Apologies for the lack of information on the running dates for June. Sadly, family and work commitments have interrupted my volunteering again, also reducing my ability to get near a computer! However, at least some news has got out over our other social channels. Time for a quick update.
We are only three or so weeks out from our showcase Gala and the events team are busy putting the finishing touches to the finer details. A draft timetable has been compiled and has been sent for approval and the crews have been allocated. A welcome piece of news is the return of our Class 24, 5081, which has had a successful test run after the refurbishment of its engine governor.
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| 5081's return to the roster means that it will be available to replicate this scene, taken at last years Gala at Gotherington. |
5081's formal return to service will take place on Wednesday, 14th June when it takes the PURPLE diesel turn in the afternoon. This does, of course, mean that there will be two small Sulzers taking active part in the Gala as the '24' will be joined by our guest loco - Class 25, D7659. It is hoped that the Saturday 'BEEREX' will be double-headed by both locomotives.
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| Guest loco for 2023 - Class 25, D7659, courtesy of Peak Rail and Waterman's Railways Heritage Trust. |
This years' Gala also sees the Class 117 DMU being used again. This year it will run a shuttle between Toddington and Winchcombe, as it has done in previous years. However, this year will see it run as a 'power twin' as opposed to its usual 3-car formation. Sadly, the middle car is having to be removed temporarily due to an issue with DMS W51405.
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| The Class 117 goes into 'GTi' mode! (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group) |
Whilst being prepped for maintenance on its no.2 engine solenoid issue at the end of May, it was noticed that there was a large amount of grey oil coming from the air receiver drain. Not a great sign and it was thought that this was the sign that the compressor was on its way out. With this in mind, the engine has been isolated and so the set is down to three engines, meaning it isn't collectively powerful enough for its normal formation.
The spare DMBS, W51360 has had some of its outstanding bodywork repairs started in readiness for a repaint over the summer. This will enable '360' to take over from '405' in due course. The guards compartment will also receive some TLC at the same time.
W51360 receives some body work attention ahead of the start of a repaint over the summer. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)
Elsewhere on the DMU front, the CDRL (the DMU owning group) have decided to sell on their other 'spare' Class 117 DMBS, W51372. This power car has been on the railway for 6 years and is the last survivor of the Channel Tunnel Class 117 that was used during the 'Chunnel' construction for a variety of tasks. It was intended, as with '360', to be refurbished and become a 'power twin' set. However, for a number of reasons, this never happened and it was used for spares and storage. Restoration is now not likely, so best to offer it to pastures new.
W51372, the last survivor of the 'Chunnel' set is examined prior to being offered for sale. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)
As has been previously advertised, today (11th June) sees D6948 out and about on the '1960s Green Livery Day' along with our Class 117 set and 'Foremarke Hall'. Having also been out all day on the 10th June, the Class 37 will have racked up nearly 200 miles in the weekend - hopefully fault free.
D6948 has had a niggling issue since returning to service and, originally, we thought we had got to the bottom of it by cleaning out the fuel strainers and filters. However, it has continued and developed into a loud 'flapping' noise when under load. Possible causes ranged from an injector or fuel pump issue to an exhaust issue.
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| D6948 basks in the late afternoon sun at CRC after arrival on 30/05/23. |
After extensive investigation on the 31st May by the 'Wednesday Gang' and the issue was traced to a missing plug in the exhaust causing blowing. A replacement was sourced from the spares container and, the loco was back out on it's booked service the same day. Hopefully, that is the end of that!
Sister loco, 37215, has been reunited with two of its four round buffers. For some reason only three have been returned by the company that they were sent to for overhaul, so one end remains with oval buffers until the errant one is also returned.
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| Shiny 'new' round OLEOs. 37215 is reunited with two of its overhauled buffers. (Courtesy of John Garrett) |
The B Exam has also been completed successfully, along with a couple of minor tweaks, and the loco should be another returnee to traffic in time for the Gala.
37215 reaches a huge landmark in 2023 as it hits 25 years since it's launch into active preservation service. Having been purchased from Inverness TMD in 1994, the loco ran under it's own power for the first time in preservation on 5th July 1998 and worked its first turn on the GWSR on Friday 25th September 1998. To celebrate, the PINK TT day on Sunday 24th September will see 37215 celebrate a quarter of a century in preservation. Tickets can be purchased on the GWSR website here =====>> https://www.gwsr.com/events/25-years-of-37215-at-gwsr
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| 1998 and, with the finger of the late Phil Jones on the 'the button', 37215 splutters into life for the first time at Toddington. (Courtesy of Dean Tabor/Kev Jarvis) |
With the recent returnees, we should have as full an active roster as we can get for the 2023 Diesel Gala with the following in use (usual caveats apply) -
Class 20, 20137
Class 24, 5081
Class 25, D7659 (Visitor)
Class 37, 37215
Class 37, D6948
Class 45, 45149
Class 47, 47105
Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'
Class 117, L425
In addition to the operational fleet, Class 20, 20228; Class 26, D5343; and Class 122, W55003 will all be on static display. Don't forget the dates..... Friday 7th to Sunday 9th July 2023.
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| Class 04, D2280 sits in the north siding at Toddington on 30th May 2023 having been requisitioned to haul a wagon containing steel for Broadway's station canopy down into the loco yard for unloading. This is probably the furthest it has been! |
