Gala news and the week that was...surprisingly quiet!

First and foremost some BIG news. It may only be April but the final touches are being put to our Summer Diesel Gala line up and we can announce the locomotives that will be appearing over the 28, 29 and 30 July, subject to the usual caveats that come with operating 50-60 year old locomotives! As well as our own home main line fleet this year sees TWO visiting locos heading to Toddington, the first time for a long time (if not, ever!) that this has occurred. The full listing of appearing main line locomotives will be:

Type 1 - Class 20

At the recent GCR Diesel Gala Class 20, D8098 departs from Ropley.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the class with British Rail our own D8137 will be joined by D8098, courtesy of the Type One Loco Company Ltd. Pairs of Class 20s were a very common sight on the Honeybourne line during the 1960s and 1970s and this will recreate that scene. D8098 is normally resident on the Great Central Railway.
Our other resident Class 20, 20035 (CFR 2001) which is undergoing component recovery will be on static display in the yard.

Type 2 - Class 24, 25 and 26

At the recent GCR Diesel Gala, Class 25 D5185 rests between turns.

Our second visitor comes in the shape of another Loughborough based locomotive Class 25 D5185, courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group. A popular runner at its home base and across a variety of preserved lines since returning to traffic in 2013, the locomotive will fill the void left by the withdrawal from operation of our Class 24, 5081 which will be on display in the Diesel Shed. Our other Type 2, Class 26 D5343 will also be in operation throughout the weekend.

Type 3 - Class 37
Both of our ever popular Class 37s, D6948 and 37215 will be in operation over the weekend.

Type 4 - Class 45 and Class 47
Class 45 'Peak', 45149 will be in service throughout the weekend along with Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'. 47105, which is undergoing long term overhaul, will be on display in the Diesel Shed.

Electro-Diesel - Class 73
Not normally a regular performer, other than on permanent way trains, the Gala gives our resident ED a chance to stretch its legs. E6036 will be in use over the weekend on selected services.

The full list -  

Class 20, D8098 (courtesy of the Type One Loco Company Ltd)
Class 20, D8137
Class 20, 20035 (static display)

Class 24, 5081 (static display)
Class 25, D5185 (courtesy of the Northampton Type 2 Group)
Class 26, D5343

Class 37, D6948
Class 37, 37215

Class 45, 45149
Class 47, 47105 (static display)
Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'

Class 73, E6036

It is hoped that some of the new extension beyond Laverton, towards Broadway, will also be available for us to run trains for the first time utilising either top and tail or via DMU.

The gala website and timetable/ticket booking should be online by the end of the month so keep an eye on the GWSR website (http://www.gwsr.com). Please do remember that the event is ALL TICKET and no free entry will be allowed to any of the sites throughout the weekend. One day rover tickets will cost £21 online or £23 on the day with discounted 2 and 3 day tickets available on line also. Loco allocations will be added later. Ticket prices include access to all open 'backstage areas' including the Diesel Shed and our Carriage and Wagon Workshops. As with previous years a free bus connection from Cheltenham Spa national rail station direct to the GWSR's Cheltenham Racecourse station will be provided on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July.

Onto other news..........

This week has been a very quiet one in the Department. With the running season starting to get in to full swing, a number of events being prepared for and, of course, the Easter getaway, running maintenance is the name of the game as far as the majority of the fleet is concerned. Last weekend, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' worked the weekend GREEN timetabled services along with the DMU. The following excellent photographs are courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri...many thanks, Malcolm! We are so blessed to have a number of excellent photographers who are regular visitors, volunteers or affiliated with the railway and some of the best scenery around.

47376 'Freightliner 1995' has the power applied as she passes the Royal Oak pub at Gretton working towards Toddington. (Courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri)

In glorious sunshine 47376 'Freightliner 1995' prepares to slow for a stop at Gotherington. (Courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri)

47376 'Freightliner 1995' passes the Winchcombe bracket signal on a working from Cheltenham Racecourse. (Courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri) 

 

 

 

As with all running days the green 3-car Class 117 DMU L425 was also out and about performing the 'Laverton Shuttles'.

Class 117 DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) W51363 leading arrives at Winchcombe. Driver Jeff Lacey is ready to hand over to he token. (Courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri)

Jeff exchanges the token pouch with Signalman Keith Newman on arrival at Winchcombe. (Courtesy of Malcolm Ranieri)

Although owned, primarily, by members of the Steam department under the auspices of the Cotswold Diesel Railcar Group, the operation of the DMU comes under the Diesel Department umbrella. The CDRG own one full set, the Class 117, but also own Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003 (currently under restoration) and, a further 'power twin' formation that will be made up of Class 117 DMBS W51360 and Class 107 DMCL (Driving Motor Composite with Lavatory) Sc52029, also under restoration. As L425 is used very intensively any maintenance is undertaken when it is deemed most convenient by the CDRG - the sight of a bogie in the yard at Toddington on Good Friday demonstrating that a bogie swap had happened at some stage during the week.

DMU bogie awaiting maintenance.

Good Friday saw the RED timetable with the Class 26 rostered for one round trip. One of the extra 'duties' for the diesel crew on this timetable is to act as 'Thunderbird' in the event of a steam engine failure. Whilst waiting to prep the loco and head off shed some minor work was undertaken elsewhere. On D6948 Mark S drained the boiler water tank and removed the two gauges and float mechanisms for repair. As the tank holds about 800 gallons, had only been filled a few weeks prior, and the boiler used once in that time, it took some time for the level to drop far enough for the dry removal of both gauges! Plenty of time for using a boiler of a different kind!

B Side gauge removed on D6948. Despite the tank being full it only ever registered as being less than a quarter full! A side always registered that the tank was full!! Hopefully this work will stop wet feet from inadvertent overfilling!

Finally, one notable excursion was made by one of the unsung 'heroes' of the department. Class 03 D2182 is usually confined to Carriage and Wagon at Winchcombe. Due to a shunt being required to rearrange some of the 3rd rake of coaches over in the P'way Sidings it made a rare foray along the main line on a service day, even if this was limited to the confines of Winchcombe station.

A rare sight on a running day. C&W pilot D2182 ambles through Platform 2 at Winchcombe heading for the P'way sidings. (Courtesy Malcolm Ranieri)

D2182 shunts the 'scratch' rake and removes a couple of coaches over to Carriage and Wagon on the 'Cotswold' (on the right as you look at the picture) side of the running line.

Would you believe that, at one point, D2182 was part of a children's play area in Leamington Spa?! A link to a picture can be found here (picture remains copyright of MasonPhenix19).

The magic of restoration!