What a Corker!

This week has certainly an eventful one; some good (or better!) and some bad. Surprisingly, I managed two visits to Toddington this week, so a fair amount to include, coupled with a few updates. 

Firstly, Friday 16th August, originally set for the 60th Anniversary celebration of Class 37s, D6948 and 37215, will now be a joint running day with colleagues from the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group who will have a special train (Train 2) hauled by Class 45, 45149. As these are separately organised events, and not a GWSR event, tickets for both trains are available from the respective owning groups' websites but will not be transferable between trains. If you wish to travel on both trains you will need to buy a ticket for each event. The railway will also be a closed site so no tickets, or public access, will be available on the day for either train. For tickets, you can go to the following websites:

• The Growler Group 37215/D6948 60th Celebration - https://thegrowlergroup.square.site/shop/friday-16th-august-2024-60th-running-day-tickets/7

• CMDG Supporters Special - http://www.cmdg.online/latest-news.html  

 

With our Class 37s on Train 1 for the Growler Group's event on Friday, 16 August, the CMDG will be utilising Train 2 with 'Peak', 45149.

The day is set up to be a great celebration for two of our groups so whichever groups/class you are affiliated to come along and enjoy the festivities!

Originally, the CMDG were going to have their event earlier in the year and utilise one of the PINK TT Sundays however, in early April the GWSR PLC Board decided that the timetables required amending due to 'staffing issues' in some departments and reduced the length of the running day by one round trip. This has meant that the Department loses some running (and associated fees) as the PINK TT drops to 69 miles instead of previous 84 and the diesel turn on the PURPLE TT now starts and finishes earlier. Therefore, Visit the GWSR website to view the new running times....https://www.gwsr.com/your-visit/timetables

This change will not affect special events, such as our rapidly approaching Gala which will have an enhanced timetable. 

More on the Gala hopefully in the next few weeks as plans are finalised. We have sadly had a bit of hard time securing a guest loco, given the increasing costs of road transport, however a loco has been agreed in principle but contracts are yet to be signed. As such, an announcement will be forthcoming when discussions are completed. Don't forget, the dates of the Gala are the 12 - 14 July.    

Another, more recent, timetable change has been necessitated due to the Class 117 DMU developing a number of issues that require immediate attention. This has caused it to be pulled out of traffic and the BLUE TT on Thursdays will now be  PINK TT day. D6948 worked the first one on the 9th May and 47105 will work the next on the 16th May. 

As for the Class 117, W51363 needs to have some structural repairs completed as a consequence of longstanding water ingress and will be removed from the set and replaced by W51360 which has had some door repairs and was turned, utilising a low loader that had arrived with a new coach on hire from our friends at the West Somerset Railway, to allow it to take '363's place. However, the Class 122 overhaul took another solid step as the interior panels were fitted next to the bubble header tanks. This means the team can soon fit the header tanks and get back to mechanical and electrical testing.

So, this week saw 'Shunty', or D2280, break cover in its new paint scheme. The Class 04 is privately owned but has had its repaint completed by a number of members of the Department as a collective effort, and it is safe to say that it is a job well done!

Only a couple of weeks ago, D2280 after the black of the wasp stripes had been completed.

Only a couple of weeks ago, the Class 04 was still minus it's side doors and the wasp stripes had just been applied to the nose ends. The cab end solebar had also been given its first coat of red paint. 

Helen just clears off some of the masking tape having just finished tidying up the solebar .

Fast forward to Wednesday 8 May.......on arrival, I was asked to fire up D6948 (our other Class 04 was being used by our P'Way colleagues to move around some wagons) to undertake some shunting - primarily to free D2280 from the back of the shed and move it outside so that it could be given a clean. 

Hugh puts the finishing touches to the handrail.

With Hugh finished touching up one of the handrails, I wandered down to prep the Class 37. 

D6948 gets warmed up ready for its service duties later in the day by moving fellow Class 37, 37215, and Class 24, 5081 outside.

With D6948 all prepped and Dave S, our HoD ready to manage the shunt, it was time to move sister Class 37, 37215, and Class 24, 5081, outside. 5081 was being moved so that it could have a clean and scrub ready for its approaching turns, although the main reason was to extricate D2280 from the shed. 

The new transfers applied to the cabside of D2280.

Its time in the diesel shed had come to an end so, to finish the job, it was to be shunted into the David Page Shed at the end of the day. For the majority of the day, however, it was to bask in the sunshine and receive admiring glances. It won't be too long before 'Shunty' is back in traffic.

......and here it is! It really is a great job...and a stunning day on which to reveal it to the outside world.

Basking in the sun, D2280 in its new coat of BR Green. 5081 gets ready for its scrub in the background.

5081 will be in use over the next few weeks and up to the Diesel Gala before being withdrawn from traffic for some engine repairs to be completed. These are residual repairs that are needed after the completion of the engine governor repairs a couple of years back. 

The sun creates a halo at the bottom of the pic of 5081 as it rests over the pit with Keith and Mark E part of the way through the wash and brush up.

Another overhaul reaching its final throes is that of our newest arrival, Class 20, 20228. The 'chopper' has now received its own decals.

Class 20, 20228 has been resurrected in its 1980s Eastfield guise.

Owner, Steve M, has moved to the final stages of the bodywork and has now progressed on to preparing the nose end ready for the fitting of the locos overhauled exhauster. The exhauster has been stripped, cleaned, tested and reassembled ready for refitting when the pipework has been cleaned and the electrical feed tested. 

On Wednesday, Steve was busy clearing the blower/exhauster compartment at the end of the nose. 

The exhauster covered and stored under one of Steve's makeshift workbenches.

As I was at a loose end after the shunt, I assisted Steve by repainting the seat frames for the cab. Steve had already given them a coat of paint at home but the paint had become contaminated when drying so he wanted them smoothed down and repainted. 

Take 2 on the seats. Mark S had already completed the seat bases ready for assembly.

 Once finished, I had a fair bit of paint left over so the cab steps were given a once over with top coat. 

The cab steps get a touch up.

The aim is that 20228 will make its bow at the Gala and join its sister 20137 running in multiple. There hasn't been a pair of Class 20s pass through since the Gala in 2017.

D8098 and D8137 head away from Toddington on 30/07/17. (Courtesy of the late Malcolm Ranieri)

On to Friday 10 May where D6948 was utilised on a Driver Experience day. Six eager participants  took on the controls under the guidance of yours truly and Kev J, one of the locos four owners. One of the participants was our very own Non Exec Director, Colonel Mike Bennett OBE DL. 

Best behaviour on the footplate as GWSR PLC Non-Exec Director, Col. Mike Bennett OBE DL took on the controls from CRC to Broadway. Its always great to see members of our board take an interest in the diesel locos.

Mike was a top gent and a very assured driver, even though this was his first experience of driving a diesel loco - he admitted to doing a steam experience many years ago - and certainly enjoyed his 14 miles at the sharp end. It was a stifflingly hot day on the footplate but everyone enjoyed the experience, despite the heat, and the loco performed faultlessly.

D6948 at a very summery CRC before the last Driver Ex train to Broadway.

So, with the changes in timetable here is the current roster until the end of May....

Date	TT	Rostered Loco
Tues 14 May		47105
Weds 15 May		47105
Thur 16 May		47105
Sat 18 May		5081
Sun 19 May		5081
Tues 21 May		20137
Weds 22 May		20137
Thurs 23 May		20137
Weds 29 May		47376
Thurs 30 May		47376

We will also be on 'Thunderbird' duty during the Steam Gala over the late-May Bank Holiday. D6948 is rostered on the Saturday. Others are TBC. 

Crikey!! It's a blog!!

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. 

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.

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. 

'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. 

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. 

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.

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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!

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