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Saturday 21 May 2016

Rare Heritage Railway 'Thumper' DEMU Destroyed By Fire



Mindless Vandals Consign 'Thumper' DEMU To History


photos of rare former Southern Railway diesel multiple unit destroyed by fire in May 2016
Burnt Out 'Thumper' DEMU at Swindon Cricklade Railway






A vintage DEMU train, 'Thumper' number 1302, owned by the Swindon and Cricklade Railway and valued at around £100,000, was completely destroyed by fire in May 2016.



The 2-car 'Thumper', (so nicknamed by railway enthusiasts due to the noise the diesel engine made while running) DEMU, believed to be one of only three working units in preservation after withdrawal from Southern Railway service with British Railways, was parked up near the Hayes Knoll end of the line when the fire was discovered.

Dave Peacey, a trustee of the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, said: "It is completely beyond repair.  We are all devastated to say the least".





Three box wagons parked nearby containing electrical equipment were also destroyed.  It appears that the fire may have started in one of these and spread to the train.

The cause of the fire was investigated.  At time of writing the culprits had not been found.



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Friday 20 May 2016

Photo Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class Loco 35006 Nameplate Unveiling 2016

 
 
'Merchant Navy' 35006 Steam Locomotive Nameplate Unveiled 

Photo of record producer Pete Waterman unveiling class 35006 steam locomotive nameplate 2016
Pete Waterman Unveils Merchant Navy Loco Nameplate



Pop! Goes The Loco


Nearly 500 people recently attended the unveiling of the former Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class Pacific locomotive, 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co', at Toddington, on May 20th 2016; home of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway following an immense years-long overhaul providing a glimpse of times past and a bygone era.


John McMillan, P&O Locomotive Society chairman, opened the day's proceedings and GWSR's president, celebrity and record producer, Pete Waterman, unveiled the locomotive's nameplate.

One of 30 engines of the class to built, all named after shipping lines that used Southampton Docks, Class 35006 locomotive was salvaged from Dai Woodham's scrapyard in Wales, where she had stood rusting away since her withdrawal in the 1960's, and brought to the GWSR - then in its infancy - in 1983.




Former Southern Railway steam locomotive 35006 seen slowly rusting away in Dai Woodham's scrapyard in Wales.  Fortunately it was eventually rescued and restored and is now doing what it was built to do
35006 in Dai Woodham's scrapyard 




David Brown, a locomotive fireman in the 1960's based at Yeovil, worked P&O's final journey on a mail train from Yeovil to Eastleigh, then returned it to its home depot of Salisbury.

The locomotive will make its public debut at the Cotswold Festival of Steam at the GWSR from 28th to 30th May.

Full details are available on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway website.
 

Merchant Navy Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).
Designer: O. V. Bulleid.
Origin: Southern Railway.
Introduced: June 1941.
Purpose: Express Passenger.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 35001 - 35030.
Driving Wheel: 6ft. 2in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft. 1in.
Length: 69ft. 7 3/4in.
Weight: (without tender) 94 tons 15 cwt. (Increased to 97tons in rebuilt engines).
Water Capacity: 5,000 gallons.
Cylinders: (3) 18in. x 24in.
Boiler Pressure: 250 lb. sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 37,515 lb.
Coal Capacity: 5 tons.
Power Classification: 8-P.



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Blog update:

Previous photo posts are now easier to find.  

All blog posts are now listed alphabetically on the right side of your screen; under the heading, 'Previous Photo Posts'.


"I hope this makes your search easier".


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