The weekend just passed saw another special event at the GWSR. With the summer rapidly approaching they are coming thick and fast! This does mean that, with bigger events, the Diesel Shed gets used for some of the exhibitors...and this weekend (13th and 14th May) was no exception. With work therefore temporarily suspended on most locos due to this weekends' event, attention turned to Class 24, 5081 which had been shunted into the Steam Shed in readiness for its lift. In 2016 the railway took delivery of a set of synchronised lifting jacks which had been placed within the Steam Shed on the new reinforced concrete floor of Road 7. The Class 24 was the first Diesel loco, if not the first loco, to use the jacks and was due to be lifted so that extensive work could be undertaken on its wheel sets.
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| 5081 is set into position ready for its lift. |
Work commenced on Monday 15 May with Technical Officer, Paul Good, assisted by Tim L, Mark E, Richard D and new volunteer Mike W removing the dampers and disconnecting the Traction Motors as well as prepping an 'accommodation' bogie to go under the loco.
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| Monday morning and 5081 goes for its ride (Courtesy of Mark Elvey) |
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The following pictures are provided by Richard Drewitt and shows some of the progress made....
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| Mike, Mark and Paul share a joke as the first damper is removed. |
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| Traction Motor cables hanging free. |
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| One of 5081's dampers. |
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| The 'accommodation' bogie ready for placement under the loco. The Traction Motors are in dry storage. |
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| Shiny new springs ready for fitting. |
If you are interested in helping out or wanting to know a bit more about 5081's repairs, you can head to the owning groups' website
here.
Class 26 D5343 was off enjoying its first attendance at the Diesel Gala down at Swanage. Judging by the reports on social media she acquitted herself well and was very well received. The loco was used on a number of services over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sadly, I didn't manage to get down to see it however, courtesy of Alex Williams (via social media) we have a cracking shot of D5343 leaving Corfe with the castle in the background. Thanks Alex!
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| D5343 leaves Corfe Castle during the Swanage Diesel Gala on 06 May. (Courtesy of Alex Williams) |
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D5343 will next be in action at the West Somerset Diesel Gala over the weekend of the 9th, 10th and 11th June.
Elsewhere, we had a well patronised Class 37 Driver Experience on the Friday with 37215 and, the weekend saw the GWSR 'Cotswold Bricks Event' (we weren't authorised to use the Registered Trademark of a certain Scandinavian Construction Toys company). This was the first year of the running of this event and a non-standard
RED timetable was being operated with the 3rd MK1 rake being used with top and tail diesels instead of the DMMU. The locos rostered were Class 20, D8137 and Class 73, E6036 - the ED making a rare passenger outing away from a gala.
Saturday started off with miserable weather that got progressively warmer and sunnier throughout the day making photography a little easier. Although essentially a shuttle service, it doesn't leave much time for relaxing or grabbing a drink. Luckily though, apart from the steam services running a bit late, the day was reasonably uneventful. However........
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| D8137 at Winchcombe awaiting departure time. |
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| Class 73, E6036 makes a rare passenger service appearance at Toddington. |
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| D8137 rounds Chicken Curve under a gloriously blue sky. (Courtesy of Alex Barnard) |
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......Sunday's crew had a slightly 'unusual' day. On Saturday, our Ops Notice gave warning of a P'Way Track Walker between Toddington and Laverton. On Sunday, Steve Madge was to experience a different type of track walker near Laverton....none of which were wearing Hi Viz or carrying any tools! We do get the occasional human trespasser or wandering sheep on the line but Geese and Goslings are certainly a new one on most of us!
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| With the service stopped, Driver Steve Madge turns to nature as he tries to get the details of some unusual trespassers! (Courtesy of GWSR Facebook) |
Class 47, 47376 '
Freightliner 1995' was utilised on both days on the 1555 Toddington - Cheltenham and 1640 Cheltenham - Toddington.
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| E6036 on the rear of a Laverton service as 47376 'Freightliner 1995' waits for the off with the 1555 Toddington - Cheltenham (courtesy of Alex Barnard). |
Away from the loco running we had the 'Cotswold Bricks Event' organised by the Southern Lego Train Club that took over a marquee in the Car Park and half the Diesel Shed. Not only were there trade stands but some fantastic displays and models made entirely of construction bricks. Ranging from one off designs or replicas of ships through to a variety of model railways.....one of which took well over 7 hours to set up! 37215 and D6948 provided the backdrop in the Shed and a little scale between the models and the real things.
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| A Pendolino rounds the curve on Jamie Douglas' Manchester Brickadilly layout. |
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| Jamie Douglas' amazing Manchester Brickadilly layout. |
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| An EMU rubs shoulders with a Pannier Tank and a number of LU Units. |
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| An LMS Black Five, Southern Q1, GWR 'City' and Southern 'Battle of Britain' show how much these types of 'train sets' have improved in 20 years. Mine were never this good! |
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| He runs on wheels.......close enough! |
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| A Class 70 sits amongst a number of European units and locomotive types. |
With the next big event being the Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, the only remaining mainline diesel running of the month sees Class 45, 45149 running on the
RED timetable over the weekend of 20th and 21st May.
