And, here we go!

It may only be the second half of April but we are already heading towards the peak period of the operating year, and the mainline diesels have now started to get their first runs under their belts after the winter pause. Nearly all of the serviceable fleet have made their first trips of 2025 in the last few weeks with only 20137, 37215, and 47376 'Freightliner 1995' awaiting their first runs - the '20' has it's first run on 24 April with 37215 on 5 May and 47376 on 3 May. 

The only locos that won't be available for traffic are 5081 and 26043, which are both undergoing overhauls and 20228, which will now not be available to operate on its own during 2025. 

However, it is still hoped that Class 26, 26043 will be available for traffic at some point during the middle of 2025 as it's overhaul moves into the final stages. 

An image of how 26043 will look when the overhaul is completed.

External painting is now at an advanced stage with the first top coat of BR Blue now in place and the yellow warning panels also completed. The wheelsets and chassis are also receiving their top coat of chassis black with the pipework also receiving the appropriate colours of paint. The cabs are being put back together before the loco will be tested for mechanical fitness - given that it is quite a while since the engine was last turned over and the loco moved under its own power. 

On Wednesday 23 April, amongst a huge shunt of the locos, 26043 was shunted from its hidey-hole at the back of Road 9 in the David Page shed to Road 8 so that the Malvern side of the loco could receive a coat of BR Blue. 

With Paul C on the handles of Class 04, 11230, 26043 is readied for its move over to 8 Road.

As you can see from the picture above, the Cotswold side of the loco has received the first shiny coat of BR Blue already. This is highlighted when the loco was extricated from the shed by Class 04, 11230. Although the weather didn't play ball as it emerged and suddenly went very overcast. Typical!

It had to go cloudy! However, viewed from no.2 end, you can see the progress on the Cotswold side and the front end.

BRCW-built locomotives were notorious for their build quality and their propensity to rust and the Class 26 was no exception. Couple this with the harsh environments in Scotland in which they spent the vast majority of their operating life, it is no surprise that another overhaul was required so soon after 26043's initial preservation bow in 2013. In a perfect world, all our locos would be stored under cover - a commodity that has huge benefits when you look at the locomotives that are stored undercover - such as 37215, which had its last bodywork overhaul in 2007.

And, safely back in the David Page shed so that painting can continue on the other (Malvern) side of the loco.

In order to get the Class 26 on to Road 8 we needed to move the Class 122 'bubble car' which was in the shed having work done on its doors and locks. It was also having the final seat frames fitted.

Class 122, W55003, gets removed from the David Page shed and switched onto Road 9.

The overhaul of W55003 is also reaching the final stages and it is hoped that it will be fit and ready to take on the DMU duties later in the year. However, the extended stay outside has not been kind to the bodywork that was overhauled by C&W back in 2019 with the paintwork already cracking and the white roof now showing a lot of marking and staining. 

A look inside the compartment of W55003. You can clearly see the seat frames now in position on the newly laid floor. (Courtesy GWSR DMU Facebook page)

The saga of ongoing ownership of the Class 122 continues, however, but it is hoped that a conclusion is now in sight and the continuing management of the 'bubble' can then be organised effectively to prolong its operating life. 

Our visiting Class 121, W55024, is due to return to its home on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway at the end of April and, it is safe to say, that it has really helped the railway to navigate a potential banana skin moment. 

W55024 on the shed apron while its batteries are charged and some minor fettling is completed.

It has proved a popular visitor that was well liked by crews however it hasn't been without the odd problem....most of which have been very easy to rectify. There is, however, one fault that it will have us scratching our heads about and that is how its engine oil on one engine can remain so amazingly thin and clean! Several possible 'causes' have been investigated but to no avail....but it hasn't stopped the 'bubble' doing what it should! It'll be a shame to see it leave as it would have been nice to see it run with its Class 122 sister.

Also moved around were the two Class 47s to ensure that 47376 'Freightliner 1995' was at the front of road 11 as it is the next Class 47 to operate in the coming week. 

With 47105 back in the shed, Paul C and 11230 propel 47376 on to the front of the row of locos on Road 11 ready for its next turn of duty.

Both Class 47s have had their B Exams completed and 47105 has been utilised on a number of services already in the early part of the running season. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have seen that '105' has appeared with a nameplate attached. Those of you who were spotters in the 1980s and 1990s will know that the loco only ever wore a Tinsley unofficial name.....'Goldcrest'

However, this was not the name that adorned the loco earlier this month. In fact, it was set a temporary metallic plates.....

The temporary plates adorning 47105.

The plates were fitted in memory of well-known, well-respected photographer and Class 47 enthusiast, Mark Hare, who sadly passed away earlier in the year. He was a big supporter of the Brush Type 4 Fund and adorned appropriate in his memory. RIP Mark.

Back in the Diesel Shed and Class 24, 5081's overhaul was continuing with Mark E starting the restoration of the central roof panel. This included sanding it down before moving on to a first layer of primer. The shed itself is littered with various engine parts that have been removed, cleaned and now sport either a new grey topcoat or green primer undercoat. 

As mentioned above, Class 20 20228 will now not be ready to work trains independently during 2025 as the work to restore the exhauster and pipework has hit an unexpected snag. However, the loco will still likely work in a pair with its sister, 20137. '137' had some work completed on the Wednesday to ready it for its 2025 debut the following. This included finishing off the B Exam, which I assisted owner, Steve M with. This started with the front ends being washed and the cab windows being cleaned. Luckily, the rain stayed away so that I didn't get a second drenching after using the hose to wash off the nose ends!

With 20137 having spent the winter outdoors, the AVR had been removed to prevent damage from frost or cold temperatures. With it now refitted the electrical systems on the loco needed to be tested to ensure they were operating at the correct voltages. Once the washdown and cleaning had been done, '137' was shunted back on to Road 11 so that Steve could test the electrical voltages and give the engine and generator a final once over. 

Owner and machine prepare to become one!! Steve gets ready to clamber into the nose to check the injectors and cylinders are working correctly on the Malvern side.

 

After checking all the necessary engine and electrical components, the final check was on the windscreen wipers. The drivers side wiper arm was exceeding the windscreen boundary and clattering across the nose, so with spanner in hand, Stave went about adjusting the swing of the arm. After a couple of adjustments we hit upon an acceptable positioning and the loco was shutdown.
    

D6948 had also been shunted outside as it was the rostered loco for the afternoon diesel turn. There was also a recurring fault to have a look at once Paul G had returned from Winchcombe. Paul and our HoD, Dave S, had ventured south to complete the B Exam on Winchcombe's resident Class 03, D2182. 

D6948 and 20137 stand on Roads 10 and 11 at Toddington on 23/04/25.

 

At the beginning of the month, D6948 was rostered on the first of our Diesel Experience Days. I was rostered Driver Instructor and, having arrived and dragged the loco out of the shed, I completed my prep and readied the loco to start. On starting, the desk 'fault' light stayed illuminated and, on looking at the secondary panel, the oil pressure light was bright. Having checked all the oil levels as part of the prep I then checked the oil pressure gauge. This was showing 55psi and the loco would take power.....a conundrum!

Having spoken with Kev J, it was deemed that the loco was okay to use and she performed faultlessly throughout the day with the fault light going out after about 20 minutes and not coming back on. This led to the possibility of a sticking relay or similar that was preventing the extinguishing of the fault light on start up. Paul G had a look the following week and had a tinker about but, on the 13 April, another of my rostered turns, the fault returned. Following the same routine, the fault light extinguished as the loco moved off shed and never returned. 

Complete with the 'Rail 200' or 'ZOO' headboard, as it has become known as locally, D6948 waits to head off shed on 13 April 25.

Paul G, along with Andy T would have a further look on the 23rd, checking the oil pressure circuitry and the correct operation of the priming pump. Everything seemed to work normally and the loco performed its rostered duty without any issue. Sometimes, those little faults are the annoying ones that don't have a logical cause but investigations will continue now that sister, 37215 will take the turns during May. 

Class 04, 11230, missing something!

On the shunter front, D2182 at Winchcombe has had its yearly B Exam completed to join the two Toddington based Class 04s. 11230 is currently running without its cowling around the nose end, as you can see above. It has been removed for corrosion repairs however, the loco is still serviceable. Fellow Class 04, D2280 is also fully serviceable and has had a few trips away from the yard assisting the P'way team to retrieve old sleepers from the Didbrook relaying that took place over the winter. 

I was the Driver on one such event on the 24 March where a single flat wagon was taken to Didbrook to retrieve as many sleepers as could be moved. Given the distance to Didbrook it was deemed easier to just use one of the shunters rather than the mainline fleet - although 47105 would be utilised on one trip at the beginning of April. 

'Shunty' idles at Didbrook whilst the P'way team load the wagon with sleepers to be taken back to Toddington.

The sleepers had been removed as part of the track relay completed by P'way during the winter. This track was the oldest track on the whole of the line and still utilised the lightweight concrete sleepers that were donated by Dowty at the beginning of the 1980s! The majority were still in reasonable condition and will be used in the relay of siding 2 at Toddington yard, replacing a lot of rotten, wooden sleepers. 

After arrival back at Toddington, the wagon was unloaded in the car park.

Operating a P'way train is not the most taxing or busy of days and luckily the weather played ball and gave us a glorious blue sky and plenty of sun after early cloud had disappeared. This made the day pretty enjoyable and allowed us to get one and a half wagons-worth loaded and back to Toddington. 

On the second run looking down towards Hayles.

On arrival back at Toddington with the second wagon we were asked if we could shunt a Dogfish wagon out into the Car Park as it was being picked up to be taken to another railway. It did mean a little bit of a shunt to extricate the Dogfish wagon from behind some other wagons. Eventually, we had the Dogfish free and, as we shunted it back on to the unloading road, the low loader had already arrived and its crew gleefully waiting for the wagon.

The departing Dogfish wagon and the low-loader behind it waiting to load up.

 

GALA NEWS

You may be wondering what is happening regarding the 2025 Gala as nothing has been announced and we are only 3 months away! Well, rest assured that things are happening regarding the Gala and contracts are being sorted for a visiting loco. 

We had, originally, reached a verbal agreement to have a Class 50 from our friends up the road at the Severn Valley Railway, however, with other things going on that are Class 50 related, the chaps at the C50A could not guarantee availability of loco or crews so we have had to look elsewhere. 

Don't worry, when the guest can be announced it will be announced across all our platforms! Just be patient! This will also be the case with regards timetable and ticketing information. 

LOCO ROSTER

Our roster clerk has been very officious over the last few weeks and has recently completed our June roster. So, you get 2 for the price of 1 with both May and June listed below. 

We have the Ale Festival over the 13, 14 and 15 June where two diesels are out on the Friday and Saturday and one on the Sunday. We will also see the introduction of the weekday PINK timetable and the extended RED and GREEN timetables.  For the train times visit www.gwsr.com

Date	TT	Rostered Loco(s)
Thu 1 May		D6948
Sat 3 May		47376
Sun 4 May		47376
Mon 5 May		37215
Tue 6 May		37215
Wed 7 May		37215
Sat 10 May		45149
Sun 11 May		45149
Tue 13 May		20137
Wed 14 May		20137
Sat 17 May		45149
Sun 18 May		47376
Tue 20 May		37215
Wed 21 May		20137
Wed 28 May		45149
Thu 29 May		45149
Sat 31 May		45149
Sun 1 Jun		45149
Tue 3 Jun		20137
Wed 4 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Thu 5 Jun		45149
Sat 7 Jun		47xxx (TBC)
Sun 8 Jun		47105
Tue 10 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Wed 11 Jun		20137
Thu 12 Jun		20137
Fri 13 Jun	ALE	47105, 47376
Sat 14 Jun	ALE	37215, D6948
Sun 15 Jun	ALE	45149
Tue 17 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Wed 18 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Thu 19 Jun		47xxx (TBC)
Sat 21 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Sun 22 Jun		45149
Tue 24 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Wed 25 Jun		45149
Thu 26 Jun		37xxx (TBC)
Sat 28 Jun		45149
Sun 29 Jun		47xxx (TBC)