Glorious weather, a sold out service and a near flawless locomotive performance meant that today's Diesel Day, the first of three, was a roaring (or should that be growling? I'll get my coat!) success. Certainly, the smiling throngs that got off the final service at Toddington were testament of a great day had by all. But, we'll get back to that shortly.
During the week more work was undertaken on Class 26, D5343. Whilst the group await the return of the engine components so that the cylinders and liners can go back into the block, the CMDG have focused their attention on the body of the locomotive. After a heavy life in Scotland, as well as a number of cold Cotswold winters in preservation, the internal metal work was starting to show fatigue. In some cases, this was quite severe. Preliminary assessment also highlighted some accident damage, sustained in BR service, that would need some work to strengthen.
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| Back on the 10 April, initial markings were made regarding removal of some of the sheet steel. Internally, the assessment found that corrosion extended to the skeleton of the loco body. You can see this at the bottom left. |
Since the above work the loco was moved into the David Page shed so that the metal work could be removed and new metal welded on in a safe workshop area. The following photos are courtesy of David Stanton, the man with the welding lance!
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| From the previous photo, you can see the panel that has been cut away showing the extent of the damage and corrosion to the metalwork underneath the outer skin. (Courtesy of D. Stanton) |
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| A close up of more of the corrosion as well as evidence of a cut price rewire! (Courtesy of D. Stanton) |
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The old, damaged, cross member has been cut out and new steel has been welding in place. New steel would also be welded in above the sole bar. (Courtesy of D. Stanton)
 | | The new steel welded in place. A much neater repair of an old repair. (Courtesy of D. Stanton) |
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While one large scale job gains speed, another is within touching distance of the finish line. Class 47,
1693, is in the final stages of the preparation for its repaint. This weekend saw the Brush Type 4 team continue with undercoating as well as putting the first finishing touches to the underframe and bogies. It is getting tantalizing close to the end product.
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| No.2 end of 1693 has been masked and the grey and yellow undercoats have been applied. |
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| No. 1 end has had similar treatment, although the windscreen glass is yet to be covered. |
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| The underframe of the loco now wears a coating of gloss black. |
Elsewhere today, Steve M was taking a break from the work on his pair of Class 20s and busied himself undertaking some work on Class 73,
E6036.
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| Class 20, D8137 and Class 73, E6036 bask in the glorious sunshine. |
With the weather being fantastic, I decided to take a walk down the yard to see the new southern turnout and to familiarise myself with the new signals. As I would be crewing at the end of the day, I needed to know the layout of the new signals and how they operate. Whilst walking down the yard I took the opportunity to take a photo of Class 45,
45149 which is due to operate the second of our Diesel Days in May. It was also in the company of 'Class 04',
11230 which had been banished to the end of 'DMU Row' as it had failed during the week and needed some rectification work.
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| 'Peak' 45149 enjoys the sunshine in the yard. The loco is the next to operate on the 2nd Diesel Day on 23 May. |
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| 'Class 04' 11230 is parked up along with Class 117 DMBS, W51372 at the end of DMU Row. The shunter was receiving attention after failing earlier in the week. |
Between the 'Peak' and DMU Row was our other blue Class 117 DMBS, W51360. This is due to visit Carriage and Wagon at some point in the future for a bit of an internal spruce up.
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| Class 117 DMBS, W51360 tries its best to hide behind one of the yard light poles. |
Our new amenities block, 'The Goods Shed' has officially been commissioned and is now in use. I still haven't had a look inside yet but, it is said to be pretty impressive inside. One of the things built into the design was a viewing platform so that it would be possible to watch the coming and goings on the railway during operations. I decided to have a nose and, I must say, it does give a cracking view above the bustle of the yard.
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| The Goods Shed in all its glory. |
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| The viewing platform gives spectacular views. Who wants to work when you can just sit back and look at the scenery? Down on DMU Row, a small band of the CDRL continue to work on the Class 122. |
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| A look across the yard at DES, D2280, E6036 and GWR 42XX, 4270. |
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| 37215 arrives back at Toddington on 1B14 1325 CRC to Broadway. Signalman Robert Wells prepares to take the token. |
So, as mentioned at the beginning, today was the first of three Diesel Days to be run across April, May and June. These primarily give us the opportunity to have some running as we start to build back out of COVID restrictions. It also allows crew to regain competency - something I was taking advantage of, having not had a turn since October 2019! 37215 was given the honour of the first day and tickets, unsurprisingly, sold out very quickly. However, not everything ran to script in the lead up to the day with the loco taking its time to settle after nearly 2 years out of service and a lot of components being changed or replaced. Work had taken place almost right up to the day trying to ensure that any small issues would be sorted before the event. The loco was used on the Saturday to perform ECS and shunting duties around Toddington as a way to double check that everything would be alright on the night....or on the Sunday. Well, despite a few early niggles, the loco ran well and plenty of good feedback was received. It was also great to get back 'on the handles'. I was pleasantly surprised to know that I hadn't forgotten too much!
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While the Guard checks the coaches, Traction Inspector, Tony Boston, surveys the line ahead of the 1000 departure to Cheltenham. (Courtesy of A. Durham)
 | | 37215 arrives at Toddington after its first full round trip. |
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| A cheery wave from Tony as 37215 with Neil Carr on the handles makes a spritely departure with the second round trip. |
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| I was rostered on the 3rd round trip, the 1500 to Cheltenham. The loco arrives from Broadway ready for me to take over. |
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| With the loco now casting long shadows over the platform, 37215 has been uncoupled from the coaches before running, via the new southern turnout, back on shed. |
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| After getting back on shed, a large shunt was being undertaken to move D6948 over to road 11 and to re-order some of the others. As this was going on Tony and I parked up 37215 at the end of the headshunt. |
With the shunt partially completed,
37215 was required to move Class 24,
5081 and Class 20,
20228 back on to Road 10.
E6036 was used to move
D8137, D6948, 1693 and
47376 around on Road 11.
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| It isn't often that E6036 gets to go inside the diesel shed, however, with the shunt in full swing the ED finds itself in unfamiliar surroundings. |
A great day was had by all and, hopefully, the next two diesel days are just as successful. The next days are:
Sunday 23 May - Class 45, 45149
Sunday 27 June - Class 47, 47376 'Freightliner 1995'
