The Southern Region pairing of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) and ‘Parcels and Miscellaneous Van’ PMV number 1464 is caught on camera at Williton while on a test run on 11th November 2021. Autocapture image by Railcam UK and the WSR © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) and PMV 1464 lead the return ‘WINTERLIGHTS’ special through Crowcombe Heathfield towards Bishops Lydeard on 27th November 2021. Image by Railcam UK and the WSR, captured by Gareth Noble © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) continues to provide a sterling service on the ‘WINTERLIGHTS’ specials which have been running on Fridays and Saturdays since 19th November and will step up to almost daily from this coming Friday 17th December. The ‘Crompton’ has been working at the rear of the steam-hauled outbound service, coupled next to the ex-Southern Region ‘Parcels & Miscellaneous Van’ that houses the generators that power the thousands of lights that are carried by the six illuminated Mark 1 carriages. The Class 33 and the PMV were both previously based on the Southern Region of BR and although the pairing would have been a very familiar sight to travellers in that region in the 1960s, the carriage lighting of those days would have been just a dim orange glow !
Feedback from ‘WINTERLIGHTS’ travellers has been very positive indeed, so much so that the only seats remaining are on services from 28th December through to 31st December, so grab your tickets while you can. Many thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who are putting so much work into delivering these highly successful services!
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 wsr.org.uk to view the dates for other WSR gala events that are planned for 2022.
LOCO NEWS:
Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – Leroy and Ian F continued with the needle-gunning and rubbing down of D1010’s bodyside in preparation for corrosion repairs and a primer and undercoat repaint which will take place during the coming months. The large expanses of bodyside are a challenge, but so are the smaller features such as grilles and apertures, where power tools are of little use and progress is not so swift. The new LED lighting units make such a difference when working in the loco shed these days !
D1010 was showing a lot of bare skin on ‘A’ side at Williton on 11th December 2021 as Ian F tackled the detailed work involved with one of the air intake grilles. There are several of these hinged grilles, all of which need attention to their hinges and security latches, in addition to stripping and painting. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
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‘.
As announced last week, we are now offering a special LIMITED EDITION of 25 DAPOL OO-gauge models of D1010 in her original livery, with all proceeds from the sale of these models going to the D1010 Restoration Fund. Priority will be given to DEPG members until Friday 17th December, after which any remaining models will be offered to the general public. Expressions of interest can be emailed by using the CONTACT FORM.
Meanwhile, Gordon set to work on preparing the converter rail from the failed ‘B’ transmission for shipment to a professional engineering facility for disassembly. The converter rail comprises a common shaft upon which the three torque converter turbine wheels are mounted, so it is the ‘heart’ of the transmission and requires specialist equipment to disassemble the various stages. All of the other components, such as the turbine impellers, guides, housings, bearings and seals are mounted around the common shaft using press fits and taper fits, so the disassembly cannot be performed using simple tools – hence the need to send the complete assembly to an outside facility for the work to be carried out.
D1010’s transmission converter rail viewed after removal from the outer casing at Williton on 4th October 2019. The first converter stage (low speed) is within the housing on the left. The second stage (medium speed) is within the bulge on the right, and the third stage (high speed) is in the centre. The double-helical gear and the splines at the far right of the shaft are part of the reversing mechanism. Photo by Gordon Crook © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010’s transmission converter rail has been mounted on a pallet at Williton and secured for transportation. This assembly requires the use of specialist equipment when separating the many components that are mounted coaxially around the centre shaft, so it will be sent out to a suitably-equipped facility for the disassembly work to be done. Pictured on 11th December 2021 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
D1010’s transmission casing will remain at Williton and undergo cleaning and inspection prior to a repaint. The output shaft that couples to the bogie can be seen at the bottom of the casing and the two ‘black holes’ above the shaft are the locations of the reversing gears. Pictured on 11th December 2021 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
The converter rail will be sent to a specialist facility in January or February for the disassembly work to take place, after which the collection of parts will be returned to Williton for cleaning and detailed inspection to establish the root cause of the failure and ensure that the repair can be effected safely and reliably. It may take some time to obtain the necessary spare parts, depending on the findings, but we have to take this forward with one step at a time. More photos of the transmission can be found on Page 47 of 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 going to return D1010 to full operational condition.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) – this loco is the duty loco at Bishops Lydeard and has been operating regularly in support of the ‘Winterlights‘ trains that started on Friday 19th November 2021 in ‘top and tail’ mode, with steam haulage on the outward journey and diesel haulage on the return leg.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) – this loco received attention at Williton during the weekend in the form of an engine oil change involving the removal and replacement of 360 litres of oil (80 gallons) plus the changing of four oil filters, so it is not a quick job and it carries a hefty price tag, both for the new oil and the cost of disposing of the old oil. However, because of the policy of regular oil sampling and condition monitoring, it will be several years before it needs to be changed again.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) had the benefit of an engine oil change at Williton on Saturday 11th December 2021 where ‘Team Crompton’ (L-R: Ian, Tom and Bob) removed and replaced 360 litres (80 gallons) of engine oil and four oil filters. The barrel of new oil in the photo holds 205 litres, so the loco required almost two barrels ! Photo by Andy Royal © 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 – the rolling chassis took to the rails on Saturday 11th December under the control of Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 (ROF 1) for the short distance move from the WSR Restorations ‘Swindon Shed’ in the North Yard at Williton to the DEPG loco shed in the South Yard. This move now places our two main restoration projects side by side in our loco shed, where they can be worked on during the coldest winter months.
D9518’s newly re-created ‘rolling chassis’ was hauled out of the ‘Swindon Shed’ into the North Yard at Williton on 11th December 2021 by Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF 1) for the short distance move to the DEPG loco shed in the South Yard. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518’s ‘rolling chassis’ was captured on the Williton Railcam by volunteer Chris Lawton as it entered the South Yard on Saturday 11th December 2021, being propelled by Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF 1). Image by Railcam UK and the WSR © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518’s ‘rolling chassis’ enters the South Yard at Williton on 11th December 2021 wearing NCB colours, propelled by Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF 1) and under the watchful eye of restoration team member Colin G. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518’s ‘rolling chassis’ now occupies number 2 road inside the DEPG loco shed at Williton, where restoration work will proceed alongside that of another Swindon-built diesel-hydraulic, Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’. Pictured on 11th December 2021 by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
In addition to the high-profile completion and relocation of the ‘rolling chassis’, work proceeds on the many other components and sub-assemblies of D9518 including the large and heavy ‘Holset Coupling’ that fits between the engine and the transmission. This coupling is used to isolate the transmission from the vibrations that are a characteristic of V6 engines and consists of two heavy steel discs with interlocking ‘fingers’ that are separated by close-fitting hard rubber cylinders. The rubber provides flexibility without introducing free play or ‘backlash’. The whole assembly is very tightly fitted together so that it can transmit the torque from the engine without wearing out.
D9518’s ‘Holset Coupling’ with the end cover removed, exposing the internal structure and whole lot of rust ! Pictured at Williton on 11th December 2021 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
D9518’s ‘Holset Coupling’ was separated from the drive end flange by Colin F at Williton on 11th December 2021. The ‘drive’ and ‘driven’ parts now need to be separated so that the surfaces can be cleaned and inspected, and new rubber cylinders obtained if necessary. Photo by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0
All of this progress 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 based at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and 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.
Class 47 47077 ‘NORTH STAR’ – this loco remains stuck at Bishops Lydeard waiting for instructions for her move to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which is now expected to take place in Mid January 2022.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH 578 – this loco was in use again on Saturday 11th December even though she was still in a patchwork of different primer coats and undercoats and not looking her best. Her space in the loco shed has been taken by D9518 so this small but powerful machine is now destined to stand outside throughout the winter. As we do not expect to be doing any more shunting for the next few months, the loco has been covered over with a tarpaulin and work will re-commence on her bodywork in the spring.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH number 578 (ROF 1) has been covered over with a tarpaulin and will reside outdoors at Williton for the winter. Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) can be seen alongside on number 1 road. Pictured on Saturday 11th December 2021 by Andy Royal © 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 !