Loco information request - D821 and D8568

[amahy]

I was wondering if anyone could help me, in that I have been looking to red pen these two locos for a good few years now, but have never had the opportunity, despite regularly staying in Shropshire, and going to the Severn Valley Railway a few times every year.

I am never free for either of the SVR Diesel Galas. (I knew it was too good to be true when I saw that I might be free for the upcoming one in May!) Unless I am missing something, this seems to be the only opportunity to ride behind these locos.

Could anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[Cowley]

I was wondering if anyone could help me, in that I have been looking to red pen these two locos for a good few years now, but have never had the opportunity, despite regularly staying in Shropshire, and going to the Severn Valley Railway a few times every year.

I am never free for either of the SVR Diesel Galas. (I knew it was too good to be true when I saw that I might be free for the upcoming one in May!) Unless I am missing something, this seems to be the only opportunity to ride behind these locos.

Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Probably the best bet day to day is to keep an eye on their loco roster page:

Locomotive Roster - Severn Valley Railway

Discover which steam and diesel locomotives are running on the Severn Valley Railway, plus locos under overhaul and on static display.

svr.co.uk

Although because it’s quite early in the year they might not have planned that far ahead yet?

Both locos are owned by the Diesel Traction Group though so it might also be worth keeping an eye on their website too:

Diesel Traction Group - D1015 D821 D7029 D8568

Diesel traction group website - proud owners of D1015 Western Champion and many other fine locomotives

www.westernchampion.co.uk

 

[amahy]

Probably the best bet day to day is to keep an eye on their loco roster page:

Locomotive Roster - Severn Valley Railway

Discover which steam and diesel locomotives are running on the Severn Valley Railway, plus locos under overhaul and on static display.

svr.co.uk

Although because it’s quite early in the year they might not have planned that far ahead yet?

Both locos are owned by the Diesel Traction Group though so it might also be worth keeping an eye on their website too:

Diesel Traction Group - D1015 D821 D7029 D8568

Diesel traction group website - proud owners of D1015 Western Champion and many other fine locomotives

www.westernchampion.co.uk

Thank you. No definite information so far, just that both locos are "expected to have running days at the SVR railway". One to keep an eye out for.

 

[Cowley]

Thank you. No definite information so far, just that both locos are "expected to have running days at the SVR railway". One to keep an eye out for.

Yes it looks like 46035 is being used this week but I’m sure these two will have a run out at some point and as far as I know they’re both in service at the moment.

 

[31160]

Yes it looks like 46035 is being used this week but I’m sure these two will have a run out at some point and as far as I know they’re both in service at the moment.

Surely 46045, 035 is in lots of bits at peak rail

 

[amahy]

Yes it looks like 46035 is being used this week but I’m sure these two will have a run out at some point and as far as I know they’re both in service at the moment.

Yes. I saw that D8568 is on the roster for March, just not in public service. Did a light engine run on the 15th March, apparently!

 

[Cowley]

Surely 46045, 035 is in lots of bits at peak rail

Oops, my mistake!

 

[31160]

Oops, my mistake!

Absolutely fine all us have said the wrong thing more than once, no harm no foul

 

[Fragezeichnen]

Yes it looks like 46035 is being used this week but I’m sure these two will have a run out at some point and as far as I know they’re both in service at the moment.

In the colder months 100% of regular diesel turns are allocated to the Class 46 because it is the only diesel with an operational steam heat boiler and no SVR stock has electric heating available.

The rest of the diesel fleet is used April - September providing it's warm enough.

 

[amahy]

In the colder months 100% of regular diesel turns are allocated to the Class 46 because it is the only diesel with an operational steam heat boiler and no SVR stock has electric heating available.

The rest of the diesel fleet is used April - September providing it's warm enough.

If you ask me, it's very poor that a large heritage railway like SVR only has one steam heat diesel. What would they do if 46045 broke down?

 

[Fragezeichnen]

The vast majority of heritage railways have 0 steam heat fitted diesels, as had the SVR until a few years ago.
They are exceedingly rare, 46045 might even be unique though I'm sure someone will correct me.

If it wasn't available I imagine they'd use a steam engine instead. The diesel is a cost saving measure, not due to any lack of serviceable engines.

 

[43096]

The vast majority of heritage railways have 0 steam heat fitted diesels, as had the SVR until a few years ago.
They are exceedingly rare, 46045 might even be unique though I'm sure someone will correct me.

If it wasn't available I imagine they'd use a steam engine instead. The diesel is a cost saving measure, not due to any lack of serviceable engines.

It some cases it was a bit dumb to remove the ETH capability from what were dual-heat coaches.

 

[amahy]

The vast majority of heritage railways have 0 steam heat fitted diesels, as had the SVR until a few years ago.
They are exceedingly rare, 46045 might even be unique though I'm sure someone will correct me.

If it wasn't available I imagine they'd use a steam engine instead. The diesel is a cost saving measure, not due to any lack of serviceable engines.

40106 has a steam heat boiler, which left SVR last September, as the East Lancashire Railway (40106's owner), wanted it back, so they would have a diesel with a steam heat boiler.

I'm pretty sure subbing a diesel diagram with a steam locomotive at short notice would create more complications than you might imagine, due to volunteer availability.

Going back to D821 and D8568, no wonder they are hardly ever used, if they (and the entirety of SVR's diesel fleet apart from 46045) can only operate for 5-6 months of the year!

It some cases it was a bit dumb to remove the ETH capability from what were dual-heat coaches.

Agreed. The same can be said for dual-braked coaches that are now vacuum only.

 

[43096]

40106 has a steam heat boiler, which left SVR last September, as the East Lancashire Railway (40106's owner), wanted it back, so they would have a diesel with a steam heat boiler.

The East Lancs does not own 40106. It’s owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society.

 

[kje7812]

I'm pretty sure subbing a diesel diagram with a steam locomotive at short notice would create more complications than you might imagine, due to volunteer availability.

It does happen, a recent example would be during the February half term (19th February I think) when the steam generator failed on the peak so a steam loco had to substitute.

Going back to D821 and D8568, no wonder they are hardly ever used, if they (and the entirety of SVR's diesel fleet apart from 46045) can only operate for 5-6 months of the year!

Agreed. The same can be said for dual-braked coaches that are now vacuum only.

It some cases it was a bit dumb to remove the ETH capability from what were dual-heat coaches.

There's a cost to maintain systems and if the use is too low, there are savings to be done. When I first started volunteering 16 years ago, the diesels were only used on summer saturdays. A look at the current calendar reveals that the railway doesn't run much in the cooler months. The steam heat season official finishes 3rd April and starts again 10th October. Additionally, D8568 is limited to 7 (was 6) coaches (Mark 1s), and D821 has had some time out of traffic with repairs. As always, running depends on loco and crew availabilities.
D821 and D8568 never had ETH nor air brakes in service, and D8568 never had steam heat.
I gather the DTG (owners of D821, D8568, D1015 and D7029) do have a steam heat boiler which they intent on fitting to D821 but that's depend on time and money being available whilst they look after the other locos.

Edit- Just for reference, it doesn't appear that either D821 or D8568 are booked for April's running. It's the Peak, 50s, 20s and the 33.
I give a heads up if that changes or either are rostered.

 

[33017]

I was wondering if anyone could help me, in that I have been looking to red pen these two locos for a good few years now, but have never had the opportunity, despite regularly staying in Shropshire, and going to the Severn Valley Railway a few times every year.

I am never free for either of the SVR Diesel Galas. (I knew it was too good to be true when I saw that I might be free for the upcoming one in May!) Unless I am missing something, this seems to be the only opportunity to ride behind these locos.

Could anyone point me in the right direction?

Provisional non-gala / special event running dates:

D8568 - 6/7/9th May, 24/25th June & 15/16th July.

D821 - 7th June, 4/5/6/8/9th August, 26/27th September.

 

[amahy]

Provisional non-gala / special event running dates:

D8568 - 6/7/9th May, 24/25th June & 15/16th July.

D821 - 7th June, 4/5/6/8/9th August, 26/27th September.

Thank you! Hopefully, D8568 doesn't get subbed out for D1015, like last time I went and D8568 was on the roster. As much as I do like D1015, it seems to get a lot more use than the DTG's other two operational locos.

 

[Wyrleybart]

In my view the various parties on the railway need to create a vacuum braked and steam piped boiler van, able to be filled from the water columns at either end of the railway. Not sure whether the LMS stove R on three axles could carry more water and the boiler than maybe a two axle van, and maybe a two axle freight wagon underframe might have more capacity than a former passenger / NPCCS vehicle. The Eastern region had a number of boiler vans built on 22T plate wagon underframes, but I imagine these have been disposed of. Using such a boiler van during the October - April period would allow literally any locomotive to haul the train, and would only really be dependant on getting water into it probably on nearly every trip like a Steam loco, and oil for the boiler maybe once every few days.

Problem would be funding and maintenance of course, and I suspect the reemergence of the DMU sets partially obviates the need.

 

[Harpo]

In my view the various parties on the railway need to create a vacuum braked and steam piped boiler van, able to be filled from the water columns at either end of the railway.

They’ve found one! The loco roster shows 20048 working yesterday (Sat 20/3) with a self-propelled & coal-fired boiler van thats got a shiny GWR ‘1450’ number plate.

BS2 [[46045]] 20048 + 1450 (for steam heat)

Locomotive Roster - Severn Valley Railway

Discover which steam and diesel locomotives are running on the Severn Valley Railway, plus locos under overhaul and on static display.

svr.co.uk

 

[amahy]

They’ve found one! The loco roster shows 20048 working yesterday (Sat 20/3) with a self-propelled & coal-fired boiler van thats got a shiny GWR ‘1450’ number plate.

Although, a boiler van would probably be cheaper to run than a small steam engine!

 

[Wyrleybart]

Although, a boiler van would probably be cheaper to run than a small steam engine!

Am quite sure it would, but also a boiler van would ideally be needed OCtoberr to April every year and I am not sure a GWR 0-4-2 "boiler van" could be overhauled between May and September !!

 

[D1062]

If you ask me, it's very poor that a large heritage railway like SVR only has one steam heat diesel. What would they do if 46045 broke down?

Use 20048 and steam engine 1450 for heat as they did on Saturday 21st March.