Delivered into service Oct 1960
from Birmingham Railway Carriage and
Wagon at Smethwick to
73C Hither Green as D6527
Transferred to 71A Eastleigh July 1963
Converted to push pull operation Apr 1967
Last overhaul Sep 1986
Withdrawn from Eastleigh Sep 1992
Arrived at Bodmin Dec 1993
Restoring 33110 was a big challenge, taking 5 years to get to the stage of starting the power unit. Much of the early years were spent locating and gathering the many missing parts, which included 2 traction motors, the turbocharger,
hydra static pump, exhaust and inlet manifolds and pipes, heat exchanger, most of the air control system and many cab fittings. There were also many smaller items missing, which made the whole thing something of a jigsaw puzzle to put back together. The loco was only worked on sporadically in the early years, as the working locos took priority. As the missing parts were obtained, they were fitted until, finally on 29 July 1998 the power unit was fired up. This was followed by a bogie overhaul and the fitment of two reconditioned traction motors. A bogie swap then took place, enabling the 33 to move under its own power on 06 March 2000, followed by its first passenger run on 25 March 2000. The bodywork restoration then commenced, which took another year before the loco emerged in 80s style BR green, as worn by 33008 in that era.
The 33 has since needed a replacement triple pump, but other than that has settled down to be a sturdy performer on Bodmin’s banks.
33110 is out of use presently, undergoing major bodywork repairs which is estimated to take up to 2
years. It will emerge in a different livery once complete.
