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

 

Saturday 20th July 2024 saw the welcome return of a Class 47 to the WSR in the form of West Coast Railway Co’s 47812 (D1916, 47239, 47657) at the tail end of the Railway Touring Company’s 1Z26 Minehead to Paddington special. The majority of haulage power was being provided by Stanier ‘Black Five’ 44871 with the occasional push from the ’47’. Pictured at Williton by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

Another busy weekend at Williton, with infrastructure improvement work taking place while the D1010 team continued with the dismantling of the ‘B’ bogie, with no regard for the sometimes inclement weather. In parallel, work continued on D9518 and the ‘transmission team’ were busy moving the castings from the ‘good spare’ to our transmission repair area, to replace the cracked castings from D7018‘s delinquent transmission. Add a yard shunt into the mix to prepare for track repair work the following day, and the obligatory visit to the footbridge to watch the mainline special go through, and it all resulted in very busy but most enjoyable time !

A steam-hauled service train waits at the ‘up’ platform while (L-R) Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33048) and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 stand in the yard. In the foreground, WSR Infrastructure team member and DEPG volunteer Matt is hard at work in the 5-ton digger to level an area for the storage of large and heavy items (engines and transmissions). Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DIESEL RUNNING DATES

This coming weekend features all-steam haulage with an enhanced timetable that includes demonstration goods trains and a Quantock Belle dining special, showcasing the three classes of GWR 4-6-0 locomotives that are at present operating on the WSR – namely the ‘Grange’, the ‘Hall’ and the two ‘Manors’. In between these services, there will be some diesel presence as we have two positioning moves planned, plus the DMU will be in use for crew refresher training in the Norton Fitzwarren section. It’s going to be a very interesting weekend – AGAIN !

On Tuesday 30th July, the peak summer YELLOW timetable commences and runs for five weeks, and will see the welcome return to service of the WSR’s Class 115 DIESEL MULTIPLE UNIT (DMU), which will be covering the 11:00 departure from Bishops Lydeard and the 15:25 return from Minehead.

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 DMU this year.

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, with 80 miles of haulage available each day. We are currently looking into the 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 27th and 28th July – Grange, Manor and Hall weekend

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 !

 

 

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – with the worst of the dirt and grime removed from the ‘B’ bogie having been removed by scraping and brushing, the team were able to find the nuts and bolts that needed to be released to allow the brake cylinders to be removed for overhaul. This in turn uncovered more dirt and grime that will have to be scraped and brushed. At the end of the session, Leroy had managed to transfer quite a lot of the dirt and grime to himself, necessitating a complete change of clothes before his journey home on the train. There is a lot of work to be done on each bogie, but we have made a very good start.

D1010 – the ‘B’ bogie was receiving attention from (L-R) Gordon, Leroy and Thomas at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. Volunteers Viv and Ian F were also ‘on the case’ but managed to avoid the camera on this occasion. The brake rigging was being removed so that the brake cylinders could be extracted for overhaul. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – undeterred by the rain showers, the ‘B’ bogie will remain the focus of attention for several weeks yet. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D1010 – and the result of the effort, all six brake cylinders were removed from the ‘B’ bogie. The other two are on a different pallet nearby. Gordon was pictured applying protective tape to the pipe connections at Williton on Saturday 20th July 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 !

 

Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco returned to Williton for allow volunteer loco manager Ian and his team to attend to a defective slack adjuster. The loco will return to duties during the coming week and probably swap roles with sister D6575 (33057).

 

Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco is now at Bishops Lydeard and is on standby during the steam event this coming weekend.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is stabled at Minehead and is expected to be returning to Williton on the rear of the steam-hauled 10:00 service from Minehead on Saturday 27th July, to be detached at Williton and stabled in the South yard.

 

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – the ‘good spare’ transmission that previously ran in D7018 back in 1995 has now been disassembled so that the castings can be used to replace those that were found to be damaged in D7018‘s current transmission. The damaged castings will be kept along with all of the other damaged parts, in case they need to be repaired at some point in the future. These parts are precious because new replacements will be VERY expensive.

D7018 – it was a casting swap-over at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. The nicely painted castings are actually part of the defective set, the lower portion of which has developed cracks that will only get worse if left unrepaired. The dark grey parts have been recovered from the ‘good spare’ which has now become a parts donor. The castings have to be swapped as a set to ensure that alignments are preserved. Photo 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 – work continued on the preparation of parts for the cab assembly, with a line-up of the refurbished gauges that need to be re-installed into the driver’s desk (both sides of the desk). Some of the gauges have faults that cannot be repaired, so we will need to source some replacements. Hopefully, we can maintain authenticity.

D9518 – the two tachometers (one for each side of the driver’s desk) were part of the instrument line-up at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024. These instruments show the engine speed, which is normally in the range 600 to 1500 rpm. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – one of the speedometers is ready to be re-installed. In this case, the maximum permitted speed is denoted by the red line at 40 mph, which is correct for a Class 14. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 2024 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

D9518 – let’s not forget that the engine overhaul is taking place in parallel to all of the other work. This photo shows the two oil pumps that are driven from the idler wheel. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 20th July 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 is currently stabled at Williton and is next booked for duties at the WSRA’s STEAM RALLY at Norton Fitzwarren 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 next weekend !

 

Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco was a very popular attraction at the DIESEL GALA that took place on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway recently, but has now been 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 for the peak of summer.

The NYMR are obviously keen to get her back into service because the loco features in their latest advertising campaign – and rightly so !

 

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: another photo from the collection of long-term DEPG member PHIL GRAY, this photo is particularly relevant following the recent announcement that the Royal Mail is to cease the use of the few remaining mail trains that still operate on the UK network. Back in 1982, things were very different, as this photo shows. Of the six carriages that have recently arrived at Camarthen station in West Wales, three of the vehicles are dedicated to mail and parcels. These Travelling Post Office (TPO) trains were commonplace throughout the network until the traffic moved to road. The last TPO ran in January 2004.

The Class 33 has probably brought the train from Fishguard Harbour and the 47 is probably going to take it forward to London via Swansea and Cardiff. If anyone has detailed information about these workings, then please let us know by using our CONTACT FORM.

Many thanks to Phil for sharing his photographs with us all.

Class 33 ‘Crompton’ 33032 had just detached from a passenger service that included a Travelling Post Office section when pictured at Camarthen station on 10th September 1982. This station is situated on a spur from the Swansea to Fishguard Harbour line, so all trains have to reverse here. The Class 47 at the far end of the island platform is probably positioning to take the train forward to Cardiff and beyond. Photo by Phil Gray © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

 

DEPG NEWS: a Board Meeting took place at Williton on Saturday 20th July, a synopsis of which will be prepared and will be made available to all DEPG members as soon as possible. The next Board Meeting will take place on Saturday 31st August. If you have a question that you would like to have placed before the Board, please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM.

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.

 

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