Although, with the weather as it has been over the last few days you'd be forgiven for thinking that Summer had decided to return for a last fling! However, we are now in the final throes of the 2021 season with the beginning of the BLUE timetable and the Santa season only just round the corner. But, that doesn't mean that the diesel fleet are going into hibernation until the Spring...oh, no! We still have a couple of PURPLE days and the 40th ANNIVERSARY event on the 6th and 7th November for starters.
For the first time in a long time the mainline fleet will also take part in the Santa Specials as well as the Class 117 DMU. This is due to engineering work beginning on the embankment slip at Winchcombe which means the track beyond the station in the Cheltenham direction will be lifted preventing the train locos from running round. Finally, we have an ORANGE timetable in operation over Christmas and the New Year which is implemented due to the Winchcombe repairs and will see top and tail services between Winchcombe and Broadway. So, still plenty of diesel action to see into 2022.
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| 2022 should see Class 20, 20228 and sister, D8137 back in service. |
We are a couple of weeks out from the Diesel Gala and the dust has settled on what was a very stressful weekend for the organisers, however, the financial rewards have gone some way to eclipsing the strains. What was billed as a low-key event to raise revenue for the groups and for the railway achieved just that - and, it could only have been done with a thanks to those who attended. We hope that you all enjoyed it.
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| The scribbles on the messroom board show just what a success the Diesel Gala was, despite being 'low-key'. Thanks to all who attended. |
The day before the Gala saw the DMU Traction Inspectors undergo a refresher turn in order to bring them back into competence. This was the first time in nearly 2 years that the DMU had been used in anger, but with the impending start of the off-peak timetable it was time to get people back in ticket.
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| The Class 117 out and about on the BLUE TT on a sunny 3rd October 2021. (Courtesy of the CDRL Facebook page). |
Class 37, 37215, has been putting in some extra-curricular activities on its CV. With the departure of Class 73, E6036, earlier in the year, the 'Growler' has been the loco of choice for undertaking shunts and stock moves around the railway. The last couple of weeks has seen it back in action during the week on such duties. On Friday, 1st October it was used to shunt wagons from Hunting Butts and transport some back to Toddington for onward movement to a new home. Thursday, 7th October saw 37215 in use again on a P'Way train delivering some rail to a variety of work sites across the railway. This gave the travelling public the welcome inclusion of a freight service being slotted in amongst the timetabled passenger services. You can see some pics on our sister C&W blog courtesy of blogger, Alex (who is also a Guard on the railway) here ==> https://gwsrcarriageandwagon.blogspot.com/2021/10/wednesday-6ththursday-7th-busy-busy.html
It was also the booked loco for this weekend's PURPLE diesel turn with myself and Phil S as crew. The opportunity was taken to have a look at the extent of some possible issues with the loco that had been notice throughout the season. None of them were considered particularly serious but we decided to have a look and start a list of needs for the winter before we prepped it for service. The smaller of the compressors in No. 1 end appears to be leaking oil so, after assisting Simon T with a wagon shunt, we pulled the loco out into the rather warm Cotswold air.
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| With a couple of rakes of wagons to move Simon fired up both Class 04s to make things easier. 11230 was used to move the rake of wagons that had been brought up from Cheltenham but had still to be picked up by their owner. |
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| D2280 was used to move the P'Way flat and Brake Van as well as 37215. |
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| 37215 stands in the unseasonably sunny yard at Toddington. |
The floor in the nose end had been cleaned of the lying oil but the actual compressors needed a clean to remove some of the pooling oil and residue. We also needed to get to the back to check for any noticeable leaks, so the side grills were opened up. This brought forth a swarm of flies reminiscent of a Fulci or Argento horror film! Luckily, there is always a can of Raid on the loco for just such eventualities!! After the impromptu gassing, Phil and I cleaned as much of the oil away as we could. Hopefully this would allow tracing of the leak and allow the affect of a repair at later date. Hopefully, if it is the top compressor leaking, it won't need to come out of the nose. Even more concerning would be if it is the bottom, larger compressor as this would mean lifting them both out! Not a job for the faint hearted! After that, it was into the engine room to have a look at some of the rocker covers as they had been identified as weeping oil and fuel.
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| Removing the rocker cover allows a look at the high pressure fuel feed and the return pipes. |
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| Removing the side cover exposes the fuel pumps. This is No. 5 on 'B' Bank. |
They should all be reasonably dry, however these were a little damp signifying some leakage. There was also evidence of oil leaking so the gaskets are probably life expired. All we could do was to clean up the excesses and replace the covers. However, all of this was flagged for a more in depth look by our Technical Officer, Paul G, when the running season ends. In some cases the gaskets that sit inside and around the rocker covers had become expired and need replacing, however other areas would need a look from a professional eye and some fine adjustment. Phil also changed the Traction Motor blower filter as this had become contaminated with oil. By the time we had finished it was time for lunch and then prep for service.
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| An arty photo of 37215 as Phil receives the Toddington-Winchcombe token from the man of many talents, and all-round top gent, Dan Wigg. (Courtesy of Alex Raybould) |
Elsewhere at Toddington, Simon and Tony R (all recovered from his head knock at the Gala), were busy on the Class 26, D5343. They would be joined later in the day by Alex R, who ended the day looking more Smurf than man! The Class 26 is due to moved out of the David Page shed imminently and all hands are at the pump to make the loco water tight. Tony was busy working on fitting the new cant rail vents as Alex was busy with more sanding.
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| Tony begins to refit the cant rail vents on D5343. |
With the welding jobs finished for now Red Oxide has been applied to all the areas where welding has occurred. This will then be covered with primer and undercoat ready for its eventual application of its new paint.
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| Not quite the 'Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'! |
The CMDG's other locomotive, Class 45 45149, has a chartered running day on Friday 15th October in aid of raising funds for the repairs to its compressor motor and to celebrate its 60th birthday. The loco will undertake three round trips - to our 'Diesel Day' timetable starting at 1000 from Toddington with fundraising being undertaken on the train. Tickets are £25 and are only available on the day from the organisers. The railway site will otherwise be closed and so access is only being allowed for those who are traveling all day and have purchased a ticket to travel. Do come along and support the group in their efforts.
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| Courtesy of Alex Raybould. |
We also have a change in rostered loco for our PURPLE timetable on Saturday, 16th October. It was originally scheduled to be our Class 24, 5081, however the 'small Sulzer' is stranded at Kidderminster TMD after its holiday to our friends up the M5 at the Severn Valley Railway. Therefore, 'big Sulzer', 47105 will now be the rostered loco.
5081 had a good few days at the SVR working on all five days of their Autumn Diesel Gala, despite a failure which was quickly rectified by the support team. The loco is always popular whether that be on the GWSR or on a visiting railway and the number of pictures of the loco on Social Media has been testament to its ongoing popularity.
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| 5081 heads away from Bewdley towards Kidderminster on the 1st October at the SVR Autumn Diesel Gala. (Courtesy of Matthew Palmer) |
With the 3-car Class 117 operating on the Sunday, work could progress on other vehicles of the DMU fleet. The Tom's worked on interior repairs to 51360 with the weather starting to be a little cold to continue the external repairs. Kevin, Bryan and Richard continued working on the door backings, window frames and drip pipes in the Class 122, W55003. This will be the main focus with a view to having the 'bubble' back in service in 2022.
Once the Class 117 had returned at the end of the day the heaters were all investigated as they had been reported to be faulty. These faults were traced back to corroded terminals on the glow plugs. These were changed and the heaters tested. The tip-up seat in the guards compartment was also removed to provide better access to the limited mobility area.
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| D8137 sits in the sun in Toddington MPD yard. It shouldn't be too much longer before the loco is reunited with its bogies following the traction motor change. |
