GWR Diesel Dept Blog: Heavy lifting.

Another week that I miss out on lending a hand due to not having my car but, while I sit around twiddling my thumbs at home my compatriots in the department were toiling with some big lifts. Apologies for the lack of pictures.

With new season now only days away, last weekend many of us had exams scheduled to keep us 'in ticket' down at a very sunny Winchcombe. Back up at Toddington, our Class 26 D5343 was shunted into the David Page shed in order for remedial roof corrosion work to be carried out. Whilst it was indoors the owning group also took the opportunity to replace the boiler room compressor which has become increasingly troublesome in recent years. With the weather unseasonably fine the DMU group were busy giving the 3-car set its M exam and a spruce up given that the new running season edges ever closer. W51363 had received its new bearings the previous weekend and the work suitably signed off to make it fit for use.

W51360 gets some attention from the large brush.

Gleaming in the sun.

Fast forward into the last week and the overhaul of Class 24, 5081, hit another of the targets that inch the project towards its conclusion. A few weeks ago a group of us had re-fitted the remaining brake rigging before lowering the frame back onto its springs. Thursday 28/2 would see the bogie re-fitted with its Traction Motors. With Tim L at the controls of the rough terrain forklift, a number of the 'Weds Gang' had shifted their availability along a day in order to help out.

Mark S and Martin B expectantly await the lowering of the TM into the bogie frame. (Courtesy of GWSR Social Media)

With this job ticked off everything is on target for the project to be completed on time.

Good news was also received about on of our four shunters. DES, our Yorkshire Engine Co 0-6-0, has been out of use for over a year having had issues with its middle axle. The wheelset and axle box was removed and the box sentvto Timken. There is now light at thevend of the tunnel for the owners with news that the axle box should be returned in the next week and, as long as an early slot on the jacks can be obtained, the wheelsets and axle boxes can be reattached and the loco returned to service.

On Friday, St. David's Day, our green Class 37, D6948, was shunted into the car park at Toddington to meet up with a flat bed lorry and HIAB that had arrived. If you recall D6948's boiler sprung a leak on the last day of the running season. The failure was in such a place as to not be easily identifiable so the owners took the decision to lift the boiler out for a thorough inspection. This is what the HIAB and truck was for! Hopefully the issue will be reasonably straightforward and the boiler can be refitted before the Autumn. Photos of the removal today are courtesy of Kev Jarvis. Thanks Kev.