DIESEL TRACTION GROUP
Welcome to westernchampion.co.uk home of the Diesel Traction Group (DTG) online with details about D1015's mainline railtours plus news, updates and information on all our locomotives.
Welcome to westernchampion.co.uk home of the Diesel Traction Group (DTG) online with details about D1015's mainline railtours plus news, updates and information on all our locomotives.
May 2022
D1015 D1015 has now had a replacement MD538 engine successfully installed (B end). This has replaced the engine that failed on last years mainline test run to Avonmouth. 'Running in' is now taking place on the Severn Valley Railway and D1015 has completed a number of runs successfully. As expected a small number of niggles / leaks have been detected and are being resolved by the engineering team. D1015 will be participating in the SVR diesel gala, and also has a number of planned running days this year, please see SVR website, click here for details.
The engine in A end, which has been in the loco for a number of years, has been suffering from deteriorating oil pressure for sometime. Although still operational, it was felt that this engine should also be replaced to allow a return to mainline running. With this in mind, two further MD538s have been sourced from Germany and at this time are awaiting shipment to the UK. Once these engines arrive, work will commence on the conversion work required to install into 1015, and installation is expected later this year. Until that time, it is anticipated that 1015 will continue with its planned commitments on the SVR. D821 Work is continuing with the repaint into BR blue with full yellow ends. Extensive body work restoration has taken place and has been completed, undercoating is now almost complete, and it is hoped to apply the blue within the next few weeks. In addition to this, general maintenance work continues with the overhaul of electrical equipment at 'A' end to complement that carried out at 'B' end last year. New secondary suspension bogie leaf springs have now been fitted. Air receivers will receive their 10 yearly thorough inspection and hydraulic test before the locomotive returns to traffic later in the season. D8568 At present the Clayton is in service and available for the Severn Valley Railway diesel gala. Following this, the Clayton should be attending the West Somerset Railway's diesel gala in early June please click here for details. It is then anticipated that the locomotive will then move on to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway until later in the year. D7029 No further updates at this time.
Latest news updates -
D1015 D1015 has now had a replacement MD538 engine successfully installed (B end). This has replaced the engine that failed on last years mainline test run to Avonmouth. 'Running in' is now taking place on the Severn Valley Railway and D1015 has completed a number of runs successfully. As expected a small number of niggles / leaks have been detected and are being resolved by the engineering team. D1015 will be participating in the SVR diesel gala, and also has a number of planned running days this year, please see SVR website, click here for details.
The engine in A end, which has been in the loco for a number of years, has been suffering from deteriorating oil pressure for sometime. Although still operational, it was felt that this engine should also be replaced to allow a return to mainline running. With this in mind, two further MD538s have been sourced from Germany and at this time are awaiting shipment to the UK. Once these engines arrive, work will commence on the conversion work required to install into 1015, and installation is expected later this year. Until that time, it is anticipated that 1015 will continue with its planned commitments on the SVR. D821 Work is continuing with the repaint into BR blue with full yellow ends. Extensive body work restoration has taken place and has been completed, undercoating is now almost complete, and it is hoped to apply the blue within the next few weeks. In addition to this, general maintenance work continues with the overhaul of electrical equipment at 'A' end to complement that carried out at 'B' end last year. New secondary suspension bogie leaf springs have now been fitted. Air receivers will receive their 10 yearly thorough inspection and hydraulic test before the locomotive returns to traffic later in the season. D8568 At present the Clayton is in service and available for the Severn Valley Railway diesel gala. Following this, the Clayton should be attending the West Somerset Railway's diesel gala in early June please click here for details. It is then anticipated that the locomotive will then move on to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway until later in the year. D7029 No further updates at this time.