Diesel and Electric Group

Many first generation diesel locos are now preserved, the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have a base at Williton, on the WSR, where they keep several such locos. This page has photos of the group's charges "at home" at Williton, there are many photo of them "in action" on the West Somerset Railway pages, in particular on Diesel Days.

The first two shown here are D7017 and D7018. They are Beyer Peacock Hymek type 3 B-B locos fitted with a 1700 bhp Maybach MD870 engine and hydraulic transmission. They were part of the Western Region's diesel hydraulic period, there are photos of Hymeks on the mainline on Diesel Hydraulics.

While in BR service they operated in the West Country and could well have visited the Minehead line. As can be seen one is in its original green livery the other in the later rail blue.

Two photos from Jon Tooke showing the stripped down Maybach MD870 engine from D7018 which is undergoing a major overhaul after a serious failure some time ago.

With her engine removed D7018 was caught by Jon Tooke being shunted outside the Diesel Depot ready to be lifted from her bogies.

As part of the general shunt required for the move above this convoy including Class 52 D1010, Class 14 D9526, class 08 D3462 and Class 03 03119 were also spotted by Jon.

While the convoy was stood clear on the running line the ex MSC Sentinel shunter manoeuvred a preserved ferry van past West Country class Braunton's smokebox outside the WSRA's "Swindon" shed.

A last view from Jon of the shunting, D7018 squeezes by Braunton's smokebox as D1010 Western Campaigner waits outside the yard.

Next in the line up is D6566 (33048), a Birmingham RC&W built type 3 Bo-Bo, with a 1,550 bhp Sulzer 8LDA28 engine and Crompton Parkinson electric transmission. They were the Southern Regions equivalent of the Hymeks in terms of power, working a wide variety of services, including for many years the Waterloo - Exeter service which served Yeovil in Somerset so they too have a local connection.

Since then the DEPG have acquired another Class 33, D6575, its first working after a major restoration was during thr 2012 Mixed Traction Weekend.

The next loco is D7523, a BR Derby built machine, a Class 25 type 2 with a 1,250 bhp Sulzer 6LDA28 engine and electric transmission. Locos of this type appeared on the Western Region as part of the replacement of the non standard diesel hydraulics, there is a photo of a pair of them on a freight at Cardiff on Diesel Electrics.

As the second view shows it has been named John F Kennedy since being in preservation. It carries the two tone green livery carried by the later members of the class from new. Unfortunately it has now left the railway for another line.

A final loco on view at Williton during my visit was 03119, formerly D2119, a diesel mechanical 0-6-0 shunting loco with a 204 bhp Gardener engine. This type of machine was made redundant by the decline in traditional wagon load freight traffic, they were to be seen in the West Country when in BR service and also in use by industrial systems after disposal by BR.

A view of many the locos featured lined up at Williton on 23 March 2002, no work for them during the Steam Gala weekend !

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner was in the shed when I took the photos above, she is also part of the DEPG fleet and is seen here leaving Minehead.

Two views of D1010 Western Campaigner in the guise of D1035 Western Yeoman - in green livery - at Didcot in the late 80's. The change of identity was due to Foster Yeoman, whose stone trains the Westerns used to work. D1010 is owned by the DEPG who were then based at Didcot. Photos by Jon Tooke

WSR & DEPG volunteer Jon Tooke is seen here giving Western Campaigner a wash ready for service the next day during the Great Trains Extravaganza.

The finished job, two views of his handiwork taken by Jon in Williton depot yard. Photos by Jon Tooke

Views of the A end control desk showing the drivers and secondman's sides. Photos by Jon Tooke

A last view of the Western, after prep had been completed she was started up and is seen with all her lights on in the evening gloom. Photo by Jon Tooke

On 28 May 2007 D1661 North Star arrived at Minehead with a special from Derby, prior to being handed over to the DEPG for preservation on the West Somerset.

After the official handing over D1661 moved off the train and is seen here out in the sun.

Photos of D1661's works plates and data panels.

The DEPG also look after D9526, a Class 14 0-6-0 loco originally intended for trip freight workings. The class is nicknamed "Teddy Bears", D9526's return to traffic in 2003 being known as Teddy Bear's Picnic but she is seen here at Minehead during the Great Trains Extravaganza.