Wildlife Rescue comes to Toddington....

We are just under a week away from our Autumn Diesel Weekend over the 12th and 13th October - a weekend of intensive diesel running to see out the end of high point of the season. The previous years have been marketed as a full 'gala' event but, this year, it was decided to just have a weekend of intensive diesel running with only a few extra frills. All our serviceable fleet will be in action at some point, and it will see the last opportunity to get the red pens out for haulage behind our visitor, 50035 'Ark Royal', before she is due to head back to its home at Kidderminster TMD and the SVR. Further details, and the timetable, can be accessed here. As a pre-cursor, bear in mind that none of our locos will be able to provide heat so wrap up warm as its supposed to be a bit chilly!

The roster consists of:
Class 24, 5081 (back in traffic after its Load Regulator issue)
Class 26, D5343
Class 37, D6948
Class 45, 45149
Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'
Class 50, 50035 'Ark Royal'
Class 73, E6036.

This weekend (5th and 6th October) saw a lot of final preparation as well as a fair bit of working going on. With the Winter drawing in and the diesel requirement for the timetable now mostly DMU reliant, it was time to turn attention to planning for the maintenance period and what needs to be done before the new season begins in April 2020. In the mess room a new whiteboard had appeared with the current fleet status on it. I'm sure over the next few months it will become more crowded and full of jobs to do for each loco in due course!

Dragging ourselves into the 20th Century! 

As you can tell our current fleet status sees D8137, 37215, and 1693 out of traffic. The list only includes the mainline contingent at present and doesn't include Class 26, 5310, which is with us from the Llangollen Railway for attention.

There was plenty of shunting to do first up on Saturday. The regulars from the Brush Type 4 Group were hoping to arrange the Warflat wagon that contains the remaining roof section of 1693 on Road 11, behind the loco. This meant making a bit more room by shunting 37215's bogies towards the back of the shed prior to moving 1693 out, hooking up to the Warflat and then shunting both the Warflat and 1693 back on to Road 11.

37215's bogies had returned earlier in the week from a brief visit to Freightliner's Midland Road TMD in Leeds for tyre turning. Having been sent up at the beginning of the week, they were back within 24 hours with shiny 'new' profiles. Huge thanks to Freightliner/Genessee & Wyoming for the work and speed of turn around.

37215's bogies are returned from Midland Road TMD. (Courtesy of Kev Jarvis)

The newly profiled wheelsets sit at the back of Road 11 prior to being carefully shunted back for more space. D8137's bogies are sat behind on Road 10. 

Shiny 'new' profiles.

With the bogies carefully moved back to the very end of Road 11 the shunt could be completed to move the Warflat next to 1693.

11230 does the honours as it draws 47376 'Freightliner 1995' and sister 1693 out into the yard.

The Warflat with 1693's roof section carefully secured to it. 

The roof section safely re-sited on Road 11 with 1693 in front.

In previous weeks the roof section on the Warflat had been taken back to the metal with some final welding completed by Mark S. Dave M was given the task of cleaning the metal work and starting with the application of the first layer of primer. Tim and 'H' were also working on part of the roof section - this being the roof section already on the loco that contains the louvers for the cooling system. This was being taken back to metal and the securing screw holes cleaned ready for refastening and priming. There was also evidence of a fair amount of filling going on on the body sides that were awaiting sanding back to give a smooth finish.

37215's bogies would also receive some attention later in the day as Kev J would appear to start work on re-cleaning the Traction Motors and Isolators ready for the work to start on replacing the bushes and bellows. Meanwhile, the loco itself sits out in the yard on accommodation bogies while it waits to be reunited with its own wheelsets.

Usually an indoor cat, 37215 finds itself amongst the detritus of the yard while it waits the work on its bogies to be concluded. 

I allied myself with Steve M who was needing a hand to finish off some work on his Class 20, D8137. Over the last weekend the loco was lifted from its bogies with the set taken from its demic sister, 20035, put underneath as accommodation bogies. D8137's own bogies were than shunted back into the shed ready for the removal of the expired Traction Motor. The following are a pair of photos from one of our young volunteers, Alex Barnard, who was present for the lift. Cheers, Alex.

D8137 becomes the fourth diesel loco to be lifted this year. Like the others, this was the first lift since being withdrawn from BR service. 29/09/19. (Courtesy of Alex Barnard)

 

HoD, Andy Durham, checks one of the jacks to ensure accuracy of lift. (Courtesy of Alex Barnard)

D8137's bogies on Road 10 awaiting the removal of the suspect motor.

D8137 rests on its accommodation bogies from sister, 20035, in the surroundings of the David Page shed. 

After removing the remaining lifting brackets and securing them back in the diesel shed, I moved onto cleaning up one of the Traction Motors from scrapped 20035. Its amazing how much filth accumulates around the Motors over the course of their working lives and this one was no different. After a lot of wire brushing and application of grease, it was ready for Steve to assess if it was worth keeping or if he would sell it on.

Whilst in the David Page shed I was able to get a look at the CDRL's Class 122 'bubble car', W55003, which is progressing with its overhaul. It has now received a first brushings of top coat BR Green. The underframe has also received a full coating of black with the electrical conduits painted in bright orange. The roof also appears to have had a coat of grey, also. Most of the work seems to now be concentrated on the interior and, in particular, the cab areas.

How much longer until the destination blind is set for CRC in anger once again? 

Also in the David Page shed, Class 04, D2280, has been taken out of service and is receiving some body work attention. With DES now back in front line shunting service (although it currently has flat batteries) D2280 can receive the attention it has needed since arriving from its previous home. As well as the body work attention the '04' needs its wheels re-profiling.

Our 'real' Class 04, D2280, receives some much needed body work attention. What livery will it return in? 

With the Traction Motor cleaned, I then went on to help Steve to retrieve a few more bits and pieces from the remains of 20035 that had been 'stored' down in the yard. At the bottom of Toddington yard is the original Growler Group inspection pit - built in 2002 'in memory of Kev's legs'!

The original Growler Group inspection pit. Plaque raised in memory of 'Kev's legs'!

This was from back when the a lot of the diesel maintenance was still done in the yard as opposed to undercover in a nice dry shed. It is now the home of our 'A-Frame' gantry and is usually used to stable the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group locos - D5343 and 45149 - and the ED, E6036. The siding is also being used to stable 37215 and visiting Class 26, 5310. In the near future, the site is earmarked as the home of the new fuelling point and storage tank.

The first, large, bit to retrieve was the control cubicle that had once been sat inside 20035's engine room. This was to be moved onto the concrete apron next to the pit before being moved into the car park with the use of the telehandler. However, with 5310 and 45149 in close proximity, it would be difficult to get the telehandler in without potentially causing damage.

20035's old control cubicle.

Our Traction Inspector, Tony B, had decided that that moment was as good as any to awaken the sleeping giant known as 'The Ark'! Tony had decided that due to 50035 not having run for a few weeks, it was prudent to take the EE Type 4 on a quick test run as it was due to operate the diesel turn the following day. It was, however blocked in by DES and D5343, which had been parked rather haphazardly.

D5343 had been left in no man's land during a previous shunt, blocking in 50035.

50035's 2700 horsepower English Electric 16 CSVT erupts into life. 

The Sunday would also be a special day for Tony as it would mark 40 years to the day of taking his first 'solo' driving turn for BR after passing out a few days before in October 1979. What better way to mark it than on a loco that Tony would have been very familiar with in his time on the Western Region. Congrats, Tony.

Cue another shunt to move the two locos away from the point of danger and free 50035 from its blockade. Tim was requisitioned to leave his duties with 1693 in order to help complete the shunt before manning the telehandler to move the cubicle.

Having collected D5343, Tim eases 11230 and company up to DES before heading back to move 5310 and 45149 clear of the pit. 

With the shunt complete Tim and Steve went to collect the telehandler. With the locos now moved from over the pit it revealed something unusual. We are quite accustomed at finding random dead wildlife in the bottom, as it fills with oil, water and other loco fluids but, we don't usually find anything alive in there. That is until today! Floating around on an old pallet were 7 small toads!

I wouldn't expect these to turn into Prince's, ladies! 

The discovery alerted Simon, who had ensconced himself away in the CDMG container. He was joined by Roger from the Steam Department who, complete with plastic container filled with clean water, was on hand to transport the amphibians to a more suitable habitat.

Simon goes all David Attenborough on us as Roger keeps an eye on the bucket. Hopefully, the toads appreciated the help they received at being liberated from the foulness of the pit. 

With the excitement of a real life Wildlife Rescue diminished, it was back to the heavy labour. Tim and Steve had returned with the telehandler and the cubicle was hoisted onto a pallet and then ratchet strapped to the forks of the telehandler. Tim then gingerly proceeded up the yard and onto the car park, where the cubicle was set down by the mess room.

Hopefully it doesn't get a ticket! 

It was then back down the yard to grab a couple of louvers and body side doors to be taken back to dry storage.

The louvers from 20035 are wrestled onto the forks of the telehandler. 37215 looks on. 

In the meantime, Tony had departed with 50035 and was now on Siding 1 awaiting a path in the timetable to Winchcombe. He had taken Richard G, who had returned after a short sabbatical, for a refresher run prior to Richard rejoining the active Driver Roster. 'The Ark' would return about half an hour later, complete with a beaming Richard at the controls.

50035 'Ark Royal' heads back towards Toddington after its brief sojourn to Winchcombe. 

With the heavy lifting and loco movements completed it was back to the mundane, but vital, cleaning. Steve had recovered a lot of spares from 20035 whilst scrapping it on site and a lot of them needed cleaning. In particular, a number of bearing cases needed the accumulated muck cleaned away, as well as a few from D8137 that had been removed, previously. With some dirty rags, a scraper and a small amount of kerosene, its amazing how clean things can become.

A pair were cleaned in total before the light began to fade and the call of one last cuppa rang across the shed.

With the season now drawing to a close, the mainline fleet will soon be retired for the Winter Maintenance period. Weekdays have now reverted to the BLUE timetable, which sees the DMU in use along with steam. There are two more GREEN timetable days which sees a diesel running on each day, as well as the DMU as part of the Cotswold Food and Drink Fayre. There is, finally, two PURPLE timetable days in November before the Santa season takes over. Diesel running is then briefly restarted on Boxing Day and over the New Year. The current October roster looks like this - not including the Diesel Weekend and usual availability caveats apply:

GREEN
Saturday 19th October - D5343 and DMU
Sunday 20th October   - 5081 and DMU

PURPLE
Saturday 2nd November - D6948
Sunday 3rd November    - D6948

BLUE - DMU
8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st October

RED - DMU
Saturday 26th October
Sunday 27th October.