A Quick Update and A Week of Firsts!

The 2018 running season has now entered its second week, leaving just a few more days to go until the official public opening of Broadway station. However, on the 21st March, the first scheduled passenger train travelled over the Worcestershire border and into the new Broadway Station for the first time in nearly 60 years. The railway's 'Merchant Navy', 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co', more universally known as 'P&O' was handed the job of hauling the first 'Shareholders and Volunteer' Special to the new station.

The diesel hauled service had to wait until 1600 when English Electric Type 3 (Class 37), D6948 made its way from Toddington becoming the first diesel locomotive to haul a passenger train into Broadway station. At the same time, Peter Smith (one of D6948's  owners/Driver) and Paul Cronin (Secondman) became the first diesel crew to operate a passenger service to Broadway. Peter kindly provided a couple of photos of the event.

In homage to the long lamented 'Cornishman', the only named service to be timetabled to traverse the line, D6948 had its route indicator blinds set to reflect the reporting numbers of the 'Up' and 'Down' services. The first departure to Broadway showing '1H32' which was the reporting number for the 1030 Penzance - Wolverhampton Low Level and the departure from Broadway showing '1C33' for the 0900 Wolverhampton Low Level - Penzance. 

D6948 sits in Broadway Platform 1 on the 21st March 2018 after arrival with the final special service of the day. Headcode '1H32' proudly showing. (Courtesy of Peter Smith)

Ready to return to Toddington, D6948 waits the road looking very much at home. (Courtesy of Peter Smith)

In reality, the 'Cornishman' never saw an EE Type 3 operating the service - D6948 not being released into traffic until 18 months after the service stopped. The booked motive power was generally a 'Castle' class steam loco from Wolverhampton shed and it is unlikely that any diesel would have worked the service...although I stand to be corrected, if anyone knows.

The weekend before the celebration at Broadway, Class 26, D5343, headed off to the Mid Norfolk Railway for their Spring Diesel Gala, held over the weekend 16th to 18th March. Several 'firsts' were to occur for the 'McRat' over the weekend. All photos are courtesy of Tony Richards, who headed over to Norfolk to crew the loco over the weekend.

D5343 at Dereham heading a rake of Blue and Grey liveried Mk2 air braked coaches for the first time in nearly 30 years. 16/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards) 

On the 17th, the loco encountered a little problem with taking power requiring the loco to be rescued and returned to Dereham for further attention. The rescue loco was to be DRS owned Class 88 Electro-Diesel, 88008 'Ariadne' providing the unlikely-to-be-repeated sight of a Class 88 paired with a Class 26!!

A first, and probably, a last! Brand new DRS Class 88, 88008 'Ariadne' is coupled to D5343. 17/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards)

As the snow starts to fall, the unlikely pairing are readied for departure. 17/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards)

After a bit of head scratching, the problem was identified as a reset AWS switch which had been overlooked and the Class 26 was back to operational condition quickly.

One of the other visiting locomotives was 'Peak', 45060 'Sherwood Forrester' owned by the Pioneer Diesel Group and sister to our very own 45149. Whereby our 1Co-Co1 has an Electric Train Heating (ETH) Generator, 45060 was fitted with a steam heat boiler - the Steam Heat pipe clearly visible on the buffer beam, just to the left of the right hand buffer.

While Simon takes a break from the cab, 45060 'Sherwood Forrester' brings up the rear of a crossing service at Thuxton. 17/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards)

The UK saw more snow on the 18th March leading to services at the GWSR being suspended, however, the final day of the Mid Norfolk gala continued unaffected. The scenes provided were reminiscient of D5343's former stomping grounds in the Highlands of Scotland.

A cold start! 18/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards)

If the stock was Blue and Grey this could easily be mistaken for the Highlands of Scotland instead of Hoe in Norfolk! 18/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richards)

D5343 was the only GWSR loco to run during the 'extreme' weather. She looks at home waiting at Thuxton for the Northbound service to cross. 18/03/18. (Courtesy of Tony Richard) 

The running season beginneth!

Where has the last couple of months gone?

The weekend just passed (10/11 March) saw services resume again for the 2018 timetable, and the countdown to Broadway well and truly in sight....less than 3 weeks! The Class 117, fully kitted out with its new refreshment area, was out keeping 'Foremarke Hall' company on the Light Blue timetable. The unit was running with the two DMBS trailers, W51363 and W51360, as the formations' DMS, W51405, is still awaiting a little more TLC courtesy of 'Dr.' George and the DMU team and, our colleagues at Carriage and Wagon.

In the late afternoon sun, W51360 leads the DMU back into Toddington. Messers Kirwan and Carr at the helm.

One of the two 'latest' DMU arrivals, W51370, has disappeared to pastures new. The remaining Class 117 DMBS, W51372, and Class 107 DMS, Sc52029, await the call to restoration when time allows.

The job awaiting the DMU team when W51372 is called to the restoration line.

Saturday 10th saw 8 of us working on the Mainline locos undertaking final preparations for re-awakening the fleet for 2018. Despite a fairly warm outside temperature, the shed was still a little frigid. Many of the locos were showing condensation on their bodysides, giving indication of the cold temperatures experienced in recent weeks, hopefully, giving way to more Spring-like conditions.

D6948's body side and cab side window showing signs of the increasing temperature coupled with the cold atmosphere in the shed.

Work has continued to progress on the Class 24 bogie refurbishment and the end is now in sight for the work to be completed on the first wheelset. Most of the frame has now had a coating of primer, undercoat and, now, top coat and, most of the brake rigging has now been refitted to the frame. Most, if not all, of the springs are now in place and it can't be too long before the frame is lowered back on to its wheels and, the Traction Motors are re-sited.

The frame of 5081's No.1 end bogie is almost all in black top coat, or in grey undercoat.

Still in primer, the brake rigging is re-sited onto the frame. 

The Class 47's saw Tim, 'H' and Dave undertaking various tasks. 47376 'Freightliner 1995' is due to be rostered in April and, with the temperature in the shed rising suitably quickly, Dave was able to progress with the painting of the buffer beams and solebar at both ends.

47376's no.1 end buffer beam. The buffer beam and pipe heads in undercoat. Just the top coat to go. 

47376's no.2 end buffer beam and pipework. The buffer beam is also awaiting its top coat as the pipe heads have been striped back to the metal work and await primer and undercoat.

Dave undercoating the pipe heads at no.2 end.

Tim and 'H' continued with 1693's long term restoration and the repainting of the injector heads ready for refitting to the Sulzer engine. More preparation was also undertaken on the body sides ready for more corrosion to be cut out and repaired.

Out on the apron of Road 11, Class 20 'donor', 20035 sat minus about a third of its nose. This loco was bought by the owner of D8137 (who also owns Class 73, E6036, and Class 20, 20228 at Barry) to be sacrificed as spares. Having had its radiators and the cooler group equipment removed it is now awaiting the time where the power unit and bogies to be removed and the body grounded for eventual scrapping. This isn't going to be immediate as some alterations to the storage areas around the shed need to be completed to allow for safe, secure storage.

Something appears to be missing!

50+ years of heat, oil and grime stains one of the inner walls of 20035.

20035's salvaged remains....or, at least, the first lot!

Out in the yard, Tony, Richard G, Ian and myself headed over to Class 26, D5343, to finish a couple of small jobs and to start cleaning her up ready for the trip to Dereham and the Mid Norfolk Railway where the loco is due to star in the MNR's Spring Diesel Gala. D5343 was being collected on the Monday, 12th March so needed to be ready for movement into the car park at Toddington by the end of Sunday. First thing that needed to be done was to secure the metal flooring in the engine room so as to limit trips. After searching the for the pot containing the screws, and finding there were a lot fewer than we needed, started fitting the plates together and hunting out holes in the floor to secure the plates to.

Tony's legs do a very passable impression of the adjacent fire bottles! 

Once we had managed to secure enough of the plate to the frame of the engine room it was time to start cleaning the cabs of rubbish, tools and flies! One of the more unpleasant sides of the preservation environment is the incursion of all manner of small (and not so small) animals and insects into, what you think, are secure locomotives. It is a well known fact that some species of fly need places that are moist and warm to breed. Locomotive engine rooms, especially if stabled outside, seem to fit this bill perfectly - especially in the filter sponges. D5343 is no exception and a valiant, if futile, effort was made to try and eradicate as many as possible. Windows and doors were opened in the vain hope that the obstinate insects would like to experience the wider world of Toddington yard with only minor success!! We tried! However, it isn't just flies that get into the confines of the locos as was testament to the amount of bird 'leavings' adorning the cab surfaces. With D5343 and, moreso, 45149, it is not unusual to find nests and the like in and around the bogies and external bodywork but more unusual to find evidence of them INSIDE the locomotive. Armed with some heavy duty cleaner, blue roll and builders wipes the four of us set to work cleaning down both cabs.

During a lull in fly swatting, a quick photo of our colleagues in P' Way working on the new south turnout at Toddington. Doing a cracking job, fellas!! 

The McRat being readied for another trip away from the GWR.

As well securing the metal floor in the engine room, Richard wanted to see about securing some of the cab flooring that was floating freely on the bulkheads running through the floor. So many holes but hardly any lined up with each other!

Richard plays 'Russian Roulette' with the cab floor.

Surely the locomotive wasn't delivered from Eastfield by UPS??! A random label addressed to a member of the CMDG at Toddington found under the cab desk.

Also found, pictures of 26043 in the David Page shed shortly after arrival from Scotland. Its amazing to see how far the loco, as well as the inside of the Steam Shed, has come in 13 years!! 

After the cleaning of the cabs had been done Tony and I returned to the engine room to give the engine itself a bit of a clean. Over the Winter the engine room had taken in quite a lot of water. We weren't sure if this had come through the roof or there was a leak interally. No sufficient hole could be found in the fibreglass roof or in the seals around it, but, given the amount of standing water, was it too much for an internal leak - especially as the loco had not run since before Christmas. We cleaned it up as best we could and referred it onto Andy, Simon and Curly who were in on Sunday.

Tony starts mopping up.

Elsewhere, in the yard, 'DES' was parked behind 45149 as it awaits the work to commence on repairing its axles. The owning group hve had a number of quotes and are looking at progressing the work as soon as funds allow. The likelihood, though, is the reliance on the Class 04 as sole Toddington shunter will continue for the near future at least. Although, not quite as long as we were anticipating (cue the suspense!)!

Behind 'DES' was positioned another shunter. One I have seen a few times, although usually parked at the back of the steam shed. I am not quite sure the history of this one. Previous incarnations of the GWR website listed a a shunter by the name of 'Daisy' and with the running number 21 but I have never seen any loco carrying either moniker since I joined the railway in 2013. Other than that, I know nothing other than it is......

......a John Fowler & Co 0-4-0 diesel shunter. As you can see from the photo it was built in 1957 - potentially making it the oldest diesel locomotive on the railway. I am sure there is someone in the Motive Power Department who would be able to enlighten us further!

The 0-4-0 is obviously having some work done on its engine.

In the immortal words of CAT from Red Dwarf......'What is it?'

Sunday, 11th March was another fine day. I was only at Toddington briefly for a Diesel Group meeting. One of the major points from the meeting was a resolution to our potential shunter problem. With 'DES' not available for traffic for the foreseeable future and 11230 playing freely with its reliability, the railway (read Motive Power department) took the decision to actively look for another option. This has been found in the shape of another Class 04 shunter that is being purchased privately by an active GWR volunteer - this one being from the BR order rather than being an industrial version masquerading as a BR Class 04, as 11230 is. We have no further details as yet, so watch this space.

We also had some good news on a couple of larger projects that we hoped to have completed during 2018 with funding secured. Shed lighting has arrived and will hopefully be installed in the Diesel Shed during 2018, as will the concreting of the apron outside Roads 10 and 11 with a view to the Gantry Crane being installed in the future. In addition, the loco pit in the yard (in front of where the Class 26 is positioned) has had a new pump fitted with a view to pumping out the near 2 foot of filthy water contained therein and putting it back into full use.

We also discussed the Summer Gala and the possibilities for visitors. There were a number of options centered around four possibilities. Sadly, one of those possibilities, D1010 from the DEPG at Williton on the West Somerset Railway is now unavailable but, the remaining three options are now being investigated with a view to having one guest loco in the Summer for our first Diesel Gala to be running to/from Broadway. Further details will be announced in the near future.

After conclusion of the meeting, I had a quick scan round to see what was happening before heading back home for a Mothers Day meal with my Mam. 37215 had been pulled out of the shed and fired up by Kev and Mark S. It was so nice to hear the EE 12CVST engine shattering the peace of the Cotswolds once more!

37215 basks in the sunshine as she is started up for the first time in 2018.

BR Blue in Toddington Yard...along with rusting CFD orange.

D5343 was having its final checks before being hauled into the car park ready for picking up on Monday, 12th March for its trip to the Mid Norfolk Railway. Curly, Simon and Andy checked the underside of the loco including the brakes and general condition. She is due back at the GWR in mid-April.

Curly emerges from under D5343 as he inspects the underframe ready for the locos visit to the MNR.

'Peak' 45149 was also receiving some attention to its compressor at no.2 end. This compressor had failed in 2017 amd was repaired during the close season. With the 'Peak' due to be used in the first week after Easter a full shake down was required to ensure the locomotives' fitness to run.

With the 2018 season now underway the diesel fleet will be in use on the following days through March and early April....

Light Blue Timetable - Toddington - Cheltenham RC - Toddington

• Saturday 17th March - Class 117 DMU
• Sunday 18th March - Class 117 DMU
• Saturday 25th March - Class 117 DMU
• Sunday 26th March - Class 117 DMU

Easter Special Timetable - 1600 Toddington - Cheltenham RC; 1705 Cheltenham RC - Toddington

• Friday 30th March - Class 37, D6948
• Saturday, 31st March - Class 37, D6948
• Sunday, 1st April - Class 37, D6948
• Monday 2nd April - Class 37, D6948

Purple Timetable - 1535 Toddington - Cheltenham RC; 1630 Cheltenham RC - Toddington

• Tuesday, 3rd April - Class 45, 45149
• Wednesday, 4th April - Class 37, 37215
• Thursday, 5th April - Class 45, 45149
• Saturday, 7th April - Class 37, 37215
• Sunday, 8th April - Class 37, 37215
• Tuesday, 10th April - Class 26, D5343
• Wednesday, 11th April - Class 26, D5343
• Thursday, 12th April - Class 26, D5343

Pink Timetable - Broadway - Cheltenham RC - Broadway

• Saturday, 14th April - Class 47, 47376
• Sunday, 15th April - Class 47, 47376

Usual caveats apply - locos may change depending on operational availability. 

 

S-no-w joke.

I, and perhaps many of the department, had hoped to be at the railway this weekend for a full weekend of getting locos ready for the new season - but, the heavy fall of snow and subsequent icy conditions have put paid to that. Roads around Toddington have been closed and, even with my All Wheel Drive Subaru Impreza, I wouldn't make it down the winding hill near my home in one piece to get on the M5! We were scheduled to have the Growler Group AGM on Sunday and our HoD, Andy, and I were due to start our Driver Theory training. Both, now postponed until the weather is less treacherous. Damn!

We have just 1 week - 7 days - until the new running season starts in earnest and, it is the DMU that will see the first diesel running of the 2018 season. The close season has seen Dr. George and the team give L425 some much needed TLC. The past weekend (25/02) saw work continue on the engines of DMBS W51363 and on the rebuild of Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003.

A deserted yard at Toddington. On the left, W51370 awaits colletion by its new owners, Class 20, 20035 contniues to undergo component recovery, W51363 over the pit and, far right, Class 04, 11230. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The DMBS has had an ongoing issue with engine #1; one of those annoying faults that comes and goes as it pleases and has no rational cause. Despite running the engine and trying to recreate the conditions of the fault, it ended up with NFF - No Fault Found. Number 2 engine was rebuilt in early 2017 and, despite running without fault, it had now developed a slight water leak. The copper jacket on one of the pumps wasn't sealing properly. It was also making a knocking noise, causing a slight worry.

No.2 engine with covers removed. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The troublesome water jacket, centre picture. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

Dr. George works his magic to expand the copper jacket and improve the seal. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

No more water leak, but the intermittent knocking was still there. However, as with engine No. 1, no cause could be indentified. With these Leyland engines now becoming very scarce every effort has to be taken to ensure the longevity of these engines.

The TCL from the unit, W59510, has been on its travels to Carriage and Wagon at Winchcombe in order to have a counter fitted so that light refreshments can be served on BLUE timetable days when Broadway is open. You can catch up with the progress here. You can also see some pictures of the resident Class 03 doing what it does best.

W55003 saw Bryan and Alex working in the cold of the David Page shed - a small bonus being inside out of the biting wind! As it was too cold to paint, Bryan was employed on making and fitting the first of the door plugs for the internal door frames. One side has been completed and a start made on the other. Alex spent most of the day making a new desk panel to go around the horn valve.

Alex's good work! A nice new panel. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The mainline diesel fleet have the 'luxury' of another few weeks of R&R with the first scheduled public run for the mainline fleet with the opening of Broadway on the 30th March and the Easter weekend. Class 37, D6948, is scheduled to be the operational locomotive for the weekend making use of the steam heat boiler on the last trip from Toddington to Cheltenham and return on each day of the Easter Weekend. With the exception of the DMU, the mainline fleet do not have a first public run to Broadway until the PINK timetable weekend commencing 14th April, although the loco roster has not been confirmed.

In the meantime, D6948 will be making its first visit to Broadway on the 21st and 22nd March when it hauls the final 'Shareholders and Volunteers' specials on both days from the new station. However, these are not public trains and the whole site will not be open to the general public.

Elsewhere, Class 26, D5343, is being prepped ready for its movement to the Mid Norfolk Railway for their Diesel Gala in Mid-March and for an extended stay at Dereham. 

The bogie overhaul on the Class 24 is progressing well. Most of the brake rigging is now in situ and has been repainted with black top-coat. With the majority of spings now sited and almost ready for the re-sitting of the frame, the Traction Motors are having a clean up and repaint before being re-fitted. 

D1693's overhaul also continues apace with the engine seeing more items cleaned, repainted and refitted. More rusty metal work was cut or ground back ready for replacement steel to be welded in place. Sister loco, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' has had its buffer beams primed and partially top coated. The pipework has also been cleaned of paint ready for new coats to be applied when the weather warms up a bit. 

Running deatils for March -

Services start again on Saturday, 10th March 2018 with a Light Blue timetable service. The DMU will operate between Toddington and Cheltenham along along with one steam engine. 

Class 117, L425

10th/ 11th March Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

17th/18th March Toddington- Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

24th/25th March Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

Over Easter a special timetable is in plae for the official opening of Broadway station. A diesel loco will work the final service from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse and return to Toddington.

Class 37, D6948

30th/31st March 1600 Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse and 1705 Cheltenham - Toddington

Loco allocations are yet to be made for the other Easter Days on the 01st and 02nd April.