MIA!

Apologies for no updates on the diesel fleet over the last few weeks; sadly, life has required other things from me and the GWSR has had to take a back seat. However, I am reliably informed that things continue unabated on all fronts with winter maintenance now being planned out on all the mainline fleet ready for a big year in 2018! I am sure many of you have been keeping up with the blogs showcasing the continued work at Broadway and, I have to say, with the scaffolding down the station is starting to look very impressive! In line with this work the Class 73 has been busy with the ballast train ferrying new ballast, sleepers and track to and fro. The ED lends itself very well to this kind of work given that the English Electric 4SRKT Mk II diesel engine only generates 600hp, but it is very responsive to the driver's 'instructions' and maintains excellent control at the slow speeds needed for laying ballast evenly.

A hastily borrowed pic of the E6036 from our Extension Blog. (Courtesy of GWSR Extension Blog)

Speaking of winter, this weekend sees the last outing for our mainline fleet for 2017 on regular timetabled services. We have the GREEN timetable over Saturday and Sunday with three round trips top and tailed. On Saturday D6948 and 37215 will be exercising their English Electric 12CSVT engines (D6948 will also have the boiler running) whilst on Sunday its 'Little and Large' time as 45149 and D5343 have the chance to stretch their Sulzer engines - the Class 26 for the last time this year. The Class 117 will also be running shuttles between Buckland and Winchcombe.

37215 and D6948 will be out on Saturday 28/10/17.

The CMDG are out on the Sunday with D5343.........

.......and 45149.

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On the DMU front, work continues on Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003. Control desk modifications have continued with the replacement of wiring, the Cotswold side doors have been hung, and in some cases rehung, trying to get the door profiles just right and, the last few pillars have been prepped ready for priming.

W55003 door pillar and newly fitted door. (Courtesy of the CDRG/DMU Group)

Newly primed door pillar on W55003. (Courtesy of the CDRG/DMU Group)

 Class 117 DMS, W51405, is still out of set L425 having had engine works. No2 engine has had some faults that ended up with full failure at the end of September. It has now been removed from the unit and has been stripped down ready for refurbishment and eventual refitting. In the meantime, the BR Blue DMBS, W51360, continues to fill in. The Class 107 DMCL, Sc52029, has also received some preliminary work carried out to try and get some of the smaller jobs off the rather long list! 

Away from the fleet, the previous blog stirred some memories of early diesels from another of our railway's volunteers. John Dyer is a Guard and also a Booking Office Clerk at the GWSR and he contacted me through the Head of Department, Andy, as his mind was jogged by reading about the steam heat boiler on D6948. John had sent through a photo of Class 55 'Deltic' D9002 on 'boiler blow down' at York in 1962.

'Deltic' D9002 blowing down its boiler at York. April 1962. (Courtesy of John Dyer)

Subsequently, John has allowed me to select a few and to share them with you via this blog. His pictures were taken in various places around the UK between 1955 and 1962. He hopes that it will jog some memories but also showcase some of the diesel types that were around at the time. I hope you enjoy them. All photos are shared with kind permission and courtesy of John himself. Thanks, John!

L.M.S pioneer diesel electrics (BR Class 16/1) 10000 and 10001 prepare to leave Crewe with the down 'Royal Scot' - 5 October 1958

Bullied-designed prototype diesel electric (BR Class 16/2) 10202 arrives at London Euston with an express - August 1959

English Electric prototype DP2 about to depart Rugby for London Euston ex Liverpool Lime Street - 13 June 1962

D84 (later Class 45/0, 45055 'Royal Corps of Transport') at Derby Midland - 24 February 1962

English Electric Type 4, D210 (later Class 40, 40010) at London Euston - August 1959. The loco was named 'Empress of Britain' in 1960.

'Warship' D802 'Formidable' enters Bristol (Temple Meads) from the South West - July 1964

'Warship' D859 'Vanquisher' rumbles into Crewe from Shrewsbury - July 1963

Brush Type 4, D1734 enters Bristol (Temple Meads) - July 1964. This loco was to be involved in a serious incident at Coton Hill, Shrewbury, 6 months after this photo was taken and, was withdrawn and cut up at Crewe Works in April 1965.

'Hymek' D7004 on acceptance trials at Swindon - 22 August 1961

Finally, some shots taken by John in the late 1960s at Pewsey, Wiltshire. These show the much lamented 'Westerns' on services to/from Paddington. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get one of these fine machines for our first Broadway Diesel Gala?

Now.............there's a thought!!!!