West Somerset ex-BR shunter change hands

THE West Somerset Railway-based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group has bought Class 09 No. 09019 from JJP Holdings Ltd, with the shunter due to remain on the railway as it has since preserved in 2013.

The DEPG has been undertaking servicing and maintenance of the former Hither Green TMD shunter for several years, so it made sense that the group opted to take on full ownership.

The 09 will be offered to the railway with maintenance provided in a fully inclusive package.

Meanwhile, the future of BR class 08 D3937 (08769) on the Dean Forest Railway has been secured after Valley

Rail Preservation, a locomotiveowning group based on the Avon Valley Railway, acquired the shunter following the disbandment of Dean Forest Diesels late last year.

Future plans

Formerly known as Gladys, the ‘Gronk’ will continue to be based on the DFR following the signing of a deal between the two bodies, and as such the shunter will be seeing some serious investment over the coming months.

DFR chairman Adam Dickinson said: “We have signed a long-term contract with the new owner and the locomotive will remain based at the

DFR for the foreseeable future. It has joined its extensive shunter fleet, and we will benefit from the experience and knowledge this brings.

“We look forward to working with Valley Rail Preservation in the future.”

The winding up of DFD has also seen Class 31 No. 31210 – which has yet to run in preservation – change hands.

On February 22, it was delivered to the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), where it was due to be on display over the joint 125th anniversary weekend event (for more details, see News, page 21).