The New Arrival

As mentioned in the last edition, the department received a new addition to the fleet on Friday 18th December. Class 20, 20228, safely arrived from the Barry Tourist Railway courtesy of SA Smith heavy haulage. 

Below is a number of photos taken by HoD, Andy Durham, of its arrival at Toddington....

A very happy owner, Steve Madge, oversees the safe arrival of the pristine looking 20228.

Touchdown! Safely on the unloading road ready for shunting into the shed.

The nose end showing the new marker lights. 

Safely on shed alongside the ED, another of Steve's machines. Sadly, E6036 is the one making room for 20228 and will be leaving for pastures new when the formalities are concluded. 

Man and one of his machines! 

For the record, the restoration of 20228 to this condition has been quite a journey. Whereas sister loco (also owned by Steve), D8137, was complete and a runner on arrival at the GWsR in the 1990s, 20228 was one of the Class exported for use with CFD in France. It was adapted and altered to meet French railway safety requirements, including having large headlight clusters sited on the solebar, as can be seen from one of my blog pictures of 20035, that was broken for spares, from a couple of years ago...

20035, another of the Class that was exported to France along with 20228. Luckily, 20228 wasn't in such a bad condition but it gives you an idea of the job that Steve and his team at Barry faced to get the loco looking line it had just rolled out of Doncaster Works!

It is hoped that the finished touches to outside of the loco will be done whilst the exhauster is away being overhauled, and that this will allow the loco to be fit to run for the beginning of the 2021 season. Sadly, D8137, is still undergoing its Traction Motor replacement, but it is hoped that at some time during 2021 both Class 20s will work together - as they would have done many times over the Honeyborne line under BR. 

If you have a Facebook account, you can sign in to watch a fantastic video by Road Pilots Abnormal Load Escort of the journey of the loco heading out of Barry on its low loader. The link is HERE.

A Quick Update

Despite all the mystery around the new Coronavirus tiers and who can do what/go where, the past week has been full of little events that have seen the department move towards being ready for 2021. 

A few weeks ago, 1693 is shunted in the yard with 37215. 

Sadly, as I haven't been around, there are few picture (one of which has been craftily 'borrowed' from our C&W colleagues) but, Tuesday the 15th saw Class 47, 1693, escape the confines of Toddington yard and venture out on the line for a loaded test run along with sister loco, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' and 45149 as insurance/ballast. The weather was suitably clear to allow the convoy to do several runs up and down the line to check that everything was well with all the systems prior to its repaint, scheduled for early in 2021. Several members of the Brush Type 4 Fund had ventured up to crew, travel as fitters and to complete work on 47376's cab floor woodwork. It was pleasing to hear that everything went well with the test run and only a few small issues were identified. With things now in the final stages of its overhaul, it hopefully won't be long before we see 1693 back in rostered service. 

Pinched from the Carriage and Wagon Blog (sorry!), 1693, 45149 and 47376 pass Winchcombe on one of the test runs. (Courtesy of GWSR Carriage and Wagon Blog)

It has also been confirmed that the Department will see a new arrival on Friday, 18th December. No, nothing to do with the immaculate conception, but a new loco will be arriving as part of the home fleet. Steve Madge, owner of Class 20, D8137 and ED, E6036 also owns another Class 20 - 20228. This 'chopper' will be arriving to replace the ED which is off to pastures new in the future. Although not in running condition at the moment, 20228 has been resident at the Barry Tourist Railway since being returned from France where it was part of the CFD fleet. Whilst at Barry the loco has been returned to BR condition and has been repainted in BR Blue with its TOPS number but still requires an overhaul of its exhauster. It is hoped that both Class 20s will be in full service at some point during 2021 and will be able to work singly as well as in multiple.  

Elsewhere, work continues on Class 26, D5343 with a target set of being back in service at the beginning of the 2021 running season.  The lift of Class 37, D6948 has been scheduled for early January which will allow access to the underfloor air leak and will allow the bogies to receive the same attention as has been completed on sister, 37215. 37215 has been 'yard tested' to ensure that all systems are in working order prior to a test run being conducted. Prior to organising this the loco requires a new set of batteries and B Exam. 

Shunter, 11230 has been stopped with a starter motor issue whilst D2280 headed to Winchcombe, but I'm not sure why! There is the possibility it was heading to C&W to make use of the paint shop....however this is just supposition.  

The DMU fleet has also continued to receive various degrees of work and maintenance. The three car set has had its cycled exam and is now winterised as it is not being utilised on Santa trains this year. That being said, it will be the first to see action in the new year, all things being well, as the new operating year is scheduled to start nearly a month earlier with a period of DMU only running in February. The CDRL have secured a tarpaulin for Class 117 DMBS, W51372 whilst it waits its turn for refurbishment. The group are also looking to do a bit of winter prep on Class 107 DMS, Sc52059 and Class 117 TCL, W59505 to try and tidy up their appearance a little and to prevent any cold weather damage. The overhaul continues on Class 122, W55003, with more work ongoing with the door frames. 

It is unlikely that much will be ongoing over the Christmas period so, on behalf of the Department, Merry Xmas and stay safe.