Hopefully, the arrival of the first diesel blog of 2024 finally arriving 4 months into the year hasn't caused any shock related injuries! My work commitments have meant that I have only set foot at Toddington twice since New Year - anybody reading this who is a Network Rail Signaller and has had to do IST will understand!! Luckily, I am now catching up with myself so it shouldn't happen again.
So, lets take a big gulp of air and get on with the huge amount of information that will make up this update. As I have been AWOL, photos are few and far between but there are a few. So, we start where the season for 2023 ended and the final service of 2023 was pulled by D6948 after sister loco, 37215, was involved in a slight incident the previous day whilst heading through Bishops Cleeve. The train crew reported hitting something but managed to get back to Toddington where '215' was subsequently taken out of traffic and assessed.
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| D6948 rests at a very wet Cheltenham Racecourse with the final 'down' train of the 2023 season on 1/1/24. |
Luckily no damage to '215' was found and the loco remained in an operational state over the winter despite issues with the wheelsets having been identified during its B Exam in January. It was found that Motak (the lethal, tar-like lubricant used on high temperature elements such as motors and bearings) had been leaking from the bearing casings on a number of wheels. Although no damage was identified, outgoing Technical Officer, Paul Good, thought prudent to fit the loco with monitoring equipment to allow the team to keep an eye on what is happening. Thus temperature sensors have been fitted to both of '215's' wheelsets to allow us to keep an eye on things and hopefully catch any detrimental changes quickly. Other than this, both 37215 and D6948 have had the usual winter maintenance completed, such as topping up of fluids, having new filters fitted and having a general spruce up. Both have also had their B Exams and have already made their bows during the initial weeks of the 2024 season.
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| D6948 has a bath as part of it's B Exam on 3/4/24. (Courtesy of K. Jarvis) |
On the 21 March, 37215 became the first locomotive to pass over Stanway Viaduct after it was taken out of use for urgent damp proofing and stonework repairs, heading up to Broadway to retrieve a trio of wagons that had been filled with spoil from the building works being undertaken on Platform 2 at our northern terminus.
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| '215' prepares to leave Broadway with it's trip freight working on 21/03/24 having been the first loco to pass over the newly repaired Stanway Viaduct. (Courtesy of K. Jarvis) |
D6948 was pressed in to service on April 1st (no April Fool!) when the Easter Bank Holiday was re-timetabled to a PINK day, giving a bonus 84 miles to the EE faithful. Both locos hit the big 6-0 during 2024 and The Growler Group have arranged a big celebration that will take place on Friday, 16 August 2024. This will include 84 miles of top-n-tail and double-headed running, a raffle and a variety of other activities.
This event is not a GWSR event and so tickets are only available in advance from the new Growler Group webstore. Additional information can be found on the Growler Group website (http://thegrowlergroup.org.uk/?p=1760) and you can get your tickets here - https://thegrowlergroup.square.site/shop/friday-16th-august-2024-60th-running-day-tickets/7
This isn't the only celebration going on this year, either. Today (8/4/24) marks 30 years to the day since the arrival at Toddington of the Brush Type 4 Fund's Class 47, 47105. The loco was removed from Crewe Diesel and transferred via low-loader, arriving at Toddington at 1305hrs. The loco restoration would start the following day and would be completed ready for it to make it's first run in service at the GWSR in the August of the same year.
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| 47105, still wearing it's Stratford silver roof and Tinsley painted 'Goldcrest' embellishments during it's initial restoration during 1994. (Courtesy BT4F) |
The loco was withdrawn from BR service in December 1993, having simply been switched off after working it's final 'job' in the October. The loco was not significantly robbed but was used as a bogie donor for sister, 47210. Having secured the loco, the BT4F arranged the acquisition of the bogies from 47421 before '105' was transported south.
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| 30 Years Later! 47105 sits at Cheltenham Racecourse with a Mince Pie Special service on 29/12/23. (Courtesy of R. Watson) |
To mark the event, the BT4F will be holding a celebration with the PINK Double Up Sunday on 4th August 2024 to coincide with '105's' first run in preservation which took place on 5/8/1994. Details are yet to be announced.
On the loco front, both 47105 and 47376 'Freightliner 1995', like their Class 37 counterparts. had a quiet winter with only essential maintenance being conducted, including completion of their respective B Exams. 47376 had been taken out of traffic in the latter part of 2023 having suffered an oil leak in service, subsequently found to be an issue with the engine governor. This was removed, cleaned, repaired and repainted before being refitted. This allowed the repainting of the engine room compartment to be completed before the weather became unfavourable. Both locos are serviceable and have already made their respective 2024 debuts.
Also marking 30 Years in Preservation is Class 20, 20137 which, like 47105, arrived in 1994.
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| 20137 passes the site of Hayles Abbey Halt shortly after arrival at the GWSR in 1994. The loco is still wearing its Railfreight Grey livery. (Courtesy A. Smith) |
The 'chopper' arrived at Toddington around the same time as 47105, having made a much longer journey south and, like it's Class 47 counterpart, was in a reasonable condition therefore meaning it was able to enter service quickly before being withdrawn for a full overhaul and its repaint into BR Green.
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| 30 Years Later! 20137 sits in the yard during the winter period of 2023. |
The 'chopper' has also made its 2024 bow during the PINK timetable of 31/03 having been out of traffic during the winter. The loco had been drained to protect against frost/cold temperature damage as it spent the period exposed to the elements in the yard while its place in the shed was taken by its sister, 20228. Its' B Exam completed, 20137 is back in traffic and will be used during April and May.
The overhaul of 20228 progresses with the overhaul of the exhauster that will be fitted to allow the loco to produce vacuum without reliance on its sister.
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| Elements of the exhauster that is to be fitted to 20228 under overhaul prior to reassembly over the winter period. |
Elsewhere, work continues with the electrical and air systems to ensure that everything works as it should. Decals have been acquired and will be fitted closer to the loco going on test.
With the winter period being relatively quiet, as in there were no, new large maintenance tasks to undertake on the fleet, attention turned to assisting Bryan P with the long due overhaul on his Class 04 shunter, D2280. This has been left very much on the back burner as Bryan has been heavily involved with the restoration of Class 122 'bubble car', W55003 leaving the Class 04 to continue in a coat of many colours.
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| D2280 sits on the Parlour Road at Toddington having retrieved a wagon from the north siding. As you can see, the coat of many colours included bare metal on the side doors. |
When D2280 arrived it wore a very drab version of BR Black without any decals and this was in need of removing and the metal work treated for rust.
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| D2280 on display during a Diesel Gala shortly after arrival at the GWSR. |
So, during the winter, D2280 has taken up residence at the bottom of the Diesel Shed and has been stripped down so that the side doors and body work can be treated, rubbed down, primed and then painted. The engine will also receive some fettling and the cab will be refreshed.
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| The paint job on D2280 is well underway with members of the BT4F undertaking the priming of the body work and side doors. (Courtesy of R. Watson) |
Over the last weekend, the first elements of top coat have been added to the body work. The shunter will eventually be out-shopped in BR Green with 'wasp stripe' ends.
Class 26, D5343, inches closer to being complete again as the work to replace the rotten elements of steel nears a conclusion. The cabs are now, externally, nearly complete and the sections for the tail lights have been fashioned in the new steel that has been welded in place by Dave S.
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| D5343 continues to reside in the David Page shed whilst its overhaul continues. Most of the expired and rotten steel has been removed and replaced around the cabs with the first coverings of protection being applied. (Courtesy of D. Stanton) |
Alongside the metalworking, the remainder of the outside of the loco has received priming, with some elements also having received a first covering of top coat. The internal areas, especially inside the cabs, have been refreshed with new wood and paneling, prior to a new coat of paint.
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| As well as the replacement of the metal work, the cabs of D5343 are also having a full internal refresh. |
The CMDG's other locomotive, Class 45, 45149, also returned to traffic for the start of 2024 having had its no. 2 Blower Motor sent away for overhaul after it failed during the 2023 running season.
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| 45149's freshly overhauled Blower Motor having been returned during January. Having now been refitted the loco is now fit for traffic. (Courtesy of CMDG Facebook page) |
The 'Peak' was 'run up' and de-winterised after successful refitting of the Blower Motor before given its B Exam ready for the new season and will make its 2024 debut on 20 April. Likewise, the Class 24 is still to be de-winterised and its B Exam completed. It is due to return to service on the 18/05/24 on the PURPLE timetable.
The Class 117 vehicles have all received a significant amount of attention during the close season. As mentioned last time (albeit in December.....was it REALLY that long ago?!) W51363 was found to have severely damaged pinion gear which needed removing and replacing. This was a pig of a job, predominantly conducted by members of the 'Wednesday Gang' over the course of a few weeks and has allowed the DMBS to return to service. The engine problems that afflicted the other driving car of L425 were also rectified and tested with the DMS also returning to traffic ready for the new season. TSL, W59510 received attention to its corridor connections which has several missing links and wouldn't sit flush to the motor vehicles' connections.
Spare DMBS, W51360, received attention to its speedo mechanism and had its control air filters changed and, as with the other vehicles, had the M Exams (the DMU equivalent of a B Exam) completed. In order to test all four vehicles all four would run together for the first couple of running days. This was a common practice in BR days when one half of a set was taken out of service the other was usually used to reinforce a set in traffic to keep it running. This will also be a common occurrence when the bubble car returns to traffic.
Finally, as mentioned above, the Growler Group, and the wider Diesel Department, saw the stepping back (hopefully only temporary) of the GG's Chairman and long standing Technical Officer, Paul 'Gus' Good. Paul has been instrumental in the maintenance and operation of 37215, D6948, 5081 as well assisting with the maintenance of other locos within the fleet, as well as with some locos no longer on the GWSR - such as 50021 'Rodney' when based at Toddington. Paul has a huge amount of experience of loco maintenance and examination having spent his working life at both Plymouth Laira and Cardiff Canton, and made up a core trio of highly experienced and knowledgeable loco engineers at the GWSR along with Steve Madge and Tim Leverton. 'Gus' had also been a GG member pretty much since its inception and had been Chairman of the group for the last 12 months. He will be a massive loss to the whole department, although he insists he will always be at the end of the phone if we need him!
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| Paul, along with Andy T behind, enjoying their work. Either that or someone offered 'Gus' a free lunch! His stepping back will leave a huge hole in the Growler group and the Diesel Department as a whole. (Courtesy of K. Jarvis) |
Finally, here is the loco roster taking us up until the end of May. As usual, caveats apply depending on loco availability.
|
Date |
TT |
Rostered Loco(s) |
|
Mon 1 April |
|
D6948 |
|
Tue 2 April |
|
47376 |
|
Wed 3 April |
|
37215 |
|
Sat 6 April |
|
37215 |
|
Sun 7 April |
|
37215 |
|
Tue 9 April |
|
37215 |
|
Wed 10 April |
|
37215 |
|
Thu 11 April |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 13 April |
|
37215 |
|
Sun 14 April |
|
47376 |
|
Tue 16 April |
|
L425 |
|
Wed 17 April |
|
L425 |
|
Thu 18 April |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 20 April |
|
45149 |
|
Sun 21 April |
|
45149 |
|
Tue 23 April |
|
Class 37 TBC |
|
Wed 24 April |
|
Class 37 TBC |
|
Thu 25 April |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 27 April |
|
47376 |
|
Sun 28 April |
|
20137 |
|
Tue 30 April |
|
47376 |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed 01 May |
|
47376 |
|
Thu 02 May |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 04 May |
|
45149 |
|
Sun 05 May |
|
45149 |
|
Mon 06 May |
|
45149 |
|
Tue 07 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Wed 08 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Thu 09 May |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 11 May |
|
D6948 |
|
Sun 12 May |
|
47105 |
|
Tue 14 May |
|
47105 |
|
Wed 15 May |
|
47105 |
|
Thu 16 May |
|
L425 |
|
Sat 18 May |
|
5081 |
|
Sun 19 May |
|
5081 |
|
Tue 21 May |
|
20137 |
|
Wed 22 May |
|
20137 |
|
Thu 23 May |
|
L425 |
|
Wed 29 May |
|
47376 |
|
Thu 30 May |
|
47376 |
