37215 to work to Cheltenham on 14th October

Following the reconnection of the southern and northern sections of the GWR, 37215 is to work two return diesel driver experience empty stock trains between Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday 14th October. Although the route over the rebuilt Chicken Curve is not yet open between Toddington and Winchcombe, the locomotive will make a light engine move over the newly connected track under an engineering possession a few days before. click to continue reading

37215 gets some tlc

Regular volunteer and vice Chairman of the Group, Mark Stanley, has been giving 37215 some tlc this weekend. 4 years have passed since its repaint, and the ravages of the Toddington weather have started to take their toll, so as a pre-emptive strike Mark has been busy filling and painting the tops of the nose ends and various other areas of bodywork that have started to show signs of deterioration. Continue reading

First buffer beam ‘skirts’ fitted

On Sunday 19th August, the first sections of the new buffer beam ‘skirts’ were welded into place on the no.1 end of D6948 by Mark Stanley and Phil Seymour. This is a difficult and precision task involving the fitting of three sections at each end of the loco. This followed the essential movement of a number of buffer beam pipe fittings (see previous post) which were necessary to fit the skirts, and the installation of the new steam heat pipe connections (click on the title for more pictures).
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Moving in…..!

Saturday 18th August 2012 was one of the most significant days in the history of the Growler Group, as following completion of the all over concrete floor in the new diesel shed that the Group had part-funded, 37215 and 37248 moved in to take up permanent residence. The Groups’ trusty BG 92990 which has served as a spares store Continue reading