Class 20 D8098 (20098)

This Locomotive has been continuing to provide sterling service.

The May Diesel gala and the Seaside Specials have come and gone. The seaside special was complete with a new headboard and our thanks to Ian and TT Engineering for this. It will make regular appearances in the future and will appear at the forthcoming GCR Diesel Gala in September.

The locomotive is still awaiting a repaint and when time and personnel are available, there is some much needed maintenance required.

Class 31 D5830 (31563)

This Locomotive has been continuing to provide sterling service; the highlight of the year was when it was recently rostered for the Royal Mail Gala and it performed a mail drop at speed.

An opportunity recently became available to acquire a spare Traction Motor and it was thought to be a sensible move. Darren arranged for this to be purchased and also the transportation to Loughborough.

The locomotive is still awaiting a repaint and the associated work involved with this, and further down the line the engine will need some attention when time and money is available.

Class 47 D1705 (47117)

During the year, water was suddenly discovered to be going into the sump and diluting the oil. Various investigations were made as it was thought that the liner seals might be weaping. This proved not to be the case and instead the loss was coming out via the heat exchanger. This is like a steam engine boiler only with water being pumped through the tubes and oil in the inner space. The weak point is the tubes, and a number of these were discovered to be leaking. The whole exchanger was rodded to see if the leaking tube could be located and several tube were leaking these were plugged both ends and the whole assembly rebuilt and then the old contaminated oil removed and new oil put in.

This repair did not do the trick, as water was again leaking into the oil. Fortunately we did have a spare heat exchanger and with Nigel's hard work this has been swopped. The loco is now running again for the GCR's September Diesel Gala.