The WSR have announced the dates and times for the DIESEL RUNNING DAYS and have also released the ticketing, which can be found by following these links:
The running days will be as follows (all are Saturdays):
17 July (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
31 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
07 August (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
21 August (Crompton pair, top and tail, celebrating their 60th birthdays!)
25 September (‘Hymek’ D7018, with extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
Please try to support these diesel running days – we need to show the strength of support for running diesels on the WSR, even though the offering this year is far from ideal. Please consider this as way to show your support for the WSR and the DEPG. Thanks !
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, we have been advised that our diesels will be in use for the MIXED TRAFFIC WEEKEND on 17-18 September, the timetable for which has not yet been released. This new running opportunity will feature an extension to Norton Fitzwarren to provide both additional mileage and additional interest from this little-used section of the line. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we have firm details. Meanwhile, mark the date in you diary !
If you are unable to attend, the webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:
Top billing this week goes to our former Chairman and Past President BOB TILLER who has just had a locomotive of his creation, number 69002, named after him during a short and informal ceremony that that was held at Waterloo station on Saturday 10th July. The new Class 69 is based on redundant bodyshells and bogies from the old BR Class 56 and have been re-engineered to include an emission-compliant engine and new-generation electronics controls, similar to the well-known Class 66.
Bob, in his role as Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer (CM&EE) of GB Railfreight (GBRf), was the key driver behind the creation of this new locomotive class and it is only fitting that the achievements of his railway career are recognised. What better way than by his name being carried by one of this new class of locomotives. Click on the image below for a short video of the occasion:
Bob has many other achievements that also need to be recognised – his membership of the D+EG and successor DEPG goes back to the ’70s where he volunteered at Didcot on the restoration of ‘Hymek’ D7018. His official DEPG posts started in 1983 as Publicity Officer then became Secretary in 1984 and continued in that post until 1990 when he became Chairman, right through until he stepped down in 2009. In 2011 he became President and resigned this post in 2018 to concentrate on his GBRf projects, but still keeps in regular contact with the DEPG at Williton and visits when time allows.
He was instrumental in D7018’s initial overhaul at Didcot and was one of the first to drive D7018 in preservation. His attention then switched to D1010 and obtaining a lease on the locomotive to restore and run it and then purchasing it from Foster Yeoman. This was his ‘pet’ loco at the time – and we believe that it still is!
We look forward to seeing 69002 running at a future WSR Diesel Gala !
Also making the news is our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, as she settles into her new surroundings while on hire to the KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY. The loco is going to be based at Rolvenden for the rest of this year, covering for sister loco D9504 while that loco undergoes a high-hour overhaul after giving many years of sterling service. We have learned that the side rods and brake gear of D9504 are undergoing repair at the moment.
D9526 was out and about on a test run on the K&ESR last Monday and a video clip was forwarded to our FaceBook account by the RAILWAY MAGAZINE, so thanks to the staff at the RM for bringing it to our attention. It can now be found on our Facebook account – but you don’t need to have an account or be a Facebook user to view it, you only need to click on the picture below to view our Facebook page, then scroll down to find this article and the video will play automatically:
We have also received an excellent photo of D9526 hauling some very old carriages during her test run on Monday of last week:
After her exertion during the previous day, D9526 ended up tucked away safe and sound inside the carriage shed at Rolvenden, Kent, and this will be her home during her six-month stay when not working on the K&ESR. Not so bad, eh ?
Meanwhile, our ‘celebrity’ Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ is still marooned at Bishops Lydeard because of delays in obtaining permission for her road haulage move from Bishops Lydeard to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This is very frustrating because the NYMR want to put the loco to work and the DEPG needs the income that will arise from it, but we are in the hands of Highways England and we all have to wait. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we know the date, time and route for the move.
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – we are pleased to announce that the appeal for funds to support the £100,000 restoration of D1010 has opened to a great start because of the funds already generated by sales of our D1010 booklet and by sales of books by Roger Geach and sales of pre-owned books. We also have multiple pledges of help from DEPG members that will amount to significant sums and quickly take us past the 10% mark.
Although we intend to raise £100,000 for the whole restoration project, we don’t expect to raise this in one year. In fact, we only need to raise the amount needed for a specific phase of work and we will be devising a graphical means of showing how the funds are being allocated and applied as the restoration proceeds, but we do need fundraising to run in advance of restoration work so that we take the right decisions and progress as quickly as we can. Our objectives are achievable with a little help from all ‘Western’ fans, wherever you are and whichever group you belong to. We are fully inclusive !
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 consider joining so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D1010 to full operational condition.
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – This loco emerged from the shed yesterday and was started up so that she could take some ‘exercise’ in the confines of our yard at Williton. All went well except for some problems with low battery voltage, probably caused by one or two failed cells in the 48-cell battery. This is being investigated and a temporary expedient will be to borrow some cells from another loco because D7018 is slated for front-line service starting next Saturday, 17th July 2021.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – having completed the radiator fan guard and retaining rings (see picture below), the ‘Tuesday team’ turned their attention to the battery boxes, one of which was retrieved from storage on the ‘LOWMAC’ wagon and taken to the shed for metalwork repairs. The extent of the corrosion, caused not only by weather but also by careless battery acid spillage when in service, is self-evident.
More excellent work by Colin F has allowed the air intake filter housing to be patched and the repaired component now awaits needle-gunning to remove the light corrosion in other areas before priming and painting. We can safely predict that Colin is not going to run short of work any time soon !
This loco is also the subject of an appeal that is shortly to be posted to our website along with restricted donation ‘products’ that will allow donors to select the precise value of their donations and be safe in the knowledge that their funds are only to be used for the specific purpose of restoring D9518. This online facility should be ready by next weekend.
If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please consider joining so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to operational condition – and see her haul passenger coaches for the first time in her life!
Andrew Barclay 578 (ROF 1) – this loco has now moved into the space in the loco shed that was vacated by D7018, so bodywork repairs can continue without exposing the loco to the glorious British summer weather. The next steps involve removing some of the worst-affected body panels so that they can be patched and repaired as necessary before priming and painting. The livery chosen for this loco will be the Government-standard (in 1972) deep bronze green that the loco carried during her days in service at the Royal Ordanace Factory (ROF) in Puriton, near Bridgwater, Somerset.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers who are hard at work cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !
BOOK REVIEW – we have reorganised our books into two categories on our online store, introducing a separate category for PRE-OWNED BOOKS. All such books have been donated by members and suporters and ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of pre-owned books goes directly to the D1010 restoration fund.
Here are three more of the well-known books from Bradford Barton publishers, dated 1974 and 1975. All three are first editions with hardback covers and are packed full of high-resolution black and white images. Two of these books are highly sought-after and the price reflects that status. All three have suffered from spending many years on a shelf, but that is to be expected of these 46-year old books. Remember, ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of these books goes directly to the D1010 restoration fund.
Many thanks to everyone who has donated books to help D1010. Please reply to this email or use our contact form if you have books that you would like to donate.
ON SHED: Last week, we featured a photo by Alan Walker showing three withdrawn Class 14s at Cardiff Canton depot in 1969, two of which were subsequently scrapped. We have since learned that those two locos did not go directly to the scrapyard but were routed via Stewarts & Lloyds steelworks at Corby where they were stripped down for spares to support the 14 members of the Class that had been acquired by S&L in 1968. It is therefore highly likely that parts from those two locos are still in use today, somewhere within the pool of preserved Class 14s, so they did ‘live on’ beyond 1969 – but in another form. Many thanks to Neale Long for providing this additional information.
This week, we feature a photo of our ‘Hymek’ D7018 when based at Didcot Railway Centre in the late ’80s, along with two of the steam locos that still reside at Didcot to this day, GWR 2-8-0 number 3822 (built 1940, alongside) and GWR 0-6-0PT number 3738 (built 1937, just visible inside the shed). Many thanks to Jon Tooke for sharing this photo with us all.
DEPG NEWS: With ‘Hymek’ D7018 prepped and ready for this coming Saturday, all we need is confirmation from the WSR so that we can send out a bulletin via Roundup and Dieselgen mailing lists, to communicate the final details and advise how to book tickets. The running days will be as follows (all are Saturdays):
17 July (‘Hymek’ D7018, possible extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
31 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
07 August (‘Hymek’ D7018, possible extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
21 August (Crompton pair, top and tail, celebrating their 60th birthdays!)
25 September (‘Hymek’ D7018, possible extension to Norton Fitzwarren)
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, we have been advised that our diesels will be in use for the MIXED TRACTION WEEKEND on 17-18 September, the timetable for which has not yet been released. This new running opportunity will feature an extension to Norton Fitzwarren to provide both additional mileage and additional interest from this little-used section of the line. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we have firm details. Mark the date in you diary !
OTHER DEPG NEWS: The Board Meeting synopsis is not quite ready so we will be including that in the next edition of roundup. As a REMINDER – the date for the next Annual General Meeting was confirmed as being 4th September. Formal notices will be sent to all registered paid-up members during August.
DEPG WEBSITE: Our ONLINE SHOP IS NOW LIVE so go ahead and visit our store!
Our website now carries details of the appeal for the RESTORATION OF D1010 and we are working on the additional pages need for the appeal for D9518, with special donation ‘products’ being added to support fundraising. The shop has been reorganised to introduce product categories and now includes a new category for PRE-OWNED BOOKS, the proceeds from which go directly to the fund for D1010.
WSR NEWS:The WSR are operating public services to Blue Anchor so we now need to support these services by buying tickets to ride!
The impact of the forthcoming change in the Government’s advice in respect of Covid-19 creates a lot of work for the small number of staff at the WSR, so the planning and ticketing of our diesel-hauled ‘specials’ has to take its place on the worklist.
We look forward to getting confirmation of the revised timetable and ticketing arrangements so that we can announce these services via DIESELGEN and on our website and through social media. We need to make sure that these trains are well loaded, so please help us make the most of the limited opportunity that is currently available to us.
Don’t forget to read about the WSR appeal by clicking this link – this appeal also needs our support because we need a thriving railway to run on !
All members of the WSR family have to do what we can to help and one easy way is to make a donation via the WSR website. Another way is to ensure that all of the timetabled services are a commercial success, so please buy a ticket if you can.
This image of D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ doing what she does best is available on a mug. Click here for the mug or click on the picture for a link to the APPEAL page.
The DEPG have opened an appeal for funds to allow the restoration of Class 52 ‘Western’ D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ to proceed with a view to returning the loco to a fully operational condition.
Follow this link to the APPEAL page to learn more about our plan and join us or help us return this famous loco to service so that she can entertain existing ‘Western’ followers and impress the younger generations with her ‘Maybach Music’ !
Top billing this week goes to our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, out on hire to the KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY for the rest of this year. Our loco was prepared for road transportation last Tuesday 28th June and was loaded on Thursday 1st July evening for the 220-mile trip to Wittersham Road near Rolvenden, which is approximately 20 miles from Ashford, in Kent. The loco was prepared for the loading ramp by removing the sand delivery nozzles, valves and pipework that would otherwise become bent and twisted by contacting the rail at the ramp transition point. Here’s a pictorial feast covering the move:
D9526 is spending the rest of this year at the K&ESR to cover for sister loco D9504 while that loco undergoes a high-hour overhaul after giving many years of sterling service. The class gets regular use at the K&ESR and this will be a good opportunity to generate some much-needed income for the DEPG. We will be keeping in touch with correspondents in the “Garden of England” and hope to feature news and photos on a regular basis.
Not wanting to be left out of the limelight, our ‘celebrity’ Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ has been dressed up with banners in preparation for her road haulage move from Bishops Lydeard to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. One banner shows our social media ‘handles’ and the other banner shows the breadth of our fleet, the objective being to promote awareness of the DEPG as the loco covers in excess of 300 miles on her journey to the northeast. The banners were designed by our social media volunteer Natalie and were produced by Bristol Banners. Here are some photos:
The road haulage on the journey northward will be provided by well-known firm Allelys, but there are restrictions on the M1/M18 route that are still preventing Allelys from getting permission from Highways England for the move to take place. The alternative route via the M6/M62 is also unavailable because of major roadworks at the junction of these two motorways, so the date for the move has not yet been determined. This is frustrating because the NYMR are keen to put the loco to work. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we can.
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – work has started on the bodyside repairs, the first step being the removal of the loose ‘Prestolith’ filler as a precursor to corrosion treatment and subsequent repair. This loco is the subject of an appeal that is shortly to be posted to our website along with restricted donation ‘products’ that will allow donors to select the precise value of their donations and be safe in the knowledge that their funds are only to be used for the specific purpose of restoring D1010. This online facility should be ready in a few days from now.
If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please consider joining so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D1010 to a decent and operational condition.
Our fund-raising efforts have already commenced with the recent publication of our booklet “D1010 WESTERN CAMPAIGNER – FROM MEREHEAD TO MINEHEAD”. All of the revenue from the sales of this booklet will go into the D1010 restoration fund, along with revenue from sales of pre-owned books, so please help the fund grow by buying from our online store. Thanks !
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) – This loco remains on standby at Williton and may soon see some use on the ‘shunt release’ operations when the WSR extend the running to Dunster, starting from Friday 17th July 2021. Meanwhile, the loco will need to undergo an oil change because the most recent oil sample suggests further dilution which does not appear to be from dilution with diesel fuel. The oil change will involve 80 gallons (360 litres) of oil and a set of new oil filters, so it is not a 10-minute job and it will cost a bundle !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – This loco is being prepared for service and is expected to emerge from the shed next weekend after completion of maintenance and inspection tasks. There is not enough time before the first public service for the transmission control block issue to be resolved, so the transmission will be locked in second gear. This is no problem for a ‘Hymek’; the loco will operate in the same way as she did for the 2019 running season.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the work continues on restoring the smaller assemblies, but in the background, preparations are being made for the hornguides to be re-fitted the the loco frames, which in turn will allow the frames to be re-mounted on the wheelsets. The delay arose due to the need to acquire ‘the right type of rivet’ but this is close to being resolved. A quotation for the alignment and riveting work has been received from WSR Restorations, so this major phase of restoration work will commence soon.
This loco is also the subject of an appeal that is shortly to be posted to our website along with restricted donation ‘products’ that will allow donors to select the precise value of their donations and be safe in the knowledge that their funds are only to be used for the specific purpose of restoring D9518. This online facility should be ready in a few days from now.
If you love the ‘Teddy Bears’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please consider joining so that you can become one of the team that is going to return D9518 to operational condition – and see her haul passenger coaches for the first time in her life!
Andrew Barclay 578 (ROF 1) – bodywork repairs have started, along with some electrical repairs that will help return this loco to full operational condition and ensure that she has a long life. We expect this loco to take the place of D7018 in the loco shed during the coming weeks so that body panels can be removed for restoration.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers who are hard at work cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !
BOOK REVIEW – we don’t have time for a new book review this week, but we do have plenty of book reviews in the pipeline. Meanwhile, we have reorganised our books into two categories on our online store, and we will soon be significantly expanding the range of books on offer.
ON SHED: Following on from the 1960s photos that have been sent to us by Alan Walker, this weeks’ photo shows a line of withdrawn Class 14s at Cardiff Canton depot in 1969, waiting to learn their fate.
D9500 is the only one of these three machines that survives today, but it is non-operational and awaiting restoration at Peak Rail in Derbyshire after spending many years of hard labour at NCB Ashington colliery – alongside our own D9518. The other two were only four years old when withdrawn from service and didn’t turn a revenue-earning wheel again, being cut up at Cohen’s of Kettering in 1970. What a waste !
Many thanks to Alan for sharing his photographs with us all.
DEPG NEWS: Last week, we appealed for feedback regarding the diesel-hauled services that are being planned for this summer – and we received plenty – but much of it was critical of what we had to offer. There were some common themes that we do need to respond to, so here they are below:
The Seaward Way level crossing replacement project has run late due to issues beyond the control of the WSR so rail access to Minehead is not currently possible. The estimated date for re-opening is some time in late September.
Services timetabled for Minehead will have a dedicated bus connection between Dunster and Minehead.
Dunster does not have a passing loop but a manoeuvre known as ‘shunt release’ will be used to allow the loco to reposition at the other end of the train. This involves the use of another loco, either the WSR’s Class 03 number D2133 or one of our Class 33 ‘Cromptons’, to move the coaching stock while the train loco waits in the siding.
The Bishops Lydeard to Dunster and return services being offered for diesel haulage are ‘out-and-back’ services and will not connect to bus services at Dunster.
The expected turnaround time at Dunster will be 35 minutes. All passengers must alight before the ‘shunt release’ manoeuvre.
A faster turnaround by only running to Blue Anchor is not possible because the previous service will have the ‘token’ for the Dunster section, preventing the diesel from running around at Blue Anchor, so there is nothing to be gained by dropping the Dunster segment.
The increased time taken by other scheduled services in the Dunster section prevents a second diesel trip from being rostered for the afternoon (this has been studied thoroughly).
This reduced-mileage one-trip roster is for THIS YEAR ONLY and we expect to be back to the full 80-mile diagram next year.
We know that the offering is not ideal, but we are appealing to supporters to ride these services to bring much-needed income to both the WSR and the DEPG.
After fully considering the feedback and after another review of the options, the decision was taken to go for a simple timetable with the same timings for each of the five days, as below (times in brackets are passing times, not station stops):
As soon as we get confirmation from the WSR, we will send out a further bulletin via ROUNDUP and DIESELGEN mailing lists, to communicate the final details and advise how to book tickets. The running days will be as follows (all are Saturdays):
17 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
31 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
07 August (‘Hymek’ D7018)
21 August (Crompton pair, top and tail)
25 September (‘Hymek’ D7018)
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, we have been advised that our diesels will be in use for the MIXED TRAFFIC WEEKEND on 17-18 September, the timetable for which has not yet been released. This new running opportunity will feature an extension to Norton Fitzwarren to provide both additional mileage and additional interest from this little-used section of the line. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we have firm details. Mark the date in you diary !
OTHER DEPG NEWS: A Board meeting was held at Williton and via Zoom last Saturday 3rd July where issues such as the above were discussed and debated. A synopsis of that meeting will be included with the next roundup. The date for the next Annual General Meeting was confirmed as being 4th September. Formal notices will be sent to all registered paid-up members during August.
DEPG WEBSITE: Our ONLINE SHOP IS NOW LIVE so go ahead and visit our store!
Our website is in the process of being updated to include the two appeals that have been launched, one for D1010 and the other for D9518, with special donation ‘products’ being added to support fundraising. The shop has been reorganised to introduce product categories, because the ever-increasing number of products was causing the shop to get a bit too crowded and cluttered. Hopefully, the reorganisation will lead to a better shopping experience. Please let us know if you find our deliberate mistakes !
WSR NEWS:The WSR are operating public services to Blue Anchor so we now need to support these services by buying tickets to ride!
Although it is easy to criticise, it is not easy to run a heritage railway with all of the difficulties presented by Covid and by the Seaward Way level crossing reconstruction. It is in all of our interests to run more services and get more riding opportunities, but we all need to keep faith in the WSR management team and support them in ensuring that the WSR survives and emerges in good shape for future years – even if it means that we have to go without some of the things that we want, for a little bit longer.
We will be announcing the timetable for the diesel-hauled services via DIESELGEN and on our website and through social media. We need to make sure that these trains are well loaded, so please help us make the most of the limited opportunity that is currently available to us.
All members of the WSR family have to do what we can to help and one easy way is to make a donation via the WSR website. Another way is to ensure that all of the timetabled services are a commercial success, so please buy a ticket if you can.
Another busy week, gone by in a flash, but still with plenty to report. Last Monday 21st June 2021 saw Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ move under her own power from Williton to Bishops Lydeard to await road haulage to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This was the first time that this loco had run on the WSR since 2017 and luckily, some of our volunteers were on hand to record the scene.
News of the move was shared with popular rail news site ‘RAIL ADVENT’ who published an article within minutes. This article stayed at the top for their ‘most read’ list for the rest of week, garnering almost 10,000 reads. Please follow this link to get us over the 10,000 mark !
We quickly compiled a short video featuring a combination of stills and video footage from our Chairman Martin Howard and from lineside contributors, and we uploaded this to YouTube later that same day. The video is available on the DEPG channel and has also been posted on the WSRTV channel, so please watch both versions to rack up some views on both channels.
The road haulage on the journey northward will be provided by well-known firm Allelys, but there are restrictions on the M1/M18 route that are preventing Allelys from getting permission from Highways England for the move to take place. The alternative route via the M6/M62 is also unavailable because of major roadworks at the junction of these two motorways, so the date for the move has not yet been determined. We will send out a DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as we can.
Another loco that is about to make news is our Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 because she will soon be heading southeast to the KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY for the rest of this year. The K&ESR already operates a class 14, number D9504, one of a number of the class that worked from Hull Dairycoates depot in the period 1966-1968, but this loco will be undergoing maintenance, so the ideal replacement is our D9526. The team at the K&ESR already have experience of looking after their own loco and the move has the blessing of the DEPG Class 14 team, so we look forward to be able to bring you news of D9526 at work in the Garden of England.
In preparation for the move, D9526 underwent a load test on Saturday 26th June when she hauled our two Class 33 ‘Cromptons’ from Williton to Bishops Lydeard and back. The two ‘Cromptons’ together weigh-in at 146 tons and this equates to a load of between 4 and 5 coaches, so it was a worthy task for the 650 hp loco. Here’s a photo of the ensemble passing through Stogumber on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield:
Click here for a short video clip of the loco working hard during the return leg. Many thanks to Martin Howard for capturing this for us all to share:
The previous day, Friday 25th June, Class 33 D6575 (33 057) worked the last of the Route Refresher workings between Williton and Dunster, propelling the WSRA’s Hawksworth-designed Taunton Inspector’s Observation Saloon W80976W on the outward journey so that the trainees could get a clear view of the track ahead. DEPG member Mark Ireland was out with his camera and he captured some interesting pictures, full of detail. Here are two of his photos:
Many thanks to Mark for sharing his photos with us all.
OTHER LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – now resident in the loco shed on number 3 road and being kept serviceable, this loco is the subject of an article in the latest edition of the DEPG Newsletter that was distributed to members last week. The article describes the restoration project and outlines the funding requirements that will allow this loco to return to service in a reasonable period of time. If you love the ‘Westerns’ and you are not already a member of the DEPG, please consider joining so that you can become one of the team that is going to save D1010 from rusting away before our very eyes.
Our fund-raising efforts have already commenced with the recent publication of our booklet “D1010 WESTERN CAMPAIGNER – FROM MEREHEAD TO MINEHEAD”. All of the revenue from the sales of this booklet will go into the D1010 restoration fund, along with revenue from sales of pre-owned books, so please help the fund grow by buying from our online store. Thanks !
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 – This loco is being prepared for service and is expected to emerge from the shed next weekend after completion of maintenance and inspection tasks. There is not enough time before the first public service for the transmission control block issue to be resolved, so the transmission will be locked in second gear. This is no problem for a ‘Hymek’; the loco will operate in the same way as she did for the 2019 running season.
The cabs of D7018 have benefitted from a replacement set of ‘Traffolyte’ placards, made using the same multi-layer engraving technique as the 1960s originals. The ‘Maximum Speed’ warning may not be relevant these days, but many of the other placards are useful and informative and need to be clear and easily readable.
Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9518 – the drum beat of progress from the ‘Tuesday team’ continues as they tackle the electrical equipment enclosures of this fully-dismantled loco. The photos that have been provided by Terry show the quality of the work that is being done. First, a quick look at a pair of cab steps. One newly fabricated, the other renovated. Can you tell the difference?
Andrew Barclay 578 (ROF 1) – the Great British summer does not make it easy to perform bodywork repairs on a loco in the open air, so ‘the ROF’ will go into the loco shed on number 2 road when ‘Hymek’ D7018 emerges. Some time under cover will allow for the corroded body panels to be removed and repaired as necessary. We welcome new volunteers to come along and join in on the renovation of this loco. Training will be provided, so why not START NOW by joining our volunteer team !
Many thanks to all of our volunteers who are hard at work cleaning, painting, maintaining, restoring, managing and fund raising for our fleet of heritage locomotives !
TOPICAL NEWS – the planned reopening of the Okehampton branch is a very welcome sign of progress in the reopening of former branch lines. In the case of Okehampton, it was not a branch because it was a station on the LSWR mainline route from Exeter to Plymouth via Tavistock. How useful that alternative route would be these days! Here’s some photos from DEPG member and volunteer Mike Evans:
BOOK REVIEW – we don’t have time for a new book review this week but we can tell you that the books on our website by well-known author Roger Geach are selling well, with a sizeable contribution to the D1010 restoration fund for every copy sold. We are very appreciative of the support being offered by the author.
This is a new book, but remember to also take a look at the pre-owned books on our DEPG ONLINE STORE, the entire proceeds of which will go to theD1010 restoration fund.
ON SHED: Following on from the 1960s photos that have been sent to us by Alan Walker, this weeks’ photo shows Swindon-built Class 42 ‘Warship’ 818 ‘GLORY’ alongside ‘Hymek’ D7014 outside the old steam shed at Swindon depot in March of 1969. The ‘Hymek’ met the cutter’s torch in August 1972 but the ‘Warship’ survived until 1985 and became a parts donor for the restoration of D821 ‘GREYHOUND’, owned by the DIESEL TRACTION GROUP (DTG) and still a regular and popular performer on the Severn Valley Railway.
Many thanks to Alan for sharing his photographs with us all.
DEPG NEWS: Following the announcement about diesel running dates a few weeks ago, readers have been contacting us to ask how they can book tickets for the diesel-hauled services. After some research, we concluded that the RED (high season) timetable did not offer an out-and-back diesel-hauled option, so we set up a conference call with the WSR to work on the details.
As a result, the WSR have offered two options for a diesel-hauled ‘excursion’ starting at Bishops Lydeard and running through to Dunster and return, with stops at Watchet and Blue Anchor. The options that the DEPG has to choose between are a morning departure, possibly with an additional stop at Williton (WN) for a visit to the diesel depot, or an afternoon departure with no possibility of a stop at WN due to pathing difficulties.
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK TO GUIDE US. Please let us know your preference so that we can maximise the appeal of this additional service and FILL THE SEATS ! Please reply to this email and let us know what you want. Thanks !
Since our earlier announcement about dates, the WSR have had confirmation of a mainline railtour that will run through to Dunster on 14th August, so there will NOT be a diesel-hauled service on that day. Sorry about that. The revised date is now 7th August.
To clarify, the UPDATED running dates are:
17 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
31 July (‘Hymek’ D7018)
07 August (‘Hymek’ D7018)
21 August (Crompton pair)
25 September (‘Hymek’ D7018)
Once finalised, the WSR will set up the out-and-back diesel-hauled journeys as a SPECIAL EVENT which will then simplify the ticketing process. We expect to finalise these details during the coming week. The best way to keep informed is to watch our website home page or SIGN UP FOR DIESELGEN email bulletins.
The June edition of the DEPG member’s Newsletter has been printed and mailed to all members on the register. Please let us know if you have a current membership but have not received your copy. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO JOIN US and be certain of getting your copy !
Our website is updated at least weekly (usually more frequently) with the latest news plus any DIESELGEN postings that may have arisen. We have a programme of work lined up to develop each of the loco pages to include detailed histories and we will also be setting up appeal pages for D1010 and D9518 restoration. Please keep an eye on our website and let us know what else we need to be doing to make it more useful and more user-friendly.
WSR NEWS:The WSR have successfully restarted public services to Blue Anchor so we now need to support these services by buying tickets to ride!
We are working on the timetabling for the diesel-hauled services and we will be announcing the timetable and the running days via DIESELGEN and on our website and through social media. We need to make sure that these trains are well loaded so that we can demonstrate the demand for diesel haulage. Please help us make the most of the opportunity that is currently available to us.
All members of the WSR family have to do what we can to help and one easy way is to make a donation via the WSR website. Another way is to ensure that all of the timetabled services are a commercial success, so please buy a ticket if you can.
