Since the gala we have had a really busy month of August. Since the incident involving the 'King' shortly before the Diesel Gala a diesel loco has had to be rostered for all running days during the month. This gave the chance for some extra mileage behind our fleet of locos, including our visiting Class 50, and the chance for two diesels on our GREEN timetable. With the pointwork at Broadway out of commission all services had to be top-n-tailed between Broadway and Toddington. It made for some interesting diagramming and some very intensive shunt manoeuvres at Toddington as locos were added and removed! Our operational fleet all saw some extra turns throughout and more engine hours accrued. However, the pointwork at Broadway has now been fixed and so the return to standard timetabled services means that things go back to normal which means that diesel running starts to lessen as the season draws to a close. Don't forget, though, we still have the October Diesel Weekend on the 12/13 October for one final hurrah before Xmas.
Speaking of the new pointwork at Broadway, Class 26 D5343 was the first loco to traverse the new point when it was used to take the P'Way train and the flat wagon containing the new point blade to Broadway. Below is a picture of the 'McRat' waiting at Broadway courtesy of Nigel Black. Cheers, Nigel.
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| D5343 becomes the first loco to traverse the new point at Broadway. (Courtesy of N. Black) |
However, the loco was taken out of service shortly after its foray on the P'Way train in order to have its Automatic Voltage Regulator swapped. A new electronic AVR (as fitted to the majority of our fleet) was acquired and this was fitted in to the loco on 07/09. On test it was identified that it wasn't working to the correct voltages so the loco has been removed temporarily from the roster whilst it awaits rectification. It has also had a new pinion for No.2 compressor motor fashioned and fitted to the overhauled compressor motor. Over the Xmas period it is hoped that the loco can find some space under cover so that anti-corrosion work can be completed to the roof and upper body sides.
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| D5343 sits on Toddington MPD on 08/09/19 awaiting work on its new AVR. |
Our visiting Class 26, 5310, has been lifted and its Traction Motors have been removed. Paul Jones, co-owner of DES, has provided some photos of the loco lift. Cheers Paul.
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| 5310's bogie with Traction Motor removed. The axle seems to be in good condition. (Courtesy P. Jones) |
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| 5310 goes for a lift. (Courtesy of P. Jones) |
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| Accommodation bogies ready to be rolled in, 5310 is lifted for its Traction Motors to be removed. Bubble Car, W55003 sits in top coat behind. (Courtesy P. Jones) |
The Llangollen Diesel Group have arranged for the Motors to be sent away for refurbishment and repair with a view to a mid-October return. It is hoped that, like with the main Gala, the loco will be available to take part in the Diesel Weekend in some way - especially as the season winds down and the chances for obtaining any running with the loco diminishes.
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| Visiting Llangollen Class 26, 5310, languishes in the yard at Toddington on 08/09/19 as its Traction Motor repairs progress. |
Our other visiting loco, EE Type 4, 50035 'Ark Royal' is still proving to be a popular draw - even though the Gala finished over a month ago. It has had a few more turns than initially anticipated due to 'Pointgate' (a phrase coined by our HoD, Andy, in a recent meeting!) and has performed without fault. Our guests from the SVR who have come down the road from Kidderminster to crew and maintain the 2700hp beast have all been very positive about the locomotive's stay and have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to come and crew on the GWR. For many it was the first time away from crewing on the SVR an for those of us from the GWR who have crewed on 'the Ark' I can safely say that it has been an experience that has been enjoyed thoroughly - or, maybe that was just me! I was lucky enough to crew it in August, on a rare visit to the GWR during the month, and the smile has only just left my face! A great day had with Richard S along with Ade Holman and James Gregory from the C50A.
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| On the run round at Toddington. 50035 'Ark Royal' waits for the road to Winchcombe. |
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| One Old Oak legend meets another at Winchcombe. 6023 'King Edward II' crosses 50035. |
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| Signs of its previous livery. A left over from its 'Loadhaul' days. |
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| Yours truly at full power! A great way to take your mind of things! |
Locos requiring lifting has been a running theme throughout the last couple of years. The initial recipient of a lift was Class 24, 5081. With the bogie and brake refurbishment, and running in, completed the loco was cruelly withdrawn prior to the Gala in July with a Load Regulator issue which was causing some spectacular arc-ing in the engine room. This has been patched up and the Field Diverts switched out enabling a couple of loaded test runs to be conducted with a view to the loco being available to play some active part in the Diesel Weekend in October. The electrical work has also thrown up a few other minor issues that need looking at during the close season.
Class 20, D8137, is scheduled to get a lift in the next few weeks in order to have at least one Traction Motor removed. Like 5081, the 'Chopper' was removed from the Gala roster at late notice when it was discovered that one Motor was tripping out and another was giving low voltage readings. Owner, Steve M, has just finished stripping sister loco, 20035, therefore giving Steve the potential of conducting a like for like swap for two Motors. The ones removed from 20035 appear to be in good order so it is hoped, when cleaned up and refurbished, that two can be swapped enable D8137 to return to service sooner than initially thought.
Another loco that has been on the jacks is Class 37, 37215. Work has progressed on its bogies with removal of the spent Traction Motor brushes and a general clean up of the metal work. However, during inspection it was noticed that the tyres were in need of a little attention as well as the Motor brushes and Blowers. A decision was made to send the wheelsets for tyre turning. On the 08/09 the bogies were sat on the unloading road waiting for collection.
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| 37215's bogies await collection and a visit with the wheel lathe on 08/09/19. |
This means that it is unlikely that 37215 will be available for the October weekend and so a return in 2020 is most likely.
37215's sister Class 37, D6948, has seen a significant amount of work over the past month and remains on the active roster despite returning from its holiday to the West Somerset Railway with a Main Reservoir air leak. Although not preventing the loco from operating, the offending pipework will need assessing and repair but, this is not likely to be easy. The offending pipework is under the floor of the cab and above the wheelset, thus being difficult to access without......you guessed it! A lift of the body! So, we add another locomotive to the list of locos that will need the assistance of the lifting jacks. It is likely that this will occur during the close season so as not to keep the loco out of service for too long.
The issues with the locomotives boiler is also progressing slowly. The pipework has been inspected visually, and using ultrasound, and the good news is that the pipework is in good condition. This means that, hopefully, any repair will be minimal and won't need the whole of the pipe to be repaired - just the area around where the breach occurred. It is hoped that the boiler can be returned and refitted prior to the end of the year....if all things go well.
'Peak', 45149 has had investigations into its Traction Motor failure and the indications show that the Motor may not be defective. Investigations showed that the electrical throughput was adequate throughout the motor and that the suspicion might be related to the crimps on the wiring not being of sufficient capacity. The crimps have been replaced and, it is hoped that the cable can be replaced and the unit tested after the Diesel Weekend. The loco remains on the available roster and will see service during the Diesel Weekend.
47376 'Freightliner 1995' remains in an operational capacity and has also seen regular use over August. Other than its routine A Exams, the loco has continued to be one of the most consistent and reliable performer.
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| 47376 'Freightliner 1995' arrives in to Toddington on the 25/08/2019. |
The long term overhaul of 1693 continues. The work on the roof louvres has been completed and the louvre sections refitted. The remaining roof sections await their turn as the attention on the body work continues.
Our ED, E6036, has seen infrequent use since its outing at the Gala in July but has remained serviceable. It is due for use on a ballast job on the 09/09 and is likely to see use at the Diesel Weekend.
All our shunters remain in serviceable condition. DES has seen regular use now that Drivers have been retrained for competence and, with regular use, Class 04, D2280, is to be taken out of service so that it can have it's tyres reprofiled. The 04 joins the list of locos needing lifting! Its 'sister' 11230 remains in a serviceable condition, as does Class 03, D2182 down at C&W Winchcombe.
On the DMU front, Class 117 DMS, W51405, has returned from its sojourn to C&W for refurbishment. The cab area needs attention before it returns to service as some parts were robbed in order to keep the other power cars in service. Elsewhere, the Bubble-Car edges closer to completion and has seen the first layers of top coat added. It has also seen work continue to the inside and to the glazing.
Sunday 08/09 saw a DMG Meeting and a first 'proper' visit to the railway for me in over a month. After the meeting Andy, Richard S and myself organised a shunt in order to get 5310 over the pit for the removal of the lifting brackets. These had come to the end of their safety ticket and need re-assessing. It also gave a reason to move E6036 out of a convoy of locos ready for its ballast job and to free up the Ballast Brush for use at Buckland. DES was the shunter of choice but wouldn't start due to flat batteries so D2280 was fired up.
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| Steve M preps D2280 ready for action. |
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| Andy preps one of the brackets for removal from 5310. |
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| 5310, D5343 and D6948 catch the rays. |
After completing the shunt I went back to help Steve with the ongoing work to sort his spares from 20035 and identify items that can be transferred over to D8137 as part of the Motor swap. Steve had already taken off the bearing casings and Motor boxes and, as you would expect, they were filthy. The Motor casings get filled with lubrication fluid that is incredibly toxic and maintains a tar like consistency when at room temperature. In the UK we use something called Motak but in France (where 20035 spent its last few operational years) they use something a little less 'tacky'. After draining as much out, each half of the casing was drenched in diesel in order to try and remove as much lubricant as possible in order to clean them out more thoroughly later with the steam cleaner.
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| 20035' bogies all stripped down with the Traction Motors removed. D8137 expectantly awaits behind it all. |
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| The Traction Motor casings from the CFR Class 20. Diesel has been added to try and neutralise the lubricant inside to make it easier to clear using the steam cleaner. |
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| Bearing casings, all marked as to position on the bogie frame. |
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| It could almost be an optical illusion! The reflection of the roof in the diesel at the bottom of a section of casing. |
Traction Motors R Us!! But, whose is whose??
