S.D.D.T.
Ltd
April - June
GALA
SPECIAL No.18
NEWSLETTER
[D8110] 20110
Worked over the Easter Enthusiast Transport weekend in
multiple with 118 without any fault with both locos. This being the first time
the two locos have worked together over the full length of the line. Having to
stand in for 118 on it’s second trip on Saturday 1st May also done
the Sunday of the Thomas Weekend. Plus doing the 25’s trips on the Monday. On
Sunday 9th May the loco stood in for steam loco 5786 on the last
train of the day, which was running late. The loco came into use for two round
trips on the 50’s weekend. This was due to the class 14 failing on the Saturday
30th May. Worked without fault over the diesel gala plus the run-up
to the weekend doing trips to Totnes and Staverton. The last train of the day
on Sunday from Totnes was paired with the 25. The locos were put in multiple
(the first multiple working of the weekend) and all worked well.
[D8118] 20118
The two locos were placed in multiple on the Friday before the Easter Enthusiast Transport weekend and a control air cock on 118 was found to be leaking air when the power was applied. A working the handle up & down a few times over came this leak. Both locos did two round trips on both days. The loco done one trip to Totnes on Saturday 1st May for the Thomas Weekend but had to be swapped for 110 as the horn control lever was broke off in a vigorous bout of horn blowing. Both 20’s had a bit of a clean up on Sunday 6th June ready for following weekend’s gala. Worked over the diesel gala without failing. The only thing was the power. The amps fluctuating on the Saturday was put right on the Sunday by a class 20 owner from Barrow Hill, who done a small wiring modification.
[D7612, 25262] 25901
Class
04
The loco
had a busy Easter weekend as well as the bigger locos. It had a trip to
Staverton and back on both days, this in between shunt at Buckfastleigh. Had to
assist 5786 in from Hood Bridge to Bishops Bridge after a vacuum leak on the
train on Sunday 9th May. The loco was on the way back from Totnes
with a Lowmac wagon, which was required at Buckfastleigh for the Monday. Worked
over the 50’s weekend, doing some freight trips to Bishops Bridge on the
Saturday along with shunting at Buckfastleigh on both Saturday & Sunday.
Worked a mix of trains over the gala weekend. Starting off from Totnes on the
Saturday and then ending up at Staverton on Sunday evening. On the Friday
evening the fluid flywheel was topped up oil.
Class
09
Has had
it’s batteries charged and refilled with water and was started on Sunday 6th
June. At the end of the day after the loco was shut down a small coolant leak
was found coming from the radiator water jacket. Placed on show for the Gala
weekend with the engine running. The diesel driver experience courses that are
being run this year (Sun 25th July, 22nd Aug & Sat 25th
Sept) are to help fund the overhaul of the loco. So spread the word to your
friends, tell them to look at the web site www.sddt.co.uk
or www.devondiesels.org.uk for
more info.
Class
14
D9525 is
paying a visit to the railway for the 50’s weekend at the end of May and the
Diesel Gala in June. This class of loco has a Paxman 6-cyl 650 bhp engine and
has a Hydraulic transmission. It was new to Bristol Bath Rd depot 13th
Jan 1962 moving on to Hull Alexandra Dock in Dec 1966 and being withdrawn 1st
April 1968. Then sold by B.R. to the N.C.B. This loco is now owned by H.
Needles Railroad Co. The loco was unloaded at Buckfastleigh on the morning of
Thursday 27th May. It was moved around Buckfastleigh on the Friday
afternoon after a short time on charge. It made the first appearance for the
class at Totnes on the Saturday. This was to collect a Clay Hood and stock from
Bishops Bridge for the 50’s weekend. The loco worked the morning on Sunday 30th
but, failed to start for an afternoon freight trip. On the Monday the
fault was traced to a coil in the start circuit, which had broken. This was
removed and sent off for re-winding. With this done, it was re fitted on Monday
7th June, the loco started and use for some shunting. The loco made
it through the gala weekend without fault, but the coolant leak meant that this
had to be topped up a few times. At the end of the gala weekend the loco had
clocked up 122 miles of running since arriving on the railway. It also looks
like the loco may be with use for about a year.
Class
37
This loco
was started for the firs time at Barrow Hill W/C Monday 12th April.
The loco was left running for some time, with no problems showing up Two weeks
(or so) later the loco was taken outside for the roof section to be replaced
and the boiler water tank to be refitted. The loco has seen a bit of use at
Barrow Hill as a depot pilot loco before being loaded up onto road transport on
Monday 7th June. Arriving at Buckfasleigh the following day. Over
the next couple of evenings the loco went out on some test runs. The loco seem
to do well to start with but lost power with low control air, also losing
vacuum when the brake handle was put to boost! With a group coming down from
Barrow Hill for the gala weekend, two fitters had a look at the loco on the
Friday. Finding some dirt in some filters. On the Saturday of the gala the loco
was kept paired up but worked without any faults showing up, so it was later
let out on it’s own for the rest of the weekend. The loco was kept running on
both day as the batteries are still an unknown quantity. By the end of the
weekend it had had the spiders blown out of it, as well as the cobwebs! The
loco ended the weekend with well over 100 miles on the clock. Work started the
following week on the body, with the skirt panels along the body side being
removed for cleaning etc.
Class
50
Still
parked in the bay at Totnes, on show to all.
Class
122
With the
start of the New Year, the old Halon bottles fitted to the fire system on DMU’s
have been banned by the HMRI. The old bottles have been taken off the unit and
new AFFF hand held extinguishers fitted by each engine. All this work was
carried out by the workshop staff. Work continues in the large saloon with the
doorstep inserts being fitted. With this job done the metal strips can be
screwed back down, after this has been finished the paneling can go back on the
walls. The cab (brake van end) window frames have put together only to find two
parts are missing. Once these bits have been made the frame can be fitted and
then the driving desk can be painted. The engine & axle light panel has
been refurbished and refitted and at the same time (mid May) a start on getting
the paneling back in the large saloon had began. It’s hoped that the unit can
be jacked up some time in July so that one bogie can be rolled out for it’s
wheel set change and a good clean and repaint.
Class
127
Like
55000 the fire system has been modified. The owning group has paid a visit to
ready the unit for their spring social along the line on Friday 23rd
April. Some small jobs were done, like a leak that was spraying oil over the
exhaust pipe has been repaired along with an air valve. In the centre car a new
pillar bar has been installed. On the Friday in question the unit ran a total
of 70 miles. Worked one round trip on the Sunday of the 50’s weekend before
running ECS to Bishops Bridge for stabling. The unit returned to Buckfastleigh
after about a week/ten days, as it was readied (by the owners) for a jazz extravaganza
for one of the groups 60th Birthday on Friday 11th June.
Running three and a half round trips of the line. It also worked one round trip
on the Saturday of the gala and was dragged for two round trips on the Sunday,
ending up once again stabled at Bishops Bridge.
Yorkshire
In
service.
Fowler
No change
from last time.
Ruston
No change
from last time.
Stock
MINK W104700 – Had a trip or two down the line at Easter, in
the freight.
CCT W94556 - No change.
CCT M94852 – By mid April one side had had the new metal
welded in place and a start on replacing
By the end of May the grey undercoat had been applied on one
side of the van and the racking inside has
been moved across so the last set of doors could be opened up
and the glass in the widows removed. Then by
the end of June most of the new metal had been welded in
place, only leaving filling in of the joins. It was
hoped to have the van ready for the gala weekend, but it was
not to be. Look out for it in the gala in
November!!!
SHOCK VAN - No change.
MINK ‘B’ W125814 (B753100) – This van saw action over Easter
Gala, also at the Diesel Gala as well.
DATES
FOR THE DIARY (Diesels running)
November 6th & 7th
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
Sunday ~ 20118 July 4th, 25901 August 1st,
25901 (or D9525?) September 5th &
20110 (or 37037?) October 3rd.