|
[D8110] 20110 |
| Worked it's first train since the May diesel gala on
Friday 22nd August after a broken spring was found on the steam loco's
morning prep. The 20 worked the 10.45 to Totnes then back as far Staverton
where the steam loco was waiting to take over. This was done due to a
party booking that was expecting steam on the first train. The loco worked
both days over the Branch Line weekend without fault. The loco was pressed
into use on Saturday 20th September to drag the DMU (due to it failing) on
the 16.00 return service to Totnes. The next day it replaced Peckett "Lady
Angela" on a afternoon trip to Bishops Bridge with a goods
train. |
|
[D8118] 20118 |
| Worked three return trips on Sunday 3rd August, after
missing the first one due to taking fuel. It would appear that some more
fine tuning is needed on the power side, as wheel slip is being
experienced with a jump in power when the power controller is opened past
the "on" position. The new engine compartment door seals have all been
replaced by mid August. A notch has now been filed into the cam on the
power controller column. It took three attempts at filing the notch before
the right size was achieved. When all this was refitted, the loco would
not take power! This was later traced to one of the bakelite cams being
put back upside down. After this was put to right power was once again
regained. Through all this the loco had to be put on charge to start the
engine. This was looked into towards the end of September and a cell was
found to have gone down. The one spare cell was checked over and a drop of
acid added before it replaced the duff cell. This was carried out on the
last Sunday in September, also on this day a check was made of the engine
governor system and the small air pipe was checked against the same pipe
fitted to 20110. A big difference was found between the two small pipes.
The one on 110 has a much larger diameter compared to 118's which could be
why this loco is slow in powering back! |
|
[D7612, 25262]
25901 |
| Worked it's Sunday turn without fault on 6th July. An
extra trip to Bishops Bridge at the end of the day was arranged. This was
to take back two coaches and some wagons. Had to stand in for a failed
steam loco (see below) on the last return trip of the day on Saturday 2nd
Aug. The next day it had to stand in for 20118 on the 10.00 diesel
departure as the 20 was low on fuel. Worked the Sunday 24th August of the
Branch Line weekend without any trouble, and again on the running Sunday
7th September. A change around of some stock took place on the following
Sunday, which meant a trip to Bishops Bridge. A spot more shunting on
Friday 19th September to get things in place for the weekends Transport
gala which the loco took part in. Working all sorts of trains (vans, milk,
passenger & freight). Over the Friday it was found that a contact in
the deck in No.2 cab was trying to weld it's self together. This was put
right on Sunday morning by changing it with one that's not used from No.1
cab. This is the second time that this has happen, though not the same
contact. |
|
Class 09 |
| No change in the loco's status. Being started to keep
the engine in working order, but this has to be done at least every two
weeks or the batteries lose their power and then need a charge before a
start up can be done. |
|
Class 127 |
| Seems to be working well at the moment, having been
doing the 17.15 from Buckfastleigh over the peak season (when the drivers
turn up?). It had an extra two days work for the Fair on 15th/16th August
doing two trips each evening. With it's fuel tanks full at the start of
the six week peak, the unit just about made it to the end, but had to have
some fuel before doing a trip on the Saturday of the Transport Heritage
weekend 20th & 21 st Sept. A spring on a drop light window had given
way or stuck down, making the window drop quickly once opened thus
shattering the glass. This was repaired by the C & W department on
Sunday 24th Aug. Having done the evening trains without fault the gremlins
have struck once again! The owner paid a visit the week before the
Transport weekend and steam cleaned the engines on one side of the unit
(the river side). Although the work made it look a lot cleaner, but the
Ashburton end power car has now got a electoral fault on it. No engine or
air & axle lights light up when the forward/reveres lever (spoon) is
inserted. The unit only had one return trip to do on the Saturday, the
16.00 depart to Totnes, which had to be loco hauled. This departed 2/3 min
late which was not bad as the class 20 was started about 20 min before
hand. It would appear that water from the steam cleaning has got into a
pressure control switch. |
|
Class 122 - 55000 |
| The lower part of the body side (on both sides) of the
large saloon have been cut away and new metal panels/strips welded in.
This has now been filled and painted into undercoat. By the end of
September the undercoating on the A38 side was all most finished. A
compressed buffer at No.1 end was changed on the last Sunday in September.
Also on this day an attempt to start the No.1 engine was made after the
batteries had had a good charge. The engine did not start as it took some
time to get the fuel up to the injectors before the batteries started to
die. This engine has not been started since being bought as a spare many
years ago. |
|
Yorkshire |
| In service. |
|
Fowler |
| By the end of September most of the loco had had a fresh
coat of Maroon gloss, apart for the parts that need new metalwork. Rumours
are that a set of nameplates might be on their way! |
|
Ruston |
| No change from last time, but wait, it was seen doing
some shunting on Saturday 10th May on the gala weekend. However on the
Sunday it had sprung a oil leak on the oil cooling radiator for the
hydraulic drive. |
|
South Devon Diesels' Drewry 04 |
| In daily use. The loco had a call out on Saturday 2nd
August when steam loco 5786 failed down the line on one of it's return
trip from Totnes. The 04 brought the failed loco plus five coaches back to
Buckfastleigh. Worked the Sunday of the Branch Line weekend doing shunting
at Buckfastleigh and the last train of the day to Totnes (the 17.46)
returning ECS to Buckfastleigh. Had a trip to Bishops Bridge to work a
goods back on the Saturday 20th September of the Transport gala plus
shunting over the weekend. Before the Saturday trip took place the fluid
flywheel had to be topped up with oil. It maybe the case that a plug on
the flywheel may be throwing oil. This is to be looked in to shortly,
along with adjusting up of the brake gear. |
|
South Devon Diesels' Class 50 |
| After passing a fitness to run examination on
Monday 15th September, the 50 was booked to depart Barrow Hill engine shed
at 09.35 as 0Z55 for Totnes on Wednesday 24th being hauled by preserved
main line Deltic loco D9016 Gordon Highlander. After some
trouble with the air braking system and a bit of huffing & puffing the
movement set off 190 minutes late at 12.45, making up time as it went.
Running via Derby ( 179 minutes late), Wichnor Jct. ( 146 minutes late),
Kingsbury Jct. ( 108 minutes late), King's Norton (92 minutes late),
Cheltenham spa (72 minutes late), Westerleigh Jct. (64 minutes late),
Bristol T.M. (79 minutes late), Taunton (66 minutes late) Exeter St.
Davids (57 minutes late) arriving at Totnes about 19.05 after a 15 minute
wait at Newton Abbot for a pathway. At Totnes D2246 was waiting to shunt
50002 into the bay. |
|
Stock |
MINK W 104700 - New wood for the top of the doors is now
on site and just needs drilling then fitting before the winter rain
comes.
CCT W94556 - No change. The van had a run
out on the Branch Line weekend.
CCT M94852
- No change.
SHOCK - No change.
MINK `B' (W125814) B753100 - No change. This van was also out
& about on the Branch Line weekend and the Transport Heritage
weekend. |
|
Other |
| Keep the aluminium drink cans coming in. |
|
Dates for Diary (Diesels
running) |
| No more scheduled days until next year. |
|
Working Weekends |
| The main working Sunday will be
the first one on the month, but most Sundays will see someone around if
you turn up between 09.00 and 09.30. All help most
welcome. |
|
Running Days |
The last running day this year was October 05th when
both 20's were running.
20110 depart
Buckfastleigh 10.00 & 13.00 ~ 20118 depart Buckfastleigh 11.30 &
15.00 |
W55000 Repairs
 |
.jpg) |
|
Two shots shewing the cut away body side and
the finished job |
 |
 |
|
The inside of the new paneling all painted and
the exchange on buffers taking
place. | |
20118 Repairs
 |
 |
The control column from 20118 with the
notch one filed in_to the cam
and how it
looks all back in place. |
 |
|
The controller with cover
removed. | |
Branch Line Weekend 24-8-03
 |
 |
|
Through the square window we see 20110 arrive
into the yard at Buckfastleigh & 20118 doing a shunt onto the
main line. |
 |
 |
|
25901 arrives at Buckfastleigh with a goods
train and D2246 about to leave Totnes Littlehempston with an
ECS | |
Ashburton Junction
 |
|
Through the gate at Totnes (a sniff of the
main line!) on Sunday 21-9-03 |
Photo © Paul
Seymour |
The next loco through the main line gate at
Totnes on Wednesday 24-9-03
was 50002, seen
here about to depart Barrow Hill with
D9016. | |
