Latest News
Click the headline to read moreCommencing on Saturday 12th June, a second diesel diagram has been introduced on the GWR operating on Red timetable days (Saturdays, most Sundays and Bank Holidays). This has been introduced to speed up operations by removing the need to attach and detach locomotives at Winchcombe on most trains. Diesels will now remain permanently attached to the north end of each of the two train sets through the day in conjunction with the steam locomotive at the south end.
The remainder of July and August's roster is as follows (page down for actual diagrams dfor Red/Purple and Blue timetables):
| Date | TT | Diagram | Locomotive |
| 29/07/10 | Blue | D8137 | |
| 31/07/10 | Red | 1 2 |
37215 |
| 01/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
47376 24081 |
| 03/08/10 to 05/08/10 | Blue | D8137 | |
| 07/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
37324 D8137 |
| 08/08/10 | Purple | 37324 |
|
| 10/08/10 | Blue | 47376 | |
| 11/08/10 to 12/08/10 | Blue | 37324 | |
| 14/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
47376 24081 |
| 15/08/10 | Red | 1 |
D8137 |
| 17/08/10 to 19/08/10 | Blue | D8137 | |
| 21/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
D8137 37324 |
| 22/08/10 | Purple | 37324 |
|
| 24/08/10 to 26/08/10 | Blue | 37324 | |
| 28/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
47376 24081 |
| 29/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
47376 24081 |
| 30/08/10 | Red | 1 2 |
47376 D8137 |
Red Timetable
Diagram 1
0G09 1015 Toddington-Winchcombe LD
2G09 1040 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2W10 1059 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G11 1114 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T12 1128 Gotherington-Toddington
2G21 1300 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W22 1325 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G23 1340 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T24 1354 Gotherington-Toddington
2G31 1515 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W32 1540 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G33 1555 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T34 1609 Gotherington-Toddington
Diagram 2
2G13 1130 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W14 1155 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G15 1210 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T16 1224 Gotherington-Toddington
2G27 1415 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W28 1440 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G29 1455 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T30 1509 Gotherington-Toddington
2G39 1635 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2T40 1700 Gotherington-Toddington
Purple timetable
2G09 1030 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2T10 1053 Gotherington-Toddington
2G13 1130 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2T14 1153 Gotherington-Toddington
2G21 1300 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2T22 1323 Gotherington-Toddington
2G27 1425 Toddington-Gotherington
2T28 1456 Gotherington-Toddington (rear)
2G33 1540 Toddington-Gotherington
2T34 1603 Gotherington-Toddington (rear)
2G39 1635 Toddington-Gotherington
2T40 1658 Gotherington-Toddington (rear)
Blue timetable
2G09 1030 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W10 1055 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G11 1110 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T12 1124 Gotherington-Toddington
2G17 1215 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W18 1240 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G19 1255 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T20 1309 Gotherington-Toddington
2G29 1430 Toddington-Gotherington (rear)
2W30 1455 Gotherington-Winchcombe
2G31 1510 Winchcombe-Gotherington (rear)
2T38 1640 Gotherington-Toddington
37215 returned to service on the 11th July, operating services during the final day of the GWR's summer diesel gala. The locomotive failed on the 2nd May with a blown Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR). The AVR is used to regulate the voltage produced by the auxiliary generator to power the locomotive's auxiliary machines (such as blower motors, compressors, exhausters and lighting circuits) at a constant 110 volts, despite the varying load and speed of the engine powering the generator. The existing AVR was of the original carbon-pile 1960s design and after much research, we decided to try and replace with a modern electronic equivalent. BR Tinsley depot produced a batch of electronic AVRs during the 1990s for fitting to its RfD class 47s, and the opportunity arose to acquire one of these for a very reasonable price. A contract refurbishment was carried out by Noel Craigen and the wiring modified in the cubicle to suit. A new mounting bracket was manufactured and the unit fitted and tested successfully on Saturday 10th July.
As far as we know, this is the first preserved class 37/0 to be fitted with an electronic AVR and will hopefully give many years of reliable service into the future.
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway has with immediate effect, altered its steam train services following a landslip on an embankment near Gotherington.
Malcolm Temple, the railway's chairman, says: "The slip was discovered on 22nd April and although it does not directly affect the track over which trains run, as a precautionary safety measure we have decided to suspend all train services south of Gotherington.
"This means that no services will call at Cheltenham Racecourse station although trains will run as normal between Toddington and Gotherington Halt but to a revised timetable.
"Safety is of course, our number one priority. We check our line every day before trains run and this is how movement of the embankment was noticed. We have instructed specialist engineers to make trial bores in the land to determine the extent and cause of the problem and repairs will be carried out as soon as possible.
"It is of course too early to say when the line will be reopened or what the cost is likely to be."
All visitors to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway should travel to Toddington station where additional car parking will be available.
One impact of the landslip will be increased diesel running, with a diesel locomotive required on all running days to top and tail trains. See the Roster page for full details and diagrams of class 37 allocated turns.
Revised Red and Blue timetables available at www.gwsr.com
Following the replacement of a split exhaust bellows, attention has now focussed on two areas: the no.2 end nose compartment and the engine room interior.
In the no.2 end nose, both vacuum exhausters and the traction motor blower motor have been removed. Both exhausters had been leaking large quantities of oil over a long period of time and have been extracted for overhaul and refurbishment being exchanged for two recently overhauled units. The two refurbished units were installed on Saturday 13th February. Whilst the nose compartment has been empty, a large quantity of oil waste has been painstakingly removed and the interior thoroughly cleaned.
Following the repair of the exhaust bellows, a good clean of the engine room has commenced, including the engine block itself, the ceiling and body side walls. The leaking exhaust had coated everything in a thick layer of carbon mixed with oil in some places. As a result of the cleaning done so far, the engine compartment is now a much lighter and more pleasant place to work!
Some pictures from the GWR's autumn diesel gala. The first part of the Saturday was marred by wet weather but by the afternoon this had soon cleared giving some welcome sunshine which was repeated on the Sunday.
37248 is seen here near Hailes bridge on Sunday 25th with a Toddington-Winchcombe working.
(Photo: John Pinion)
Seen later with a Toddington-Cheltenham train near Gretton.
(Photo: John Pinion)
37215 leaves Winchcombe with a local for Toddington on Sunday morning.
(Photos: Paul Roderigues)
37324 leads 37215 on a Toddington-Cheltenham working during Sunday afternoon.
(Photo: John Pinion)
Highlight of the weekend was the combination of all three locomotives on the 15:00 Toddington-Cheltenham on the Saturday. 248, 324 and 215 are seen here arriving back at Winchcombe with the return working.
(Photo: Paul Fuller)
37248 worked its first trains on the GWR on Sunday 18th October when it successfully operated the 1415 Toddington-Cheltenham and 1500 return in tandem with the Group's own locomotive 37215. This was followed by a solo debut on the 1635 Toddington-Cheltenham and 1720 return.
The locomotive looked very smart with the matching all maroon 6 coach mark 1 set, and although a fairly long list of essential maintenance and repair jobs are required over the winter, there is no doubt she is a very strong machine.
248 is seen here awaiting departure from Toddington with the 1635 to Cheltenham.
(Photo: Peter Smith)
Powering towards Hailes bridge, 248 was getting nicely warmed up.
(Photo: Peter Smith)
The day after 248's appearance at the GCR(N)'s diesel gala, the locomotive was booked to be transported by road to Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
The day dawned bright and sunny, and Heanor Haulage arrived promptly to begin the process of loading the loco on to the trailer, a manoevre that it is quite constrained for space within the current confines of the Ruddington layout.
248 is seen here being winched aboard (Photo: Kev Jarvis).
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Before long the loco was on its way and heading for the motorway (Kev Jarvis)
Making good progress down the M5..... (Kev Jarvis)
Finally, she arrived at Toddington and was quickly unloaded into its new surroundings. (Kev Jarvis)
The October diesel gala at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) over the weekend of the 10th and 11th October marked 37248's final appearance at the line before moving to the GWR at Toddington on the 12th.
This time the locomotive was rostered with the line's vacuum braked mk1 and 2 set, which gave passengers plenty of opportunity to sample some classic 37 noise over the line. Coupled with some gloriously sunny autumnal weather, a good weekend was had by all.
Approaching Asher Lane overbridge with the 0945 Loughborough-Ruddington on Sat 10th October. (Photo: Mark Widdison)
37248 is seen here at Rushcliffe Halt paired with 31452 on the 1545 Loughborough-Ruddington on Sat 10th October.
Back in Ruddington Yard catching some rays awaiting its next turn (with one of its owners seen photographing it - right!)
Both 37215 and 37324 played a part in this year's summer diesel gala at the GWR, although with visiting class 20 no.20154 pairing up with resident D8137 and class 33 D6525 (33109) from the ELR taking star billing, running was somewhat limited compared to previous galas. Unfortunately, it had been hoped to have the intermediate signalbox and passing loop at Gotherington commissioned in time for the event, to allow a much more intensive timetable and more mileage for all locomotives, but this was not to be. In the end, 37215 did a number of additional turns and performed the role of 'brake translator' locomotive for air braked only class 08 no. 08881 on the Friday. Sadly, the 'gronk' failed at Winchcombe during the aftrenoon and the train was hauled back to Toddington by 215.
37215 is seen here arriving at Winchcombe behind 08881 earlier in the day on Friday 10th July.
A couple of minor problems emerged during the weekend with 37215 which will require our attention over the next few weeks - a leak on the vacuum chamber has developed and oil leaks from the vacuum exhausters in the no.2 end nose. An intermittent DSD problem with 37324 will also be looked at.
37248 performed without problem at the ELR's summer gala from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th July.
It is seen here arriving at Ramsbottom.
(Photo: Alan Groves)
It is also seen here doubleheading with 37418 leaving Irwell Vale.
Later seen here at Rawtenstall alongside 37109 and then back together as a pair to work the return service back to Heywood.
248 returned back to the GCRN at Ruddington along with 47292 and D7629 courtesy of DBS and class 47 no. 47839.
37248 arrived at the Midland Railway Centre on Thursday 25th, having arrived by road from Ruddington. The loco is seen here being loaded at Ruddington the previous day.
248 operated alongside its immaculately turned out EE brethren D212 'Aureol' and 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar' hauling trains between Hammersmith, Butterley, Swanwick Jn and Ironville.
248 is seen here awaiting a slightly delayed 10:00 departure from Butterley (due to signalling problems at Swanwick).
(Photo: Peter Smith)
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Having worked a round trip to Ironville Jn (adjacent to Network Rail's Erewash Valley route), 248 is seen here back at Butterley awaiting its next working, as class 40 D212 'Aureol' passes, celebrating 50 years since the introduction of the class. Next year (2010) also sees the 50th anniversary of the class 37.
(Photo: Peter Smith
Earlier in the day, 248 stands in the yard at Swanwick alongside fellow EE participant, class 50 no.50007 'Sir Edward Elgar'. 248 was fitted with a replacement battery cell brought from Toddington and newly cleaned turbo air filters before being started for the day. Thanks to Mark Stanley for bringing these up on the day (it was an early start!).
(Photo: Peter Smith)
An intensive maintenance weekend was carried out at Ruddington on the loco over the 20th/21st June to prepare it for its visit to both the Midland Railway Centre's English Electric weekend on the 27th and 28th June and the East Lancashire Railway's summer diesel gala on the following 3rd, 4th and 5th July.
The locomotive will return to Ruddington from the MRC at Butterley by road on Monday the 29th and will be moved to the East Lancs Railway at Bury by rail on Wednesday 1st July together with D7629 and 47292. It is expected that the convoy will be hauled by class 47 no. 47843. The return move back to Ruddington will be on Monday the 6th July.
With the loco scheduled to be moved to the ELR by rail, a number of mandatory exams were required in order to be accepted for movement on Network Rail - an ultrasonic axle test and air pressure vessel test. 248 passed these successfully earlier this week.
Replacement bodyside air filters are seen here being fitted by committee member Peter Smith.
(Photo: Kev Jarvis)
Following on from yesterday's announcement that 37248 will be appearing at the Midland Railway Centre's English Electric weekend on the 27th and 28th June, we can also now announce that it will be continuing on its travels, this time back to the red rose county, when it visits the East Lancashire Railway's summer diesel gala on the 3rd/4th and 5th of July. The locomotive will arrive by rail on Wednesday 1st July together with D7629 and 47292 with a return move back to Ruddington on the 6th July.
We are pleased to announce that 37248 is visiting the Midland Railway Centre's English Electric Weekend gala on the 27th and 28th June. More details of its rostered workings are available on the MRC's website. The locomotive moved by road from Ruddington on Wednesday 24th June.
The visit is particularly appropriate as the locomotive was previously named 'The Midland Railway Centre' (see below).
37248 will return by road back to Ruddington immediately after the gala on Monday 29th June. Further gala visits are in the pipeline this year including the ELR summer gala on 3/4/5th July (see seperate news story).
37248 is seen here on its last visit to the MRC on the 14th October 1995, when it was named 'Midland Railway Centre'. (Photo: Courtesy of the MRC)
Following its move from Carnforth to Ruddington last Tuesday (12th May), 248 duly took part in the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) May gala the following weekend (16th and 17th).
She is seen here waiting to depart from Ruddington's new platform 1 with the 17:15 to Loughborough on Saturday 16th.
Photo: Peter Smith
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Locomotive changes were diagrammed at Rushcliffe Halt on most trains, and 248 is seen here waiting in the up refuge siding at Rushcliffe waiting to relieve D7629 on the next train to Ruddington.
(Peter Smith)
248 heads a Loughborough-Ruddington train away from Loughborough towards East Leake (with 47292 at the rear).
(Peter Smith)
On the way down to Loughborough, 248 is seen at the rear of the 17:15 from Ruddington with storm clouds gathering in the distance.
(Peter Smith)
Being passed by newly re-painted 47292 at Rushcliffe.
(Peter Smith)
37248 has made its debut in preservation service at the Great Central (Nottingham) diesel gala on the 16th and 17th May.
37248 has been on hire to the West Coast Railway Company since 2005 and has, as the 'workings' page on this website will testify, operated reliably all over the Network Rail system, on a variety of trains, particularly in Scotland. With the end of the loan agreement in sight, it was decided to retire the locomotive from main line service and embark on a new career in preservation. We would like to thank WCRC's team in caring for and maintaining the locomotive to a high standard during its time at Carnforth and look forward to it joining 37215 and 37324 as part of our small 'fleet'. As announced last July, The locomotive is privately owned by 3 GG members and is in the custodianship of the Group.
37248 is expected to stay at the GCRN through to October, taking part in the railway’s 2009 programme of events. A permanent base for 37248 has not been determined, but being a guest at the GCRN until the October gala and participation in a number of events planned during 2010, this is not yet a priority.
The locomotive has been 'stored serviceable' at Carnforth since the beginning of 2009, and moved by rail to Ruddington on the 12th May behind WCRC's unique class 57, no 57601 running as 0Z37 08:45 Carnforth-Ruddington and arriving at Rushcliffe around 14:00 from where it was collected by the GCR(N)'s class 73 no. 73110.
The movement is seen here departing from Carnforth:
http://philmetcalfe.fotopic.net/p58183650.html
......and later passing Stafford:
http://www.gallerybrad.fotopic.net/p58182285.html
Although one or two rumours surfaced on the internet a few days earlier, these were purely speculative, the move only being confirmed on the 7th May.
Full details of 248's diagrammed workings can be found on the GCRN's website
The locomotive is seen at Carnforth on the 24th March during a visit by the three owners and other members of the Growler Group committee.
Photo: Kev Jarvis
Following the removal from 37215 of the no.1 vacuum exhauster with a defective motor and its replacement with a unit from our stock in February, frustratingly this replacement subsequently failed in traffic, in the process leaking a quantity of oil into the no.2 nose end compartment. Once again, the awkward and labourious process of disconnecting and extracting an exhauster using the overhead gantry was undertaken over the weekend of 2nd/3rd May, followed by its replacement with the unit which had been taken out in March which had, in the mean time been professionally overhauled to a high standard by a company in South Wales. Whilst the exhauster was removed, the opportunity was taken to replace the associated wiring runs in the nose with modern flexible conduit.
The previous weekend, efforts to locate the long standing problem of boosting the train pipe vacuum from the no.1 end driver's brake valve were successful. The problem was quickly identified as being electrical in nature and by following a logical fault finding process through the wiring system, an incorrectly wired part of the wiring cubicle was found to be causing the problem. Drivers' can now boost the creation of vacuum at both ends!!
The refurbished exhauster is seen here being lowered into the nose under the watchful eye of committee member Mark Stanley.
Photo: Kev Jarvis
Meanwhile, work continued on refurbishing a number of locomotive brake cylinders to augment our stock of spares, something that will become increasingly important to the future well-being of the locomotive.
Andrew Laws is seen here carrying out this unglamourous but important job.
Following further p-way work on the 7th March, run-round facilities are now available at Toddington via the north head-shunt. This means that the additional diesel diagram that was provisionally rostered for the rest of March to relieve incoming trains and share services will now not be required, and the usual Green timetable and roster will apply.
On Sunday 22nd February, a refurbished vacuum exhauster and the overhauled blower motor removed during November were fitted to 37215's no.2 end. The loco was topped up with coolant, checked and started on Tuesday 24th, and both exhauster and blower motor tested in situ successfully. The intention is to do a light engine test before the loco is used on GWR service trains on the 14th March in connection with the AGM.
In common with large parts of the UK, the first week in February saw some snow in the Cotswolds. The heaviest fall occurred on Friday 6th, when around 12-15cm fell in the area around Toddington, cutting off many villages for a time and making roads impassable.
37324 is shown here stabled between 47105 and 31162 on Saturday 7th. (Photo: Peter Smith)
Track remodelling at the north end of Toddington station is currently underway to facilitate the extension to Laverton and Broadway - the permanent way train can be seen stabled in platform 2 in this wintry view to the south of the station. (Photo: Peter Smith)
It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that discounts could be available to Growler Group members and non members alike on the following trains run by Compass Tours, the discount will be given subject to us achieving a minimum number of 50 people in a group booking no less than three weeks prior to the date of the tour.
Tours priced on the Compass website at £49 would attract a discount of £2 per person and tours priced at £59 would attract a discount of £4 per person.
If you would like to book on any of these tours then please email
Or write to:-
Mick Collins (Compass Tours Group Booking)
140 Seamons Road
Altrincham
Cheshire
WA14 4LJ
Initially I only need to know which tour you wish me to book you on and your contact details, once I know whether the negotiated discount will apply I will contact you again with the timings for the tour, your seat allocation and payment details.
The tours advertised so far are as follows
For more details please visit the Compass Tours website at http://www.compasstoursbyrail.co.uk/
Saturday 2nd May 2009 – The Heart of Wales Scenic Rambler – tour price £49
Mossley Hill, Liverpool South Parkway, Runcorn, Acton Bridge, Hartford, Winsford, Crewe, Nantwich, Whitchurch, Wem & Shrewsbury then via the Central Wales line with a break in Llandrindod Wells to Cardiff, returning home via the Welsh Marches line through Abergavenny & Hereford.
Saturday 6th June 2009 – The Devonian – tour price £59
Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Tame Bridge Parkway & Birmingham New Street then via Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter, Torquay & Paignton.
Saturday 20th June 2009 – The Jorvik Fellsman – tour price £49
Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme (The Lake District), Lancaster, Preston, Chorley, Horwich Parkway, Bolton & Manchester Victoria to York, returning home via the Settle & Carlisle line and setting down passengers at Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme (The Lake District), Lancaster, Preston, Chorley, Horwich Parkway, Bolton & Manchester Victoria.
Sunday 21st June 2009 – The Sunday Fellsman – tour price £49
Crewe, Hooton, Capenhurst, Chester, Helsby, Frodsham, Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-Le-Willows & Wigan North Western then via the West Coast Main Line to Carlisle, returning home via the Settle & Carlisle line.