In the last blog we had a nice extract by Tom Cullimore shedding light on the 1971-2 Summer Working Timetable for the Honeybourne - Cheltenham line and the passenger services that had been timetabled over the route during that period due to engineering work on the Lickey Incline. Well, it wasn't just passenger traffic that continued to be routed over the line during the late 60s and into the 70s. A number of freight services traveling into the Western Region from the Midlands were specifically routed over the line to keep the old LM line through Bromsgrove clear for passengers services. So, here is the final excerpt from Tom showcasing the Working Timetable for 1972.
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| Brush Type 4, 1727 (47135, 47664, 47819 and 47784 under TOPS) passes the British Legion Club at Bishops Cleeve with a special Class 8 coal train on 20/12/1970. (Photo by Bill Potter, courtesy of Tom Cullimore) |
"Special freights ran on an 'as required' basis, and the Honeybourne Line had a fair share of these traveling along it in the last decade of usage judging by the photographs and memories that exist. The photo above being one such example. Having acquired a working timetable from 1971/72 I was able to compile a list of the scheduled freight services that were pathed over the line. This covers a 24 hour period of the Monday - Friday timetable that commenced on the 6th March 1972. Times indicated are departure times from place of origin.
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| Another from the prolific lens of the late Bill Potter is this gem depicting EE Type 4, D316 heading out of Winchcombe towards Greet tunnel with a loaded coal train, probably for Severn Tunnel, sometime in 1970. Class 40s, as the EE Type 4 became under TOPS, were not regular visitors to the Western Region, and probably even more rare on the Honeybourne Line, so this was a fantastic capture. (Courtesy of Tom Cullimore) |
UP (Northbound) Services:
8E38 22.50 Cardiff Long Dyke - Sheffield Tinsley Yard
8E67 02.52 Severn Tunnel Junction - Sheffield Tinsley Yard
8E63 04.55 Radyr - Scunthorpe
8M19 12.50 Gloucester - Washwood Heath
8M22 14.25 Severn Tunnel Junction - Washwood Heath
8E55 11.40 Radyr - Penshaw
8E52 15.25 Radyr - Treeton
8E46 15.50 Radyr - Normanton Park
7E08 20.12 Bristol, Temple Meads Yard - Sheffield Tinsley Yard
DOWN (Southbound) Services:
8V95 22.18 Toton Yard - Bristol, St. Phillips Marsh
8V52 00.54 Washwood Heath - Gloucester
6V72 19.59 Leeds, Wellington Street - Bristol, Temple Meads Yard
8V49 00.58 Washwood Heath - Severn Tunnel Junction
8V50 05.24 Washwood Heath - Bristol, West Depot
8V62 08.41 Washwood Heath - Gloucester
8V66 03.20 Normandy Park - Cardiff Tidal
8V69 10.49 Washwood Heath - Bristol, West Depot
7V63 11.15 Sheffield, Tinsley Yard - Severn Tunnel Junction
8V71 15.11 Washwood Heath - Severn Tunnel Junction
8V77 18.17 Washwood Heath - Bristol, West Depot
8V54 17.15 Toton Yard - Westbury
8V85 09.40 Tees Yard - Severn Tunnel Junction
8V84 15.15 Normandy Park - Severn Tunnel Junction
6V23 18.46 Tunstead - Margam Yard
8V43 22.10 Washwood Heath - Severn Tunnel Junction."
As you can see from Toms' article, even without last minute diversions and re-routed services, the Working Timetable for 1971/72 shows that the Honeybourne Line continued to see a fair amount of traffic traverse its rails - if all the trains shown above ran then there would be a minimum of 25 trains a day. This activity is very much on a par with the steam era, although the 'fast' and freight services during the steam era would be supplemented by the local passenger trains until 1960. This continuing traffic level could account for the permanent way always seeming to be in a very good state in every photo seen from this period.
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| A final one from the lens of Bill Potter, this time from 27/12/1967. We see 'Hymek' D7090 dropping down from Cheltenham Malvern Road towards Lansdown Junction with a scrap metal train running as 6Z34. (Courtesy of Tom Cullimore) |
So, we now fast forward to 2023 and the new season at the GWSR. At the end of March, the Diesel Shed received a bit of an update to the facilities. One of the bug-bears of the shed was the heavy roller shutter doors the lead out into the yard. Since the shed was built the doors have been wholly manual which had meant spending an obscene amount of effort - especially first thing in the morning! - manually raising the door by means of a chain. To lower them was even more troublesome, as a slip in your technique and the door could come crashing to the ground. So, back in 2022, the railway agreed to help fund automation of the raise/lower function. On the 29 and 30/03 this was completed on both doors courtesy of a couple of guys from Mercian Industrial Doors.
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| Cheers to Mercian Industrial Doors for making our lives so much easier! |
Doing any work over that period requireing movement of the locos was not possible so other tasks needed to be undertaken. I tagged along with John G whilst he did his checks on the lifting jacks. We have the jacks inspected, along with other elements of lifting equipment, on a 6-monthly basis and, with the jacks, this means having to lower each jack, checking the motion and movement, removing the pins and given a visual check to make sure there is nothing untoward. It was interesting to see, and get involved, in this vital task.
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| John tries to remember how the panel works for the jacks. |
The mainline locos made their entrance to the rosters on April 1st when EE Type 3, D6948 made it's return to passenger services after three years out of traffic. It was given both days of the weekend, working the Pink timetable on the Sunday. I was lucky enough to get the job of crewing the Sunday, with John G, and a great day was had getting the mileage back into the wheel of the 'Green Machine'. We were joined by a number of Class 37 aficionados, including a number from the Growler Group to share in the event.
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| D6948 sits at Winchcombe waiting to cross the southbound service, as the cloud starts to break overhead on 02/04/2023. | |
D6948 has taken the lions' share of the turns for April as it continues its return to traffic, although, as expected after so long out of traffic, there have been a couple of small issues identified that will need to be investigated, most notably a very intermittent loss of power. This was highlighted on the 2nd April on the locos last round trip, although no fault lights were illuminated in the cab. After a quick conflab with one of the owners of the loco once we were back on shed, a likely cause was whittled down to the fuel filters being clogged causing some minor fuel starvation. The fuel filters were not changed/cleaned before the loco entered service so it is likely that, given its proximity to dust, dirt and grime whilst in the David Page shed, and when 47105 was in the final stages of its overhaul. When D6948 has a lull in its duties then the filters can be removed and cleared of any mess. There are also a couple of oil leaks that need to be looked at, including the one below....
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| A small leak has appeared in the pipe in the centre of the picture. The pipe comes from what is thought to be an oil feed from a pressurizing valve for the turbos, but this needs confirming by GG Tech officer, Paul Good. |
However, nothing is imminently likely to cause the loco to be withdrawn from traffic and it will see more action in May, although this is probably going to be shared more equally amongst the serviceable fleet. D6948 is also due to star in the railways' first '1960s BR Green Livery Day' on Sunday 11th June. The loco will be joined by our Class 117 set and BR 'Modified Hall' 7903 'Foremarke Hall' to showcase the varieties of BR Green liveries in the 1960s. There will also be displays on the environmental challenges facing heritage railways and how the GWSR is working to meet these challenges. More details can be found here ==>> https://www.gwsr.com/events/1960s-green-livery-weekend
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With the mainline diesels out to play on the Purple and Pink timetables, the Class 117 team have had some time to catch up on some of the outstanding maintenance tasks. The no.1 engine on DMS W51363 has been reported as not starting. This was diagnosed as a faulty switch in the fire system that was preventing the engine from starting. This was replaced and, after checking over the coolant and oil systems, the engine started up and worked without any further issue.
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| Up close and personal with a DMU! (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook page) |
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| Engine Stop/Start relays on W51363. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook page) |
At the other end of the set, DMSL W51405 has still had issues with its no.1 engine. Several parts had previously been removed and changed and, on this occasion, the team decided to replace the leaking fuel lines and give the contacts a good clean. When inspecting the rocker covers and dipstick, a large amount of milky oil was seen. As anyone who has worked on an engine knows, this is not a good sign. The engine did crank and fire but it was further identified that the head gasket on the right hand cylinder head had failed completely.
W51360 has also received a little more attention with the cooling fan relay being replaced and having its engines run up for a few hours. The 'bubble car', W55003 has also had more woodwork completed alongside the flooring, with the fitting of the step timbers around the door frame.
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| More new wood on the 'bubble car'. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook page) |
Along with D6948, the April diesel rosters have also seen Class 47, 47105 and Class 45, 45149 racking up the early season mileage on the Purple and Pink timetables.
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| 'Peak' 45149 is readied for service on the 20th April 2023. (Courtesy of Neal Whitehead) |
Both locos have operated without issue throughout the month and, will soon be joined by Class 20, 20137 which has had its B Exam completed after winterisation, and Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'
which has had some minor repairs completed as well as a refreshing of
the engine room environment. With a B Exam to be completed, the 47/3
should return to service in May.
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| 47/3, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' in repose inside the diesel shed. The loco will hopefully make a return to traffic in May after some repair work. |
One loco not receiving much love at the moment is our Class 24, 5081, which is currently stabled at the back of the David Page shed while it waits for the return and refitting of an overhauled engine governor. This was removed last year after the loco had developed a power fault that had proved troublesome to diagnose. The governor was sent away for professional overhaul but the return has been delayed. Hopefully, once this work is completed, the popular Type 2 will be back in traffic soon, especially as our Gala is drawing ever closer. More on that later.
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| 'Celebrity' Class 24, 5081 sits in the David Page shed awaiting its turn for maintenance and a return to service. |
Elsewhere, 37215 is still awaiting the return of its round buffers from overhaul however, the two compressors have now been disconnected and are ready for a sufficient point in time that they can be lifted out and the two newly overhauled ones can be fitted in place. in the meantime, the loco is unserviceable while its sister takes the turns. However, in the meantime here are a couple of nostalgic photos of 37215 when still in BR Green with full yellow ends and wearing the number 6915. These come courtesy of Roy Honke.
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| Wednesday 25 April 1973, 6915 propels EBV through Mexborough. The Driver keeps a keen eye forward as it approaches the signal at the end of the platform. Note the BR Blue info panel below the number. (Courtesy of Ray Honke) |
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| With a 'yellow' aspect, 6915 propels its brake van away from the station. (Courtesy of Ray Honke) |
Class 26, D5343 continues to have bits removed and bits added. Painting has continued in the engine room with the engine room side door now carrying its grey top coat. More has gone on around the walls of the engine room over subsequent weeks.
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| The engine room side door, resplendent in its new coat of grey. |
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| Gareth J gets to grips with more paint removal and cleaning of the engine room wall. |
In subsequent weeks, the cab front at no.2 end has had new steel welded in place above the solebar and around the drivers side of the cab. This has now been primed courtesy of David M. The solebar has also received a new coat of red oxide ready for its top coat and the application of the lower skirt.
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| New plate added to the cab side and now primed. |
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| The first section of new plate has been welded in place on the secondmans' side of the cab front by Dave S. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
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| More steel to plug the gap. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
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| After smoothing off the tacks, the new steel has been primed courtesy of David M. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
With the cab front now sealed some of the attention returned to the cab where the Secondmans' desk has been dismantled with the frame and panels cleaned and primed.
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| The Secondmans' desk in no. end. The panels have been removed for cleaning and priming. The frame has been primed and you can see that the air pipes have received a new coat of white paint. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
The internal engine room doors have been removed, cleaned and primed. A top coat should hopefully be on them before the end of the month.
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| One internal engine room door - all cleaned and primed. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
D5343 will hopefully be available for viewing at our Gala in July.
On the subject of the 2023 Diesel Gala, details are now starting to be made available and tickets are now available for purchase. Don't forget the date has changed from previous years - this year it will be over the weekend 7, 8 and 9 July. You can access details as they become available on our social pages but also (especially for tickets) on the GWSR website via this link ====>> https://www.gwsr.com/events/diesel-gala
There will be a guest loco - details will be announced when contracts are signed - and it is hoped that the majority of the home fleet, including the DMU, will be in action across the weekend with 4 rakes of stock being utilised.Those locos not in service will be available for viewing and/or cab visits.
As for the May roster, the allocations are below. Usual caveats apply.
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Mon 01 May |
|
20137 |
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Tues 02 May |
|
47376 |
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Weds 03 May |
|
47376 |
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Thur 04 May |
|
DMU |
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Sun 07 May |
|
47105 and 47376 |
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Mon 08 May |
|
47376 |
|
Tues 09 May |
|
47376 |
|
Weds 10 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Tues 16 May |
|
D6948 |
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Weds 17 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Thur 18 May |
|
47376 |
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Sat 20 May |
|
20137 |
|
Sun 21 May |
|
45149 |
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Tues 23 May |
|
D6948 |
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Weds 24 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Thur 25 May |
|
45149 |
|
Sat 27 May |
|
47376 |
|
Sun 28 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Mon 29 May |
|
47376 |
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Tues 30 May |
|
D6948 |
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Weds 31 May |
|
D6948 |
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| 45149 runs back towards the shed at the end of its day. (Courtesy of Neal Whitehead) |
