The new running season is upon use with services starting on the 1st March – however the mainline locos do not start until the 5th April. In readiness, the maintenance team have been busy completing all the necessary examination tasks, along with a couple of small repair jobs, on both D6948 and 37215 to make them ready for operation.
Both locos were withdrawn from service for the winter just after New Year (although 37215 had not run since October due to completing its booked turns for the year), although both were kept fit for service. Unusually, though, they have not had much in the way of stock moves and p’way trains during the close season – most years have offered a handful of opportunities – to occasionally awaken them from their slumbers giving the maintenance team more time to rectify those little faults picked up during the running season.
However, D6948 did have a run out during January where it was used for a promotional shoot for the GWSR for ‘Railway 200’, of which the railway’s events this year will have a nod to the development and history of Britain’s railways. It was also used to move some of the demic wagons at Hunting Butts so that the tunnel could have it’s yearly examination. That said, other opportunities for close season operation was stunted due to a p’way relay at Didbrook.
With March being put over to DMU running, a Class 37 (probably D6948) starts the mainline diesel loco participation for 2025 on the PURPLE TT on Saturday 5th April. A Class 37 is also rostered for the PINK TT on Sunday 13 April and the PURPLE TT on Wednesday 23 April.
GROWLER GROUP AGM
The January edition of the group magazine should be in the final stages of preparation courtesy of our Chairman. An important element to the January edition is always the notification of the Annual General Meeting of the group. This year it will take place on Saturday 15th March at 11am in the Terry Cresswell building at Winchcombe station on the GWSR. For members, this is your chance to have a say in how the group operates so it would be good to see a fair number of you there. Don’t forget to bring your membership card as this will enable entry and to vote.
Hopefully see you there!
