D is for Diesel, after all!

Firstly, my apologies for neglecting the August locomotive roster. in order to make it up to you, I have included the remainder of August and the September loco roster at the base of this edition - just in case I am afflicted by forgetfulness again!

Secondly, we will be bidding a fond farewell to Andy Durham as our Head of Department after 6 years at the helm. Over that 6 years the department has grown in efficiency and has seen links with our fellow Motive Power department next door grow closer and more effective. Andy will continue within the department as a volunteer on the spanners, predominantly on the Class 26 and Class 45 with David Stanton now taking over the Head of Department position. Thanks for everything, Andy.....

Back in 2022, Andy signs the deal that enabled the GSWR to hold the Deltic '40th Anniversary' Celebrations with the additional visit of 55009 'Alycidon' alongside it's sister, 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier'.

....and congratulations, Dave!

Our new HoD! Dave gets to grips with D6948's headcode box.

Back to the rosters, our timetables for September see a couple of big events involving our locomotives.  Sunday 3rd September sees the fourth installment of the popular 'Double Up Sunday', and the second involving our Class 47s - 47105 and 47376 'Freightliner 1995'. This will see both Brush Type 4s running as a pair in both double-headed and top and tail throughout the day. 

Our fourth 'Double Up Sunday' will involve our Class 47s once again....although minus the Christmas tinsel!

The second of our big September events sees the 25th Anniversary of 37215 making its first passenger run in preservation. The celebration will be held on our PINK timetable day on Sunday 24th September with three round trips. On the 26th September 1998, '215' entered service after a four year restoration hauling its first passenger trains on the fledgling GWSR. 

Taken in the April of 1998 on the event of the first start up of 37215 during its restoration. The loco would work its first train in the September. (Courtesy of Kev Jarvis)

We hope to see you at either/both event (depending on your loyalties) to celebrate probably the two most enduring classes of locomotive of the BR era.

Our third 'Double Up Sunday' event saw both our Class 37s - D6948 and 37215 - take the limelight for the day. We were blessed with decent early weather (there were some very heavy downpours in the afternoon) and this helped draw the crowds as the turnout was surprisingly good. It wasn't just the enthusiast fraternity, either! Lots of the general public showing interest in the locos and a number of cab visits were carried out. Both locos were in fine fettle, although D6948 did have a couple of diva strops early on - one of which, involving one of the exhausters failing to start, will require a little more investigation as to the cause. Luckily, it isn't a show stopper and, thanks to Keith R (who was enjoying a well deserved cab ride) it was back working for the second and third round trips. Initial thoughts are that the bushes have become life expired and need replacing. In between crewing D6948, I managed to get some photos of both locos before the weather closed in.....

A friend of mine, Jamie Smith, who is also a volunteer for the 71A Group on the Swanage Railway, has also produced a video that you can view on You Tube. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Ay-NHzYQk

There are also a number of other videos that you can peruse from the day on the same site, as well as of the first and second 'Double Up Sunday' events that utilised both 47s and Class 24, 5081 and visiting Class 25, D7659. Hopefully these 'Double Up Days' continue to be a success and it won't be long until both Class 20s are appearing?

Class 20, 20228 has had some repainting done around its body side doors as they had only the primer and undercoat around them. The grilles have also had their new filters added. With the majority of the locos now being in a position where only preventative maintenance is being completed, the Class 20 is now in a position to make use of potentially idle hands.

Clear instructions on the cardboard note give indication to the work that has been undertaken in the last few weeks. The new filters have also been added whilst the grilles are on the bench receiving a new coat of BR Blue.

Although, ostensibly, part of the Diesel Department the DMU Group has always been seen as a separate entity in its' own right; mainly due to the Cotswold Diesel Railcar Group being born out of the Steam Department and their volunteers. Over the years the 'them and us' mentality has eroded away and the DMU has slowly become more aligned to the Diesel side of the shed, despite still mainly being manned and maintained by Steam volunteers. 

The potentially idle hands thing, as well as the closer working relationship, has seen the Wednesday Gang gravitate to the DMU Group to help with the engine failures on Class 117 DMS, W51405. This has happened with a degree of inevitability as Keith R is an ex-bus mechanic and has considerable experience of working on the Leyland 680 engines....albeit at the back end of a bus, rather than underslung on a DMU! 

So, a couple of weeks ago, the Wednesday Gang got to grips with W51405 in order to drop one of its engines. Both had failed, necessitating a rapid overhaul of 'spare' DMBS W51360 to take the place of '405' and allow the set to return to a three-car set. 

The other 'spare' vehicle which is out for tender and sale, DMBS W51372, also had an engine drop with this engine going up on to '405' at some point as it is in working order.  

One of the engines from W51372 which has been dropped and will replace one of the failed engines on W51405. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

DMBS W51360 has now been shackled up to the remaining vehicles of L425 and has now taken part in a number of running days. A few little issues have been identified but have been gradually rectified when the set has been out of traffic. 

Wearing the unlined BR Green livery that the Class 117s wore when first released into traffic, W51360 is now part of the main set after it's very quick overhaul. The plan is to have the lining added along the body side in the near future. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

One of the issues was centred around one of the engine 'hunting' a bit. There was work on the EP valves and some leaks in the vacuum piping. Finally, Tom W and Andy T cleaned up the throttle motor pistons and arms, adjusting them also. This improved the engine response but there is still more to investigate in between service turns. 

Whilst this was taking place, over on the Class 122, W55003, Bryan and Kevin continued with the woodwork tasks. This has included preparing the door step openings for the eventual fitting of the steps below each door. The internal work has also moved on to fitting the seat rails.

The fitting of the seat rails on the new floor of W55003. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

Tuesday 14 August saw the DMU fleet get a visit from internet sensation, Hunslet the Bear - mascot of West Midlands Trains Soho DEMUD. Usually at home around the modern fleet of WMT, that includes the Class 323 EMU and his beloved 'Gronk', 08805, Hunslet paid a visit to the GWSR for the Teddy Bear Tuesday event and to quality check the work being done on the DMUs. 

Hunslet gives the Secondman seat a go for comfort. Does it measure up to the more modern units? (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

You can follow Hunslet, the work at Soho and their charity work for Birmingham Children's Hospital via their Facebook and X (Twitter) pages. The links are below:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Hunsletthebear

X - @HunsletTheBear

There is one more Teddy Bear Tuesday event on Tuesday 22nd August. Why not bring the kids and their teddies along for the day?

Finally, Class 26 D5343 has had work cease on no.2 end for the time being with the majority of the welding completed. There is still some metal work to be completed in due course but, Dave S's attention has now moved to no.1 end and the cab front. 

As you can see from the pictures above, the same treatment that befell no. 2 end has now happened at no. 1 end. Although not quite as bad as no. 2 end, the same work will be completed at no. 1 end with new steel added where required. This includes the fitting of the same crib plates as at no. 2 end. You will also see that the plate under the Driver's droplight has also been cut back for replacement with new steel. 

Finally, the loco roster as promised. Please remember that usual caveats apply regarding availability.

Date	TT	Loco
Weds 16 Aug		37215 or D6948
Thurs 17 Aug		20137 L425
Sat 19 Aug		5081 L425
Sun 20 Aug		47105
Tues 22 Aug		5081 L425
Weds 23 Aug		47105 L425
Thurs 24 Aug		L425
Sat 26 Aug		20137 L425
Sun 27 Aug		45149
Mon 28 Aug		5081
Tues 29 Aug		45149
Weds 30 Aug		5081
Thurs 31 Aug		L425
Sat 2 Sept		20137
Sun 3 Sept		47105 and 47376 (Double Up Sunday)
Tues 5 Sept		47105
Weds 6 Sept		47105
Thurs 7 Sept		37215
Sat 9 Sept		5081
Sun 10 Sept		5081
Tues 12 Sept		37215
Weds 13 Sept		37215
Thurs 14 Sept		37215
Sat 16 Sept		45149
Sun 17 Sept		45149
Tues 19 Sept		47376
Weds 20 Sept		20137
Thurs 21 Sept		5081
Sat 23 Sept		37215 L425
Sun 24 Sept		37215 (25 Years in Preservation Celebration)
Tues 26 Sept		37215
Weds 27 Sept		37215
Thurs 28 Sept		5081
Sat 30 Sept		47376