S-no-w joke.

I, and perhaps many of the department, had hoped to be at the railway this weekend for a full weekend of getting locos ready for the new season - but, the heavy fall of snow and subsequent icy conditions have put paid to that. Roads around Toddington have been closed and, even with my All Wheel Drive Subaru Impreza, I wouldn't make it down the winding hill near my home in one piece to get on the M5! We were scheduled to have the Growler Group AGM on Sunday and our HoD, Andy, and I were due to start our Driver Theory training. Both, now postponed until the weather is less treacherous. Damn!

We have just 1 week - 7 days - until the new running season starts in earnest and, it is the DMU that will see the first diesel running of the 2018 season. The close season has seen Dr. George and the team give L425 some much needed TLC. The past weekend (25/02) saw work continue on the engines of DMBS W51363 and on the rebuild of Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003.

A deserted yard at Toddington. On the left, W51370 awaits colletion by its new owners, Class 20, 20035 contniues to undergo component recovery, W51363 over the pit and, far right, Class 04, 11230. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The DMBS has had an ongoing issue with engine #1; one of those annoying faults that comes and goes as it pleases and has no rational cause. Despite running the engine and trying to recreate the conditions of the fault, it ended up with NFF - No Fault Found. Number 2 engine was rebuilt in early 2017 and, despite running without fault, it had now developed a slight water leak. The copper jacket on one of the pumps wasn't sealing properly. It was also making a knocking noise, causing a slight worry.

No.2 engine with covers removed. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The troublesome water jacket, centre picture. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

Dr. George works his magic to expand the copper jacket and improve the seal. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

No more water leak, but the intermittent knocking was still there. However, as with engine No. 1, no cause could be indentified. With these Leyland engines now becoming very scarce every effort has to be taken to ensure the longevity of these engines.

The TCL from the unit, W59510, has been on its travels to Carriage and Wagon at Winchcombe in order to have a counter fitted so that light refreshments can be served on BLUE timetable days when Broadway is open. You can catch up with the progress here. You can also see some pictures of the resident Class 03 doing what it does best.

W55003 saw Bryan and Alex working in the cold of the David Page shed - a small bonus being inside out of the biting wind! As it was too cold to paint, Bryan was employed on making and fitting the first of the door plugs for the internal door frames. One side has been completed and a start made on the other. Alex spent most of the day making a new desk panel to go around the horn valve.

Alex's good work! A nice new panel. (Courtesy of the CDRG/GWR DMU)

The mainline diesel fleet have the 'luxury' of another few weeks of R&R with the first scheduled public run for the mainline fleet with the opening of Broadway on the 30th March and the Easter weekend. Class 37, D6948, is scheduled to be the operational locomotive for the weekend making use of the steam heat boiler on the last trip from Toddington to Cheltenham and return on each day of the Easter Weekend. With the exception of the DMU, the mainline fleet do not have a first public run to Broadway until the PINK timetable weekend commencing 14th April, although the loco roster has not been confirmed.

In the meantime, D6948 will be making its first visit to Broadway on the 21st and 22nd March when it hauls the final 'Shareholders and Volunteers' specials on both days from the new station. However, these are not public trains and the whole site will not be open to the general public.

Elsewhere, Class 26, D5343, is being prepped ready for its movement to the Mid Norfolk Railway for their Diesel Gala in Mid-March and for an extended stay at Dereham. 

The bogie overhaul on the Class 24 is progressing well. Most of the brake rigging is now in situ and has been repainted with black top-coat. With the majority of spings now sited and almost ready for the re-sitting of the frame, the Traction Motors are having a clean up and repaint before being re-fitted. 

D1693's overhaul also continues apace with the engine seeing more items cleaned, repainted and refitted. More rusty metal work was cut or ground back ready for replacement steel to be welded in place. Sister loco, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' has had its buffer beams primed and partially top coated. The pipework has also been cleaned of paint ready for new coats to be applied when the weather warms up a bit. 

Running deatils for March -

Services start again on Saturday, 10th March 2018 with a Light Blue timetable service. The DMU will operate between Toddington and Cheltenham along along with one steam engine. 

Class 117, L425

10th/ 11th March Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

17th/18th March Toddington- Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

24th/25th March Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse (2 round trips)

Over Easter a special timetable is in plae for the official opening of Broadway station. A diesel loco will work the final service from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse and return to Toddington.

Class 37, D6948

30th/31st March 1600 Toddington - Cheltenham Racecourse and 1705 Cheltenham - Toddington

Loco allocations are yet to be made for the other Easter Days on the 01st and 02nd April.