It's been a long couple of months that has seen only 'essential' work allowed at Toddington and the rest of us not involved in essential work, twiddling thumbs! However, the Prime Minister's announcement that Lockdown 3.0 will gradually start to ease (we wait with bated breath!) over the next few months - starting 8th March - filled us with some hope that we can return to the railway and to some semblance of normality. Work has gone on behind the scenes to look at ways we can return to timetabled services, keeping within proposed restrictions and, should things go to plan, how we might return to full service and events.
Where some of our fellow heritage railways have plunged in feet first for re-opening, the board of the GWsR have been a little more conservative to begin with and have decided to start with the same service that we had in the lead up to Lockdown 2...one train doing three round trips. As part of that, we have three diesel running days which will allow the refresh of more crew and will follow the format of the ones we had in September/October 2020. The dates are as follows:
Sunday 25th April 2021 - Class 37, 37215, returns to service after its traction motor and bogie work.
And, finally....
Sunday 27th June 2021 - Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' closes out the immediate, post lockdown diesel running.
It is hoped that, if all goes well, post-June will see a slow return to pre-Covid levels of operation but, of course, that is in the lap of the Gods!
As a bit of a catch up on the fleet over Lockdown, most work has centred on getting some of the fleet up to scratch for air pressure systems testing that took place in February. Class 20, 20228 and Class 47, 1693 both passed with flying colours and are certified for another 12 months. For both locos, an important step towards returning to service.
37215 is due to receive new batteries in the coming weeks and, prior to it return to service in April, will need a B Exam and a proper shakedown to ensure all is well after over a year out of traffic. Class 24, 5081, as well as the 'Peak' and 47376 will also all need a B Exam before returning to service.
D6948's lift has had to be postponed for a number of reasons. Originally scheduled for early January, Lockdown 3.0 put the brakes on, however, the loco owners have also had no luck in sourcing an alternative set of lifting brackets so that the body could be lifted. We are usually indebted to our friends at the SRPS at Bo'ness but there's are currently in use and may not be available for a little while. Frustrating, but patience is a virtue.
Class 20, D8137 and Class 26, D5343 are both awaiting the return of non-essential working so that their respective repairs can continue. The CMDG Group are hoping that the liners for the Class 26's cylinders are returned soon so that they can be refitted.
News from the Brush Type 4 Group is that 1693 will, hopefully, be ready for its long awaited repaint in June. A lot of the prep work has now been completed although its test run earlier on in the year did through up a few small issues that will need to be rectified. 47376 has had its cab floors repaired after suffering corrosion to the baseplate as well as the wooden floor becoming untidy and rotten.
On the shunter front, 11230 has had its starter motor work completed and is now back in a serviceable condition. It re-joins DES and the multicoloured D2280 on the available roster.
Lastly, the DMU fleet have all been winterised with no restoration work allowed on the Class 122 and the Class 117's being serviceable. Although no running days have been allocated to the DMUs at present, it is hoped that the units will get a run out before the end of 2021.
So, with everyone in a position of safety, here's hoping that ..........
