Things come around so fast, and we are already just a few days from our 2023 Diesel Gala which starts on Friday 7th July. It doesn't seem 12 months since our 2022 Gala and the visit of our friends from the Deltic Preservation Society. However, here we are and the preparations for 2023 are now in the 'solid' stage - as in, getting the locos and the site ready for the public invasion.
This year, as you may already know, we have a guest locomotive making a return to the GWSR, having been a Gala visitor way back in the 1990s. Courtesy of Pete Waterman Heritage Railway (PWHR) and Peak Rail, our visitor is Class 25, D7659.
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| Our visitor for 2023, Class 25 D7659. |
Numbered D7659 on entering traffic, the loco would also receive the numbers 25309 and 25909 before withdrawal from BR stock in the 1980s. It holds celebrity status in that it was the last locomotive to be built at Beyer Peacock, Gorton Works in Manchester.
D7659 first attended the GWSR in 1997 for a Gala, staying for a number of months before being removed from service for an overhaul that would last 24 years. Being returned to traffic at Peak Rail in 2022, the Class 25 has been doing the rounds of the UK Heritage circuit and comes to us from our West Country neighbours at the West Somerset Railway. This time, though, it is a brief visit and, unlike in more recent years, the 'Rat' will only be with us for a short time after the Gala before it heads off to its next stop.
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| D7659 prepares for off-loading at Toddington MPD on 30/06/23. (Courtesy of Alex Raybould) |
It arrived safely on Friday morning (30 June) ready for its Fitness to Run examination to be completed by its support crew.
It will run extensively over the course of the weekend, so plenty of time to get the red pen twitching and the mileage accumulated. It will also work on Saturday evening, paired, with our home-based Sulzer Type 2, Class 24, 5081 for some twilight twin-'teacup' action!!
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| 11230 shunts D7659 past 'The Goods Shed' on 03/07/23. (Courtesy of Alex Raybould) |
(For those not in the know, 'Teacup' is another nickname for the Sulzer Type 2 group (Classes 24, 25 and 26) because of the engine noise when idling!)
The general preparations on site were started last week with the yearly clearing up of the shed being started by the 'Wednesday Gang', in between other bits of work ongoing. One thing that we wanted to do was to organise what materials could be used for display and what needed storing - or, in some cases, throwing out. It's amazing the amount of random stuff is accumulated over the course of a year! This task is pretty hard at the best of times, but with four locos having had significant, or ongoing, heavy work throughout the last 12 months, there was a lot lying around on pallets that hadn't found spaces for storage. This included traction motors from the Class 20s, the compressors removed from 37215 during its repairs, spare exhausters, parts recovered from 37207 and other smaller bits from the Class 47s, the Class 20s and D5343. There was also some of the bigger items of equipment we use such as battery chargers, pre-heaters and platforms that needed moving around to remove potential hazards to the general public.
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| Getting to grips with our new crane to move two Class 37 cylinder heads. These were display items last year so a quick clean and lift onto a new pallet. Mark E and Hugh get to grips with the lifting strop. |
As you can imagine, or know if you work in engineering, any nook hordes dust and grime that accumulates quickly. On maneuvering the items around we uncovered large piles of dust, small items of scrap or rubbish and, on occasion, the odd mouse carcass!
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| With the cylinder heads on a new pallet, Keith gets into the gap to clear the detritus from the floor. |
In the shed for the gala will be all the usual stands with owning groups, retailers and displays along road 11 - some of the stands will be cash only, so do make sure you have some readies with you if you intend to purchase anything. Road 10 will have loco displays of Class 20, 20228, Class 26, D5343 and, possibly, the Class 122 'Bubble Car', W55003.
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| The compressors from 37215 are also given a new pallet and placed near the door using the expert eyes of Andy D and Mark E. Keith is just maneuvering the exhauster to sit next to them. |
Whilst these bits were being shifted around the shed, or moved to new storage spots, Andy T and Paul G were busy with some last minute bits on 37215 to make the Class 37 ready for the Gala. It was booked to operate its first train in several months on the Thursday as a way of fettling it ready for its turns at the Gala. Andy T was replacing the straight air brake handle and cylinder on the desk in no. 1 end, whilst Paul did some last minute checks on the air system - including setting the tolerances on the new straight air brake.
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| Andy T busies himself with the replacement of the no.1 end straight air brake cylinder from 37215. |
I am pleased to say that everything went swimmingly and, the following day, I took '215' out on its first run back on the last trip of the day. The loco worked without issue and is now fighting fit for the Gala. There are a few outstanding jobs, including replacing the oval buffers at no.1 end when we receive the errant round buffer that we are still waiting for from the overhaul company, but nothing that will prevent the loco from operating.
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| 37215 sits on Road 11, ticking over nicely after being prepped for the diesel turn on 29/06/23. This was its first turn since having its compressors changed. |
Also on the Wednesday, Tim L was busy giving 47376 'Freightliner 1995' a little TLC. The '47' had failed a week or so before after losing oil pressure and the engine subsequently shutting down. The loco should still be fit for the Gala after repair.
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| 47105 idles in the background ready for its trip on the Wednesday diesel turn, whilst sister loco 47376 'Freightliner 1995' is drained as part of its repair after failing the previous week. |
Class 26, D5343 is back in the David Page shed with the majority of welding work completed on no. 2 end. There are still some small bits to go to fully complete the rebuild of the cab front however, the majority of work has now concentrated on the internal areas of the loco and the outside elements that are easy to get to. This includes preparing no.1 end cab front for some work.
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| D5343 is now back in the David Page shed which has meant that any further welding work has had to be paused. Work has been concentrated on the bodysides as well as inside the loco cabs. |
From the picture above, you can see that the cab front is nearly complete, with only some bits around the solebar to do before the 'extras' can be reattached - although one of the lamp brackets has been put back and the holes for the white lights have been cut in!
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| From no.1 end. To the left you can see that another member of the diesel fleet has joined D5343 in the David Page shed. Class 117 DMBS, W51360 has been shunted in for some maintenance and a rapid repaint so that it can re-enter service. |
Class 117 DMBS, W51360 is now also in the David Page shed for a repaint and spruce ready to return to action. It has been languishing in the yard for a while as attention was giving to the 3-car Class 117 set and the Class 122 'Bubble Car', but with engine issues affecting the DMS W51405, the need to have '360' back is a priority.
With sanding and filling having been completed, the first top coat has gone on whilst the inside has had a spruce up as well. Sadly, it is losing its BR Blue livery for BR Green (again!), which is a shame in my opinion. It would be nice to see a livery that existed post 1965 such as the one below.
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| Maybe one day!! (Courtesy of www.railcar.co.uk and Robert Frise) |
In this case, though, it is purely so that it matches with the current livery of the Class 117 set and, there might be paint left over from the repaint on the Class 122 that needs using up!
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| W51360 has had its first top coat of BR Green. The buffer beam has also been repainted as have the electrical boxes below the solebar. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook page) |
A new coat of paint always makes something look smart, regardless of the colour.....
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| From the newly repainted corridor connection. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook Page) |
As mentioned in the last tome, L425 is currently running as a 'power-twin' due to the engine issues being experienced by DMS W51405. The middle vehicle was removed as the unit is now only running on two engines and wouldn't have sufficient power in the two remaining Leyland 680 engines two operate as a full set. With W51360 being readied to return, it means that it could return to a full 3-car set while repairs are completed on '405'.
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| L425 will run on the Saturday and Sunday of the Gala as a 'power-twin' set. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook Page) |
Elsewhere on the DMU front, Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003 has continued to received attention to its floor with the new floor being laid and the metal slats for fixing the seating to is being fitted where required. There is more work around the doors to be conducted, but the progress continues at a steady rate.
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| Kevin and Bryan hard at it on the floor of W55003 back in early June 2023. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Facebook Page) |
'Peak' 45149 sprung a leak back at the early part of June when one of the radiator elements decided to fail the day before it was due out on its Driver Experience. The element was quickly removed and a replacement one fitted, as well as a a top of coolant given, just in time.
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| Coolant water dribbles from the offending radiator element on 45149. Happily, the element was removed and replaced quickly. (Courtesy of David Stanton) |
The 'peak' has also completed all of its rostered duties throughout June and is also ready for its Gala duties.
As well as the Gala this month, in August we have the next of the 'Double Up Sunday' events. This day will see both of our Class 37s - 37215 and D6948 - working as a pair for the whole day. This follows on from the very successful first 'Double Up Sunday' that involved both our Class 47s. This event is a bit of a precursor for 37215s 25th Anniversary in Preservation in September. More details to follow.
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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. This will be celebrated with a running day on 24 September 2023. (Courtesy of Dean Tabor/Kev Jarvis) |
July's loco roster looks a little like this. Do remember that usual caveats apply and traction may be changed at the last minute in the event of crew unavailability or failure.
Date – July 2023
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Timetable |
Rostered
Loco(s) |
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4th |
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Class 24, 5081 |
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5th |
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Class 37, D6948 |
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6th |
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Class 117, L425 |
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7th |
Gala |
Class 20, 20137 Class 24, 5081 Class 25, D7659 Class 37, 37215 Class 37, D6948 Class 45, 45149 Class 47, 47105 Class 47, 47376 |
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8th |
Gala |
As above plus Class 117, L425 |
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9th |
Gala |
As above |
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11th |
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Class 37, 37215 or D6948 (TBC) |
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12th |
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Class 47, 47105 |
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13th |
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Class 117, L425 |
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15th |
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Class 47, 47105 or 47376 (TBC) |
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16th |
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Class 24, 5081 and Class 25, D7659 paired |
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18th |
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Class 45, 45149 |
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19th |
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Class 37, 37215 or D6948 (TBC) |
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20th |
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Class 117, L425 |
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22nd |
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Class 20, 20137 |
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23rd |
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Class 20, 20137 |
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24th |
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Class 24, 5081 |
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25th |
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Class 24, 5081 |
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26th |
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Class 45, 45149 and Class 117, L425 |
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27th |
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Class 117, L425 |
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29th |
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Class 47, 47105 or 47376 (TBC) |
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30th |
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Class 47, 47105 or 47376 (TBC) |
