The Growler Group

D6948 is now back in traffic after its protracted repair program and, having successfully passed its B Exam, was utilised on a number of ballast workings during January to give the loco a proper shakedown. The great news is that this all passed well enough to see D6948 entered back onto the serviceable loco roster for April and the green Type 3 will play a big part in the April roster on both the Purple and Pink timetable days. Below is a list of the running dates – usual caveats apply….. click to continue reading

With only a few weeks of the Winter maintenance period to go, loose ends are being tied up to get our locomotives fit for April and the start of the 2023 running season. Most of the work has centred around D6948 after the completion of the repair to the main reservoir air pipe and the maintenance on the bogies. A historic leak in one of the brake cylinders has also been repaired with the removal and replacement of the offending cylinder coupled with some remedial work on the timing chain, which had shown signs of stretching. Finally, the B Exam has been completed and, after an absence of nearly 3 years, the ‘Green Machine’ has been declared fit for traffic (pending a test run). For its return, D6948 has been allocated the first three turns in April on the 1st (Purple TT, last round trip), 2nd (Pink TT, whole day) and 4th (Purple TT, last round trip). There are also additional turns throughout April – please check on the group and GWSR social pages for more information. We look forward to seeing some of you at the GWSR to welcome D6948 back into traffic – usual caveats apply. click to continue reading

The GWR running season has now come to end with the conclusion of the ‘Mince Pie’ trains. 37215 worked the final train from Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday 02 January, in the moonlight, to bring the curtain down on the 2022 season. However, that wasn’t the last turn for ‘215’ as it was also rostered to work stock moves on the 3rd; taking rakes 1 and 2 to Winchcombe for maintenance, taking rake 3 to Toddington and then dropping off a flat wagon full of sleepers at Didbrook ready for the P’Way team to complete their winter track works. click to continue reading

Wednesday 9th November saw a number of the team converge on Toddington TMD to complete the lowering of D6948 back onto her bogies after completion of the work that necessitated the lift. The work order had included the repair of a main reservoir air leak caused by a holed pipe under the cab at No.1 end, changing of dampers and rubbing pads as well as the opportunity to give the traction motor brushes a check, clean and replace (if required). With these tasks completed, and under the watchful eye of Tech Officer (and GG Chairman) Paul Good, D6948 was eased back onto her bogies before being shunted from the David Page shed and back into the Diesel Shed so that the remaining elements can be completed. This will include plugging the electrical feeds back in from the traction motors and, re-securing the brake chains and bogie straps. click to continue reading