Further work for this year includes the refitting of cab heaters and eventually we have to tackle the second bogie!
33 065 : The old girl has just been kept serviceable during the period of this report. A couple of items to note........
We assessed all the batteries and replaced the worst cells with the best of the cells from the removed set from 63. Keeping the batteries on charge since then seems to have brought the banks up quite well with good cranking amps and the charge current reduces to one or two amps. If we keep the banks trickle charged during the overhaul then they should be serviceable for some time.
During the winter we noticed the stack smoke was deteriorating. 65 was used for the SVR AGM train and I asked for the engine to be 'worked' on the return in order to see if the smoky cylinders would start firing when hot. All that happened is the engine room disappeared in oil and smoke as well as clouds pouring out from the stack and I nearly got asphyxiated as I tried to see which cylinders were firing or not. Not very good unless you are a Clag monster but at least I confirmed from the temperatures that cylinders 4,5, and especially 7 were not doing much work. All the fuel was either vaporizing into white or washing the oil off the liners and piston rings and diluting the lube oil. So, since then we have been starting 65 up with cylinders 4,5 and 7 cut out. Result - no smoke after just 2 minutes even in freezing conditions. She sounds odd, rather like a strangled 24/25 but that is due to the missing pulses onto the turbo charger. With the Holset damper on the crank and the light loads this is a lot less harmful than letting unburnt fuel scuff the liners.
On the electrical side, the RCR voltage resistor finally packed in and once the
spare was found, this was changed. Efforts were being made to source some
new spares but these seem to 'cost' because of the quantites that we need but will
keep on trying.
Summarised Details as released in our July/07 and Jan/08 Newsletters (#47 & #48 resp.)
The Return of 33 063 : It was a close call but at 1600hrs on Wednesday 3rd October, 33 063 complete with replacement traction motors and fresh from 25 successful miles of staged test running, was loaded onto the low loader ready for transportation to Wansford at the Nene Valley Railway. The committed team of members and supporters who have worked tirelessly over the summer breathed a collective sigh of relief and for the first time began to look forward to an enjoyable weekend at the Nene Valley Railway where our flagship locomotive would follow in the tracks of 33 065 and stretch its legs over the 7 mile line.
Here are some links to photos and videos covering the Nene's October 2007 Gala (these open in new browsers]
Preserved Diesels Justin's Railway Photos 37427's Railshots
wnxx.com John Glover's Photos Youtube clips (1) (2) (3)
The work undertaken by the Group since the catastrophic failure in February which would have seen many locomotives out for years, and particularly since the bogie lift at the end of June has been nothing short of phenomenal. As well as addressing the small matter of fitting two replacement traction motors, the opportunity was also taken to work on the bearings and clean/prepare and paint the areas you normally cannot get near!
Week commencing 1st October saw the locomotive lowered back onto the repaired bogie and the first tentative test runs to High Rocks at low speeds. Gradually the speed and mileage was increased with continual checks on the bearings for overheating. Thankfully all proved well and we could give the green light to the journey to the Nene Valley Railway.
Hopefully, those that travelled to the Nene Valley Railway to see 33 063 in action will have concluded that all their efforts were worth it as the locomotive put in a faultless performance across the two days where it completed 5 round trips either solo, or with 47 270 or fellow construction liveried 31 271. The sight and sound of 33 063 was greatly admired by all who attended and as with 33 065 earlier in the year, its attendance and performance could do harm to the group's profile.
After a very successful weekend, 33 063 immediately returned to Tunbridge Wells on Monday 8th October and took part in the very successful October Mixed Traction Gala on 21st/22nd October.
Since then, further work has continued, investigating hydrostatic oil loss, further electrical work and other cosmetic jobs in order that the locomotive is in the best condition before we withdraw 33 065 for its long deserved overhaul.
Work is now also starting on repairing the defective traction motors ex 33 063…something else to keep our dedicated team very busy over the winter months!
33 065 : Whilst much of our attention has been focussed on returning 33 063 to traffic, 33 065 has continued to fly the operational flag at the Spa Valley Railway. Once all outstanding work has been completed on 33 063, 33 065 will be withdrawn from traffic for its overhaul. This should mean that its last booked duties following the Mixed Traction Gala on 21st/22nd October will be this winter leading up to end of season Santa Specials in December.
47 July 2007
33065 - The 2007 UK Tour Part 2 : Following its successful appearance at the Mid Norfolk Railway diesel gala in March 2007, 33 065 then undertook a series of additional operating days at the railway throughout March and early April as detailed in the previous newsletter. A particular highlight was the SELG charter day on 30th March, which saw a good turnout enjoy 3 round trips along the line. The opportunity was taken to hold several photo stops throughout the day including a 'drive past' at the normally out of bounds Hardingham.
With its duties complete, 33 065 returned home following the Easter weekend, leaving Dereham on Wednesday 11th April and being unloaded at the West the following day. It was soon completing its first duties back on the Spa Valley with the fish and chip specials following our AGM on Saturday 14th April.
Locomotive Reports
33 063 The major news regarding 33 063 is that the bogie with the defective traction motors has now been removed following a successful lift at Tunbridge Wells West on a very wet Saturday 30th June (this followed a successful trial lift the previous weekend). The locomotive is now currently on jacks over the outside inspection road whilst the defective traction motors are replaced (to eventually be sent for overhaul). While the locomotive is in this position, we intend to take advantage and pay those areas that are usually extremely difficult to access, some attention.
In addition, much effort has been made since the last newsletter on steam cleaning off floor plates, thanks to quite a few in the group. Otherwise Engine Room painting has continued along with digging out the crud around and under the exhausters.
A happy afternoon was had literally digging out the radiator element drains, each element bottom casting and holding bolts are now exposed as they should be instead of under 40 years of muck. Good news is they came up quite well in good condition. Also cleaned and proved by rod and hosepipe were the drains from the radiators. The roof gutter drains received attention, too.
The radiator access doors seals were perished so these have been cleaned off. 3mm thick new seals have been obtained but the doors and frames are warped and 3 mm turned out not to be enough so now we have a roll of 10mm thick sponge rubber to cut and fit, in stores. This will stop the rain getting in through these doors.
A defective fire extinguisher firing mechanism has been changed and the resistance covers have been painted and resistors cleaned. More work is required on the load reg resistors, though.
Other works planned includes:-
Paint on the floor /wall joint inside
Repair with GF the guttering
Ensure any bedplate holes do not drain water over the new second hand traction motors
Ensure any water from around the radiators drains through the segmental compartments into
the main engine bedplate drain
Finish second coat pipework paint
Drill out pop riveted floor plates, steam clean off and re-rivet back.
33 065 : is still running well in service although no. 7 cylinder head is not getting any better - poor combustion when engine is cold.
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) :
Summarised Details as released in our April 2007 Newsletter (#46)
(note that these newsletter items were written around mid-March)
33065 - The 2007 UK Tour : 33 065 departed Tunbridge Wells on the morning of the 21st February by road for its first journey North of London since 1996! The locomotive arrived at Wansford on the Nene Valley Railway later that day. The locomotive successfully took part in an EMRPS photo charter event on Saturday 24th February.
The locomotive successfully played a starring guest role at the Nene Valley Railway Diesel Gala on Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th March. Both days were greeted with large crowds all day and the Saturday was blessed with fine spring sunshine. The Crompton, making the first appearance of the type on the line, put in a faultless performance operating over 70 passenger miles including the final train on the Saturday, paired with 31 271, they hauled the 1920 Peterborough NV - Wansford with load 8 and 2 dead Class 56's on the rear. As you can imagine, the sound was very loud. Its famous smoking tendencies were very much on display making for a fine sight and sound through the pleasant countryside.
Pictures of a photo charter on 24/2 with 33065 on the Nene Valley
have appeared
on "Preserved Diesels".
Click on the thumbnails below to open up the full-size 'Pres-Des' pages.
JOE BLOGGS has put 40+ photos of this photo-charter on his photopics website.
Click HERE to view it in a new browser.
'Preserved Diesels' has a page covering the Nene's 2-day Gala (3/4 March).
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
'JON PIESING' has 20+ photos from the Saturday of the Nene Valley's Diesel Gala.
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
J.SQUIBBS has also put up a selection from the Sunday 4th March Gala services.
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
With the gala success in the bag, next stop was a trip further east to the Mid Norfolk Diesel Gala on 17th/18th March (16th March sees Class 47, 47 596 work all trains) where 33 065 broke further new ground for the Class. 33 065 left Wansford on Monday 5th March arriving at Dereham the same afternoon. The locomotive was unloaded on Tuesday 6th March and given a full inspection and engine start up by Chris that afternoon. The locomotive will stay at the railway for a further 3 weeks following the gala and will see regular passenger operation as follows;
Saturday 24th March
Friday 30th March (SELG Charter)
Saturday 31st March
Sunday 8th April
Monday 9th April (top and tail with Class 31)
'JON PIESING' has 21 photos from the Mid-Norfolk's Diesel Gala.
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
'BARRY EVANS' has 19 photos from the Mid-Norfolk's Diesel Gala.
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
'BARRY EVANS' also has 10 photos from a Special Charter on 3rd April at the Mid-Norfolk
Click HERE to view in a new browser.
The locomotive will operate to the Orange timetable on these occasions which detail 3 round trips per day. A bus connection will be operating for the private charter which will then see the locomotive in operation on two consecutive days. The locomotive will then return home to the Spa Valley in time to support the 2007 operation season.
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) : The paintwork clean up operation has continued apace with working parties most weekends and the results have been impressive. This coupled with a grey top coat has really made the engine and walls gleam. Even the air inlet side of the cylinder heads has appeared in painted grey and we have now progressed to the heat exchanger body and main static oil filter body (located under the platform which I have also painted topsides in black)
The cylinder heads have been painted in grey with black fixing knobs, this looked good so it was repeated on the air compressor head and lifting eyes. The crankcase of the compressor was also attacked with gunk and came up painted grey as did the panels under the traction motor blower.
Having removed and cleaned all the oily deposits, whenever the engine is run you can see the leaks!!! Apart from a mis-placed cylinder head cover gasket which was reseated, these are mainly oil dribbles from various cork gaskets, the main crankcase joints will ideally need replacing on the next crankcase inspection. You do not need to replace these in one gasket from a big sheet (expensive) but by mitering or scarfing the jointing you can make a good seal from four strips (or that's how it could be done many years ago).
Finally, an excellent job has been made on the replacement cab floors.
A lot of water ingress from rain around exhausters in bilge so we took up floor plates around triple pump and down engine side. At same time, as it was dry inside elsewhere, the opportunity was taken to cleaned out around bottom of walls and gutters before applying more paint.
After about a bag full of oily sludge/BR gloves/nuts/screws was removed, it was discovered that a workshop drilled drain hole had been made in the floor under floor plate in front of triple pump. However, this appeared to let water drain into a conduit below so more investigation needed as also BR appeared to have tried to seal the metal floor with filler as well. This may explain all the dirt found in the Traction Motors. It looks like if 'ways' are cut in the respective chambers by cutting a slot in the partitions with an angle grinder, any water getting in would then drain down into engine bedplate and not down over and in the Traction Motors. Best solution would be to refit new sealing strips to radiator inspection doors which is how rain is getting in in the first place.
Gutters also look salvageable with some glass fibre tape which would save time and money.
Anyway, the floor plates removed were steamed cleaned and look the bees knees, showing up the remaining plates yet to be done (well we had to keep up with the standard set by the cab floor workers).
Summarised Details as released in our December 2006 Newsletter (#45)
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) : much work has continued on the cleaning and painting of the engine room of 33 063.
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| 33063 pictured in soft sunshine with the late running 11:36 from Birchden on the short climb at Ramslye (on the approaches to Tunbridge Wells West). Spa VR October Diesel Gala, Fri. 27/10/06, photo B.Thomas |
All walls and pipes were covered in a carbon film accumulated over many years, which is stuck on and takes quite a bit of softening with 'gunk' or spirits to remove with a cloth. Several people have helped with this to the extent that apart from areas behind the brake valves and the roof mounted resistors etc., most walls and pipes are now a lot brighter and showing actual BR grey/green paint.
We have also had a good go at the rooflights and doubled the amount of light coming in. This, together with the more reflective areas on the surfaces from which the carbon has been removed, means the engine now looks a lot brighter inside in the day light. The rooflights over the exhaust are/were more difficult to clean as the extra heat here has 'baked' the soot on and browned the glass fibre, over the years.
Pipework is also begining to appear in its specific colours and the lube oil safety valve appeared out of the crud with its pipes in existing salmon pink instead of oil sludge black.
All water jacket flexible hoses have been replaced with brand new silicon
blue hose (pictured left) with the exception of the inaccessible ones over the radiator elements
and the jacket header tank to radiator top hose. To change this one we would need to
remove the adjoining pipe which would disturb the thermostat wax element which is not ideal.
To test the power unit cooling, the radiator grills were blanked off and the loco run up at around 600 RPM to get her up to full working temperature see if the stat was working. The new thermometer gauge was just below indicated 165C when the fan slowly started to rotate rapidly, increasing to full speed by 170C - almost spot on by the figures in the book. We have also carried out a oil 'leak off' test on the hydro oil cooling pump at full revs. Reassuringly, only about half a litre of oil was measured over 1 minute at 750 RPM, indicating the pump is well within the wear tolerances given in the manual (another job not to have to do).
Other work has been to fix a couple of leaks on the pipework of the gauge board, and put the antifreeze in. The gauge boards covers have been taken 'home' to really clean down to the brass and finish off in gloss paint.
On the electrical front, it's hopeful the negative earth fault on the locomotive has been located (one of the cab heater wires that was removed during the cab refurbishment is shorting to earth, somewhere yet to be located).
Planned work over Christmas and New Year is to carry on with the cleaning and painting, last job being a good steam clean around the bedplate.
33 065 (Sealion) : work on 65 has just been keeping her run up now and then and monitoring any new defects. She really smokes on cold start up which indicates suspect combustion/compression. It may be a case of having all the heads off when the overhaul is underway.
Although 65 is withdrawn it's planned to keep running her up now and then to keep things working as far as possible.
Summarised Details as released in our October 2006 Newsletter
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) : The floating end 'O' rings on oil heat exchangers become hard over time so we sourced some new ones and changed these over one day. The effort in getting the sizes paid off in the end, as they were had for significantly less than if we'd stuck with the original supplier. The tube bundle was in generally quite good condition, only a few tubes were blocked with calcium deposits so it was not necessary to withdraw the complete bundle for inspection.
Radiator Tank : The gauge has tended to stick and has been removed twice to free it up. This is a simple mechanical device with the float driving a cog wheel so any debris will stop the movement. The internal condition of the tank was best described as medium with large corrosion blisters on the bottom. At some stage it will be necessary to do what the Bo'ness guys have done on their 26/27 and renew the tanks.
Gauges : the paint has been lifted off the gauge board and 'brassed' up together with any brass rimmed gauge in the cabs. It does look a lot better.
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| 33063 : The brass rims on the gauges have been revealed after the removal of several layers of B.R.- applied paint, Sat.28th October 2006 [Photo B.Thomas]. |
Hydrostatic Cooling Oil System : It was reported during the August gala that the header tank was running out of oil and indeed 63 tried to turn herself into a steam engine on one trip as the radiator boiled up. The test valve on the oil pump leak off line was found turned to the wrong position so the pump leak off oil was being forced into the sump rather than return to the header tank. With a leak off rate of up to 0.9 litres per minute at full revs you can see why the fan stopped as the oil ran out.
Electrics : one of our electrical guys has hopefully solved the problem of the engine shutting down when wheel slip occurs. This was diagnosed as HR 'mushroom' contacts and distorted arms on the wheel slip relays (33065 also has distorted wheel slip relay arms).
Brushes in Compressor/Blower motor/Triple pump and both exhausters checked for length and are all ok but a couple in blower motor getting to limit.
Planned work over winter : The plan is to paint the pipes in the correct colours and finish the engine room, clean and paint. A slight knock around the No 1 cylinder head area has been looked into. A peek into the crankcase didn't reveal anything to be visually amiss and the oil analysis is good so it's thought we don't have any bearing problems. Investigations continue.
Outside of the engineroom, attention is required to a cab roof radio pod leak, complete the cab floors and think about the guttering.
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| 33063 and 33065 in the loop at Tunbridge Wells West during the Spa VR's Summer Diesel Gala, 5th August 2006 [Photo D.Robinson]. |
33 065 (Sealion) : The locomotive is fully operational (at the time of writing)
but has a number of minor electrical faults which are being looked at together with battery issues. In addition we still need to change a
cylinder head later this year. It is likely that the locomotive will be stopped after the 2006 season for lengthy refurbishment.
[N.B. 33065 WAS stopped after the October Gala and is sidelined pending a detailed overhaul; unlikely to reappear again until sometime
in 2008].
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| 33065 takes the 12:15 out from Tunbridge Wells West, heading for Groombridge, during the Spa V.R.'s Mainline Diesel Gala, Fri.27th October 2006 [Photo B.Thomas]. |
Partially Summarised/Amended Details as released in our April 2006 Newsletter
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) : The locomotive is currently out of traffic whilst various repairs are completed. One new job details fixing some water leaks which have become apparent when adding anti-freeze this winter. As with 065, the batteries are now struggling and need frequent charging and it is likely in the future that we will need to purchase a new set between the two locomotives. The aim is to return the locomotive to traffic during April as the current shortage of available steam locomotives requires the availability of both our locomotives to meet operational requirements [website note - 063 has been very much operational during April/May].
33 065 (Sealion) : The locomotive is fully operational but has a number of minor electrical faults which are being looked at together with battery issues. In addition we still need to change a cylinder head later this year. It is likely that the locomotive will be stopped after the 2006 season for lengthy refurbishment.
Spa Valley Railway Operating Dates : 33 065 will be operating passenger trains on both the forthcoming Thomas events at the railway which take place on 25th/26th March and 1st/2nd April. Due to a shortage of steam locomotives, the intended steam gala on 6th/7th May will now be a mixed traction gala and should feature both our locomotives. This will replace the mixed event on 16th/17th September, which will now become a steam gala. The Spa Valley Railway is once again running real ale trains on Saturday evenings through the high summer which will be diesel hauled and most likely will feature Class 33's with the occasional use of the Class 73. The annual diesel gala will take place again in August, with the accompanying obligatory heatwave, and feature both locomotives.
Driver Experience Day's These popular experience days have recommenced in 2006 with a revised price of £325 per day reflecting increased fuel costs and the price for hiring the line and the locomotive for the day. This price is still extremely good value compared with prices charged at other railways for similar days. CLICK HERE to call up the Driver Experience page in a new browser.
Partially Summarised/Amended Details as released in our June 2005 Newsletter
33 063 : Following tyre turning at Temple Mills (pictures and coverage of this appeared in Rail, Railway Magazine and Traction - the latter giving a double spread), the locomotive returned to Tunbridge Wells West to commence bodywork restoration. '063 has also received a brake block change on return. Bodywork repairs are well underway with a welder being hired to carry out repairs to the first section which involves overlapping metal and welding together. The job has been done so well that we have hired the welder to complete the remaining work on the locomotive which will detail both bodyside sections between the two cab doors, and potentially, some further work on the cab steps. The plan hopefully, is to have completed all restoration and have painted the locomotive in undercoat prior to the August Diesel Gala.
33 065 (Sealion) : The locomotive is running well although it still needs a cylinder head change due a leak found in the non-seated exhaust valve. There is also a problem with the amps, in that it is reluctant to give them up when she has them! A fault within the engine governor is suspected and was due to receive attention in June. The loco will also require re-blocking in the near future and cosmetic attention to it's paintwork before September 3rd.
Spa Valley Railway Operating Dates : 33065 has operated virtually all the Saturday & Sunday lunchtime diesel turns this year (12.55 departure from Tunbridge Wells West). The diagram expands to include 3 return "Real Ale Trains" on Saturday evenings 30th July, 13th August, 20th August and 27th August. 065 has also stood in at short notice during steam failures to run all services as required!
The annual Diesel Gala will take place on Saturday/Sunday 6th/7th August and as detailed above, we plan to have both 33's in operation on these dates, with 33063 in undercoat (webnote - although this is still subject to progress of works such that it's use at the Gala will not jeopardise 063's completion by the end of August). The "RAT" trains will also feature on the Saturday evening of the diesel gala weekend and of course on September 3rd. The plan is to feature different real ale on each of the Saturday evening services.
As detailed above, in conjunction with the naming of 33 063, Saturday 3rd September will see an intensive Class 33 hauled service with Sunday 4th September a combination of Class 33 and steam hauled services.
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[photo: S.Humphrey, 29/11/05] |
Partially Summarised/Amended Details as released in our Nov. 2005 Newsletter
33 063 (R.J.Mitchell) : The loco was restarted just a little over a week before the naming event. The restart turned out to be very uneventful with 063 bursting back into life with no trouble what's so ever! Indeed after the attention that had been given to not only the batteries and some electrical wiring, not to mention that the Generator, Compressor and other associated electric motors had been stripped down for cleaning & attention, must surely go to prove that we can tackle these jobs and have learnt how to! New brake blocks have also been fitted on account of the tyre turning which was just as well, the old ones were pretty much worn out and several were severely cracked! A special thank you goes to Jon Nye, chairman of the Spa Valley, who produced the superb bodyside paint job for us and his attention to detail is second to none!
After the naming event, there are still jobs to complete on the loco along with routine maintenance. Cab seats require fitting correctly and internal painting to finish along with cab fittings to re-fit. It is aimed to completely finish this loco before the next seasons running. When this is all completed, attention can be turned to 065.
33 065 (Sealion) : Not much to report except to say that 065 has and still continues to perform very well. Some minor repairs have been carried out also with a couple of cosmetic paint applications. Routine maintenance still needs to be carried out and the loco is well overdue a 'Full' exam, not to mention that the cylinder head to number six still needs to be replaced.
The current plan is to continue to run the loco as it is for a further year, with no further refurbishment/painting/expense other than running maintenance. We are aiming to withdraw 065 from service a little after next season finishes and then start an overhaul/refurbishment and re-paint programme to the same standard as for 063, but it will not need to be under so much pressure as with 063!
Spa Valley Railway Operating Dates : The Spa Valley is now closed for passenger trains during November, but will be operating again in December with their Santa Specials. 065 has been requested to run on these trains covering the lunchtime service, but this time running at 1315 on the 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th December. It is reported to be called the Rudolf train and may well be carrying a special headboard and revised nameplates!
Driver Experience Day's We have completed another successful day on Wed 21st September for a candidate from Lewes. Thanks to all concerned for helping to make the day a success that it was, as usual.
Due to a number of factors, the experience days are currently now suspended until the spring of next year at the earliest. This is mainly due to essential maintenance work to be carried out at the Spa Valley during the closed season and 'Santa' workings.
Partially Summarised/Amended Details as released in our June 2005 Newsletter
33 063 : Following tyre turning at Temple Mills (pictures and coverage of this appeared in Rail, Railway Magazine and Traction - the latter giving a double spread), the locomotive returned to Tunbridge Wells West to commence bodywork restoration. '063 has also received a brake block change on return. Bodywork repairs are well underway with a welder being hired to carry out repairs to the first section which involves overlapping metal and welding together. The job has been done so well that we have hired the welder to complete the remaining work on the locomotive which will detail both bodyside sections between the two cab doors, and potentially, some further work on the cab steps. The plan hopefully, is to have completed all restoration and have painted the locomotive in undercoat prior to the August Diesel Gala.
33 065 (Sealion) : The locomotive is running well although it still needs a cylinder head change due a leak found in the non-seated exhaust valve. There is also a problem with the amps, in that it is reluctant to give them up when she has them! A fault within the engine governor is suspected and was due to receive attention in June. The loco will also require re-blocking in the near future and cosmetic attention to it's paintwork before September 3rd.
Spa Valley Railway Operating Dates : 33065 has operated virtually all the Saturday & Sunday lunchtime diesel turns this year (12.55 departure from Tunbridge Wells West). The diagram expands to include 3 return "Real Ale Trains" on Saturday evenings 30th July, 13th August, 20th August and 27th August. 065 has also stood in at short notice during steam failures to run all services as required!
The annual Diesel Gala will take place on Saturday/Sunday 6th/7th August and as detailed above, we plan to have both 33's in operation on these dates, with 33063 in undercoat (webnote - although this is still subject to progress of works such that it's use at the Gala will not jeopardise 063's completion by the end of August). The "RAT" trains will also feature on the Saturday evening of the diesel gala weekend and of course on September 3rd. The plan is to feature different real ale on each of the Saturday evening services.
As detailed above, in conjunction with the naming of 33 063, Saturday 3rd September will see an intensive Class 33 hauled service with Sunday 4th September a combination of Class 33 and steam hauled services.
| 33065 had the privilege of working one of the Spa Valley Railway's VE Day 60th Anniversary trains on Sunday 8th May. The headboard had been specially prepared for the day and was also carried by the steam turns. The 'Jinty' is pictured on the following service. Note '065s route indicator showing '60'. Pictures by C.Smith. | |
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| A few snaps taken just a couple of days ago (17/5) while some of our members spared a little of their valuable time on wiring, grinding, needle-gunning and sanding on 33063 while the welder pressed on with the bodywork! | |
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 The repaired driver's door step, cab 2. Compare this exact spot with the photo a bit further down, taken 6 weeks before. |
Yours truly (the Group's website builder) wielding an air-power needlegun. 12 hours of effort got at
least 90% of the bogies and solebar cleaned up on this side of the loco.
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| Here's a few photos to illustrate the initial work on 33063 in Tunbridge Wells West shed to get it up to scratch for the naming event later in the year. These were taken on the morning of 2nd April 2005. [Note cab 2 now faces west since it's little adventure to Temple Mills nearly 2 months earlier]. | |
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 Driver's door area, cab 2. This rot and another 14ft of oxidised bodywork away to the right will be cut out and new 3mm steel welded in. |
Cab 2 in a state of disarray.
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 The Group Treasurer takes to the solebar skirting with an angle grider. It's not true he's trying to recoup costs by selling the loco off piece-by-piece on EBay! | |
Partially Summarised/Amended Details as released in our March 2005 Newsletter
33 063 : The locomotive has had its injectors replaced over the winter and was removed to EWS Temple Mills by road on 7th February 2005 for overdue tyre turning, pictured right and below (photo. C.Smith). The locomotive came tantalisingly close to its first mainline run in preservation as the Secretary had the honour of driving the locomotive under its own power at Temple Mills! Tyre turning was completed successfully and the locomotive returned to Tunbridge Wells West by road on 9th February. The locomotive is now inside the shed at Tunbridge Wells West where work has started on the bodywork and other repairs leading up to the proposed naming later this year (details to be released in May). The locomotive will also have its brake blocks changed following tyre turning.
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33 065 : The locomotive is running well although we have a problem with the load regulator at present which we aim to rectify in the near future. The locomotive will hopefully be a regular performer at the Spa Valley this year with the increased diesel diagram on a Saturday which includes a lunchtime round trip and several 'real ale' trains in the evening. As with 33063, the locomotive has had its injectors replaced which has somewhat cured its smokiness whilst idling! It also sounds a little sweeter when puling. The locomotive needs a cylinder head change due to a leak found in the non-seated exhaust valve.
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| 33063 was on a special engine and brakevan run for a bridge painting party at Back Lane
footbridge, Groombridge, on 24th January 2005. The opportunity was taken to take '63 for a trundle down Birchden bank where the 'Crompton'
is pictured at milepost 28½. [photo - S.Moore]
The bridge had been found recently to be in need of redecking and was one of those jobs that couldn't be left for another day. |
Partially Summarised Details as released in our Oct/Nov'04 Newsletter
33 063: The loco is performing faultlessly with no major problems encountered.
The ongoing restoration to the loco's appearance is now continuing further, as the loco is now not returning to the EKR. The injectors have been replaced together with oil and filter change. The removed injectors have been overhauled (and what a state they were in!) and are ready for fitment to 065. Space has been booked in the loco shed at the Spa VR for 063 to have major attention to its bodywork and a further re-paint, possibly into a different livery for a while!
There are some major plans already partially agreed for 2005 which should prove to be an exciting period for the loco.
33 065: After the heart-stopping problems we encountered at the Kent & East Sussex Railway prior to the "Load Bank" gala, I am happy to report that all is well with 065. The problems within the vacuum system, on the vac chamber side, are now resolved and was completed just in the nick of time before the gala!
Since then, the loco, now resident at Tunbridge Wells has performed very well and definitely proved its worth. The next job to do is a full exchange of the injectors. Thereafter, 065 should be ok for the time being whilst 063 is completed. An intermittent desk related problem persists on #1 end. However, we aim to remedy this in due course with partial replacement of the desk controls.
Driver Experience Days : With the further agreement at the Spa Valley, as detailed in our November press release, we can now offer a fuller programme for the experience days with access to the entire diesel fleet! The SELG webpage has been updated. Further enquiries have been steadily coming in with dates to be arranged.
Older SELG NEWS has been mounted on separate pages.... 2000 -> 2002, 2003, 2004