S.D.D.T.
Ltd 
October January
No.24
NEWSLETTER
[D8110] 20110
It saw use on Sunday
16th Oct, top and tail with the steam loco on the service train due
to the derailment of 37037 at Totnes. Both 20s worked without fault over the
November gala weekend, although 110 had to take some fuel from the tank on
25901. Some 55 watering cans! Been used for the shunt releasing over the Santa
train season. Through January the loco has had its compressor oil changed and
brakes adjusted.
[D8118] 20118
Both 20s had a check over on Sunday 30th October ready for the gala the following weekend. On the gala Sunday 6th November both 20s worked in multiple top & tailing with 37037 from Buckfastleigh to Staverton as the line was closed between Staverton and Totnes due to flooding. Over the weekend of 3rd & 4th December two battery cells were found to be going down, so on the Sunday two secondhand cells were fitted. Then the loco put on charged for a short time before starting. Two more cells went flat a matter of days after this and again they were change fore two nearly new cells. And yet again one more cell went and was changed. Fingers now crossed!
[D7612, 25262] 25901
On Sunday 9th
Oct the valve spring were re-fitted to the heads. The heads were now ready for
re-fitting on the engine (after painting). Also on this day the pistons had
their ring fitted and again they were ready for the loco. Sunday 13th
October was meant to have been the day the pistons went into the engine, but
only one made it! It was found that the new bearings (that came from the Bodmin
Rly diesel group) were too big! A
return trip to exchange these for some the right size was made the following
week but only one set was found. It is now thought that the bearings that are
to big where a duff batch that were put to one side at Eastleigh Works, but
then pick up by the Bodmin group at a later date. On Tuesday 17th
January the new bearing arrived and were checked over. A good day on Sunday 29th,
the loco had its pistons replaced with the new bearings.
[D6501] 33002
Sunday 9th Oct was a busy day, as
the triple pump was taken out of the engine room in readiness for it to be
examined and freed up. With the triple pump removed from the walkway in the
engine room the floor panels were lifted on this side so the cable run could be
examined, cleaned out as best they could be and sprayed with black wax oil.
Also on this day the body side skirt (which is to be re-placed) had the last of
the welds cut away. On Sunday 30th October the floor panel were
cleaned and the locks oiled. Also this weekend the roof catches were freed up
& oiled and the cab front had its headlight re-fitted along with two
handrails and the four securing bolts. A new set of buffers was fitted to No.1
end on Sunday 6th November. The No.2 ends are ready to fit but need
a space between the loco and the box van next to it. Through the week Dave the
welder has cut the holes for the small marker lights over the buffers plus had
a go at fitting some cab windscreens without much luck. Over the weekend of 19th/20th
Nov a start was made on removing the lower five inches of the body side so the
new pre-formed lengths could be welded in, not before any rust & muck could
be removed from in behind. Also this weekend the beading around the cab windows
was replaced with new. By the end of December the body sides had been finished
and work turned to the body side doors, after these have been finished all that
will remains to be done is the No.2 cab. Over the Christmas break the drivers
& secondmans droplight windows were refitted to No.1 cab but still need a
bit of work done on them. The internal gutters, which are full of rust holes,
have now been cut away for new to be fitted. Sunday 22nd Jan saw the
No.2 end buffers changed for a newer set. The engine room is now getting a coat
of undercoat.
Class
04
Was in
service but now keeping the class 37 company on the P.L.O.G. shed road, having
the leaking oil seal repaired on its fluid flywheel.
Class
09
Was
charged up over the last weekend in October, but when an attempt was made to
start the engine on the Sunday, it failed to start. The engine would not turn
over so this would seem to be a battery fault or a sticking start relay.
Class
37
The loco
became derailed at Totnes on Sunday 16th Oct, whilst running round
its train. The following Saturday the loco stayed on the rails and worked five
round trip for the last driver experiences for this year. In November the loco
suffered from flat batteries, after the lighting switch was left in! The loco
has now been stored for the winter at the back of the P.L.O.G. shed road. Work
has started in January to refurbish the second cab.
Class
50
It had a
quick repaint the week before the November gala, but not the whole body was
done! The Hymek look-a-like, but the painters did not get it 100% right!
Class
122
The brake
van end cab is all but finished with new flooring. The other end cab has had
its window rubber replaced.
Class
127
Ran over
the November gala, but cur come to the heavy rain as water got into a control
box. This was cleaned out by the driver but after three hours it was shut down
and left at Bishops Bridge.
Yorkshire
In
service.
Fowler
No change
from last time.
Ruston
No change
from last time.
Stock
MINK W104700 No change.
CCT W94556 No change.
CCT M94852 No change.
SHOCK VAN No change.
MINK B W125814 (B753100) No change.
DATES
FOR THE DIARY (Diesels running)
Waiting
for next years timetable.
WORKING WEEKENDS
Are mostly on Sundays at the moment. If you turn up about
between 09.00 and 09.30 someone
should be about !
RUNNING DAYS
Waiting
for next years timetable.
DAYS
GONE BY
33002
on Exeter HS in the late 70s with a less powerful class 31 and a class 25 at
the rear.
20191
All in bits at V.Berrys yard Leicester on 28-11-87. Stored on 11-5-87 from
Bescot TMD and withdrawn 9-11-87. It moved by road from Doncaster Works minus
its bogies. (I tell you what. It was nothing I did!)
25062
Comes to an end at Swindon Works 26-4-85. It was withdrawn from Carlisle on
20-12-82.
The
cab front coming together on Sunday 30th October and the cable run
passing the battery switch.
Dave,
the welder cutting one of the marker lights holes.
Grinding off the old welds and on the other side the
new pre-formed skirt welded on. (Both P.Burrow)
The new shells fitted for checking & back into the loco they go.