Winter is drawing in.

After a few weeks absence I finally managed to find a free day that I could head up to Toddington MPD and see what was in the offing. The Saturday had seen the penultimate GREEN  timetabled day with 37215 and D6948 top and tailing the maroon rake. The Sunday saw 45149 and D5343 following suit. Sadly, I didn't make it for the pair of 37s on Saturday, however, one of our fellow volunteers was on hand to get a splendid photo of the pair approaching Greet Tunnel. Cheers Stuart!

D6948 leads 37215 towards Greet Tunnel on 28/10/2017. (Courtesy of Stuart Carrick)

There are also some epic photos of the day on the Growler Group Facebook page, which can be found HERE. D6948's boiler provided some much needed heat (it was apparently a little chilly to start the day) and worked reasonably faultlessly throughout the day - as did both locos. Sadly, the same couldn't be said for the Sunday where D5343 managed one and a half round trips with 45149 before being retired.

A disgraced D5343 returns to shed after blowing a hole in its heat exhauster on  29/10/17.

Water seeps out from any orifice as a consequence of the blown heat exhauster.

On arrival at Toddington, whilst working the 1205 ex Cheltenham, the crew noticed water leaking out from the bodyside. On inspection a small hole was found in the casing of a heat exhauster causing water to leak out over the engine room floor. The decision was taken to withdraw the McRat from service and leave the 'Peak' to continue on its own. A repair is scheduled courtesy of the welding talents of Mark S during the winter break. It was remarked that it was lucky that it happened now as the '26' has spent a lot of 2017 at various railways around the UK. If it had happened away from the GWSR it would have made repair more difficult. 

Away from the running day it was a fairly busy day in the shed with a lot of jobs being undertaken - primarily on the long term projects 47105 and 5081. We also had a number of escorted group visits coming through the shed taking a very interested look at what we are doing and what motive power we have. First order of business was a large shunt in order to get locomotives in the right places ready for the winter maintenance period. This meant a complicated shunt to ensure that 37215 and 47105 were adjacent to the respective owning group's containers. It also meant that I had to curtail cleaning off the left over 'boiler juice' on the bodyside of D6948. This is a consequence of having the boiler running - streaks of dirty water and soot that run down from the vent on the roof.

Under a slightly threatening sky, 47105 and D8137 sit on Road 9 during the shunt. E6036 sits on Road 6, behind, as D6948 is shunted back towards Road 10.

37215 is moved back out of the shed by the Class 04 before being place on Road 11.

On completion of the shunt, work restarted on the wheel set of Class 24, 5081. Work has progressed quickly and, with primer and undercoat now on the frame, it was time to look at fitting the four brake cylinders back to their bases. Ben E and Chris, one of our new recruits, a graduate from the GWSR's Young Volunteers, were busy refitting the cylinders and securing the nuts and bolts.

Chris (L) and Ben refit one of the four brake cylinders to the refurbished frame.

One fitted and secured.

All four are now secured to the frame. This means that all the remaining rigging can now be fitted after undercoating.

5081's brake rigging sits awaiting its first application of grey undercoat. 

One of the two traction motors awaiting its turn in front of the paint sprayer.

Chris was also given the task of cleaning up one of our spare exhausters. Not a very challenging task but one that we will all, at some stage, take on. It is always satisfying when one is tested and works well after the effort of stripping and cleaning.

The stripped exhauster gets the wire brush and scraper treatment. To the right is a fully refurbished exhauster ready for its call to arms.

All of the groups carry containers full of spares however, on occasion, new pieces of equipment may be required and purchased from other groups. As the number, and sources, of spares becomes smaller and smaller, having a good number of usable and fully refurbished spares is important to keep the whole fleet running. These can arrive in any condition but they will all be checked and then either refurbished or stripped of reusable parts.

Work was also continuing on 47105's long term refurbishment.Tim and Matt were busy refitting cab furniture and dials. I was commandeered to help out with fitting the piping to fuel pump push rod covers. The metal work had all been cleaned and repainted but new rubber piping had to be cut, softened and then secured.

A tub of oil containing jubilee clips, 12 metal tubes requiring 12 lengths of rubber before fitting to 47105's fuel rack.

Hot water to soften the rubber tube. Old school solution to an old school problem!

While 47105 was continuing to have things added, its sister was having things removed! 47376 'Freightliner 1995' has been suffering with metal fatigue for some time. The issues around number 2 ends sole bar were becoming more of concern with the metal plate starting to curl away, as well as rust through. Mark S had started to remove the offending steel in readiness for welding some new plate. The pile of rust that had accumulated on the buffer beam and on the shed floor was testament to how bad it was.

At the start of the day the evidence of the metal fatigue was clear on 47376's sole bar.

Mark S has continued to remove the expired steel to expose the cavity under the nose of 47376. Some of the debris remains on the coupling hook and buffer sleeves.

As it was the last scheduled running day for the diesel fleet a final opportunity to 'ride the cushions' for the last time this year was too good to pass up. After cleaning up it was a quick jaunt across the car park to Toddington station to get the 1555 to Cheltenham and 1640 return service.

As the sun begins to lower in the sky shadows are cast over 45149 as she waits to leave Toddington with the 1555 to Cheltenham.

With no services throughout November it means that all motive power and rolling stock can have some well needed R & R before the run up to Christmas.