Our Beyer Peacock Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 continues to grab the headlines, with the recent release of a video that has been created from a cine film taken by Bill Gates way back in 1977, just over 45 years ago. Here follows a narrative that has been provided by D+EG (predecessor of the DEPG) founder member Clive Burrows, that can be used when viewing the ‘silent movie’:

  “The video clip shows D7017 on the 19th March 1977 Wirral Railway Society “Quantock Flyer” approaching Dunster from Minehead as the train comes off the two track section onto the single line at Dunster. The camera pans round to show the WSR General Manager, David Butcher, in his Driver’s outfit with a grease topped hat, standing next to the signal box at Dunster. The WSR subsequently moved the entire signal box by rail from Dunster to Minehead, where it is now the Minehead signal box. The line from Dunster to Minehead was then reduced to single track operation, with parts of the second line being used for vehicle storage and most of the line being recovered for use elsewhere on the WSR. Prior to closure in 1971, BR operated the two parallel lines from Dunster to Minehead independently, with no connection between the two lines at Minehead, each line serving one side of the island platform at Minehead.

   The video clip then moves to a distant shot of the train in open country before showing the train arriving at Williton. The tour participants are then filmed as D7017 ran around the train at Williton before their departure by road transport. D7017 is then filmed running through Washford Station on its return journey to Minehead.

   This was the first passenger service worked by D7017 on the WSR, if you discount some of our “test trains” between Minehead and Dunster.  Traction Inspector Eric Webb was the driver and I accompanied him in the secondman’s seat with fingers crossed, knowing we would not be able to restart the engine if it shut down for any reason, due to the poor condition of the batteries!  

   As mentioned previously (Weekly Roundup 20-Mar-22), we borrowed the batteries from Class 42 ‘Warship’ D821 ‘GREYHOUND’ on the turntable at Swindon and took them to Minehead to ensure D7017 could be started on the day, but D7017 had to run with its own batteries as ‘Greyhound’s’ batteries would not fit into the ‘Hymek’s’ battery boxes. It was the combination of this experience and the challenge of the 19 ton 4 cwt axle load on the ‘A’ end bogie that made me decide the batteries had to be relocated to the boiler compartment. John Hembry subsequently organised the removal of the steam generator using the steam crane at Washford.”

Many thanks to Clive for providing us with this very interesting narrative. It is remarkable to hear that the founder members of the D+EG were able to put D7017 into service with so few resources of any kind at their disposal, and in doing so, ensured the preservation of a diesel when most people were still fully occupied with saving steam engines from Woodham’s yard in Barry.

On Saturday 23rd April, the DEPG EASTER RAFFLE DRAW took place from the cab of Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ in the loco shed at Williton, and the prizes were awarded to the four lucky winners. The raffle, the first to be conducted by the DEPG for as long as anyone can remember, raised £2210 with the net proceeds of £1976 including donations that was then split between the two restoration appeals for D1010 and D9518, therefore making a significant contribution to those funds. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all who bought a ticket and congratulations to the four lucky winners. Many thanks to DEPG Publicity Officer Mark Bladwell for organising the raffle.

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ in grey primer provided the ‘stage’ for the DEPG EASTER RAFFLE DRAW on Saturday 23rd April 2022, with DEPG Chairman Martin Howard picking the winners as DEPG Publicity Officer and raffle organiser Mark Bladwell held the tub of tickets. The draw raised £1136 for the D1010 restoration appeal and £840 for the D9518 restoration appeal. A BIG THANK YOU to all who bought a ticket ! Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ in grey primer livery provides the backdrop for DEPG Publicity Officer and raffle organiser Mark Bladwell who is pictured holding the tub of tickets, just before the draw at Williton on Saturday 23rd April 2022. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

Coming up this weekend is the BRISTOL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION which is being held at Thornbury Leisure Centre from 12:30 on Friday 29th April through to Sunday 1st May 2022. Our intrepid sales team will be manning a stand at the show to raise awareness about the DEPG and our loco fleet – and to persuade visitors to part with some of their hard-earned for the benefit of our locos! Please do go along and support the event if you can !

The WSR’s SPRING STEAM GALA will take place next week from Thursday 5th May through Sunday 8th May. The timetables for this event have now been published and can be accessed by clicking this link to the WSR website. A useful summary of the event has been posted on wsr.org.uk so click this link to that article.

The DEPG’s diesel depot at Williton will be open to the public for all four days of the gala and well-known model railway retailer Rod Saunders will have a sales stand offering a wide range of pre-owned models. If you are planning to attend the event, please allow enough time for a visit to Williton.

Model railway specialist Rod Saunders will have a sales stand at Williton depot again during all four days of the Spring Steam Gala, Thursday 5th through Sunday 8th May 2022. The photo shows the wide range of models that were available during the Mixed Traction Weekend event on 17th September 2021. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0

MORE 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. We will be opening our depot to the public on these special event days.

LOCO NEWS:

Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER took a very useful boost from the EASTER RAFFLE last week, and donations and sponsorships continue to arrive in support of the restoration of this much-loved locomotive. Click on the images below for an update of fundraising status or to make a donation:

On Saturday 23rd, Ian F and Chris continued their work on preparing the bodyside for painting. This is a massive task so we applaud their diligence as they gradually move along the loco, sanding, filling, sanding and painting. The results are already clear to see from the previous pictures, the loco gradually losing her faded maroon livery in favour of an all-over (temporary) coating of grey primer. Well done guys !

Major progress was made on the Voith L630rV transmission last Saturday as we welcomed Paul Koch and Andy Venn to Williton to continue their work on the disassembly of the turbine rail. The following photos tell the story:

D1010 – the turbine rail from the ‘B’ transmission was subjected to further dismantling at Williton on Saturday 23rd April 2022. The picture shows DEPG member and transmission expert Andy Venn alongside the assembly which has been stood on its end to allow the two parts of the cast steel housing to be separated. The first stage (first or bottom gear) torque converter fluid port can be seen resting on the wood block, above which is the third stage (third gear) fluid port. The second stage (second gear) section has already been removed. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – looking down into the housing of the second stage turbine before separating the housing to reveal the third stage, the debris from the failed bearing can be seen all over the surface, especially towards the right hand side of the picture. This debris has to be carefully removed before the assembly can be fitted back together with new bearings (and new labyrinth seals where appropriate). Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – with another large cast steel section removed, the third stage (third or top gear) torque converter has now been exposed in the background. Other than the expected debris around the bearings and seals caused by the failure of bearing 3-152, the rest of this assembly appears to be as expected, which is good news for the restoration programme. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

D1010 – after a struggle with some very tight bolts, the third stage turbine runner appears to be ready to be lifted off in the careful hands of Paul Koch (left) and Andy Venn (right), but the runner did not want to separate so it will be tackled again in the near future. At this point along the turbine rail, there are three concentric shafts rotating at two different speeds – the centre shaft is missing in this view, but of the two radially-toothed surfaces (Hirth joints), the smaller diameter is the input that rotates according to engine speed and the larger diameter is the output that rotates according to the road speed. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0

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

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

See our CAMPAIGN for CAMPAIGNER web page for more details !

NOTE: EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY DONATED £25 OR MORE SINCE JULY 2021 WILL BE RECOGNISED and will be allocated an appropriate area on one of the patches or parts that have already been applied to the loco. Donations of smaller sums that accumulate to £25 are also eligible, so donate what you can when you can, and we will keep track of your total donations. Use our CONTACT FORM if you want to register your previous donations to D1010 for this campaign.

BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) worked the 1230 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return on Sunday 24th April 2022 and was pictured at Williton on the return leg with ex-SR ‘PMV’ in the consist. The recently-restored ‘PMV’ was moving to Bishops Lydeard so that it could participate in a photographic charter the following day. Photo by Ian Robins © CC BY-NC 3.0

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 – this loco is now receiving attention for a fairly short list of tasks that need to be dealt with before she can be returned to service. One task that was completed last Monday was the repainting of the bogies after all of the work that took place in March. The plan is to get the loco into a presentable external condition in time for the Diesel Gala that takes place between 9th and 11th June.

Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 was pictured at Williton on Monday 18th April 2022 after receiving a coat of black paint to tidy up her bogies after the spring replacement work. Photo by Graham Perry © CC BY-NC 3.0