Llangollen Diesel Group

Happy new year Folks! D5310 was due to work a  series of crew training trips today, however the adverse weather during the week led to the Group deciding not to go ahead with them. With more snow and ice forecast and a lot of snow already in the Dee Valley, all services on the railway ended up being cancelled this weekend. However this did not stop several members of the Group being on site today to inspect the fleet.

Having spent a working life surrounded by plenty of snow and cold weather North of the border, D5310 was not phased by the big freeze  and started without any problems.  She then worked an inspection trip to Berwyn tunnel to examine the line and clear the enormous icicles which always form in the tunnel during such conditions.

Thanks to Simon Searle for the photos. First we see the 26 on arrival at Berwyn.

Then cautiously approaching the tunnel….

And with good reason, my word:

And if you thought they were impressive, check these out on the Chain Bridge. My word!

D1566 and 37240 are fully drained down, with the 47 appearing fine. Unfortunately 37240 looks to have sustained further damage from the cold, the pipe gaskets which failed last year looking to have forced their way out of the joints again. Another job to do while the radiators are being repaired.

Services at the Llangollen Railway over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of January have been cancelled due to weather conditions.

Please keep an eye on the Llangollen Railway website for the latest news.

The LDG would like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you at our running days and events in 2010!

The radiators were removed from 37240 last Sunday in order to repair the corrosion damage that is causing the loco to lose water. In order to remove a 37’s radiators,  the roof section containing the radiator fan must first be removed. The bolts on the roof section came out OK, but those holding 240’s rads down proved a little more stubborn (lord knows when they were last removed), so a bit of gentle persuasion was required in the form of Mr Perry and a gas axe. In scenes more reminiscent of Booths of Rotheram, 240’s rad room was left filled with metal smoke! The difficult bit was keeping Mr Perry from carrying on ; >.

Next, the fan module was lifted clear using the crane:

With the roof section removed the radiators then followed suit and are seen ready to be moved into the shed for repair and being beautifully modelled by Messrs Smales, Evans and Jones. Rad VEG!

The empty radiator room – which will now be cleaned and painted.

Cheers to Colin “Bryn, where are my keys” Cooper for the phots.

Tez Pickthall

A chapter in the history of the Llangollen Diesel Group came to a close today when 46010 left the railway for the GCRN on an Allelys low loader.

Many thanks to Peter Cheshire for the excellent photos.  First we see her on her way through Acrefair. The rainbow seems very apt;  as one rather sad chapter closes, a new and happier one begins.

And then making her way slowly through Rossett on the A483.

Good luck in your new life old girl. You really are a true survivor!

More photos and information can be found on the Western 46 Group website at http://46010.co.uk/, to whom we wish every success at their new home in Leicestershire.

Cheers

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

We’re pleased to be able to confirm that Class 46 No 46010 will soon be moving to a new home at the Great Central Railway (North), at Ruddington, Leicestershire. The announcement (along with lots more information about this impressive heritage line) can be found here: http://217.158.157.207/railways/GCRN-Diesel/news.htm.

We can also confirm that the ‘Peak’  will be cared for by a new owning group; The Western 46 Group, formed of 4 former members of the LDG. The new group takes its name from the fact that 46010 is the only surviving Western Region allocated class 46 ‘Peak’, having been allocated to Plymouth Laira depot until being withdrawn for storage at Swindon in 1980.

The Group have launched a new website for the loco. Have a look at http://46010.co.uk

The Western 46 Group will be looking for plenty of additional support in the future, so please have a look at their website and register your interest. The LDG hopes to retain close links with the Group and it goes without saying that we wish them every success at their new home.

Whilst the LDG are very sad to see 46010 leave the railway, we’re happy that she’s going to the GCRN along with a very dedicated bunch of supporters who will secure her future. The GCRN is an excellent railway and being and ex-main line, she will look most at home working there. The presence of an NR connection should also allow her to visit other heritage lines in the future, something that has not been possible while she has been at Llan.

The loco was scheduled to leave Llangollen on Monday 23rd November, but we’ve just heard that roadworks in Cheshire has delayed this. Further updates will be made when we know the revised departure date.

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

The LDG had a very productive working session today. As well as undertaking the laborious task of greasing well over a hundred different lubrication points on all 3 locos, real progress was made on D5310 and 37240.

We think we have sorted the niggling engine shutdown issue on the 26. Careful study of the electrical drawings and systematic testing of several components on the engine run circuit identified an intermittent fault on a circuit breaker mounted in the side of the electrical cubicle. With this breaker isolated, slamming the cubicle door no longer shuts the loco down! The breaker will now be replaced.

The BRCW Type 2 has also had a replacement AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) fitted, a job we had expected to do when we purchased the loco. We suspected that the locos original unit was overcharging the batteries and auxillary systems and voltage measurements taken today confirmed this. The replacement unit was fitted (causing a few hernias in the process as they’re rather heavy and are mounted on top of the cubicle!) and was tested at the correct charging voltage over a range of engine running conditions.

Meanwhile, the coolant system on the 37 has been checked, had a suspect valve closed off and then refilled to check for leaks, with only a couple of minor weeps being found. The gauge glass in the header tank has been cleaned and repaired so it now shows a true reading. The EE Type 3 was successfully started and ran happily for 2 hours.

Classic Vee Exhaust trails show that 37240 is back!

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LDG members pose with the fruits of their labours - two working locos. Poor Pete E missed out on the photo as he was still inside D5310, dutifully checking the new AVR was behaving itself!

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With static testing successfully completed, we decided to take both locos on a test run to Glyndyfrdwy and back to prove out the repairs. The run took place in the dark after the last service train and was rather fruity to say the least, with 37240 sounding awesome and putting on a characteristic Tractor firework display, complete with cones of flame from the exhaust ports as she cleared her lungs.

37240, ready to head for Glyn under a clear sky and bright moon (no sparks just yet).

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No shutdown problems were encountered, but she will need to complete a return trip of the whole line before she can get a clean bill of health. D5310 then worked back to Llangollen, passing over the rail joint on Berwyn Banks that has invoked an engine shutdown virtually every time she’s been out so far without incident.

D5310 is now likely to be used on a November ballast working when the railway will be visited by a Tamper.  A good day all in all, particularly as we were able to welcome a certain Mr Colin Cooper back into the chair to resume driver training after a very nasty dose of swine flu. Sorry Chief, but you struck the pose….

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Cheers

Tez Pickthall

The Llangollen Diesel Group and Llangollen Railway are pleased to announce a significantly increased number of diesel workings next year.

Mileage Accumulation Days (4 full round trips)

• Saturday 10th April
• Saturday 8th May
• Saturday 22nd May
• Saturday 5th June
• Saturday 19th June
• Saturday 10th July
• Saturday 24th July
• Saturday 18th September

Specific traction for these dates will be confirmed in the new year. With four round trips on offer from a normal Day Return ticket, these days offer the haulage enthusiast excellent value for money.

1960’s Gala: 31^st July – 1^st August

A new event for the railway featuring an intensive timetable of steam, diesel and multiple unit operation. The railway will host atmospheric sights and sounds from this legendary era, including specially prepared locos, mixed traction workings, vintage vehicles and music. Visitors will be encouraged to attend the event in period dress.

Diesel Weekend: 2^nd - 3^rd October

Making a welcome return after a two year absence, our diesel weekend will give enthusiasts the chance to sample all operational members of the LDG fleet in action. The opportunity to gain rare haulage behind the lines diesel shunter fleet is also being considered, including former Birkenhead dock shunter N^o 03162.

26010 on River Siding

Image by Mark Smales.

A big thank you to the folk who turned out to support D5310’s public debut yesterday. Her busy four trip schedule went well, the only minor gremlin being a few brief engine shutdowns. This has been traced to a grumpy enclosed contactor in the electrical cubicle, which does not seem to like the vibration caused by passing over one particular rail joint when travelling down Berwyn Bank! The relay will be removed for cleaning and checking in due course.

With all of her owners in preservation present, and several others who put a lot of work into her overhaul at Bo’ness, our new recruit proudly looked and sounded the part as she ran through the Autumnal colours of the Dee Valley hauling a 5 coach train, including the railway’s new GWR Observation Saloon. This lovely vehicle is available for private hire.

Here’s a couple of my photos of her at work during the day, first reversing the stock into Llangollen:

And running round in the wonderful Autumn sunshine at Carrog

And here’s some video footage  (watch your speaker volume for the tunnel horn-o-thon):

Best wishes

Tez Pickthall