And, just like that, the new season is here!

Where did those 8 weeks go?! It only seems like last week that the final services of the 2022 season were arriving back at Toddington and the last visitors were exiting through the gate. But, here we are at the end of February with services to start on Saturday 4th March with our BLUE timetable. This timetable sees the DMU make a return to the operating calendar after sitting out most of 2022.

To get ready, the DMU team have been hard at it to get the Class 117 set, L425, ready for services which has included undertaking the B Examiniations - these examinations are done to each vehicle to ensure they are fit and safe for service - as well as general maintenance. 

Class 117 DMS, W51405, sits over the pit during final checks before the re-start of services. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

After completing the ongoing engine repairs on W51405 at the end of January, the idle speeds were checked on the engine and filters replaced meaning that the no.1 engine now has a clean bill of health. 

The full and oil filters after being changed on W51405. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

The cab of the DMS was given a refresh along with the a clean of the whole set ready to accept passengers on the 4th March. At the other end of the set, DMBS W51363 has had an internal repaint taking the colour scheme back to the original cream colour that first generation DMU's sported. 

All ship shape and Bristol fashion. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

But, all the attention has not solely been on L425. One of the spare Class 117 vehicles, DMBS W51360 has been receiveing some much needed TLC having been stored out of service for about 3 years. It was last used back in 2019 covering for both W51405 and W51363 in the 3-car set when they were needed to be taken out of the set for maintenance. 

Class 117 DMBS, W51360 sits in the yard at Toddington MPD on 03/05/21 whilst awaiting towing to C&W to repair historic collision damage that had been identified. 

Since then the DMBS has spent a spell down at Winchcombe having historic crash damage repaired before being placed back in the yard at Toddington whilst work continued on the main set and on the 'Bubble Car'. Some preventative maintenance was undertaken last year that included prevention of the dreaded tin worm as well as a partial repaint using some left over BR Green from the repaint of the 'Bubble Car'. 

An 'on test' W51360 at the head of L425 during 2022. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group)

W51360 was also put over the pits along with W51405 to allow filter replacement on it's no.1 engine coupled with the idle and speed check to ensure that it is, bar it's more cosmetic repairs, serviceable and that it's B Exam can be completed. 

Although most of the activity centred on the Class 117 vehicles, the Class 122 'Bubble Car' W55003 has not been left out. In fact, progress has been very rapid on the ongoing restoration. Early in February saw W55003 run under it's own power for the first time since it's external restoration with it being driven from both cabs successfully - albeit only up and down siding 1 and not without faults being found, but it's still a major milestone.

Class 122, W55003 basks in the weak sun whilst sat in the Parlour Road at Toddington on 12/02/23. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group) 

This past weekend saw the throttle, gearing, direction and terminal boxes all given a clean and service which has rectified the faults found on it's jaunt around the yard. The EP valves were also swapped with some that had been overhauled by Tom E however, when tested, a number are still passing air so these will need to be revisited. Work has continued on the floor laying, courtesy of Kevin and Bryan, with work now rapidly progressing to the floor panels and side skirts. 

Inside W55003 sees the progress made on floor laying. (Courtesy of the GWSR DMU Group) 

The mainline fleet still have a further month before returning to scheduled service on the 1st April (no joke!) and this has allowed for more work to be undertaken to ensure the locos are in tip-top condition.

Class 37, D6948 will make its long awatied return to the roster after completing its B Exam on 23rd Feb. All the safety critical tasks were completed to the satisfaction of Growler Group Tech Officer, Paul Good and the loco signed off as fit for traffic. A welcome relief, I am sure, to the four owners of the loco and it will be great to see it back thundering through the Cotswolds. 

D6948 sits on the pit outside the David Page shed after successful completion of its first B Exam in over 3 years. This will see the loco finally return to the roster for 2023. (Courtesy of Kevin Jarvis)

The 'Green Machine' also had a successful test on the 27th Feb when it was used on a ballast working conveying new stones for the track relay at Didbrook from the loading point at Stanway. 

Loading at Stanway. D6948 undertakes its first run on the GWsR since the beginning of 2020. (Courtesy of Paul Cronin)

With its return to traffic confirmed, D6948 will be utilised throughout April including the first PURPLE and PINK TT turns on the 1st and 2nd April respectively. Full details of provisional loco allocation are listed at the end of this blog. 

Under the watchful eye of Paul Fuller (HoD for P'Way, and a former Diesel Driver), D6948 - crewed by Paul Cronin and Tony Boston - makes a pass along the newly laid track at Didbrook. (Courtesy of Andy Sworn)

Also fit for service in April is 'Peak', 45149. 

45149 sits on the pits outside the David Page shed on 15/02/23 whilst it has its batteries recharged. (Courtesy of CMDG Facebook Group) 

 

The final loco that will be in use in April will be fellow Type 4, 47105 which has remained serviceable throughout the winter shutdown with focus being on sister Brush Type 4, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' which has been receiving some general repairs to its exhaust system as well as an engine room repaint.

47105 rests at Winchcombe during a stock move on 10/11/22. The Brush Type 4 will be the third mainline loco in use during April. (Courtesy of Matt Pickford)

20137 and 37215 will also join the serviceable roster once their B Exams have been completed successfully. 37215 has been in serviceable condition throughout the winter although it has had its buffers temporarily replaced with an oval set whilst it's round set are away for overhaul. With D6948 now back in the roster, it is hoped to be able to remove '215' for a short time so that its compressors can be removed and replaced with an overhauled pair. 

37215 and 20137 bask in the wintery sun on 21/12/22.

However, the two Class 20s, 20137 and 20228 have been a little neglected over the winter as Steve M,  their owner, like myself, has had to take a leave of absence and so hasn't been to Toddington for a while. Steve tends to look after the locos on his own with a little support from others when required so, in his absence, little has probably been completed. However, 20137 was taken out of service as serviceable so hopefully the B Exam will be straightforward and the 'chopper' could be back on the roster quite quickly. 20228, of course, is still undergoing its restoration and will be some way off having its B Exam completed.    

 

20228 on 05/10/22. It looks very close to being operational but there is still a fair bit to do. 

Our Type 2 locos are both still out of action. One, of course, is long term and the other is Class 24, 5081 which is awaiting the return of it engine governor, which was removed towards the end of last 2022 and sent away for repairs. The 'Rat' had been suffering load up issues for some time which was causing sluggish performance, especially when cold. It is hoped that this will be returned in the next few weeks and can be refitted and tested so the popular loco can return to the roster. 

Class 24, 5081, gets underway from Toddington during the 2022 Diesel Gala. 

The other Type 2 is, of course, Class 26 D5343 which is still in the throes of its bodywork restoration. Attention continues to be focussed on the cab front at no.2 end where a partial rebuild of the driver's side and solebar has had to be effected due to historic crash damage and the affects of water on the metal skin. Having received help from our friends at the SRPS at Bo'ness, who have provided plans and guides that they have acquired and used on their own Class 26s, work has progressed on replacing damaged, or non existant, plates at the base of the cab and above the solebar. 

The driver's side pillar has been replaced and the missing plate at the base has had a new piece refabricated and welded in place. The gap below it, a consequence of the historic crash damage, has also been filled allowing the plate to sit properly. 

With that all in place, it has allowed for the missing plate below the old corridor connection to be replaced with new steel. New steel has also been welded to complete the sides of the corridor connection which had corroded. 

The missing bottom piece of the old corridor connection has been replaced with a new piece of steel. (Courtesy of David Stanton)

The missing plate of the floor of the corridor connection has also been replaced with a new piece of steel. You can also see that the left hand side (as you look at it) of the corridor has also had new steel welded in place. (Courtesy of David Stanton)

With the new steel in place around the corridor connection, the new crib plates are also welded in place. (Courtesy of David Stanton)

Looks much better than it did before! (Courtesy of David Stanton)

It will probably still be some time before D5343 is back in traffic but the work that is going into its restoration will certainly mean that the end result will be impressive. Along with the steel work, preparatory work is also being done on some of the ancilliary parts that sit on the buffer beam and the cab front. This includes the multiple working recepticles and the indicator discs which are being refurbished ready for repainting and eventual refitting.

Loco Allocations:

So with services getting underway on Saturday 4th March, the provisional rosters for March and April are as follows.... 

Date	Timetable	Loco Allocated
Sat 04 Mar		L425
Sun 05 Mar		L425
Sat 11 Mar		L425
Sun 12 Mar		L425
Sat 18 Mar		L425
Sun 19 Mar		L425
Sat 25 Mar		L425
Sun 26 Mar		L425
Sat 01 Apr		D6948
Sun 02 Apr		D6948
Tues 04 Apr		D6948
Wed 05 Apr		47105
Fri 07 Apr		47105
Sat 08 Apr		45149
Sun 09 Apr		45149
Mon 10 Apr		45149
Wed 12 Apr		D6948
Thur 13 Apr		D6948
Sat 15 Apr		45149
Sun 16 Apr		47105
Tues 18 Apr		47105
Wed 19 Apr		D6948
Thur 20 Apr		45149
Sat 22 Apr		D6948
Sun 23 Apr		47105
Tues 25 Apr		D6948
Wed 26 Apr		D6948
Thur 27 Apr		L425
Sat 29 Apr		47105
Sun 30 Apr		D6948