If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Didcot Railway Centre - new arrival

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Lord Belborough, Jan 28, 2023.

  1. Lord Belborough

    Lord Belborough New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2022
    Messages:
    80
    Likes Received:
    138
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Berkshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Due to the refurbishment work at the NRM their Western diesel hydraulic loco D1023 Western Fusilier is going on loan to Didcot for the next 5 years. It should be on site in the next day or so.
    https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/541/news
     
  2. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    2,505
    Likes Received:
    3,247
    Location:
    Powys
    Is it operational currently?
     
  3. Ganger

    Ganger Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    310
    Likes Received:
    84
    Occupation:
    Railway Dogsbody
    Location:
    Down the line
    No not operational. Hopefully it will also go under cover and not be left outside to rot like the Gas Turbine has.
     
    acorb, 5944, Johnme101 and 3 others like this.
  4. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,283
    Likes Received:
    2,650
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It has arrived safely. [BJ]
     
  5. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,031
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Failed at NYMR a few years ago and hasn't worked since. From postings on WNXXforum it sounds like it's unlikely to work again without serious cash being thrown at it.
     
  6. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,658
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    And here it is. D1023 being unloaded at Didcot Parkway after travelling from the NRM.
    (Photo by Harry Colley).

    BAC8FD45-9631-4649-8E6F-C4E8AA87F2C8.png
     
  7. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Moved by road, I thought loading/unloading isn't good for Westerns' structure
     
    Fireline likes this.
  8. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    2,505
    Likes Received:
    3,247
    Location:
    Powys
    That's a shame.
     
  9. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,031
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It's ok if the carden shafts between the transmission and the gearbox have been removed, which they have apparently.

    what-is-640.jpg

    From http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/photos/d1015-technical/what-is-640.jpg

    The gearbox is no. 7, the transmission is no. 9, so the carden shaft is the bit between them. You can see how it would affect free movement of the bogie.
     
  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Something to do with damage to the transmission?
    I’m sure there’s someone with more technical information that can explain why Thousands shouldn’t go by road.
    I believe the GC wanted to hire 1023 for an event and it was vetoed on those grounds.

    On the other hand with 1023 going to Didcot are we going to maybe see it as a parts doner for a new build of this… F60B0262-E60C-4DDB-91F1-0627BF636D82.jpeg
    ;)
     
  11. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2017
    Messages:
    2,563
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Stanthorpe, QLD, Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    I could be to blame….I mentioned a few days ago about a “Leader v2.0” project and GWS and a donor Class 66….the internet, the GWS, and the universe sometimes works in mysterious ways…

    o_O
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Bloody Cons! ;):)
    In all seriousness Ross, in a previous life I was told by a senior member of the Diesel Traction Group that they wanted to buy Falcon, unfortunately there was some sort of clause in the contract between Brush and BR about Falcon being sold on.
    :(
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2023
    MuzTrem likes this.
  13. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2017
    Messages:
    2,563
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Stanthorpe, QLD, Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Educate me. Was it any good? A stepping stone? Or, a dead end?
     
  14. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Give me some time and I’ll let you know, it had 2 Maybachs though for starters so it would have sounded decent. :)
     
    Copper-capped likes this.
  15. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2009
    Messages:
    1,689
    Likes Received:
    450
    When single engines were the way forward as they had been in the USA for a decade, obsolete from the inception.
     
  16. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not quite.
     
  17. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Messages:
    5,806
    Likes Received:
    2,649
    Occupation:
    Ex a lot of things.
    Location:
    Near where the 3 Ridings meet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Looking at the photo of the unloading.
    It appears that an extra long ramp is being used, this maybe what is required to get around the problem with transmission movement.
     
    D1039 likes this.
  18. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,492
    Likes Received:
    23,722
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Along with disconnecting the carden shafts which are the specifically vulnerable part of the loco.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  19. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    7,498
    Likes Received:
    5,455
    At one time it was due to visit the GWSR for one of their diesel galas which of course been via a low loader, as @35B says the Carden shafts were the main problem so I guess they planned to remove them then to as now.
     
  20. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,118
    Likes Received:
    7,644
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I think there was too. I'd love to have seen 1200 (as it was then) in the flesh; my brother saw it as D0280 in the green and brown livery. He saw a lot of prototypes - the one that stuck out to him was BRCW's Lion, of course.

    Has anyone ever made a model of Lion?
     

Share This Page