos of that work next week.

D9518 – the white-painted Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) is visible in this view of the cab assembly at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024, with the wiring now connected and made tidy. The item in the orange housing to the right is the battery charging diode and heat sink. This area is hidden from view when the loco is in service. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – some refurbished pieces of pipework were found to be hanging on the loco at Williton on Saturday 17th August 2024, no doubt drying after receiving the attention of Colin G and his spray gun. There is always something to be done on a major overhaul project. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is stabled at Williton and is waiting for her next job, which will hopefully be in September … (news will be posted on DIESEL RUNNING DATES and DIESELGEN pages).

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has recently undergone repairs to a corroded silencer and the replacement of the turbo inlet bellows. Before going back into service, the loco was due for an oil change, but coolant was found in the sump and this triggered an investigation into the source of the leak. The engine oil heat exchanger checked out OK so the crankcase covers were removed … and cylinder B3 was found to be leaking from the cylinder liner. This has to be corrected before the loco can go back into service, so arrangements are being made for the work to be done under subcontract so that the loco can go back to work before the end of this season. More news next week.

47077 – the arrow points to a droplet of coolant that has leaked past the seal in the liner of cylinder B3 of her Sulzer twin-bank engine. This must be corrected before the loco can return to service. Image from a video clip dated 15th August 2024 by Josh Smith © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco was started up last Saturday and checked over, to keep her in good condition. As respite from the attention of the seagulls, she has been moved into the loco shed for a while, which will give us a chance to clean her up and give her some TLC. The loco remains fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) is now inside the loco shed at Williton, and was pictured on Saturday 17th August 2024 as Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) looked on with envy. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: this week, we continue to offer VOLUMES 1 and 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

These curious beasts were designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in the late 1950s and soon gained a reputation for unreliability and erratic performance that was not helped by their builder going into liquidation in 1962. Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

NOTE: We can supply many other titles from Pen & Sword or Platform 5 upon request. Please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you would like us to be offering from our online store. Thanks !

 

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: last week, we featured this photo from the collection of DEPG Publicity Officer, volunteer and secondman MARK BLADWELL, with our very own Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 alongside a Class 25 at Bristol Bath Road shed. This photo was taken shortly after the loco had been restricted to freight and engineering duties by the loss of her train heating capability.

The caption last week implied that the boiler had been removed, but this was not the case – it had simply been isolated (made inoperative) so that it would not have to be maintained in the last months of the life of the loco.

DEPG Treasurer PAUL TUCKER immediately responded with a photo of an article that was carried in issue 382 of RAILWAY WORLD magazine in which the early days story of our two ‘Hymeks’ was told. We hope to feature this in more detail soon, but we will need permission which takes a little time to obtain. Meanwhile, here’s the photo from last week and the photo from Railway World below, showing that the boiler was in fact lifted out of the loco at Washford on the WSR on 18th December 1977 !

We thank Mark for sharing his photo with us all and Paul for bringing the boiler story to our attention.

 

Pictured at Bristol Bath Road shed on 29th March 1974, our very own Class 35 ‘Hymek’ 7017 was in the company of Class 25 7511 (25161) the ‘Hymek’ having been withdrawn but reinstated minus her train heat capability, therefore banished to working freight and engineering trains until the end of her mainline career. Photo by Mark Bladwell © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Preserved Class 35 ‘Hymek’ 7017 had her boiler lifted out at Washford on the West Somerset Railway on 18th December 1977.  The above photo was accompanied by a very interesting article in RAILWAY WORLD magazine, issue 382 (summer 1978). Photo by The Diesel and Electric Group © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. Formal AGM notices have been sent to all members according to their communication preferences (paper, paperless except newsletter or fully paperless). Please make a note of this date and please do come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage locos and associated artefact collection.

Only fully paid-up members will be able to vote, so please make sure that you keep your membership account up to date ! Thanks !

A Board Meeting will be held at Williton on Saturday 31st August, so please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM if you are a member and have any questions that you would like to place before the board.

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

 

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

After putting in some sterling service on the brake van rides at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren throughout the previous weekend, our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was used to return the ‘Quantock Belle‘ dining set to Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 6th August 2024. Pictured on the double track section at Norton Bridge by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

DEPG stablemate Class 09 D4107 (09019) shunted the goods train at Bishops Lydeard so that D9526 could then provide the motive power to return the steadily-growing collection of refurbished vintage freight vehicles to Minehead. Pictured at Westridge Sidings, Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 6th August 2024 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The tidy up operation that followed the previous week’s WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren involved two DEPG locos. The tasks of returning the ‘Quantock Belle‘ and the vintage goods train to their regular stabling points fell to Class 09 Shunter D4107 (09019) and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, the latter working through to Minehead then returning to Williton ‘Light Engine’ to await her next tour of duty. Well done to the locos and to the crews who manned the locos while on their special duties.

 

Mainline Rail Tour works through to Minehead:

D6566 (33048) waits with the afternoon departure for Bishops Lydeard while celebrity ‘Black Five’ 44871 (4871) runs around its stock before preparing to return the ‘West Somerset Express’ to Paddington. Pictured at Minehead on 10th August 2024 by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Adding to an already interesting week, celebrity Stanier ‘Black Five’ 44871 and West Coast Class 47 47812 (D1916, 47239, 47657) worked through to Minehead on Saturday 10th August, with a mainline charter from Paddington. The combination of the ‘mixed traffic’ steam loco with its diesel ‘assistant’ made for some great viewing and brought the photographers out in force.

See the picture page of the wsr.org.uk page by clicking on this link.

Discernible only from the distant smoke trail, celebrity ‘Black Five’ 44871 (4871) accelerates out of Williton on the return leg of the ‘West Somerset Express’ with West Coast Railway Co Class 47 47812 (D1916, 47239, 47657) at the rear, to provide the insurance and some occasional help. BR(W) 4-6-0 7828 ‘ODNEY MANOR’ waits for the token with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) also visible alongside. Pictured at Williton on 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

As if this wasn’t enough, the WSR excelled mid-week by fielding their Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) on the diesel diagram of the peak season Yellow timetable on Tuesday and Thursday, but with the visiting GWR ‘Castle’ class HST running on the Wednesday. This pattern will continue throughout August, so try and get along to the railway to ride behind one or other or both of these iconic trains. Both have their plus points – the traditional environment and views from the DMU versus the quiet, smooth and air-conditioned comfort of the HST ! Many thanks to the volunteer GWR crews and support teams who are working alongside their WSR counterparts to deliver this HST experience !

The GWR ‘Castle’ class HST is in use on the diesel diagram of the Yellow timetable on Wednesdays throughout August. Power car 43155 was pictured approaching Dunster crossing on 7th August 2024 with 43154 at the rear. Photo by Dunster Info © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use this coming weekend 17th/18th August when Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) will be working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days.

Mid-week throughout August, the DMU will be operating the 11:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 15:25 return diesel service under the YELLOW timetable on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST will be operating the diesel service on WEDNESDAYS. It is well worth a visit to ride on these heritage machines – the HSTs are not far off from being 50 years of age and can only be found on the mainline in Scotland or in the Far West, beyond Exeter.

We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of the August Bank Holiday weekend and again on SATURDAY 21st September with 80 miles of haulage available each day.

Apologies, but contrary to previous information, we are not able to support a ‘Hymek’ running day on Sunday 22nd September so a Class 33 ‘Crompton’ will be hauling the train instead. We are currently looking into further options for September’s running and will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin ASAP.

 

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go tour DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our online shop

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – some excellent news – the bogies and underframe of D1010 have been inspected by subject matter expert PAUL KOCH who pronounced several aspects as ‘the best he has seen so far’ and this bodes well for the speedy return of the loco to heritage railway service. Of course, there is always the risk of the unexpected and we have lot more disassembly to do yet, but it is very encouraging to receive such good reports on the parts removed so far.

The notoriously troublesome traction thrust brackets and their mountings under the loco were expected to need repairs, but those on D1010 show no signs of damage, just the wear to the rubbing surfaces that would be expected from the accumulation of mileage over the years. The cardan shafts appear to be in good condition, but they will all be sent out for specialist inspection and balancing. The intermediate gearboxes turn freely and silently, but will be inspected internally before pronouncing a verdict. So far, so good.

Meanwhile, Gordon and the team pressed ahead with the removal of the brake rigging on the ‘B’ bogie so that the bushes and pins could be inspected and replaced if necessary. On board the loco body, Paul T and Graham installed scaffolding boards in the underframe apertures that are normally occupied by the transmissions, so that our D1010 volunteers can resume work inside the loco body without risk. All in all, a great deal of progress with help coming from multiple directions, all of which is very much appreciated !

D1010 – one of the traction thrust brackets with the damper still attached and both wear pads from the ‘B’ bogie were gathered on a pallet for cleaning and detailed inspection. There are no causes for concern. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – one of the heavy duty arms that transfers the force from the brake cylinder (already removed) to the brake rigging for the centre axle was pictured in situ at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – on the other side of the bogie, Steve applied some gentle persuasion to the other arm to help it clear the close fitting mounting bracket as Gordon held it level. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – DEPG chairman Martin (left) comments that it is good to see Gordon smiling again as he acknowledges the rapid progress being made on the bogie overhaul work at Williton. Pictured on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – a famous meme from the days of WW2 comes to mind as Graham works inside the loco (with Paul T, out of the picture), laying scaffold boards in the transmission apertures. This is a safety measure to protect our volunteers but also doubles as a security measure for the protection of the loco. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities, as covered this week in the opening photos.

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco has the role of Duty Loco and is outstationed at Minehead throughout August. This loco will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend, 17th/18th August. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for additional dates.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has returned to Williton to undergo scheduled maintenance, receiving an underframe steam cleaning in the capable hands of volunteer loco manager Ian R on Saturday 10th. This loco will also receive attention to her rocker cover gaskets, some of which are leaking oil and make a mess on the cylinder heads!

D6575 (33057) – this loco was the target for the steam cleaner at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024. Also cleaned were the massive transmission output cardan shafts from D1010, to tidy them up before shipping them out for specialist inspection and balancing. Also in the picture are D9526, D7017 and Barclay 578 (ROF 1). Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is in good shape and is ready for her next booked duties, which will be on Saturday and Sunday 24/25th August and again on Saturday 21st September.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the re-assembly of the transmission has now begun in earnest, with a ‘bottom up’ approach commencing with the output shaft at the very bottom of the transmission. This heavy-duty component is in very good condition, but the housing that holds it was severely cracked and had to be replaced with a spare from our stock. The repair of this transmission is the subject of extensive study and debating with three of the key knowledge holders pictured while at Williton on Monday 5th August.

D7018 – left to right, Martin, Paul K and Colin F study a giant-sized drawing depicting the internal layout of the Stone-Maybach ‘Mekydro’ k184u hydro-mechanical transmission. Pictured in the messroom at Williton on Monday 5th August 2024 by Kay Koch © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – the transmission output shaft shown resting in the lower half of the casing at Williton on Monday 5th August 2024. Photo by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D7018 – volunteer Pete S was lying down on the job to tackle the big bolts that secure the lower part of the housing to the mid section housing. Pictured at Williton on Tuesday 6th August 2024 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

     

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the new Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) was fitted into the cab of the loco on Saturday 10th August and the wire path lengths measured so that new wiring can be installed to complete the job. The adjacent fuse and diode housing will need to be removed again to allow the internal cab panelling to be completed, but it will all fit together nicely when the moment comes.

The AVR is an example of the few instances where the original equipment on the loco is not being refurbished and refitted to the loco, but this is in the interest of protecting the authentic items of electrical equipment throughout the loco and is DEPG policy. The AVR is mounted on a bracket that is attached to the inside cab bulkhead and is fully enclosed when the loco is in operation, so it will not detract from the authenticity of the locomotive when returned to service – but it will make it more reliable and reduce the risk of damage to the electrical equipment on board the loco.

D9518 – the white-painted Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) is visible in this view of the cab assembly at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024, with Colin G holding the conduit cover in the general position to show how it will all look when completed. This area is hidden from view when the loco is in service. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – the white-painted Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) fits under a shelf and behind a cab door. The control cubicle is to the left and the battery charging diode and fuse is in the orange housing to the right. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco was kept busy last week, as already mentioned above. The loco is now stabled at Williton and is waiting for her next job !

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has had to be withdrawn from service for a while to allow repairs to made to the corroded silencer. The work is in progress and the loco should be back in service before the end of this season.

47077 – the new leather bellows has now been fitted to the air inlet side of the turbocharger. This replaces the severely cracked and disintegrating part that was in there previously. Pictured at Grosmont on Saturday 10th August 2024 by Pete Dawson © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – stabled outdoors on number 1 road, this loco is fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: this week, we continue to offer VOLUME 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

These curious beasts were designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in the late 1950s and soon gained a reputation for unreliability and erratic performance that was not helped by their builder going into liquidation in 1962. Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

NOTE: We can supply many other titles from Pen & Sword or Platform 5 upon request. Please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you would like us to be offering from our online store. Thanks !

 

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image above to GET YOUR COPY – WHILE STOCKS LAST – for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: this week, we draw upon the collection of DEPG Publicity Officer, volunteer and secondman MARK BLADWELL, with a shot of our very own Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 alongside a Class 25 at Bristol Bath Road shed. The good thing about this shed is that it was easily observed from the platforms of the adjacent Bristol Temple Meads station, but the bad thing was that so many locos were so close, but just too far away to identify. In this particular case, the locos were positioned conveniently and Mark was easily able to record the details. We thank Mark for sharing his photo with us all.

Pictured at Bristol Bath Road shed on 29th March 1974, our very own Class 35 ‘Hymek’ 7017 was in the company of Class 25 7511 (25161) the ‘Hymek’ having been withdrawn but reinstated minus her train heat boiler, therefore banished to working freight and engineering trains until the end of her mainline career. What a lucky break ! Photo by Mark Bladwell © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. Formal AGM notices have been sent to all members according to their communication preferences (paper, paperless except newsletter or fully paperless). Please make a note of this date and please do come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage locos and associated artefact collection.

Only fully paid-up members will be able to vote, so please make sure that you keep your membership account is up to date. Click on the link further below to check on your membership status or use our CONTACT FORM to ask the question. Thanks !

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

 

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

 

 

 

This drone image, looking south, shows just some of the static display areas at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren. The Bristol to Exeter main line is visible in the upper left and just inside that is what remains of the former Barnstaple branch, with our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 standing at ‘Holmes Halt’ with two brake vans in tow. Pictured on Sunday 4th August 2024 by Chris Haig © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Looking North-East, this image shows the main display arena with the military vehicles positioned and ready for their parade. Just beyond that, the four maroon Mark 1 coaches of the ‘Quantock Belle‘ dining train are stabled in the bay at Norton Fitzwarren platform. Pictured on Sunday 4th August 2024 by Chris Haig © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

The WSRA’s STEAM RALLY took place at Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday and Sunday 3rd/4th August and was a BIG SUCCESS with fine weather and plenty of visitors to appreciate the many and varied machines that were put through their paces in the arena, and those that were on static display all around the huge site. Overall, an excellent day out with something for everyone, so WELL DONE to the team at the WSRA for organising such a tremendous event !

The BRAKE VAN RIDES along the remains of the Barnstaple branch were hauled by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 and were very popular as always, and the shuttle service between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren platform was provided for the use of show-goers and operated by the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU).

For more photos of the STEAM RALLY, click on this link to the wsr.org.uk website.

 

The WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) was in use on the shuttle services between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August 2024. Pictured from the sought-after front passenger seat position, the DMU was running alongside the GWR ‘Castle’ class HST that is being stored at Westridge on the WSR. Photo by Steven Beale © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Elsewhere on the railway, the weekend diesel turns of the BLUE timetable were worked by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) for most of the Saturday but the locos were changed over at Williton on the last leg of the ‘down’ journey so that sister loco D6566 (33048) could take up the role of Duty Loco and work the Sunday turn, allowing D6575 (33057) to stay at Williton to receive scheduled maintenance.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) took over the 16:35 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service after changing places with sister loco D6575 (33057) during the Williton station stop, allowing the latter to undergo scheduled maintenance. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024 by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use on the weekend of 10th/11th August when Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) will be working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days.

Mid-week during August, the DMU will be operating the 11:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 15:25 return diesel service under the YELLOW timetable on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the GWR ‘Castle Class’ HST will be operating the diesel service on WEDNESDAYS. It is well worth a visit to ride on these heritage machines – the HSTs are not far off from being 50 years of age and can only be found in mainline use in Scotland, Devon and Cornwall.

We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on the Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of the August Bank Holiday weekend and again on 21st/22nd September, with 80 miles of haulage available each day. We are currently looking into the options for October running and will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin ASAP.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running. 

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go tour DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our online shop

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the dismantling work on the ‘B’ bogie is progressing well, with the first of the 12 brake hangers removed for cleanup and inspection at Williton last Saturday. There is still a huge amount of dirt and grime still firmly attached to the bogies, representing 50 years of accumulation, all of which must be painstakingly removed by our team of once-clean volunteers. This is a dirty job – but someone has to do it !

WELL DONE to all of our volunteers for tackling the dirt and grime and getting this work done !

D1010 – volunteer Steve continued the task of scraping the encrusted dirt and grime from the intermediate gearbox of the ‘B’ bogie at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – working on the opposite side of the intermediate gearbox on ‘B’ bogie, volunteer Ian F tackled the details around the inboard output flange. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the brake rigging on the leading axle of the ‘B’ bogie was disconnected by Leroy and the parts marked up for cleaning and inspection. All of the bushes and pins will be inspected and re-used or replaced as necessary. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the leading axle of the ‘B’ bogie with the brake hanger removed for cleaning and inspection. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the brake rigging on the leading axle of the ‘B’ bogie has been disconnected, allowing the leading brake shoe to hang free. All of the removed components will be cleaned then thoroughly inspected and repaired or replaced, as necessary. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The Neil McCannon Show

We are very grateful to the many volunteers and supporters who have provided us with photos and video footage of D1010’s lifting, and we will be putting these together in a YouTube video on the DEPG channel as soon as we can. Meanwhile, there are five videos available on our public Facebook account, which is visible to all, even to those who ‘don’t do Facebook‘, by simply clicking on the links below (cancel any requests to log in to Facebook by clicking on ‘x’ or pressing ‘esc’):

Video clip 1 : Engines out !

Video clip 2 : Neil McCannon explains what is going to be taking place

Video clip 3 : Neil McCannon explains what is taking place

Video clip 4 : Neil McCannon explains what has taken place

Video clip 5 : Neil McCannon explains the most important takeaway

 

All of the above videos were taken from a position of safety by and posted on social media by DEPG volunteer, Natalie Royal.

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

      

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities, including the loading and unloading of visiting locomotives (there has been a lot of that going on recently!).

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – As already mentioned, this loco has now taken up the role of Duty Loco and will be outstationed at Minehead throughout August. This loco will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend, 10th/11th August. See our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for additional dates.

D6566 (33048) – the loco was prepared for action by DEPG media superstar, trustee, volunteer and driver Neil at Williton on Saturday 3rd August 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco has returned to Williton to undergo scheduled maintenance. This loco will also receive attention to her rocker cover gaskets, some of which have decided to leak oil and make a mess on the cylinder heads below !

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco underwent some scheduled maintenance to make sure that she remains in good shape for her next booked duties, which will be on Saturday and Sunday 24/25th August and again on 21/22nd September.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the ‘good spare’ transmission has now been extensively robbed of good parts, and the damaged parts from D7018 have been used to fill the gaps, so we now have a ‘parts spare’ which contains some good parts and some parts that will need repair if they are ever to be used again. Putting them back in the damaged housings allows us to keep all of the parts together and protected for possible future reference or use.

Work continued on the preparation of the parts that will be used for the rebuild of D7018’s transmission, the first focus being to perform dye penetrant testing on the cast steel housings to identify and evaluate any cracks or other anomalies.

No photos this week, but re-assembly has begun and photos will be available next week.

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the activities involving sister loco D9526 took some effort away from this project during the last week, but progress was made on the electrical wiring in the cab, with the fitting of the mounting bracket for the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) and the preparation of the wiring that will attach to the AVR.

The original design of AVR was based on the ‘carbon pile’ principle in which a cylinder of carbon is compressed electro-mechanically to bring about a change in resistance that in turn regulates the voltage from the generator. This technology was not very reliable and is now obsolete, the work now being done by modern electronics instead. The main benefit is that the electrical equipment on the loco is much less likely to be damaged through improper voltage regulation than was the case previously.

The AVR is an example of the few instances where the original equipment on the loco is not being refurbished and refitted to the loco, but this is in the interest of preserving the authentic items of equipment throughout the loco and is DEPG policy. The AVR is mounted on a bracket that is attached to the inside cab bulkhead, so it is not prominent and will not detract from the authenticity of the locomotive when returned to service – but it will make it more reliable and reduce the risk of damage to the electrical equipment on board the loco.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco was kept busy last weekend at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY and was in use again a few days later on a goods train working to Minehead. More details on this in the next roundup.

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has had to be withdrawn from service for a while to allow repairs to made to the corroded silencer. The work is in progress and the loco should be back in service before the end of this season.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – stabled outdoors on number 1 road, this loco is fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: this week, we have another new book on offer: VOLUME 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

These curious beasts were designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in the late 1950s and soon gained a reputation for unreliability and erratic performance that was not helped by their builder going into liquidation in 1962. Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

NOTE: We can supply many other titles from Pen & Sword or Platform 5 upon request. Please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you would like us to be offering from our online store. Thanks !

 

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image below to GET YOUR COPY NOW for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: and now for something completely different – the annual Running Day event at the Derwent Valley Light Railway at Murton Park, York, brought several examples of ex-BR and industrial shunting locos out from hiding in their sheds and allowed visitors unlimited rides behind the operable members of the collection. The event was attended by long-time DEPG member and regular ‘Roundup’ contributor NEALE LONG who reported having a very enjoyable time and sent several photos, two of which are included below. MANY THANKS to Neale for sharing his photos with us all.

Class 03 shunter 03079 (D2079, 97805) was built at Doncaster in 1960 and entered service at Thornaby depot in January of that year. This little loco served on BR until 1996, spending 23 years in the northeast before finishing her career at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Pictured in ex-works condition on the Derwent Valley Light Railway on Friday 26th July 2024 by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Drewry DC2164 became WD 37 when sent to Egypt on active service in 1941. This little loco has had a very interesting life – read about it by following this link. Pictured in ex-works condition on the Derwent Valley Light Railway on Friday 26th July 2024 by Neale Long © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. We will be sending formal AGM notices to all members during the coming week. Please make a note of this date and please do come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage locos and associated artefact collection.

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post

 

 

 

 

This image, captured from the Williton Station webcam on Wednesday 24th July reflects the rich variety on the railway scene in the 1960s and now preserved on the WSR, with no less than EIGHT classes of diesel in view – Left to right, Barclay 578 (ROF1), Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018, Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048), Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’, Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit, Class 03 D2133 and, in the distance, the diminutive Ruston 48. Image by Railcam UK and the WSR ©

 

The WSR held their very successful ‘GRANGE, HALL and MANOR‘ event last weekend, with an enhanced all-steam timetable that included the welcome sight of a goods train that included several of the vehicles that have recently been refurbished by the wagon groups at Minehead and Williton. As Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was due to return to Williton from Minehead on Saturday (her next booked working is 24/25th August) and there were no paths available, the ‘Hymek’ hitched a ride on the back of the 10:00 steam-hauled service and detached at Williton, waiting in the platform for the next ‘down’ working to pass before swapping places with Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) and Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 in the yard.

After arriving on the rear of the 10:00 Minehead departure, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 waited patiently at the far end of Platform 2 at Williton for visiting ‘celebrity’ new-build 6880 ‘BETTON GRANGE’ to depart with a train for Minehead. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

A yard shunt was required to get the locos in the correct order for their next duties, so ‘Hymek’ D7017 had to wait for Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) to haul Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 out from the yard to take up a position alongside Platform 1. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

Our locos will next be in use on the weekend of 3rd/4th August when a Class 33 will be working the 10:00 departures and subsequent 80-mile diagrams from Minehead on both days, and also in support of the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY that will take place at Norton Fitzwarren, with BRAKE VAN RIDES being hauled by Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526. There will also be a shuttle service in operation between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren plaform for the use of show-goers, and this is booked to be operated by the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) this year (Click here for the shuttle timetable pdf).

We have set another date for Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 to haul the BLUE timetable diesel turn on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of the August Bank Holiday weekend and again on 21st/22nd September, with 80 miles of haulage available each day. We are currently looking into further options for September’s running and will be sending out a DIESELGEN bulletin ASAP.

Keep an eye on our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for details of diesel-hauled public services and sign up to our DIESELGEN email bulletin service to get advance notice of non-public service running.

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS on the WSR (click on the links below for more details):

Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th August – the WSRA Steam Rally at Norton Fitzwarren.

Above: The WSRA’s 2024 STEAM RALLY site plan

Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th September – The Forties event

 

 

Click here to join the DEPG

Click here to go tour DIESEL RUNNING DATES page

Click here to go to our online shop

Click here to support D1010

Thank you very much for your support !

 

 

THE CLASS 14s at 60 EVENT:

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) in Derbyshire hosted a very special event last weekend, to commemorate 60 years of the Class 14s, the first of which (D9500) entered service on the 24th July 1964 at Bristol Bath Road shed. Affectionately known as ‘Teddy Bears’, the class had a short life on BR but most were sold in batches to industrial users such as the National Coal Board (NCB) and the  British Steel Corporation (BSC), some going to other places singly, such as Blue Circle Cement at Westbury in the case of our own D9526.

The ’14s at 60′ event featured SEVEN active members of the class, all of which were coupled together and used to haul a jam-packed special working marketed as the ‘BEAR-EX’. This massively over-powered special was inspired by the nonuple-headed (OK, I admit that I had to look up the word for nine!) working on the East Lancs Railway for the 50th anniversary (which should have been decuple-headed but one loco failed!).

Well done to the EVR for hosting a very successful event that showed the strength of the following for these ever-popular Swindon-built diesel-hydraulics !

A line-up of SEVEN Class 14 ‘Teddy Bears’ was used to haul the ‘BEAR-EX’ special on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR) over the long weekend of 25-28th July. From the front, the locos are D9523, D9529, D9551, D9525, D9504, D9553 and D9537. Photo dated 27th July 2024 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the dismantling work on the ‘B’ bogie is picking up pace, with the disconnection of two of the three cardan shafts and the ‘excavation’ of the piles of dirt that had accumulated in the non-accessible areas of the bogie frame during the 50+ years since the bogies were last overhauled. At least one of the cardan shafts exhibited a degree of wear that is likely to result in replacement, so we have to brace ourselves for some hefty repair charges (there are 12 cardan shafts on the loco in total).

In parallel to the bogie work, the overhaul of the first of the two cooler groups made further progress, with the gloss paint being applied over the many layers of primer and undercoat. WELL DONE to all of our volunteers for facing the dirt and grime and getting the work done !

D1010 – after removal of the centre cardan shaft, the inner frame voids of the ‘B’ bogie were ‘excavated’ by Bob and the team at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – the cardan shaft between the intermediate gearbox and the final drive unit of the leading axle remains in place on the ‘B’ bogie, at least for the time being. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – two of the cardan shafts from the ‘B’ bogie were removed for cleaning and inspection, and possibly repair or replacement. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – an unusual view from the inside of the cooler group as the gloss paint is applied after months of preparation. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – looking from the other side, the cooling fans are going yellow, which came as a surprise to some ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The Neil McCannon Show

We are very grateful to the many volunteers and supporters who have provided us with photos and video footage of D1010’s lifting, and we will be putting these together in a YouTube video on the DEPG channel as soon as we can. Meanwhile, there are five videos available on our public Facebook account, which is visible to all, even to those who ‘don’t do Facebook‘, by simply clicking on the links below (cancel any requests to log in to Facebook by clicking on ‘x’ or pressing ‘esc’):

Video clip 1 : Engines out !

Video clip 2 : Neil McCannon explains what is going to be taking place

Video clip 3 : Neil McCannon explains what is taking place

Video clip 4 : Neil McCannon explains what has taken place

Video clip 5 : Neil McCannon explains the most important takeaway

 

All of the above videos were taken from a position of safety by and posted on social media by DEPG volunteer, Natalie Royal.

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to the D1010 Restoration Fund and support the repair work that is taking place right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

     

 

 

Class 09 D4107 (09019) – this loco is based at Bishops Lydeard and is in regular use in support of WSR activities, including the loading and unloading of visiting locomotives (there has been a lot of that going on recently!).

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco remains at Williton (fully serviceable) but will probably change places with sister D6575 (33057) during the coming weeks.

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is based at Minehead and will be in use on the BLUE timetable on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – as already stated, this loco returned to Williton from Minehead on Saturday 27th July. The ‘Hymek’ will undergo minor maintenance work while waiting for her next booked working, which will be on Saturday and Sunday 24/25th August and again on 21/22nd September.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the required parts have now been harvested from the ‘good spare’ transmission that previously ran in D7018 back in 1995, this transmission now becoming a convenient way of storing a collection of parts, some of which will require repair if they are ever called upon in the future. There are locomotives in mainland Europe that are fitted with the ‘Mekydro’ K184u transmission but some are still in use, so the spare parts carry considerable value. We will be trying to acquire one of these transmissions when they eventually become redundant.

Meanwhile, the work to reassemble D7018‘s transmission has begun !

D7018 – the light grey painted castings are actually part of the defective set, the lower section of which has developed cracks that will only get worse if subjected to traction forces. The castings had to be swapped as a complete set to ensure that alignments were preserved and tolerances maintained. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Please help us with this very important work by making a donation to DEPG funds and allowing us to support the repair work that is taking place on D7018 right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – although some of the team were away from Williton and engaged on other tasks, work continued on the electrical re-wiring of the cab assembly and the overhaul of engine parts that will soon be required for the rebuild of the Paxman 6YJXL 650hp V6 diesel engine. There is a lot of work still to be done, but the rebuild is progressing steadily !

D9518 – the engine overhaul is taking place in parallel to all of the other work. This photo shows Tony at work on the two oil pumps that are driven from the idler wheel. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ALL WHO HAVE FINANCED THE WORK ON D9518 !

 

Click here or on the image below to make a donation towards the restoration of D9518. Thank you very much for your support !

 

Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently in position at Norton Fitzwarren and ready for duties at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY over the weekend of 3rd/4th August. This loco will be providing the motive power for the brake van rides, which are always a popular fund-raiser at the event. If you want to get some Class 14 haulage along the remains of the former Barnstaple branch, then head over to the STEAM RALLY this weekend !

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco is based at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but has had to be withdrawn from service for a few weeks to allow a leaking exhaust silencer to be repaired and a split turbo input bellows to be replaced. Work is in progress and the loco should be back in service in later this year. The inlet bellows was found to have split beyond repair and a new part has been made and delivered to Grosmont by CHESHIRE LEATHER (yes, the part is made from leather !). The task of fitting it would appear to be quite a challenge !

47077 – the replacement leather inlet bellows has now been delivered by CHESHIRE LEATHER and is ready to be fitted to the locomotive. Pictured at Grosmont on 26th July 2024 by Pete Dawson © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

47077 – the replacement leather inlet bellows now has to be fitted to the locomotive – and the task does not look particularly inviting ! Pictured at Grosmont on 26th July 2024 by Pete Dawson © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – stabled outdoors on number 1 road, this loco is fully serviceable and available for yard pilot duties.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: this week, we have ANOTHER NEW book on offer: VOLUME 2 of THE NORTH BRITISH CLASS 22 by Anthony P. Sayer.

         

           VOLUME 1 – Setting the Scene                                   VOLUME 2 – Detailed Insights

These curious beasts were designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in the late 1950s and soon gained a reputation for unreliability and erratic performance that was not helped by their builder going into liquidation in 1962. Volume 1 tells the story of the origins and development of the NBL Class 22 locos, and covers each member of the class in some detail, in the usual style of the author. Volume 2 delves into their service record and extensive modifications list, ending with details on their final disposal. None were saved.

Highly recommended and offered at £26 per copy via the DEPG online store. Click here or on the image above to get your copy and in doing so, support the DEPG !

NOTE: We can supply many other titles from Pen & Sword or Platform 5 upon request. Please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know what you would like us to be offering from our online store. Thanks !

 

The DEPG 2025 CALENDAR is now available for mailing, comprising 14 printed pages of A3 (twice A4 size) glossy paper on a spiral wire binder. This calendar features the DEPG’s locomotives, both in service and in preservation, with all of the photos being provided by members and supporters. Click here or on the image below to GET YOUR COPY NOW for £14 plus p&p.

 

 

ON SHED: this week, we start to feature some of the photos from our sadly missed DEPG colleague, the late MIKE EVANS, who passed away last October at the age of 64. His younger days were spent at Cardiff General station and at the nearby Cardiff Canton Sheds (86A, later CF) where he managed to get beyond the footbridge that spanned the South Wales Main Line and set foot on the hallowed soil of the depot itself. The first photo is one that was loose within the album, but the others will need careful unfastening and scanning, so will take a little more time to gather.

The loco is 1069 ‘WESTERN VANGUARD’ and the date is December 1974. The headcode 2V48 suggests a secondary passenger service originating outside of the Western Region. If anyone has detailed information about this working, then please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM.

Many thanks to Ann Evans for sharing Mike’s photographs with us all.

Class 52 1069 ‘WESTERN VANGUARD’ stands at the head of a line of locos at Cardiff Canton shed on a gloomy day in December 1974. This loco was delivered new to Cardiff Canton on 21st October 1963 and immediately put to use on the Paddington express workings, to relieve the ‘Hymeks’ on these heavy turns. Evidently reduced to Class 2 workings by 1974, this loco was withdrawn in October of the following year. Photo by the late Mike Evans © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) of the DEPG has been scheduled for Saturday 7th September, to take place at Williton Depot, starting at 1400. We will be sending formal AGM notices to all members during the coming weeks. Please make a note of this date and come along to help, support and guide the DEPG for the long-term benefit of our heritage loco collection.

Visitors to the AGM will observe that the environment at Williton depot has been brightened by the wonderful display of flowers that have been cultivated by local WSR and DEPG volunteer Linda, building on the work that was done in previous years by Wendy. The photo shows what can be achieved, even when the environment is not entirely conducive to horticulture !

A splash of colour now greets visitors to Williton, the results of regular attention and watering from local WSR and DEPG volunteer Linda. Pictured on Saturday 27th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

The DEPG is a charity and is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom give both their time and their money to the continuance of work on the locos in the DEPG fleet. If you have been enjoying the the roundup for free, have you considered joining us for just £1 a month ? You can then add your name to all of those helping out on the above projects and play your part in the future of our locos for a lot less than the price of a cup of coffee!

 

JOIN US using whichever membership class is appropriate for your situation and means. CLICK HERE or on the image below or use the QR code to get the details.

     

If you would like to go one step further and come along to help with the work on the locos in our fleet, then please use our CONTACT FORM to let us know that you would like to volunteer and we will respond with more details.

We look forward to hearing from you !

 

Go to the previous Weekly Roundup post