£100,000 restoration appeal for ‘Thousand’ No. D1010
WEST SOMERSET Railway-based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) has launched an appeal for funds to restore No. D1010 Western Campaigner. The Class 52 has been laid-up since the ‘B’-end transmission seized up during the 2018 diesel gala. It was outside, partly sheeted, in Williton South Yard for 19 months. It has received some attention, but the start of a full restoration has been delayed due to protracted work on other locos in the shed. With some items removed, such as the lower front valances, name and numberplates, and faded paintwork, the group’s flagship loco has acquired a down-at-heel appearance. It is now in the shed with restoration underway, but a rough estimate puts the total required at about £100,000. Apart from some localised corrosion, mostly around the bodyside windows and vents, the level of repair required for the main body is limited to removal and replacement of the Prestolith filler from one side. This was applied when built to smooth out the surface distortions caused by welding the relatively thin outer skin panels to the framework.
The other side was dealt with when the loco was first restored at Didcot.
The cabs will need complete renovation, but the extent of this cannot be determined until the corroded areas are exposed. In the worst case, both ends of the loco will need to be rebuilt, taking much time and money. During this time the cooler groups will be removed so they can be repaired.
Transmission worries
The transmission has been out of the loco for the last two years, but progress has been slow. Initial dismantling confirmed the failure was within the converter rail, as suspected, but the general condition of the transmission was encouraging. There are no spare transmissions available so a worst-case view, if the converter rail is not repairable, is that the transmission will be rendered useless. It would have to go back in to the loco as non-functional ballast so it remains in-gauge. This would mean No. D1010 would then only ever have a single working engine and transmission. It would still be able to handle the typical workload for a heritage railway, however. Both engines are in good condition and the ‘A’-end transmission had also been performing well with no cause for concern. Other aspects likely to need attention are the bogies, where many of the issues faced by other owner-operators, the WLA and DTG, are also likely to be affecting No. D1010. The braking system may also suffer from corrosion which, if not dealt with in time, would cause internal damage. The electrical wiring will also need to be inspected and renewed where necessary, so there is a lot to be done, and it will take much time and money. The amount sought is really actually quite modest for a loco as large and as complex as a ‘Western’. The huge number of volunteer man-hours absorbed by this project will also be considerable. It is the availability of suitably skilled volunteer manpower that will determine the pace at which this project proceeds, providing fundraising leads the way. Those who love ‘Westerns’ and are not a member of the DEPG can visit the website www.depg. org for details of membership, fund-raising merchandise and how to donate. The DEPG is a registered charity, so funds received by the D1010 Restoration Fund are ‘restricted’ and can only be used for restoring