Yoshi at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway with Class 33 Crompton No. D6575 (33057) – 09/06/2023
This week we had the first Class 69’s to Dorchester and the second ever Class 40 to visit Weymouth, the first occasion being Forty years ago. So that’s quite appropriate!
Setting the alarm for stupid o’clock on Friday morning I was in Dorchester in good time to see GBRf Class 69 No.’s 69004 and 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. weedkiller which was scheduled to reverse at Dorchester Junction at 0221 – 0229. I had a bit of a longer wait than planned at Dorchester West as the train arrived 37 minutes down on schedule. The vegetation control set was scheduled to visit Weymouth via Dorchester South on Monday 12th June with the train having moved to Eastleigh over the weekend. Unfortunately a tragic incident between Poole and Bournemouth caused disruption to services and the train was cancelled.
In its retro Railway Technical Centre livery, GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 crosses the road bridge at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ at the rear of 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard passing through Dorchester West – 09/06/2023The Weedkilling train passed through Dorchester West and reversed at Dorchester Junction. Class 69 No. 69003 ‘The Railway Observer’ now heads up 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard on the return journey to Devon – 09/06/2023GBRf Class 69 No. 69004 at Dorchester West working 3Q00 2355 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Exeter Riverside New Yard – 09/06/2023
The first Class 69’s to Dorchester – 09/06/2023
Later the same Friday, Yoshi and I headed over the county border to the West Somerset Railway for the second day of their 2023 diesel gala.
The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is a 22 miles in length and is the longest standard gauge heritage railway in the UK. It originally opened in 1862 between Taunton and Watchet. In 1874 it was extended from Watchet to Minehead by the Minehead Railway. At first the railway was a single track line with improvements required in the first half of the 20th century to cater for the increase in tourism to the Somerset coast. The line was closed by British Rail in 1971 and reopened in 1976 as a heritage line.
Interestingly, Wikipedia notes: “In 1845, when the Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) had recently completed its main line, there were proposals for a number of different and competitive railway schemes in west Somerset. A Bristol and English Channels Direct Junction Railway was proposed as a link from Watchet through Stogumber and Bishops Lydeard to Bridport on the south coast, which would be an alternative to ships taking a long and dangerous passage around Land’s End. This prompted the promotion of a connecting line from Williton to Minehead and Porlock, a line designed to attract tourists to Exmoor. Shortly afterwards, a Bristol and English Channels Connection Railway was suggested from Stolford to Bridport which would have passed through the Quantock Hills near Crowcombe. Alternatively, the Bridgwater and Minehead Junction Railway would link with the B&ER at Bridgwater and run through Williton to Minehead with a branch to Watchet and a connecting Minehead and Central Devon Junction Railway would provide a line to Exeter. An alternative link to South Devon was proposed by the Exeter, Tiverton and Minehead Direct Railway through Dunster and offered an extension to Ilfracombe.” Of course, none of these schemes came to fruition, but it is interesting to speculate on the possible developments of Bridport and West Bay.
Unfortunately one of the planned 2023 gala highlights, a double headed Class 35 Hymek hauled train, didn’t transpire on the day I visited as both available examples of the class were deemed out of order. We saw the Hymeks on the diesel depot at Williton and it was good to see that the dedicated band of volunteers and engineers were working hard on getting at least one example operational for the following day.
At Williton depot Class 35 Hymek No. D7017 was being worked on in order to return the locomotive to service. D7017 has been running trains on the West Somerset Railway since 1977. The loco was first moved to Taunton on leaving BR service in 1975, before being moved up to Minehead in 1976 – 09/07/2023
Introduced into service between 1961 and 1964, the Hymek’s were intended as a medium power mixed traffic locomotive, but were often rostered to deputise for some of BR Western Region’s largest steam locos on 13 and 14-coach trains in their early years. A total of 101 locos were built and were allocated all over the West of England. They settled down to become a successful and capable fleet and weee regular visitors to Weymouth via the route from Yeovil. However the Hymek’s careers were cut short by BR’s standardisation of diesel-electric locomotives. The first withdrawals came in 1971, with some locos scrapped being less than nine years old. Full withdrawal of the fleet was planned for 1973 and a farewell tour, “The Hymek Swansong”, ran in the September of that year. Due to loco shortages, ten Hymek’s lasted until 1975 when they were finally withdrawn. Of these, four examples have survived into preservation; the two WSR based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) Hymek’s No.’s D7017 and D7018; No. D7029 with the Diesel Traction Group based at the Severn Valley Railway currently undergoing restoration having been out of service since 1987, and No. D7076 with the Bury Hydraulic Group and is set to return to traffic at the East Lancs Railway 2023 Diesel Gala.
Also not working on the day of our visit was Class 35 No. D7018. Following withdrawal from British Rail in 1975, D7018 was first located at Didcot Railway Centre for a number of years before moving to Williton to join sister locomotive D7017 – 09/06/2023 Class 52 Western Diesel-Hydraulic No. D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’ seen at Williton. She is currently non-operational pending work on transmission and bodywork repair. No. D1010 was stored outside Merehead quarry for a number of years before being preserved by The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, firstly at Didcot and then moving to the West Somerset Railway. The Western locomotives were the Western Region’s diesel-hydraulic flagship. Designed for express passenger work, they were equally at home on heavy freight. D1010 is one of 74 locos built at either Swindon or Crewe works between 1961 and 1963. All locos were named, each name beginning with the word ‘Western’. They were the last of the Diesel-Hydraulic classes to be withdrawn from service, after being classified as non-standard, the final operational members of the class being withdrawn in 1977 . Seven locomotives of the 74 built were saved for preservation – 09/06/2023
The other big draw for the WSR 2023 diesel gala was Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotive No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ which sounded on fine form. Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) the loco has been restored as a main line runner, and hopefully we’ll get to see and hear the magnificent Napier engine sound in Dorset at some point. Named at Doncaster Works on July 21st 1961 before introduction to traffic, the as then No. D9009 maintained the ‘racehorse’ tradition of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) by commemorating the winner of the 1949 Ascot Gold Cup. In May 1981, she moved to York after the closure of Finsbury Park depot and was one of four Deltics prepared to work a series of farewell railtours during their final six months of operation. Withdrawn on 2nd January 1982 ‘Alycidon’ was sold to the DPS for £16,550.09 in May of the same year.
Deltic Preservation Society’s Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton – 09/06/2023Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ approaches Watchet – 09/06/2023Class 55 No. 55009 ‘Alycidon’ arrives at Wiliton with a service bound for Bishops Lydeard – 09/06/2023
We made sure that Yoshi had plenty of water to drink and shade was available for him while watching the trains. Other locomotives in action at the West Somerset Railway on the Friday were:
Waterman Railway Heritage Trust’s Class 25 No. D7659 (25309). The locomotive was delivered new to was new to London Midland (Midland) Lines on July 21st 1966 and was the last member of the batch built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton Works in Manchester and the last new Class 25 to be delivered in green livery. She was withdrawn from BR service on September 13th 1986 – 09/06/2023Class 25 No. D7659 (25309) on the turntable at Minehead. This locomotive returned to service during the latter part of 2021 for the first time in more than 23 years following a comprehensive restoration that effectively saw the loco rebuilt – 09/06/2023 Class 14 “Teddy Bear” No. D9526 prepares to leave Minehead. No. D9526 was one of 56 locos of this class built by BR at Swindon Works in 1964-5. Intended for pick-up and branch line freights, they were made redundant almost immediately by closure of many secondary lines in the late 1960’s. Almost the entire fleet was sold for use in industry, with 23 going to Stewarts and Lloyds huge iron ore mines railway system around Corby and 19 going to the NCB’s North East Area. No. D9526 was an exception and was sold to Blue Circle Cement at Westbury, where it worked until suffering serious engine problems in 1977. It was donated to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (D&EPG) by Blue Circle and moved to Williton in 1980. After repairs and restoration work, D9526 made its preservation debut in 1984 – 09/06/2023Class 33 No. 33002 ‘Sea King’ sits on the turntable at Minehead awaiting her next turn. The loco, originally D6501 is the oldest surviving Crompton, having been delivered new to 73C Hither Green Depot in 1959. No. 33002 was stored serviceable on 5th September 1996 at Stewarts Lane. In the privatisation years, the locomotive enjoyed stints with the Harry Needle Railroad Co. and Direct Rail Services. The locomotive was purchased by South Devon Diesel Traction in December 2004 and operates on the South Devon Railway – 09/06/2023D6566 (33048) approaches the crossing at Watchet heading towards Minehead. No. D6566 was withdrawn from BR service in 1995 and after a two year period in store, was condemned as surplus to requirements in 1997. Acquired almost immediately by one of the D&EPG founder members, the locomotive arrived at Williton in May 1997 and worked her first train on the WSR in October of that year, marking the first use of a Class 33/0 in preservation. No. D6566 was stopped for overhaul in 2013 after 16 years of service on the WSR. The overhaul included engine work and major bodywork repairs and the locomotive returned to service in 2018 – 09/06/2023Type 3 Diesel-Electric Class 33 No. D6575 (33057) is one of two West Somerset Railway resident Crompton’s of which originally 98 were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRC&W) in Smethwick, West Midlands between 1960 and 1962. She is seen at Minehead after arriving with a train from Bishops Lydeard. She worked mixed traffic on the Southern Region of BR for 35 years until withdrawal in 1996 following a bogie fire that damaged No. 2 traction motor and the electrical wiring at No.1 cab end. The loco passed through several owners during the following nine years before being acquired by the owner of D6566 (33048) as a source of spares, arriving at Williton in September 2005 in a dilapidated state. However, following appraisal at Williton, the loco was deemed repairable. Following much painstaking work, she returned to action on the WSR in 2012 – 09/06/2023Class 03 No. D2133 at Minehead. The locomotive wasn’t an active participant of the diesel gala. The Class 03 locomotive was one of British Railways most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters with 230 built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962. No. D2133 is a Swindon Works example, built in 1960 and withdrawn from BR in July 1969 and therefore was never renumbered under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) scheme of the early 1970’s. As was the case with many ex-BR shunters No. D2133 carried on working in private hands at the British Cellophane factory in nearby Taunton until 1994 when she was presented to the WSR – 09/06/2023
Video of our visit to the West Somerset Railway 2023 Diesel Gala
Saturday saw some preserved diesel action much closer to home as Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) hauled Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train which ran from Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth. The tour celebrated the 10th June 1973 railtour, co-organised by Pathfinder’s Peter Watts, which departed Gloucester Eastgate heading for Pwllheli all those years ago. I have very fond memories of Peter Watts Publishing railway books in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Peter is stepping away from management at Pathfinder tours but was very much involved with the organisation of the 50th Anniversary Tour. An added bonus was the use of MK1 coaches and could well be the last mainline use of such stock.
Class Forty Preservation Society owned Class 40 No. D345 (40145) nears Parkstone at the head of Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth. Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ is engaged in empty coaching stock movements behind – 10/06/2023Class 47 No. 47815 ‘Great Western’ prepares to move the empty coaching stock from the sidings back into Weymouth station as 5Z41 1346 Weymouth to Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 in Jubilee Siding at Weymouth – 10/06/2023No. D345 prepares to run light engine into Weymouth station – 10/06/2023At the head of the rake of MK1 coaches, No.D345 awaits departure of 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent. The tour returned via Dorchester West and Yeovil – 10/06/2023Pathfinder photoshoot at Weymouth ahead of the departure of the 50th Anniversary charter train – 10/06/2023No. D345 powers towards the site of the former Radipole Halt with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023No. D345 having departed Weymouth with 1Z41 1636 Weymouth to Burton-on-Trent – 10/06/2023
Our video of D345 hauling Pathfinder Railtours 50th Anniversary charter train 1Z40 0701 Burton-on-Trent to Weymouth (with thanks to my brother for the Dorchester footage) – 10/06/2023
The Class Forty Preservation Society said this of the climb out of Weymouth: “Those who were on the train to hear 40145 lift the equivalent of 14 coaches unassisted up the 1 in 50 summit of Bincombe bank leaving Weymouth will know what I mean when I say I will take the memory to my grave. Truly a high point of 20 years of mainline running. Even the Lickey later in the day was an anti-climax after that!”. Yoshi’s pal Jamie was at Bincombe to record the ascent.
No. D345/ 40145 was the first locomotive of the final batch of deliveries of the type and was built with centre-headcode panels. Along with 180 others of the 200-strong fleet, the loco was built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, entering service on 17th May 1961. D345 was one of four (D345 to D348) which were allocated to 55H Neville Hill, and used to upgrade the short-lived “Queen of Scots Pullman” running between Leeds and Edinburgh / Glasgow, replacing LNER Pacific steam power. Allocated to numerous depots during her British Rail career, her final allocation was to Longsight in May 1978 where she was based until withdrawal on 10th June 1983 after sustaining derailment damage in Stourton Yard, Leeds. However, she was one of the final Class 40’s to receive a General Overhaul at Crewe Works in November 1980 and was purchased by The Class Forty Preservation Society and delivered to Bury in February 1984, the first of the class to enter preservation.
The last (and only) Class 40 to make it to Weymouth previously was No. 40001 on 21st May 1983 which I remember well!
The Westbury to Weymouth leg of “The Wessex Whistler” was entrusted to Class 33/1 No.’s 33113 and 33118. The pair are seen passing through Dorchester West – 21/05/1983Following light engine No. 40001 opens up as she passes through Dorchester West on the way to Weymouth – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” the first time a member of the class had made it to Weymouth. The tour originated in York and ran under the head code 1Z25 throughout – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth with the Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983Class 40 No. 40001 at Weymouth awaits departure from Weymouth with the return Severn Valley Railway Association rail tour “The Wessex Whistler” – 21/05/1983
Thanks for reading! We’ll see you soon.
End Piece:
Back in 2019, both West Somerset Hymeks were working during the diesel gala as evidenced here as No.’s D7018 and D7017 arrive at Crowcombe Heathfield – 21/06/2019
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