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Owners and operators of D2246, D6737 and D402 "Superb" |
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Updates
37 037 arrives at Buckfastleigh 8th June 2004. Photo courtesy Phil Seymour 22 June 2009 How quickly five years have passed since 37 037 arrived at it's new home on the South Devon Railway........ The 2009 SDR Diesel Gala was a great success and most enjoyable weekend. Many thanks to everyone who supported the event. If you have any photos of the Gala that we can use on the Website please can you get in touch by email to webmasterATdevondiesels.org.uk All of the locos performed well and the weather was on ourside as usual! The 2009 Diesel Driver Experience Page has been updated. This years drivers experience availability has now being fully booked. Dates for the 2010 programme will be released later in the year. Many thanks to all who have or are booked to experience the loco's or DMU's on the SDR for your support. 1 June 2009 SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY “DIESELS THROUGH THE DECADES” Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th June 2009 On June 13th & 14th , the scenic South Devon Railway will be carrying on its landmark 40 th anniversary year with a more unusual event. Instead of the normal steam hauled services it is planned to operate no fewer than five former mainline diesel locomotives, together with two types of diesel multiple unit. During the 40 years that the line between Buckfastleigh and Totnes has been operated as a heritage railway, there have been many changes on the national rail system. Most of the diesel locomotives that were hauling trains over the British Railways network in 1969, the year the Buckfastleigh to Totnes line re-opened, have now been withdrawn and replaced by the modern high-speed units. Many of these older locomotives, some of which are over 50 years old, are now considered to be part of the nations railway heritage and several have been preserved and returned to working order on the South Devon Railway. The summer diesel gala will provide visitors the chance to see and ride behind heritage diesel locomotives that represent the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's. Representing the early 1960's will be the Devon Diesel Society's English Electric Type 3 No. D6737. Prior to arrival on the South Devon Railway in 2004, this locomotive last operated in France hauling construction trains in connection with the building of the new high-speed rail network. Before its foreign adventures the locomotive ran throughout Great Britain and included trips to West Country. Since arriving on the line the volunteers from the owning group have undertaken a lot of work and have returned the locomotive to the condition it would have been when built in 1962. D6737 carries the early British Railways green livery. Also appearing in early British Railways green livery will be the 3-car Class 127 Diesel Multiple Unit. More commonly known as D.M.U's, there were many different types introduced in the 1950's and 1960's. In the West Country many such units were used to replace steam power on the many branch lines. A feature that proved popular, and remains so today is the view obtained from inside the seating saloon of the driving cab and the line ahead. Although of a similar body style to some of the units that operated in the West Country, the Class 127 was actually built for working commuter services over the old Midland mainline between London St.Pancras and Bedford. By the mid-1960's concerns had been raised about the visibility of the “new” diesel locomotives, there approach to gangs of platelayers working on the line not being as audible as a steam locomotive. To try and combat this problem yellow warning panels were applied to the leading ends of all diesel locomotives. Class 25, No. D7612 represents this stage of development and now carries the very attractive British Railways two-tone green livery, complete with half yellow warning panels at each end. Built in 1966, D7612 represents a type of loco that was once an everyday sight in the South West, the class being used on many local passenger trains, and freight workings. By the 1970's British Railways had become British Rail and a corporate image had been adopted. Diesel locomotives were all painted into the “house” livery of rail blue with full yellow ends. A new computerised numbering system was also commissioned and many diesel locomotives received new identities. Class 20, 20 110 will represent this era during the gala. 20 110 was the first mainline diesel to be based on the South Devon Railway, arriving at Buckfastleigh in 1991. During the late 1980's and early 1990's the mainline railway network underwent many changes. First came sectorisation when services were split up and operated by different sectors of British Rail. This was later followed by the privatisation of the railway system. This particular period saw the corporate blue livery replaced by numerous other schemes, with each new operator trying to establish its own identity. The second Class 20 to appear at the gala, 20 118 “Saltburn-by-the-Sea” has been restored into the grey livery chosen by Railfreight. This grey is offset with full yellow cabs, and red sole bar, together with large double arrow markings. Like sister locomotive 20 110, 20 118 dates from 1962 and represents one of the earliest designs that dates back to the British Railways Modernisation Plan of the early 1950's. Whilst the two Class 20's will operate solo on the Saturday, during the Sunday both will work together and using the special equipment fitted to both locomotives, will be driven in multiple and under the control of just one driver. The final diesel locomotive to appear over the weekend event will be South Devon Diesel Traction's newly restored Class 33. Named “Sea King” 33 002 arrived on the South Devon Railway in 2004 and has been the subject of a major rebuild. Over a five year period the locomotives 8-cylinder engine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt, electrical machines and systems rebuilt and checked out, and the bodywork has undergone major repair work followed by repainting into the “Dutch” livery carried by locomotives allocated to the Engineers Fleet in the late 1980's early 1990's. The livery, which consists of a yellow upper and grey lower body, was given the nickname “Dutch livery” by enthusiasts, as it was the same as carried by the locomotives owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen the operator of the Dutch railway network. Although 33 002 has made a few test runs along the line, and has also recently been displayed at Eastliegh depot open day, the summer diesel gala will see the locomotive haul its first passenger trains in many years. The diesel line-up will be completed by a second D.M.U. Class 122 No.55000 is a single car unit that is affectionately known as the “Bubblecar”. 55000 has strong connections with the West Country and was used in the 1960's on such lines as those to Brixham and Kingsbridge, After a period up north the unit returned south again and in the 1990's became one of only two single car units to be painted into the then new Regional Railways livery. Like the Class 127 D.M.U passengers are afforded a view of the driving cab and line ahead. No.55000 will be in use on the Saturday. Although most services are diesel worked during the course of the two-day event, on the Sunday two round trips will be operated by steam power. These services will be worked locomotive 5526 and the popular “Auto Train”. The "Auto" name comes from the way in which the driver operates the loco's controls automatically from the end cab of the leading coach via a clever system of rods and cables rather than by him being on the engine. The auto train was in many ways the forerunner to the D.M.U's. A few of the 55xx Class of 2-6-2 "small prairies" also worked auto services and South Devon Railway based No.5526 has auto gear fitted so the SDR can provide the sights and sounds of a genuine auto train at work. At Buckfastleigh visitors will be able to view other locomotives. The Devon Diesel Society's small Class 04 diesel shunter, No. D2246 which dates from 1956 will be on display, restored in British Railways green. As an aide to staff working in the various shunting yards and depots, in the 1960's yellow and black chevrons were added to the ends of shunting locomotives. These made them more visible and helped improve safety. D2246 has been completed with this modification. Also at Buckfastleigh, the Devon Diesel Society's latest restoration project can be viewed. Class 50 No.D402 was built in 1967 and represents the final form of express passenger diesel locomotive built for use by British Rail. D402 is part way through a major restoration programme. External repairs are nearing completion and attention will then turn to the massive 16 cylinder engine. “During the weekend there will plenty for visitors to enjoy” said Devon Diesel Society Chairman and gala co-ordinator Andy Matthews. “Many of our diesel locomotives are now around 50 years old and as such are worthy of being preserved. In addition to being historically important in being able to show the development of railways, our diesel fleet is also very useful for hauling out of season works trains and undertaking shunting moves at times when it would not be economic to use a steam locomotive”. “Over the last few years we have gained a reputation for putting on some great events at the South Devon Railway and we expect to see many familiar faces again during the gala”. The South Devon Railway's comprehensive collection of steam locomotives will also be on view throughout the weekend. From the workshop viewing gallery visitors will be able to see the latest progress on the overhaul of sole surviving Great Western railway 3251 class No.3205. The miniature railway will also be operating and providing a frequent service from the new station adjacent to the main car park. The main museum will be open throughout the event and features a variety of interesting objects, together with the last remaining locomotive that ran on Brunel's famous Broad Gauge system, the 0-4-0 vertical boilered "Tiny" that is part of the National Railway Museum Collection and on loan to the S.D.R. Refreshments will be available at both Buckfastleigh, from the main refreshment rooms, and at Totnes, from the Rare Breeds Centre, whilst the main train services will also feature an on train buffet serving a range of lighter refreshments, snacks and other souvenirs. On the Saturday, between 12.00 and 20.20, it is also hoped to offer a limited range of hot food on selected services. All services, except those formed of either of the D.M.U's on Saturday, or the steam hauled auto train on the Sunday, will feature on-train real ale bars. A variety of draught and bottled ales will be available. Further souvenirs, together with an extensive range of model railway items and equipment, can also be purchased from Expressway Models at Buckfastleigh. There will be a special timetable in use both days. On the Saturday the first trains depart from Buckfastleigh at 09.00, and from Totnes at 09.02 and run at roughly 40 minute intervals thereafter. There is also an earlybird special from Totnes on the Saturday morning. This departs at 08.22 and allows visitors arriving via the mainline, to get to Buckfastleigh for the start of the main service. Saturday evening will also see extra trains running on into the evening. These will feature an on-train real ale bar and will feature haulage by newly restored 33 002. On the Sunday trains start from Buckfastleigh at 09.05, and from Totnes at 09.42. Services again operate at roughly 40-minute intervals until just after 17.00. The South Devon Railway will be running trains EVERY day until the end of October. The Expressway model railway shop has gifts for children of all ages and is open for business on most days. The SDR 2009 Diesel Gala Working Timetables and Loco Rosters have been added to the website in pdf format. We hope that these will help you to plan and make the most of your visit to the Diesel Gala. A poster that you can print off to help advertise the event can be downloaded here in pdf format The 2009 Diesel Driver Experience Page has been updated with the the remaining availability for this years dates. 5 May 2009 The 2009 Diesel Driver Experience Page has been updated with this years dates which include for the first time a DMU Experience Day and 33 002. A pdf broucher with further details and a booking form will be available shortly. 11 April 2009 The Society's Real Ale Festival is in full flow at Staverton at the while, we hope to see you there for a pint or two.... The following short flash movie has been created displaying the Society's locos and rolling stock:
7 April 2009 Over the Easter weekend the Society will be holding another of its popular Real Ale Festivals. Once again the event will take place on the South Devon Railway with the main bar located in the old goods shed at the idyllic Staverton Station, approximately mid-way along the railway. There will be a selection of 20 different ales available with a variety of strengths and flavours on offer. Some of the brews, such as Abbot Ale and Ansells Bitter will be familiar to many, whilst others will be less familiar, coming from breweries whose ales are not regularly seen in Devon, but who continue the tradition of giving some an unusual or quirky name. There will also be a selection of traditional ciders available. Festival Opening Times are as follows:
The real ale festival will help generate funding for the Society's ongoing restoration work on its biggest locomotive, 117 ton Class 50 No. D402. One of the Society's other locomotives, Class 37 No. D6737, will be on show at Staverton throughout the festival. A leaflet listing the ales and ciders that will be available has been produced for the Real Ale Festival and this can be dowloaded by clicking here The festival is being held during the South Devon Railway's 40th Anniversary Gala week which runs from 5th to 13th April. All services will be steam hauled using no fewer than 8 former Great Western Railway locomotives, four of which are visiting from other railways. Further information on the 40th Anniversary Gala can be found on the South Devon Railway's website, here 7 February 2009 The 2009 Diesel Driver Experience Page has been updated with this years remaining availability which includes for the first time a DMU Experience Day and 33 002. 4 January 2009 Happy New Year and all the very best for 2009! The 2009 Running Day Page has been updated with the known running dates for the 2009 season. Further details and a loco roster will be added when they are available. The 2009 Diesel Driver Experience Page has been updated with this years dates which include for the first time a DMU Experience Day and 33 002. A pdf broucher with further details and a booking form will be available shortly. 2 November 2008 DEVON DIESEL SOCIETY CLASS 50 APPEAL The Society will be publicly launching its new Class 50 Appeal during the South Devon Railway's diesel gala on Friday 7 th and Saturday 8 th November. Members have already received details of the new appeal fund with the latest issue of the Society's quarterly journal The Devonian . This has resulted in much interest and several members have already opted to subscribe to one of the three appeal packages. The new appeal has been launched to raise the remaining capital needed to restore and return Class 50 D402 (50 002 Superb), and has been structured in such a way that it is affordable to most pockets. There are three different packages on offer, with each one providing a variety of attractive benefits. Restoration work on D402 is now progressing well with the most recent activity taking place on the restoration of the bodywork. The locomotive is being returned to as near built condition externally. This involves re-instatement of the sandboxes, roof cut out, removal of the headlights and fitting of new headcode panels and working roller blinds. All of the roof panels except that fitted over the radiator compartment have now been removed allowing any repairs to be made prior to painting and re-fitting. New seals are being installed throughout to ensure the loco remains protected against the ingress of rainwater. Whilst work proceeds on the external areas, progress has also been made in other areas too. A recent achievement was the freeing off of the seized power unit. The prime mover requires extensive repairs, and will be stripped down for a total rebuild, however this recent success has allowed the power unit to be barred over for the first time in eight years. More good news came following the inspection of the three generators by an external contractor. The condition of each is far better than first feared, however the auxiliary and ETH sets may still be removed for more specialist attention in due course. With the locomotive now under cover, further progress is expected over the winter period, and to provide regular updates the Society will be launching a new web site dedicated to the restoration of D402 within the next few weeks. Until this site is up and running, news on the loco will still be available from our main site, however if you have any photo's of the loco, either during its BR or early preserved life, and would be prepared to allow us to use them on our new site please get in touch. For those attending the diesel gala, details of the appeal (and indeed any other Society loco / project) will be available from the many Society members who will be running the on train real ale bars and sales stands. D402 will return to service. We have the enthusiasm, we have the skills, we just need the help of fellow enthusiasts to raise the remaining capital required to fund the outstanding work. Can you help? Further details of the Society and the Class 50 Appeal can also be obtained from the Membership Secretary at membershipATdevondiesels.org.uk
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