Core Brush

02 December 2009 21:00

The Sapper was in action again on Monday, November 31st working a special contract train on the Parkway branch. The loco conveyed two lowmacs carrying large compressors and drilling equipment. The B&W PW dept coach was also used as a support vehicle and to allow easier propelling moves. The equipment was used in situ to drill into the cess (the area of land immediately after the outside of the running rail. The drilling took place to a depth of 8 metres, taking core samples of rock etc. This is part of the planning for improvement by the Highways Agency, of the drainage on the A38 on the bends at Colesloggett.

The Sulzer, Shark and the Mermaid

09 November 2009 01:05

47306 was out stretching her wheels on Saturday, when used to take a mermaid wagon to Bodmin Parkway to empty it's content near the ground frame. The engine later returned to General having shunted the shed at Parkway, hauling a strange consist of a mermaid, a mk1 coach and a shark...The pictures below show "The Sapper" looking on at 43033 "Driver Brian Cooper".

When the 47 reached General, it's crew conducted a massive shunt operation which saw the entire contents of the refuge siding shunted out into the station, platform road. Thus the unusual sight of an RFD 47/3 on a mixed train of 11 different vehicles in the yard. On the right, the Brush Four romps up the bank at Charlie's Gate. Thanks to copyright holder Chris P Bacon for these.

Keeping you in the picture...!

23 October 2009 00:21

Work continues on restoring a stores vehicle. Work has also started assisting the Railway in repairing rare surviving class 10, D3452. The loco, fitted with a Lister Blackstone engine, has strong local connections having shunted Fowey Yard for many years.

 Built at Darlington in 1957, it was quickly deemed non standard, and withdrawn from BR Toton in July 1968. The Loco transferred to English China Clays at Fowey, along with classmates D3476 and D3497. In 1986 however, a class 08 arrived and saw the beginning of the end for the 'Tens'.

D3452 was saved by the Bodmin Railway Preservation Society in March 1989. However, all was not rosy with the other Pilots, and classmate D3497 was cut up on site in March 1989, having yielded spares for her two colleagues. The future looked perhaps a little brighter than the average Cornish day, when D3476 was purchased by HNRC and moved to the South Yorkshire Railway in 1992. However, exactly two decades after D3452 was saved, D3476 was cut up at Stockton in March 2009, having been removed from the Colne Valley Railway.

        Anyway, I seem to have been 'shunted' into a tangent... Initial preparatory work has begun on 37142's power unit repairs. Sulzers 47306 and 33110 were run up on Wednesday to prepare them for upcoming duties including a driver experience course.

         Below, Keeping you in the picture is a contribution by local noted Photographer Bernard Mills. It depicts the very last booked loco hauled down 'local stopper' service in Cornwall, on May 14 1988. Sprinters took over the following day.  The train is the 1557 Plymouth - Penzance, crossing Liskeard viaduct, and is a train which still runs today. Perhaps not quite with the same class which it used to though!

I am reliably informed that by the time the train passed Burngullow on that day, Wimbledon FC had Triumphed in a one - nil victory over match favorites Liverpool. Oh and the Loco? Well, that would be 50 042 "Triumph", naturally.

Above, 21 years later, this is the same scene. The price of progress? Both Images Copyright  ©  Bernard Mills 2009. 

A Media Update

Now that public running is over until 2010, it is good to be able to look back on media of the locos in action. Two videos have been added below, they were taken during the Autumn Diesel Gala. Thanks to copyright holder Craig Munday for sharing these.

Saturday Update

Work this weekend has concentrated on work on a stores vehicle. The 33's batteries need to be made more reliable to enable the loco to be used as a shunter, in place of class 08, 08444 which is required under the canopy for engine work. Once the 08 has been completed the 37 will hopefully get some form of undercover protection to enable the removal of all the engine pipe-work, cylinder heads, pistons and con rods.

Saturday Sulzer Symphony

Saturday 03rd October was planned to see newly restored to traffic, 33110 work all five return trains. However, on start up on Saturday, the loco shut down almost immediately with fire bells sounding. Despite work on Wednesday night to replace battery cells, unfortunately the batteries were depleted and would not crank the engine over. So, 47306 "The Sapper" was used instead on the first three trains and the ''Crompton'' went on charge. However another group member managed to make it up to tend to the ''Bagpipe's'' needs and the engine worked the two booked afternoon workings, plus an additional Parkway trip for the enthusiasts, who contributed to the cost of the fuel for the extra train.

The below video courtesy of C Happie, shows 33110 starting successfully but shutting down soon after with fire bells sounding. After a battery charge the loco was used for three trips in the afternoon.

September 2009 Diesel Gala - A high and a low...

The September 2009 gala saw the long awaited return of class 33, 33110. The loco preformed well and is the allocated power for five return trips at Bodmin this coming Saturday, 03rd October. Click here for a timetable.

However, with the highs come the lows, as during preparation on Saturday morning, 37142 was found to have contaminated oil. Early examination shows a sudden water leakage from at least two liners. The loco has been stopped pending repair. This will involve the replacement of all 12 cylinder liner seals. The opportunity will also be taken to carry out any necessary top end power unit work, as well as yet another change of oil and filters.

Any donations to the repair bill, which will probably run into thousands of pounds, are welcomed......or indeed hands dirty engineering assistance is welcomed, please email infoATbodmindiesels.co.uk

33110 and 50042 climbing away from Bodmin Parkway at Charlies Gate on Saturday 26 September. 

Photo Copyright Bernard Mills.