• Weekly Roundup – 13-Feb-22

    D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ brings her train to a stand on the headshunt at Treherbert in the Rhondda Valley to uncouple and run around the RPPR “WESTERN REQUIEM RELIEF” railtour before retracing her steps to Pontypridd and then onwards to Merthyr Tydfil and later, Aberdare before returning to Paddington via Gloucester on Sunday the 13th of February 1977. Photo by Kelvin Lumb © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    45 years ago today, our D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ hauled one of the last railtours of the diesel-hydraulic era when she hauled the 1Z08 ‘WESTERN REQUIEM RELIEF’ railtour from Paddington to the heads of the valleys of South Wales. The tour was the ‘relief’ because the ‘proper’ railtour was scheduled for the following Sunday but was so heavily overbooked that the organisers, the ‘Railway Pictorial Publications Railtour’ (RPPR) arranged for the ‘relief’ to run via the same route, exactly one week prior to the main tour.

    D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ backs on to her train in preparation to depart from Merthyr Tydfil with the RPPR “WESTERN REQUIEM RELIEF” railtour, retracing her steps to Pontypridd and then to Cardiff for a one-hour stopover before heading for Paddington via Gloucester on the afternoon of Sunday the 13th of February 1977. Photo by Kelvin Lumb © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The story of that most wonderful day out behind one of the last ‘Westerns’ still in service in that twilight period was told by Neale Long in our booklet ‘D1010 – FROM MEREHEAD to MINEHEAD’, available from our online store. The tour started at Paddington and routed via Stroud, Gloucester and Chepstow to Pontypridd and onward to three valley lines in turn. The return to Paddington was intended to be via the Severn Tunnel but had to be diverted via Gloucester because of a signalling fault in the tunnel, so D1010 turned up the power to recover some of the lost time and performed admirably throughout. The following week’s run of the railtour ‘proper’ was not quite so fortuitous …. but that’s a story for next week.

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 DIESEL GALA will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    LOCO NEWS:

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – there is more more progress to report on this loco as welding work draws towards a close at ‘B’ end, and preparations shift to the bodyside and the ‘A’ end. Behind the welding work comes the sanding and priming, then more sanding and filling, then more sanding, so a ‘Class M’ industrial dust extractor has been purchased for use with a power sander, to ensure that our volunteers (and everything else in the shed) remains free from dust. First indications were that this setup worked very well on Saturday 12th February, which is very important because there is an awful lot of sanding to be done !

    The management of fine dust is very important from a health perspective as well as for keeping the workplace clean and safe. This combination of a 150mm (6″) power sander and a ‘Class M’ industrial dust extractor ensures that the dust remains inside the machine. Paid for by donations to the D1010 Restoration Appeal and pictured at Williton on 12th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Here’s some photos of the most recent progress on this locomotive:

    D1010 – the new dust-free sanding setup is put to the test by Leroy at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022. The verdict ? So far so good ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – at the ‘B’ end, Ian F was hard at work with the sanding block, attending to the details, in this case making sure that the headboard brackets were cleaned up and ready for painting. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – at the ‘A’ end, Gordon made a start on the removal of the side windows, to allow welding work to take place around the window frames. The level of corrosion at ‘A’ end is generally more severe than at ‘B’ end, not helped by the fact that this loco had to endure three collision damage repairs at ‘A’ end during her 15-year life in mainline service. See our loco timeline page. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – back at the ‘B’ end on the secondman side, an investigation into a suspected area of corrosion revealed a collection of rusty debris that has built up and resulted in perforation of the skin. This area will be cleaned out and new metal will be welded in. Pictured at Williton on Monday 7th February 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – at the ‘B’ end on the driver side, a similar repair has already been completed. The repairs at this end of the loco are drawing to a close, with only the horn mounting box in the roof of the cab to be dealt with. Pictured at Williton on Monday 7th February 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – Brian (our most recent recruit to the D1010 restoration effort) made a start on the battery compartment doors, of which there are eight in total. The design allows water to pool in the recesses on top of the door, which then slowly rots the metal until the water can seep inside the door and rot the bottom of the door instead. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022 by Brian Litherland © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the perforated metal has allowed water to enter the inside of the door, which has also rotted at the bottom as a result. The door will need to be removed from the loco and repaired on the bench. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022 by Brian Litherland © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is returning D1010 to full operational condition.

     

    Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – after completion of the brake block change and slack adjuster change, this loco was started up on Saturday 12th February to keep the engine and batteries in good condition and to perform a preliminary brake test.

    Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – this loco was also started up on Saturday 12th February after DEPG volunteer loco manager Ian R had performed an ‘A’ exam (required after every 50 hours of operation).

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was started up at Westridge Shed, Bishops Lydeard following an ‘A’ exam on Saturday 12th February 2022. The blue smoke is because the engine was started from cold. The exhaust cleaned up later, as the engine warmed up. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – no change this week.

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – no change this week.

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – more progress was made on the overhaul of the buffers, which was heavy work involving the drilling-out of bolts that had seized in the 57 years since they were first installed on the locomotive. One pair of buffers has now been fully disassembled and is ready for cleaning and inspection before reassembly and re-fitting to the frames.

    D9518 buffers fully disassembled and displaying the constituent parts at Williton on 12th February 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Also making progress in the loco shed is the cleaning, painting and refitting of the pipework that fits onto the frames before the refitting of the major assemblies.

    D9518’s pipework receives a coat of green primer from Colin C as fellow Class 14 volunteer Andy P passes by in the background at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the massive proportions of the brake cross-shaft signify that this is a genuine piece of steam-age machinery, seen here while undergoing a cleanup from Andy P at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    In the electrical workshop, John C continued his work on the rebuilding of the electrical control cubicle, which involves disassembling, cleaning and rebuilding the many relays and contactors that control the electrical machines and systems of the loco. The significant time and effort invested here will pay back by keeping the electrical systems reliable for a long time to come.

    D9518 – one of the many electrical relays undergoes a thorough clean-up and close inspection from John C in the electrical workshop at Williton on Saturday 12th February 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

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

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway where she was in use again last weekend. This loco has racked up so many hours that she now needs to undergo a 250-hour inspection and service this week before getting back to work on the K&ESR. We look forward to seeing D9526 back at Williton in time for the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala that takes place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022.

     

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently in the Swindon Shed at Williton receiving attention from the WSR Restorations team who are performing a partial repaint that will then allow the loco to be stabled in the yard for the rest of the winter. The loco is currently wearing undercoat and will receive a coat of gloss when weather conditions allow.

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) in the paint shop at the WSR Restorations facility at Williton on 13th February 2022. Photo by Harry Spencer © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

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

     

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

     

     

    BOOK REVIEW – this week, we have another review by regular contributor Neale Long, this time reviewing a hardback publication by Book Law entitled ‘BR Early Diesels in Colour Part 1 TOPS Classes 01-35’.

    Neale writes:

      “Book Law Publications, better known for their extensive list of fine monochrome pictorial titles, do from time to time enter the hardback colour market and produce similarly fine titles such as this, consisting of 176 pages crammed full of colour images from the diminutive Barclay Class 01 to the stylish and much loved Class 35 ‘Hymeks’. David Allen and David Dunn are to be commended for compiling a beautiful selection of images covering all the classes which were allocated a TOPS number under the 1973 British Rail renumbering scheme. The front cover sets the tone with images of classes 08 and 21 and the really exotic North British D2700 shunting locomotives, which ironically do not have a TOPS number (volume No 2 will cover those) all in green, leaving the reader in no doubt about what will follow.

      Commencing with the small diesel shunting locomotives of classes 01-07, the album moves effortlessly on to the larger shunter classes 08-13 before moving on to the Type 1s of classes 14-17, followed by Classes 21-28 before finally ending with Classes 31-35. All the classes get good coverage although some of the rarer and lesser known types such as classes 01 and 02 understandably less so. Reproduction is generally of a high standard although the image of class 15 ADB968001 appears in a blueish tint when in fact it is green. The photographic format varies with a mixture of one-page photograph and two-page photographs, but this has no detrimental effect as this is an excellent collection of images, many of which have not been published before. The captions are crisp and accurate with the occasional opinion thrown in. Those familiar with the publisher’s monochrome series ‘D for Diesel’ will recognise some of the caption writer’s forthright opinions on the 1955 Modernisation Plan and its execution. An example being the caption to the image of D9500 at Canton in May 1969 on page 51. There are so many lovely images from this sumptuous volume, it is difficult to really choose any individual ones, but the images of D5707 at Haydon Bridge on an Ayr to Newcastle excursion, two shots of D6330 shunting the milk tanks at Hemyock and D5356 at Crianlarich are particularly good. BR Green features strongly in this album – but not to the complete exclusion of BR Blue.

      This volume of course features three classes in which the Group has a direct involvement, namely 14, 33 and 35. Of the Group’s locomotives, D6575 (33 057) features on an oil train from Grain at Stoke Junction Halt in November 1961 and there is a close up image of D7018’s numbers and worksplate. The Class 14 section of 11 pages has 20 photographs, the Class 33 section of 10 pages has 16 photographs and the Class 35 section has 9 pages of 17 photographs. For Class 14 enthusiasts, there are images of both BR and industrial service, two images are of particular note, namely D9522 & D9506 at Arnott Young scrapyard at Rawmarsh in 1968 and one of D9513 at Crigglestone Colliery, Wakefield in a striking orange and black livery. Class 33 enthusiasts will enjoy the image of the Uddingston-Cliffe cement empties at Doncaster behind D6562. ‘Hymek’ enthusiasts will enjoy the views of D7020 working the Swansea-Aberystwyth line in September 1964 and the same locomotive working an up mixed freight beside the remains of the Creech St Michael Halt in Somerset.

      Overall, David Allen and David Dunn at Book Law have done an excellent job in compiling the first of two volumes dedicated to heritage traction. This is a beautifully compiled and produced volume which will appeal to the many enthusiasts who are interested in the early diesel locomotive classes and can be wholeheartedly recommended.”

    Many thanks to Neale for providing us with these detailed book reviews !

     

    ON SHED – we have another image from Barry Gay’s amazing collection of views of Newton Abbot, this particular shot of the East Yard with the coal-fired power station in the background, with only weeks to go before it was demolished. Luckily, the locomotives lasted a while longer and one of them is still with us today:

    Three Class 52 ‘Westerns’ in the East Yard at Newton Abbot on 6th January 1974. From left to right, we see 1008 ‘WESTERN HARRIER’ then 1043 ‘WESTERN DUKE’ then 1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’. The first to be withdrawn was 1008, only 10 months after this photo was taken, by which time the power station in the background had also ceased to exist. Next to go was 1043 in 1976, but 1048 survived to the very end and was rescued for preservation. This loco is currently undergoing restoration at the Midland Railway Centre in Butterley, Derbyshire. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

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

     

    DEPG NEWS – the synopsis of the January Board Meeting has been emailed to all DEPG members for whom we hold email addresses, so if you haven’t received your copy, please reply to this email and let me know. The next DEPG Newsletter will be sent out at the end of this month, so please let me know if you have any items of news or articles that you would like us to consider for publication. Meanwhile, we continue our efforts to build our membership, so if you like what we do, please JOIN US and help us do more of it !

     

    WSR NEWS: there has been more progress on the relaying of the line between Dunster and Minehead, and on Saturday 12th February, our Chairman Martin Howard attended a WSR meeting in Minehead where the plans were drawn up for the training activities that must take place to bring all train crew members up to date with the revised signalling in that area. We look forward to being able to travel through to Minehead once again !

    The WSR’s Class 03 D2133 was the first loco to run across the brand-new section of line, with this short rake of ‘Dogfish’ hopper wagons which were used to deliver the fresh ballast to the work site at Alcombe, between Dunster and Minehead. Photo taken during the week ending Friday 11th February 2022 by the WSR Infrastructure Team © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The WSR have published the timetables and the dates for the 2022 special events, as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

     

     

  • Weekly Roundup – 06-Feb-22

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) stands outside Westridge Shed at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 5th February 2022 as a WSR volunteer carries out steam cleaning of the ex-GWR Toad brake van in the background. D6575 is currently the ‘duty loco’ and is therefore fully operational and available for use at any time. Photo by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    With all of the news that is being made by our two major restoration projects at Williton, it is easy to lose sight of the two locos that do most of the work on the WSR, our rugged and reliable BRCW Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, D6566 (33 048) and D6575 (33 057). One of these locos is kept available at all times as the designated ‘duty loco’ so that it can be pressed into use on any kind of activity, from engineering trains to crew training turns.

     

    The Class 33s were designed and built by the now-defunct Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) of Smethwick, Birmingham, with the delivery of the first loco D6500 taking place on the 30th January 1960, and the last of the series of 98 being put to work in May of 1962. The class was built to meet the specific requirements of the Southern Region (SR) of British Railways, and featured dual braking (vacuum and air) and Electric Train Heating (ETH) from new, which was a first for the Modernisation Plan locomotives.

    Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRCW) 1,550 hp Type 3 (later Class 33) serial number DEL170, ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) of August 1961 carries shed plate 73C (Hither Green, Lewisham, Kent) at Williton on 24th December 2020. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Although the ETH capability is not used on the WSR at present, the dual braking is very useful and it allows the loco to haul modern vehicles that are not fitted with vacuum brakes. The Class 09 shunter D4107 (09 019) at Bishops Lydeard is also an ex-SR machine and is also dual-braked. The WSR maintains and operates a rake of dual-braked Mark 1 coaches that are used to keep staff familiar with the differences between the two braking systems.

     

    While on the subject of brakes, Class 33 D6566 (33 048) is currently at Williton undergoing a brake block change as part of her scheduled maintenance plan. The brake blocks are made of cast iron and they gradually wear down, the difference in diameter being taken up by an automatic device called a ‘slack adjuster’. While undergoing inspection at Williton, it was determined that one of the ‘slack adjusters’ on the loco was not performing as well as it should, so it was replaced with a spare while the braking assembly was being worked on.

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) is pictured undergoing brake block and slack adjuster replacement at Williton on a cold and windy Saturday 5th February 2022. DEPG volunteer loco manager Ian R was assisted by Tom in the effort to change all 16 brake blocks without the use of a pit. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) ‘A’ end bogie is pictured at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022, before the brake blocks were changed. The slack adjuster (the part with the bellows) can be seen in the extended position, compensating for the wear in the brake blocks. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) – one of the eight ‘slack adjusters’ was removed from the loco at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022. It will be refurbished and then kept as a spare. Compared to the previous picture, the fully compressed bellows shows the extent of the movement of the part. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) ‘B’ end bogie is pictured at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022, after one of the brake blocks had been changed but before the replacement slack adjuster had been fitted. The increased thickness of the new brake block is apparent. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Upon completion of the work, the braking system will be inspected and tested in accordance with the formal ‘Vehicle Inspection & Brake Test’ (VIBT) procedure before the loco is released to traffic. This will then allow both Class 33s to be made available for use, if the need arises.

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 DIESEL GALA will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    LOCO NEWS:

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work progresses on the cab at ‘B’ end, the restoration now reaching window height and resulting in the need to remove the drivers side aluminium frames and sliding glass windows so that welding could take place to repair corrosion damage around the door pillar. The following pictures tell the story:

    D1010 – the sliding windows and their aluminium frames were removed from the loco at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022 so that bodywork repairs could take place on the door pillar on the driving side. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the sliding windows and their aluminium frames have been removed from the loco and their place taken by plywood sheeting to protect the driver’s desk from dirt and damage while Colin F cuts out corroded metal and prepares to weld in new metal. Meanwhile, bodywork repairs have started at the ‘A’ end in the distance. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the handrail attachment point has been cut open for debris removal and subsequent repair. The simplicity of fitting a cork to prevent the debris from going down inside the tubular handrail will help avoid corrosion taking place at the bottom attachment point. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – with plywood windows and with corroded metal removed to leave a series of wounds in her skin, there is no doubt that the loco is going to look worse before she looks better, but progress is swift and the window frames will be cleaned up and reinstalled within a couple of weeks. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 5th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is returning D1010 to full operational condition.

     

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – Neil progressed his work on the fitting of additional fuse protection into the electrical feed for the compressor and exhausters, which is a modification that has already been applied to sister loco D7018. This loco is waiting for its turn over the pit in the Swindon Shed so that her bogie suspension springs can be replaced.

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – no change this week.

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – more progress as the team continue their program of refurbishment of the individual parts before they get fitted back onto the loco frames. The focus of attention at Williton this week was the buffers, which had to be opened up very carefully because each one contains a giant spring. Another activity that took place off site was the refurbishment of the headcode boxes with their roller-blind indicators. These devices have not been used since the loco left BR service in 1969 and were ignored by the NCB, so 53 years of neglect have been overcome by some very careful restoration on the part of Colin G. The results are visible in the photos below and speak for themselves.

    D9518’s sister locomotives D9516 and D9537 are pictured climbing past Halfpenny Lane crossing at Featherstone, West Yorkshire, with the morning 8H13 Healey Mills to Hull freight service on Thursday 29th June 1967. The headcode boxes show some uncertainty on the third digit, but this was fairly typical of the times. Photo by Alan Walker © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 at work as No.7 at NCB Ashington Colliery, Northumberland, on 25th May 1981 showing the headcode boxes were left in place but ignored by the NCB. The rightmost blind appears to be showing a number 3 or 5 through the grime, but the blind to the left of that is missing altogether. Photo by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – one of the original 1964-vintage headcode box assemblies has been painstakingly restored by Colin G and is now ready to have new roller blinds fitted. The quality of the restoration work is apparent. Photo dated 5th February 2022 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the set of four lamp boxes with integral lamp brackets have also been subjected to Colin’s attention and have been repaired and painted in primer, ready to be reinstalled on the loco frames. Photo dated 5th February 2022 by Colin Girle © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the buffers of this loco would have had a very hard life when working at the NCB’s Ashington Colliery, so they have to be opened up and inspected before re-installng them on the locomotive. The work proceeds slowly using two long threaded studs to keep the assembly from flying apart under the pressure of the enormous coil spring that is hidden inside the buffer stock. Pictured at Williton on 5th February 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the view inside the buffer stock with the end plate and spring removed. The rusty surfaces will be cleaned up and painted and the buffer will be reassembled after the spring has been inspected. Pictured at Williton on 5th February 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – one pair of buffers have been disassembled and are now awaiting clean-up and inspection. The size of the springs are apparent from this view ! Pictured at Williton on 5th February 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The constant progress on this loco project has been made possible by the efforts of volunteers and the donations of the many ‘Teddy Bear’ supporters who have contributed to the D9518 Restoration Appeal. Thank you all very much !

     

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

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and will remain at the K&ESR until May 2022, by which time her older sister D9504 should have completed her heavy overhaul and be returned to traffic. We look forward to seeing D9526 back at Williton in time for the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala that takes place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022. This loco was in action on Saturday 5th February 2022 when she hauled an Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) movement on the K&ESR.

    Class 14 D9526 was in use on the K&ESR on Saturday 5th February 2022, hauling a set of Empty Coaching Stock (ECS), including this 1931 Maunsell corridor coach, on a repositioning move. Photo by Mike Grimwood © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently in the Swindon Shed at Williton receiving attention from the WSR Restorations team who are performing a partial repaint that will then allow the loco to be stabled in the yard for the rest of the winter. The loco is currently wearing undercoat and will receive a coat of gloss when weather conditions allow.

     

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

     

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

     

     

    BOOK REVIEW – this week, we introduce a book that has yet to be published but holds out significant promise and will be of great interest to all of our Class 14 followers. The book is another by Anthony P Sayer and we will be providing a detailed review from long-term DEPG member and regular contributor, Neale Long, as soon as he can get his hands on a copy. The publisher is Pen & Sword and their website states that the publication date for the first volume, covering the life of the Class in BR hands, will be 31st March 2022. The second volume will cover the life of the class in Industry, and will be published on 30th June 2022.

     

    Also of interest this week is ‘MODERN LOCOMOTIVES ILLUSTRATED PLUS‘ bi-monthly publication number 253 (Feb-Mar 2022) in which Neale tells us the following:

    “There are several articles of particular interest to Group members, namely ‘Hymeks on Freight’ where D7017 is illustrated on a demonstration freight train on the WSR, freshly painted in 2013, and ‘Westerns on Tour’ in which there are several shots of D1010 on the ‘Western Requiem’ tour of 13th February 1977. D1010 even appears in the article on ‘Motorail -Taking Your Car on Holiday’ where she can be seen at St Austell in 1972 at the Motorail Terminal, with Class 47 number 1590 in the main platform on a Penzance to Bristol service. Well worth a look.”

     

    Next week, we will be featuring a review of a new publication by Book Law entitled ‘BR Early Diesels in Colour Part 1 TOPS Classes 01-35’ so tune in again next week to read Neale’s opinion on this book.

     Many thanks to Neale for keeping us up to date with these highly relevant publications !

     

    ON SHED – several readers have commented and expressed their appreciation for the series of photos by Barry Gay covering the loco depot at Newton Abbot. Today, we can share another gem from his vast collection, from the days when the ‘Warships’ were still plentiful at Newton Abbot (as per correspondent Frank Northcott, there were 68 ‘Warships’ allocated to Newton Abbot when at its peak in the latter part of the 1960s). Here’s a view of the East Yard with the coal-fired power station in the background (closed and demolished in 1974):

    Four ‘Warships’ in the East Yard at Newton Abbot on Friday 27th March 1970, all fuelled up and ready for action, including one that was still in maroon livery. From left to right, we see 829 ‘MAGPIE’ then D838 ‘RAPID’ (in maroon) then 832 ‘ONSLAUGHT’ with 835 ‘PEGASUS’ furthest away. The two North British Class 43 locos (835 and D838) were withdrawn by the middle of the following year and the two Swindon-built Class 42s (829 and 832) by the end of 1972, but thankfully 832 lives on with the Bury Hydraulic Group at the East Lancs Railway. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

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

     

    DEPG NEWS – the synopsis of the January Board Meeting will be emailed later this week to all DEPG members for whom we hold email addresses. We continue our efforts to build our membership, so if you like what we do, please JOIN US and help us do more of it !

     

    DEPG WEBSITE – we have some stock remaining of our seasonably warm wearables, so click the the links below to find out more !

    We can also provide these garments to order in different colours, so if you want a hat or a fleece but don’t want it in black, please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM to let us know. Thanks !

     

    WSR NEWS: Work continues on the relaying of the line between Dunster and Minehead, and on Friday 4th February 2022, our Chairman Martin Howard was in charge of the WSR’s Class 03 shunter D2133 to perform a shunt of the Permanent Way Depot and to position the hopper wagons so that they could be loaded with fresh ballast. Here’s some photos that Martin captured when it was safe to do so:

    The WSR’s Class 03 D2133 is pictured early in the shunting exercise at Dunster on Friday 4th February 2022, with the loco sandwiched between a ‘Turbot’ wagon and the ‘Elk’ flat wagons and a ‘Warflat’ wagon. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The WSR’s Class 03 D2133 was then used to collect the ‘Dogfish’ hopper wagons from the back road at Dunster Yard so that they could be repositioned and loaded with fresh ballast. Photo taken on Friday 4th February 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The WSR’s fleet of five ‘Turbot’ wagons were all shunted back into one set at Dunster, probably for the first time in many years. Photo taken on Friday 4th February 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

     

    The WSR’s Class 03 D2133 is at the head of this short rake of ‘Dogfish’ hopper wagons which are now being loaded with fresh ballast that will soon be delivered to the length of the line that has just been relaid at Alcombe, between Dunster and Minehead. Photo taken on Friday 4th February 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    This investment in the upgrading of WSR infrastructure is most welcome and will be completed in time to celebrate the re-opening to MINEHEAD that we have all been looking forward to.

     

    The WSR have published the timetables and the dates for the 2022 special events, as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

     

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  • Weekly Roundup – 30-Jan-22

    The torque converter rail from the transmission of D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ was shipped to a specialist engineering firm for disassembly on Tuesday 25th January 2022. The transportation cost was very kindly sponsored by West Country firm WRINGS TRANSPORT and we are very grateful for their help. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Headlining this week is the long-awaited move of the torque converter rail from the transmission of Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ which has now been delivered to a specialist engineering firm for disassembly. This is a major step forward in the resolution of an issue that occurred during the first day of the 2018 Diesel Gala when the ‘B’ end transmission seized and the loco had to be withdrawn from service.

     

    The transfer of power from the diesel engine to the wheels of a diesel-hydraulic locomotive is handled by the transmission, which in the case of the Class 52 ‘Westerns’, comprises three torque converters (a specialised form of a turbine), each intended for use during a different speed range. The three converters are attached to a hollow shaft that revolves around the central shaft, the whole assembly involving eight bearings and their associated fluid seals, each of which has to be removed, inspected and replaced if necessary.

    D1010 – cross-sectional drawing of the Voith L630rV three-stage hydraulic transmission, as used in the Class 52 ‘Westerns’. This is a photograph of a Voith drawing dating back to 1962.

     

    Although the use of hydraulic transmissions on mainline locos was discontinued by British Railways in the 1970s, this form of transmission has lived on in all of the second generation diesel-multiple-units (DMUs) such as Sprinters, Super Sprinters and Turbostars, where the original claims of low weight and high reliability have been fully proven, with many thousands of such transmissions in daily service around the world.

    Following disassembly, the parts from D1010’s transmission will be returned to Williton for each of the separate parts to be cleaned, inspected and measured. Then, the spare parts will be ordered and upon receipt of the parts, the whole kit will go back to the subcontractor for assembly. This process is likely to take 6 to 9 months, during which time we will continue to progress with other aspects of the loco restoration project.

    We are very grateful to all who donated and continue to donate towards the D1010 RESTORATION APPEAL and we would particularly like to thank WRINGS TRANSPORT for sponsoring this move. Thank you very much indeed !

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 DIESEL GALA will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    LOCO NEWS:

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – we continue the steady drumbeat of progress on the bodywork of the locomotive, helped along by the flow of donations and the growing attendances at the depot, now open from Saturday through to Tuesday (most weeks). The old saying ‘many hands make light work’ is absolutely right. The following photographs tell the story:

    D1010 – Bob prepares the cab side for painting while Colin F works on installing the replacement door frame on the driver’s side of ‘B’ end cab at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the door frame had to be curved to match the profile of the side of the locomotive, so Colin F applied gentle force to create just the right amount of curve to ensure a good fit. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the replacement door frame has now been fitted neatly into place and is ready for welding. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the tedious process of removing the many layers of paint and filler continues along the side of the locomotive that carries the scars of a previous repair to damage that was incurred some time in 1972. Chris is pictured working on the loco at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the needle-gunned surface is too rough to be painted, so it first has to be sanded down. The handrails prevent the use of power tools, so Ian F uses sandpaper to make sure that the area behind the handrail does not get missed. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – after several hours of hard work with the power sander on the ‘face’ of the locomotive, Gordon gathers the evidence and tidies up at the end of the day. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – to prevent a layer of rust forming on the newly-repaired bodywork, Roy applies a thin layer of primer as a temporary measure, in advance of the sanding, filling and priming that will need to be done as part of the locomotive repaint. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is returning D1010 to full operational condition.

     

    Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is at Williton undergoing some minor repairs and maintenance, while remaining fully serviceable.

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) gets some attention to a leaking windscreen seal from Class 33 loco manager Ian R at Williton on 22nd January 2022 while Tom stays warm and dry in the cab ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – currently the duty loco, stationed at Bishops Lydeard (under cover, in Westridge Shed).

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – Neil continued his work on the fitting of additional fuse protection into the electrical feed for the compressor and exhausters, which is a modification that has already been applied to sister loco D7018. This loco is waiting for its turn over the pit in the Swindon Shed so that her bogie suspension springs can be replaced.

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – work resumed on the preparation for the removal of the transmission control block, which is a necessary step in the search for the issue that is preventing the automatic gear change from functioning properly. In the worst case, this loco will be ready for the DIESEL GALA from 9th to 11th JUNE and will operate while locked in second gear, as she did in 2021, but we hope that we will resolve the issue in time to allow normal operation.

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – another successful week with many more parts refitted to the loco frames, including some large pieces that have been taking up a lot of space in the loco shed while waiting their turn for re-attachment. This last weekend saw the re-fitting of the two sets of sandboxes and steps at the leading (longest) end of the locomotive, and the buffer beam received two coats of paint, first the primer and then the undercoat, which will be lightly sanded before applying further coats next week. Also, quietly and out of sight, John continued his work on the rebuilding of the electrical cubicle. Great progress indeed !

    D9518’s bufferbeam at the leading end of the loco received a coat of green primer early in the morning of Saturday 29th January 2022, courtesy of Colin G. Pictured at Williton by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the sandboxes at the leading end were re-installed (one on each side of the loco) at Williton on 29th January 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the shunter’s steps at the leading end were prepared for re-installation (one on each side of the loco) at Williton on 29th January 2022. Note the hinged door that is attached to the left side of the steps – this will cover the emergency manual fuel pump that can be seen in the previous photograph. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the shunter’s steps at the leading end were re-installed (one on each side of the loco) by Colin G (left) and Simon with the aid of a pallet truck at Williton on 29th January 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the shunter’s steps, sandbox (behind the steps) and fuel pump door after re-installation at Williton on 29th January 2022. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518’s bufferbeam at the leading end of the loco after receiving a coat of grey undercoat, pictured late in the day at Williton on Saturday 29th January 2022, with the steps, sandbox and door re-installed and also with one of the white handrails fitted. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The constant progress on this loco project has been made possible by the efforts of volunteers and the donations of the many ‘Teddy Bear’ supporters who have contributed to the D9518 Restoration Appeal. Thank you all very much !

     

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

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and will remain at the K&ESR until May 2022, by which time her older sister D9504 should have completed her heavy overhaul and be returned to traffic. We look forward to seeing D9526 back at Williton in time for the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala that takes place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022.

     

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently in the Swindon Shed at Williton receiving attention from the WSR Restorations team who are performing a partial repaint that will then allow the loco to be stabled in the yard for the rest of the winter.

     

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

     

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

     

    BOOK REVIEW – we will skip this feature this week, but we will be back soon with another book review by long-term DEPG member and regular contributor, Neale Long.

     

    ON SHED – we feature another photo from the extensive collection of Devon-based photographer Barry Gay, this time with our very own D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ making a full power restart from Newton Abbot station with the 1B91 0730 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth on Sunday 26th May 1974. The station looks sad, just a shadow of its former self, after being stripped of platform furniture some years previously. The clouds of black sooty ‘clag’ emanating from the loco are caused by ‘turbo lag’ which in turn is caused by the rapid increase in engine speed before the turbochargers have had a chance to catch up, thereby making the fuel-air mixture too rich, with dirty exhausts as a result. The exhaust will soon clean up as the engines stabilise. The German designers of the engines and transmissions were horrified by the harsh driving style demonstrated by some of the BR crews. Today’s engines are electronically controlled so that fuel flow is increased in unison with the increasing flow of air, regardless of the style of the driver.

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER powers out of Newton Abbot station with the 1B91 0730 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth service on Sunday 26th May 1974. The loco returned later in the day on the 1A49 1205 Penzance to Paddington service, which it worked from Plymouth to Paddington.  Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

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

     

    DEPG NEWS – some essential infrastructure improvements have been in progress at Williton, including the upgrading of the handwashing facilities in the loco shed, thanks to Graham and Jon, and the installation of a safety tag system, thanks to Martin and Paul T. Some pictures of their efforts are included below:

    The upgraded handwashing facilities at Williton were put to the test by Colin G on Saturday 29th January 2022, and he appears to be happy with the results ! Many thanks to Graham and Jon for their hard work over several weekends to implement this enhanced facility. Photo by Jon Tooke © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The implementation of a safety tag system to complement the ‘NOT TO BE MOVED’ boards was progressed by Paul and Martin at Williton over the weekend of 29th January 2022 with the creation and installation of a control board for the individual tags that will be assigned to each volunteer. This safety system will warn others when work is taking place on or inside a locomotive. Photo by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    DEPG WEBSITE – we have some stock remaining of our seasonably warm wearables, so click the the links below to find out more !

    We can also provide these garments to order in different colours, so if you want a hat or a fleece but don’t want it in black, please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM to let us know. Thanks !

     

    WSR NEWS: The timetable for 2022 has now been released and we are very pleased to see that diesel haulage is a regular feature. The detail of which services will be worked by which locomotives is still being worked out, and depends largely on the availability of qualified crew members, but we will provide details as soon as we can.

    The WSR have published the dates for the 2022 special events, as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

     

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  • Weekly Roundup – 23-Jan-22

    The DEPG’s BR-corporate-blue Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was unloaded from the Allelys Heavy Haulage trailer at New Bridge on the NYMR on a freezing cold Tuesday morning 18th January 2022, after a 300-mile trip from Bishops Lydeard. The loco was the subject of an official photo shoot as part of the publicity surrounding the arrival of the loco. Photo by the NYMR © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Continuing to make the news this week, our ‘celebrity’ Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ arrived at New Bridge on the NYMR at 8pm on the evening of Monday 17th January after a 300-mile journey from Bishops Lydeard that had commenced on the morning of Thursday 13th January 2022. The tortuous route involved running through Bristol during the evening rush hour, due to weight restrictions on the Avonmouth Bridge, and another diversion from the M5 through the small streets of Tewkesbury because of a weight restriction on the M5 in that area. The Allelys Heavy Haulage rig spent Thursday night parked up at Strensham Services then made the short journey to the Allelys yard near Redditch on the Friday. The rig was back on the road on Monday and the loco was unloaded on Tuesday morning, by which time the temperature was a very chilly -3C !

    Several videos featuring the loco and her journey have appeared on YouTube, including the two below:

     

    The DEPG’s YouTube video covering the loading procedure at Bishops Lydeard has now been posted on the WSRTV channel so please watch that video as well, to give support to WSRTV. Click here to view the video on WSRTV.

    47077 will remain at Pickering until the line to Grosmont is re-opened after completion of the bridge renewal work that is currently taking place. The loco will then undergo completion of the overhaul that was started at Williton and will then be used between Pickering and Grosmont while crew training takes place. At some point in the future, if all goes well, the NYMR may consider updating the loco’s Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) so that the loco will be able to work on Network Rail metals to Whitby. One step at a time; we first look forward to the loco being used on scheduled NYMR services in the summer of this year.

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    LOCO NEWS:

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work is proceeding on several fronts, and this has only become possible because our volunteer team has expanded. We are now consistently achieving 4 days of work per week and this is making a big difference to the rate of progress, but the pace will soon become limited by lack of funds to cover materials and consumables – so please keep on donating to allow us to keep the work progressing.

    In the last week, we have made more progress on the bodywork repairs, more progress on stripping the paint and filler from the bodyside, more progress on the pipework and we have re-started the work on the transmission. To keep all of this moving, we need more volunteers and we need more funds, so we are going to be gearing up our efforts to get more of both and get D1010 back up to scratch. We have plenty to do, but we are gaining momentum !

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

    D1010 – the rebuild of the front corner on the secondman’s side of ‘B’ end cab has been completed by Colin and is now ready for rubbing down and painting. Pictured at Williton on Sunday 23rd January 2022 by Leroy Ford © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – Colin’s attention then shifted to inside the cab and the repair of the second row of structural columns that each contribute to supporting the weight of the cab. While working in very cramped and crowded conditions that are not apparent from this view, the columns have now been repaired (the load is transferred to the girder that is beneath the rusty deck plate) and this will allow the wiring conduits and cab floor to be reinstated. Photo taken at Williton on Sunday 23rd January 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – meanwhile, Gordon continued the progress with the needle-gunning of the entire loco, seen here working on the driver’s side of ‘A’ end at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – the pipes that carry the cooling water for the engine and transmission are coloured blue by convention, for easy identification. One of the larger pipes has been cleaned, inspected, repaired and repainted and has been hung up to dry before reinstalling it on the loco. Pictured at Williton on Sunday 23rd January 2022 by Leroy Ford © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – each transmission unit is mounted on four giant rubber-to-metal bushes, and each of these has to be cleaned and inspected. This one is not fit for further service and has to be replaced or reconditioned. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – this is one of the steel pins that goes through the transmission mounting. The size of the nut gives the scale of the part. The pin passes through a steel sleeve that is supposed to be bonded to the rubber and remain within the mounting. Not so in this case ! Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    We are making good progress but there is plenty more to do, including the repair of the many small parts such as hinges and stays, conduits and pipework, all of which has suffered from the effects of the weather over the last 50 years since D1010 last underwent a major works overhaul at Swindon (in 1972) – see our D1010 timeline page for details.

    On completion of the bodywork repairs, the loco will be repainted into the colour scheme that she wore when she first entered service in October 1962, overall maroon with a yellow buffer beam. The loco ran in this livery until March 1963 when the more familiar small yellow warning panel was added and the bufferbeam was changed from yellow to black. D1010 wore this livery again back in 2001, for one season. For more information on liveries, see our booklet ‘D1010 – FROM MEREHEAD TO MINEHEAD‘.

     

    This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is returning D1010 to full operational condition.

     

     

    Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is at Williton undergoing some minor repairs and maintenance, while remaining fully serviceable.

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) pictured defore dawn on the clear and frosty morning of Monday 17th January 2022 with the ‘wolf moon’ descending over the DEPG’s 1954-vintage brake van number B952527. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – currently the duty loco, stationed at Bishops Lydeard (under cover, in Westridge Shed).

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – the work on fitting additional fuse protection into the electrical feed for the compressor is awaiting parts delivery, so no work was performed on this loco during the last week. We expect to receive the parts in time for the coming weekend.

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – other priorities prevented our Chairman Martin Howard from resuming his work on disassembling the transmission control block, so this loco will also be waiting until the coming weekend before she gets his attention. Both of our ‘Hymeks’ are currently stabled outdoors on number 1 road, and this exposes them to the vagaries of the weather. The ever-changing weather results in significant amounts of condensation forming within the locos and this combines with lack of use to cause maintenance difficulties. In the longer-term, this issue has to be solved by investing in covered accomodation for all of our locos, so that the restoration work is not wasted. This applies equally to heritage coaches and wagons, many of which do not get a chance of use from one year to another.

    The transmission housing of ‘Hymek’ D7018 was pictured while soaked with condensation at Williton on Sunday 16th January 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 –  more progress is being made on this loco as the team spreads out to work on different parts of the frame. The photos below show pipework and valves being fitted to the frames while preparations are being made for repainting the bufferbeams. A multitude of other tasks are taking place out of sight, including the reuild of the electrical cubicle.

    D9518’s bufferbeam at the radiator end of the loco is a steel plate that is 5 inches (127mm) thick ! This massive piece of steel is undergoing needle-gunning in the hands of Colin G to remove the loose paint and rust so that the surface can be sanded and painted. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518’s compressed air system pipework is being reinstated along with the valves and other devices that keep the system in good working order. One such device is this BR-pattern filter and dirt trap that has been added to the system to capture any dirt particles that may be present. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518 – the newly-installed filter has a vent pipe that passes down through the deck plate and can be seen in this view looking upwards, with the new copper pipe visible and the brass tap in the closed position. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D9518’s pipework is being reinstated piece-by-piece and this ‘information station’ provides our volunteers with guidance in the form of drawings and photographs to assist with identifying the right kind of pipework to use and where to connect it. Such information is essential for such a complex task. Pictured at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The constant progress on this loco project has been made possible by the efforts of volunteers and the donations of the many ‘Teddy Bear’ supporters who have contributed to the D9518 Restoration Appeal. Thank you all very much !

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

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and will remain at the K&ESR until May 2022, by which time her older sister D9504 should have completed her heavy overhaul and be returned to traffic. We look forward to seeing D9526 back at Williton in time for the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala that takes place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022.

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 was at work on the K&ESR on Tuesday 18th January 2022 and is pictured while returning to the carriage shed at Rolvenden in the misty darkness. Photo by Chris McNaughton © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco is currently in the Swindon Shed at Williton receiving attention from the WSR Restorations team who are performing a partial repaint that will then allow the loco to be stabled in the yard for the rest of the winter. The paint job will be completed at a later date, when the weather permits, but this approach will ensure that the bodywork is protected in the meantime.

     

    Other vehicles at Williton – the DEPG owns several other items of rolling stock including this 1954-vintage 20-ton brake van number B952527. This vehicle is used for the Diesel Driver Experience Courses that are operated by the WSR so we need to get it into decent condition so that it can go back into service later in the year. Step 1 is to clean up the vehicle and remove the detritus that has gathered after more than two years without use and Step 2 is to assess the extent of repairs required, then Step 3 is to arrange for the repairs to be carried out. We have made a start on Step 1 !

    BR-1954 (Faverdale) 20-ton brake van (aka guard’s van) number B952527 gets some TLC from Carol at Williton on Sunday 16th January 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Another important aspect of volunteering is the learning of new skills, so Colin F gave some of his time to help fellow volunteers Paul C and Mike E expand their metalworking skills to include the techniques for cutting and welding. It is never too late to learn a new skill, so hats off to all of our volunteers for their willingness and flexibility. We all learn from one-another !

    Three volunteers gathered at Williton on 22nd January 2022 to develop their skills in cutting and welding. This particular group of three have each learned additional skills and practice them at Williton as often as they can, for the benefit of our loco fleet. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

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

     

    BOOK REVIEW – this week, we have another book review from our regular correspondent Neale Long, this time covering the new work by Andrew Fowler entitled ‘THE DELTICS & BABY DELTICS – A TALE OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE‘ and published by Pen & Sword Books in May of 2021.

    Here below is Neale’s report:

    “As part of the Pen and Sword Locomotive Profile Series, author Andrew Fowler spotlights two English Electric locomotive classes with contrasting fortunes, namely the world-beating Class 55 ‘Deltics’ and their much less success brethren, the Class 23 ‘Baby Deltics’. He does this through this 197 page tome which is set out in a number of chapters, namely:                                

    •                    Prelude to the ‘Deltics’
    •                    The Prototype ‘Deltic’
    •                    The ‘Baby Deltics’
    •                    The Production Series ‘Deltics’ – an introduction
    •                    Chapters on each production series ‘Deltic’ from D9000 to D9021 (55001 – 55022)

     

    Well written and produced in the usual Pen and Sword style, the book starts with a brief introduction of the commencement of modern traction on the newly nationalised British Railways covering the pioneering LMS locomotives, Bulleid’s 10201-3 and the modernisation plan of 1955, this introduction being suitably illustrated with some historical images.

    The book then tells the story of the prototype ‘Deltic’, before then focusing on the ‘Baby Deltics’ and their particular difficulties. It then proceeds to tell the story of the 22 production-series locomotives which achieved great success on the Eastern Region of BR, replacing over 60 steam locomotives and which revolutionised the schedules on the East Coast route. The last part of the book then devotes a section to each individual production series locomotive commencing with D9000 and ending with D9021, each section containing a brief outline of the individual locomotives’ history.

    The chapters set out the story of both classes adequately and the introduction sets out the classes in context of a railway system that was modernising in the face of a deepening financial crisis. It is a generalised account of these locomotive classes which had contrasting fortunes, rather than a detailed account. Nicely illustrated in both colour and monochrome, many of the photographs feature Class 55s in blue livery rather than the earlier two-tone green, which may disappoint some Class 55 enthusiasts.

    To those expecting a book on the lines of Anthony Sayer’s excellent locomotive portfolios on classes 21/29, 28, 15/16 & 17, this volume differs as is not in that series, being a locomotive ‘profile’ series book rather than the more detailed locomotive ‘portfolio’ series, this book providing a more generalised account of ‘Deltics’ and ‘Baby Deltics’. Within that context, this book provides a reasonable account and the author has compiled a volume that will surely appeal to the many ‘Deltic’ enthusiasts and can be recommended particularly to those seeking an introduction to the story of these locomotives.”

    Many thanks to Neale for providing us with this review.

     

    ON SHED – we feature another photo from the extensive collection of Devon-based photographer Barry Gay, capturing the scene at Newton Abbot during the twilight years of the depot. This week, we feature a Class that has always been closely associated with Newton Abbot, ever since the first examples were put to work on the South Devon banks in January of 1959. Sadly, none of this Class or their diesel-electric cousins (Classes 21 and 29) have survived in preservation, but there is an effort being made by the PROJECT 22 SOCIETY to create a new-build locomotive, and we hope that this project may one day deliver a representative example of a mainline North British diesel locomotive. We wish them every success with their enormous task.

    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

     

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

     

    DEPG NEWS – we will be contacting our membership this week to remind members to renew their subscriptions so that we can keep our membership base growing. This is essential so that we can provide long-term security for the DEPG locomotive fleet. Please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM to let us have your opinion of how we are doing. Thanks !

    A DEPG Board Meeting took place at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022 and a synopsis will be produced ASAP and circulated to members for whom we hold an active email address. Copies of the synopsis will be included with the next DEPG Newsletter for the benefit of those who prefer written communications. Let us know your preference – we are in the process of developing our systems to allow a more selective distribution, to reduce costs and to eliminate waste.

     

    DEPG WEBSITE – we have some stock remaining of our seasonably warm wearables, so click the the links below to find out more !

    We can also provide these garments to order in different colours, so if you want a hat or a fleece but don’t want it in black, please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM to let us know. Thanks !

     

    WSR NEWS: The success of the ‘WINTERLIGHTS’ services has been well covered in previous roundups, but last Monday, 17th January 2022, a special working took place where the Winterlights contractor’s team joined a team comprising WSR and DEPG volunteers to travel between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe Heathfield to recover the displays and artefacts that had been positioned along the line as part of the show. The special working was propelled by Class 09 shunter D4107 (09 019) under the control of DEPG Chairman Martin Howard, and the working was captured by dashcam by one of our volunteers while on his way to Williton, just as the consist passed over Coombe Florey bridge !

    Dashcam capture of Class 09 D4107 (09 019) propelling the ex-GWR ‘Toad’ brake van over Coombe Florey bridge on Monday 17th January 2022 in the direction of Crowcombe Heathfield. Video capture by Geoff Miles © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The beauty of the early morning at Nornvis on a cold and frosty Monday 17th January 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 09 D4107 (09 019) stands at Nornvis while the staff from the Winterlights contractor disassemble the lineside displays and stow them in the ex-GWR ‘Toad’ brake van for safe return to Bishops Lydeard. Photo taken on Monday 17th January 2022 by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 09 D4107 (09 019) stands at Nornvis with the ex-GWR ‘Toad’ brake van on a cold but clear Monday 17th January 2022. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Elsewhere on the line, the track renewal project at Alcombe (between Dunster and Minehead) is proceeding well, with the trackbed prepared and the brand-new sleepers and rail in the process of being laid. The use of steel sleepers is preferred in this area because the line is built across a salt marsh, the steel sleepers being more suited to the ground conditions. For more photos of this work taking place, click this link to visit wsr.org.uk. It is great to see investment on this scale and we look forward to running over the new formation in the spring.

    Track renewal work at Marsh Common, Alcombe, with members of the WSR Infrastructure Permanent Way gang aligning the new steel sleepers before installing the new rails. Pictured on Thursday 20th January 2022 by the WSR Infrastructure team © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The WSR have published the dates for the 2022 special events, as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

     

    Go to previous Weekly Roundup post

    Go to Depot news

    Go to Join Us page

    Go to Welcome page

    Go to Home page

     

  • 47077 NORTH STAR arrives at the NYMR

    The DEPG’s ‘celebrity’ Class 47 number 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ arrived at Newbridge on the NYMR in the evening of Monday 17th January 2022 and was unloaded by the team from Allelys the following morning after an overnight soak at -3C. Pictured with 08495 just after being unloaded by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    BR-Crewe-built (1965) Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ has arrived safely at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and will soon be residing in the new carriage shed at Pickering while undergoing inspection and recertification of her compressed air system. Once passed as ‘fit to run’ and upon the completion of bridge replacement along the line, the loco will move to Grosmont where additional work will be carried out. The loco will then be used for crew training before being used on service trains. We look forward to a successful stay at the NYMR and her eventual return to her home base on the WSR !

     

    Here’s a link to a very interesting video by Robert Townsend that covers the unloading of ‘NORTH STAR’ at Newbridge Permanent Way Depot on the NYMR on Tuesday 18th January 2022:

     

    Many thanks also to our local correspondent Martin Fisher for braving the cold weather on Monday evening and Tuesday morning to keep us informed and capture some images to share with us all. Here are some of the photos that he managed to take from the public areas of the NYMR:

    Class 08 shunter 08495 gets hold of 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ after unloading from the Allelys transport rig at Newbridge near Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, viewed on the very cold morning of Tuesday 18th January 2022. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The new carriage shed at Trout Farm near Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, viewed on the very cold morning of Tuesday 18th January 2022. Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ will be spending the next few weeks at this facility before moving to the workshops at Grosmont. Photo by Martin Fisher © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

     

  • Weekly Roundup – 16-Jan-22

    The DEPG’s BR-corporate-blue Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ was loaded onto an Allelys Heavy Haulage trailer at Bishops Lydeard on a very cold Thursday morning 13th January 2022, in preparation for a 300-mile trip to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where the loco will operate for the next two years. The loco wears a perfect halo that was created by the early morning sunrise. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The hot news this week is the departure of our BR-Crewe-built Brush Type-4 Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ from Bishops Lydeard on the morning of Thursday 13th January 2022 via road transportation that was provided by Allelys Heavy Haulage.

     

    The team from Allelys arrived on the Wednesday afternoon to set up their loading ramp so that the loading could commence at first light on the Thursday. The WSR team of Merv Hebditch and Paul Fleet had already started up Class 09 shunter D4107 (09 019) and were ready to propel the 118-tonne Class 47 to the first stage of the loading ramp. Once there the Allelys winch took the strain and pulled the loco up the ramp and onto the trailer, which had also been set to incline at a similar angle. This made the winching task much harder, but was done to make the ramp angle continuous. Locomotive suspension systems are not designed to cope with multiple changes in angle, so damage could easily result from such changes.

    Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ shown making the final transition from ramp to trailer at Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 13th January 2022. The last of the six axles, each carrying almost 20 tonnes of load, will soon be aboard the purpose-built vehicle. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 47 47077 (D1661 47613 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ shown in position on the 88-wheel trailer at Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 13th January 2022. The inclined angle of the trailer deck can be seen by the yellow lines that have been added to this photo. The incline was pre-set using hydraulic actuators that are built-in to the trailer. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The complicated and careful process of loading the loco can be viewed on a special page that is available on our website (click here) and in a video that has been posted to the DEPG YouTube channel and will also soon be posted on WSRTV channel, and is available by clicking on the image below:

    The loco has now been safely delivered to the NYMR, as you can see from their news page. She will undergo a preliminary inspection at Pickering to confirm that no damage has occurred in transit and will then be stabled securely in the new carriage shed until the bridge replacement works at Goathland are completed. While in the carriage shed the air system will be recertified for use by a contractor and once accepted as fit to run, she will be moved by rail to Grosmont loco works for completion of outstanding restoration tasks to prepare her for NYMR service. This may eventually include additional work to return her to main line standards to enable her to work to Whitby. The loco is already fitted with an early version of the mandatory Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) for mainline use, but since this has not been used since the loco left mainline network in 2007 some updating work may be needed. We look forward to the loco being used on scheduled NYMR services in the near future!

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    LOCO NEWS:

    Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – we have plenty more progress to report on this loco, with both new (Chris) and returning (Geoff) volunteers bringing their efforts and expertise to bear in addition to our regular team of Gordon, Leroy, Ian F and Colin F. The more the merrier, because this is a big project on a very big loco and there is plenty to do, both on and off the loco. If you want to help, JOIN US and come along to the depot on a Saturday for an introduction to what we do and how we do it. Here’s some photos of the work that has taken place during the last few days:

    D1010 – the rebuild of the front corner on the driver’s side of ‘B’ end cab has been completed by Colin and is now ready for rubbing down and painting. Pictured at Williton on Monday 11th January 2022 by Colin Foxhall © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – Colin’s attention then shifted to the opposite side of the cab. In this picture, taken at Williton on Saturday 15th January 2022, the corroded skin has been cut away, exposing the corroded supports that have to be replaced before the new skin can be attached. Photo by Leroy Ford © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    D1010 – after repairing the underlying structure, Colin then prepared the new steel for the replacement skin and tack-welded it into place as a temporary measure. Pictured at Williton on Sunday 16th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The highly visible and excellent progress on the bodywork is the most newsworthy aspect, but there is plenty of effort being expended on the unglamorous task of needle-gunning the entire loco, including the roof, and repairing the many other small items such as hinges and stays, conduits and pipework, all of which has suffered from the effects of the weather over the last 50 years (D1010 last underwent a major works overhaul at Swindon in 1972 – see our D1010 timeline page for details).

     

    On completion of the bodywork repairs, the loco will be repainted into the colour scheme that she wore when she first entered service in October 1962, overall maroon with a yellow buffer beam. The loco ran in this livery until March 1963 when the more familiar small yellow warning panel was added and the bufferbeam was changed from yellow to black. D1010 wore this livery again back in 2001, for one season. For more information on liveries, see our booklet ‘D1010 – FROM MEREHEAD TO MINEHEAD‘.

     

    This loco is the subject of a fundraising appeal so please follow this link to find out more. We need your help ! In addition to funds, we also need plenty of HANDS. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please join us so that you can become one of the team that is returning D1010 to full operational condition.

     

    Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – this loco is now back at Williton undergoing some minor repairs, which on Sunday 16th January involved the re-sealing some of the cab windows following reports of rainwater ingress. No doubt we won’t have to wait too long before we find out if the repair has been succesful !

     

    Class 33 D6575 (33 057) – the duty loco, stationed at Bishops Lydeard (under cover, in Westridge Shed).

    Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) is pictured at rest at Westridge Shed, Bishops Lydeard on the morning of Thursday 13th January 2022. Photo by Paul Fleet © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – work proceeds on fitting additional fuse protection into the electrical feed for the compressor to ensure that, if a fault was to occur with the compressor, any damage would be minimised and localised. The same modification was performed on sister loco D7018 when that loco was rebuilt. The level of protection that was included when the loco was new was minimal. The suspension repair work that is keeping her out of service has had to be deferred until we are able to get the 60-year-old loco over the pit in the Swindon Shed (hopefully in March or April).

     

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – as stated last week, this loco will celebrate her 60th birthday on 18th January 2022, the loco having entered service at Bristol Bath Road depot on that day in 1962. To make sure that she is available to work later in the year, our Chairman Martin Howard has resumed his work on disassembling the transmission control block to identify the issue that is preventing the automatic gear change from functioning. The current plan is to removed the control block for detailed attention and meanwhile install the ‘known good’ control block from D7018’s ‘old’ transmission. However, that transmission was last used in 1995, so we will have to wait and see how this pans out. One way or another, the loco will be ready for the WSR Diesel Gala (from 9th to 11th June). Read about the history of this loco in our 64-page A4 booklet ‘HYMEK D7018‘.

    DEPG Chairman Martin Howard reaches into the Stone-Maybach Mekydro hydraulic transmission housing to disconnect the pressure lines that are attached to the control block of ‘Hymek’ D7018. Pictured at Williton on Sunday 16th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 –  work continues on the identification and refurbishment of the many pipes and conduits that need to be refitted to the frames before the major subassemblies can be re-installled. The progress over the next few weeks is going to be that of detail, with effort going into so many small tasks in preparation for the next ‘big one’.

    D9518’s ‘rolling chassis’ on number 2 road inside the DEPG loco shed with various pieces of pipework and electrical conduit placed in the approximate location for re-installation. Each piece has to be cleaned, inspected and refurbished where necessary before being fitting back on the loco frames. Painstaking work indeed. Photo taken at Williton on Saturday 8th January 2022 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    The constant progress on this loco project has been made possible by the efforts of volunteers and the donations of the many ‘Teddy Bear’ supporters who have contributed to the D9518 Restoration Appeal. Thank you all very much !

     

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

     

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 – this loco is currently based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and celebrated her 57th birthday on the 6th January 2022. We have received confirmation that the loco will remain at the K&ESR until May 2022, by which time her older sister D9504 should have completed her heavy overhaul and be returned to traffic. We look forward to seeing D9526 back at Williton in time for the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala that takes place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022.

     

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – last week, we featured a photo that showed this loco (or her sister loco 579) working a short train of vans, probably carrying explosives, crossing the bridge over the M5 motorway just a short distance from the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) at Puriton, near Bridgwater. The point of the photo was to highlight the apparent efforts that are being made to clear the route and assess the feasibility for laying new track to the former ROF site, which is earmarked for a new factory development for the production of electric vehicles. Regular correspondent Neale Long discovered that the branch is being considered for re-opening in connection with the Rivian Electric Truck Vehicle plant that may be built on the old ROF site. The ground frame / rail connection that was controlled by Bristol Power Box was removed over 20 years ago. Thanks, Neale – let’s hope that this project gets the go-ahead and brings more work and more trains to the area. Maybe we can hire number 578 out to them and see her cross the M5 once again!

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 or 579 pictured on the bridge over the M5, just north of Bridgwater with a short train of explosives from the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) at Puriton (which closed in 2008). Photo by Paul Stanford courtesy of the Cornwall Railway Society © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

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

     

    BOOK REVIEW – we have a book review from Neale Long covering another of Anthony Sayer’s reference works, this time in relation to the little-known Type 1 diesel-electric locomotives built by the British Thomson-Houston company and the North British Locomotive Company, later allocated Class numbers 15 and 16. This book is available from the publisher direct by clicking on the image below:

    Neale writes:

    “In the latest in the series of locomotive profiles, Anthony Sayer turns his attention to two more ill-fated BR Modernisation Plan locomotive classes, namely the British Thomson-Houston Class 15 and the mechanically and structurally similar North British Class 16.  Using his tried and trusted formula and primary research sources, the author examines with thoroughness the work of these two classes that were used initially on East London, Great Eastern and London Tilbury and Southend lines. As in his previous tomes, the author follows a similar methodical structure, commencing with Class introduction, technical description, performance, locomotive histories, run-down, withdrawal, disposal, and conclusion. The chapters are :

      • Class introduction
      • Some Technical Aspects
      • Locomotive Design
      • Acceptance Testing
      • Deliveries, Allocation and Withdrawal
      • Overhaul and Maintenance
      • Locomotive Histories
      • Performance
      • Accidents and Fire Damage
      • Operations – A High Level Summary
      • Details and Differences
      • Liveries
      • Storage and Withdrawal
      • Storage Locations
      • Scrapping – Private yards
      • Scrapping – BREL Workshops
      • Post withdrawal – Carriage Pre-Heat units
      • Preservation
      • Concluding remarks

    The author tells of yet another sorry episode in the BR Modernisation Plan which turned from an initial carefully thought-out strategy to blind panic and a rush towards replacement of steam, with the railways losing money and traffic at an alarming rate in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Plans to thoroughly test and scrutinise prototypes with a view to perpetuating the successful ones – and not perpetuating the less successful ones – were swept away and several unsatisfactory designs were perpetuated with entirely predictable results. These two classes were clearly in the latter category. Starting with the LMS prototype 10800 from which these two classes were based, the author with great accuracy and clarity tells the whole sorry tale. Somehow these classes were built; the work for which they were designed was in decline and the BR Traction plan of 1967 sealed their fate. The author has done a fine job of telling the story of these classes which until now have not been covered in detail. A good selection of rare images illustrate the book, very much in the same style of previous books which examined the history of classes 17, 21/29, 28 & 17 and this particular edition is a fine accompaniment to those volumes.

    The book tells that, even back in the days of LMS 10800, concerns were being raised about the suitability of the application of un-modified Paxman diesel engines to rail. Equally fascinating was the fact that there were doubts about the requirement for Type 1 diesels under 1957 Modernisation Plan, but the ER made a case for type 1’s in that the use of Type 2 diesels on diagrams for Type 1’s was not suitable from a financial stand point. All this is admirably told in this fine book.

    Pleasingly though, this particularly sorry tale does have a happy ending as one British Thomson-Houston Class 15, number D8233, survives and is one of the more challenging restorations currently progressing at Bury, so there will be the opportunity to see and hear and ride behind this dinosaur from an age long past. Brief mention of this is made in the book, but I think in view of the magnitude of its restoration, time, money and effort made, this merited rather more than just a few lines and a picture of D8233.

    Overall, this is yet another superb locomotive study from Anthony P Sayer who is to be commended for tackling two more unheralded locomotive classes and can be unreservedly recommended.”

    Many thanks to Neale for providing us with this detailed book review !

     

    ON SHED – we have received more photos from the extensive collection of Devon-based photographer Barry Gay, capturing the scene at Newton Abbot. Here’s another of Barry’s photos, this time from 1978, along with a caption that is based on his own text:

    Newton Abbot, 5th March 1978 and a Class 55 ‘Deltic’, number 55003 ‘MELD’ is on shed for refuelling while a Class 31 rests on the traverser. The ‘Deltic’ had worked the 0815 1Z15 Paddington to Par, the ‘DELTIC RANGER re-run’ railtour, with the ‘Deltic’ coming off at Newton Abbot after a visit to Paignton and back. The railtour was taken into Cornwall by ‘Peak’ 46003. This is the only time that a ‘Deltic’ visited Newton Abbot, I believe. Photo by Barry Gay © CC BY-NC 3.0

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

     

    DEPG NEWS – we will be contacting our membership later this month to remind members to renew their subscriptions so that we can keep our membership base growing. This is essential so that we can provide long-term security for the DEPG locomotive fleet. Please reply to this email or use our CONTACT FORM to let us have your opinion of how we are doing. Thanks !

    A DEPG Board Meeting will take place at Williton on Saturday 22nd January 2022, so please let me know if you have any points that you would like me to raise on your behalf.

     

    DEPG WEBSITE – we have some stock remaining of our seasonal wearables, so click the photos or the links below to find out more !

    DEPG beanie hat, one size, silver embroidery on black – a good quality and warm hat for £12.50 incl VAT plus P&P.

     

    DEPG fleece jacket with collar, unlined, zip pockets, black with silver DEPG logo, £25 incl VAT plus P&P.

     

     

    WSR NEWS: The minutes of the Partnership Development Group meeting from December 2021 have now been published and are available from the excellent and informative wsr.org.uk site by clicking this link. Work continues on the track relaying project at Alcombe, near Minehead, while infrastructure maintenance is taking place at multiple sites across the railway. All of this is made possible due to the exellent patronage of the Christmas Specials and the fundraising work carried out by the WSRA and the WSRHT, so thanks to all those who are donating to all of these ‘WSR family’ causes. It is much appreciated and is for the benefit of all !

     

    The WSR have published the dates for the 2022 special events, as follows, so please make a note and ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR DEPG CALENDARS:

  • D7018 is 60 years old today !

    Our carefully restored Class 35 Beyer-Peacock ‘Hymek’ D7018 originally entered service at the Bristol Bath Road depot of British Railways on 18th January 1962, so today marks her official 60th birthday !

    Click the below image to go to a superb piece of video by DEPG member Mark Ireland, taken on Saturday 21st August 2021 at Stogumber Station (renowned for their excellent cream teas, served in the garden alongside the line) on the West Somerset Railway.

    Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 departs from Stogumber Station on the West Somerset Railway while working a public timetabled service on Saturday 21st August 2021. Image from a video by Mark Ireland © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Learn more about D7018 and her 24-year-long restoration in our 64-page A4 booklet ‘HYMEK D7018’ available from our online store or by calling at our depot in Williton on a Saturday.

     

     

    VERY IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – the WSR’s 2022 Diesel Gala will take place from Thursday 9th through Saturday 11th June 2022, so keep these dates free and make a plan to attend ! Click this link to the WSR website to view the dates for other WSR events that are planned for 2022.

     

    Go to the D7018 loco page

    Go to the D7017 loco page

    Go to Loco Status page

    Go to the Welcome page

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  • Loading 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ at Bishops Lydeard

    BR-Brush Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ pictured with a halo in the early morning winter sunshine after being loaded onto an Allelys heavy transport rig at Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 13th January 2022 and soon to start her journey northward to the NYMR. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Click here to go to the Gallery page that presents a series of photos and video clips of the process of loading our 118-tonne Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ on to an Allelys transport rig for haulage to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

     

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  • 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ is on the road – updated

    BR-Brush Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ pictured after being loaded onto an Allelys heavy transport rig at Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 13th January 2022 and soon to start her journey northward to the NYMR. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    BR-Brush Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ pictured departing Bishops Lydeard on an Allelys heavy transport rig just before midday on Thursday 13th January 2022 at the start of her 300-mile journey northward to the NYMR. Video by Chris Shields © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Our ‘celebrity’ BR-Brush Class 47 ‘NORTH STAR’ is on the move, heading northwards to the NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY via the following route (note the break in journey between Thursday evening and Monday morning):

     

    A358 from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton

    A3259 to A38 to the M5 northbound

    M5 to Junction 22 (leave Mway due to weight restrictions on the Avonmouth bridge)

    A38 to A368 to A37 to A4174 through Bristol

    M32 to M4 westbound Junction 20

    M4 to M5 northbound

    M5 to Junction 9 (leave Mway due to route restrictions in the Tewkesbury area)

    A438 to A38 to M50

    M50 to M5 to ALLELYS BASE AT STUDLEY (Near Redditch, Worcs).

     

    RESUME JOURNEY ON MONDAY 17th JANUARY

    A435 to M42

    A42 to M1 to M18

    M62 to A1(M) to Junction 42

    A63 to A19 to A64

    A169 to A170 to Park Street, Pickering

     

    Please send your photos to contact@depg.org if you get to see her en route !

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    Thanks !

     

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  • 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ heads North !

    BR-Brush Class 47 47077 (D1661, 47613, 47840) ‘NORTH STAR’ pictured while being loaded onto an Allelys heavy transport rig at Bishops Lydeard at first light on Thursday 13th January 2022 and soon to start her journey northward to the NYMR. Photo by Chris Shields © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    Our ‘celebrity’ BR-Brush Class 47 ‘NORTH STAR’ is on the move today, heading northwards to the NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY where she will spend the next year or two operating on the NYMR under a hire agreement that was put in place last summer. The move was delayed due to logistical challenges along the route, but everything is now in place and the loco is on the move today. More details including route information will be posted ASAP.

     

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