45041 news
Updated 2/4/11
45041 Royal Tank Regiment can be found in the yard at Swanwick and the locos batteries are regularly charged. The loco is expected to take part in the Midland Railway – Butterley diesel gala being held over the weekend of 21st/22nd May. We expect to check the loco over in April to make her operational again after winter storage. Running opportunities are being discussed at the Midland Railway on April 24 – 26 and a footplate experience day on July 8th.
Updated 3/3/11
45041 Royal Tank Regiment took part in the MRB Sulzer BR Blue diesel gala held over the weekend of 2nd/3rd October alongside 25321, 45133 and 47401. 45041 was fitted with a set of refurbished batteries on 10th October bought from Rail Traction Supplies in Scotland. These had seen use previously on ScotRail DMU’s 158729 and 158733. The following weekend saw the batteries connected up and charged for 1 hour. At 16:15 the loco was successfully started. Since then, the loco was drained of coolant to protect it from the winter weather in late October with anti-freeze being put into the locos heat exchanger and the locos batteries are regularly charged. It is hoped that the severest of winter temperatures on site in Derbyshire have not irreparably damaged our locos where – 19’C was recorded in December.
Updated 7/10/10
45041 Royal Tank Regiment has had significant time spent on it in the run up to the North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala which the loco had been invited to. All of the bodywork repairs were completed and then filled, sealed and sanded down by Sunday 29th August. The following day the locos repaint started with primer being applied until 1st September and undercoat applied on 3rd and 4th September. Between Sunday 5th and Thursday 9th September two coats of BR Blue gloss were applied to the loco. Thursday 9th also saw two coats of yellow applied to the nose ends. Two coats of varnish were added on 10th and 11th September and Saturday 11th also saw the vinyl British rail symbols and numbers added. The tops of the nose ends were painted matt black to avoid glare from the sun on new paintwork on Sunday 12th September and the loco was started and took a few small test runs around the yard at Swanwick. The loco looked resplendent and was a credit to all of those that had spent the previous months working to make 45041 available to visit the NYMR in superb external condition. Finally the loco was placed over the inspection pit to allow oil levels on the bogie running gear to be checked and topped including greasing all 140 grease nipples.
During testing after painting, the battery condition was noticed to have deteriorated due to age and inactivity despite regular attention so a replacement set of 96 reconditioned cells (£4000) were ordered from Rail Traction Supplies in Scotland. These were to have been fitted to the loco prior to its move to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but unfortunately these were delayed waiting final testing and the departure of the loco was not confirmed until a few days before the movement from the Midland Railway Centre by DB Schenker.
45041 was scheduled to be hauled to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for their diesel gala along with 20227, 31271 and 37264 on Monday 13th September and passed a fitness to run exam on Wednesday 8th September. On 13th September 66078 ran light engine to Ironville to collect the convoy of locos but the Class 66 was found to have insufficient main reservoir air pressure to release the brakes on the locos in the convoy and, after several hours of shunting each loco out of the convoy to confirm brake operation, the move had to be cancelled. Some DB Schenker class 66’s have been operating abroad and these locos are modified to work at 6.2 bar.
The following day 66069 arrived from Toton to collect the convoy and successfully released the brakes off the locos in the convoy (37264+45041+31271+20227). 0Z45 departed Codnor Park Junction some 25 minutes late at 16:30 and ran via Chesterfield, Moorthorpe and Church Fenton. Just after Colton Junction at Earfit Lane, a hot box detector was activated as the convoy went past and the driver of 66069 stopped the convoy in the platform at York station and reported that a handbrake was on in 31271, which he released.
The convoy departed York at 18:19 some 41 minutes late but at Sessay just south of Thirsk, a line side wheel checker reported problems with the 23rd axle of the light engine convoy on both the left and right hand side wheels so the convoy was brought to a halt at Thirsk in the platform. The driver shunted the convoy into a siding off the mainline. Following inspection of 31271 it was found that the loco had severe wheel flats and the convoy was only allowed to go forward at 10mph. The convoy was reported as passing Longlands Junction 412 minutes late at 01:03 (it should have passed at 18:11) and ran via Eaglescliffe to Tees Yard still at 10mph arriving at 03:24, 516 minutes late. Subsequent investigation revealed large wheel flats on no.3 wheelset of 31271 and shifted tyres on no.2 wheelset. 31271 was removed from the convoy in Tees Yard and was returned to the MRB by lorry pending investigation and 37264+45041+20227 were tripped forward from Tees Yard to Grosmont on Thursday 16th September as 0Z45 behind 66232 departing Tees Yard 7 minutes late at 10:57 and arriving at Grosmont at 12:37. Problems with the convoy did not end here though as a steam loco derailed at Grosmont station close to the NYMR mainline connection.
At one point it was thought that the convoy would have to run to Whitby and wait for the derailment to clear. Fortunately the steam loco was rerailed quickly and once the track was checked, the convoy was delivered to Grosmont.
45041 hauled services at the NYMR diesel gala over all three days of the event being based at Grosmont. On Friday 17th September 45041 hauled the 09:30 Grosmont to Pickering with 31128 dead on the rear and then worked the 12:00 service back to Grosmont. 45041 then ran round at Grosmont and hauled the 13:30 service back to Pickering before having another layover at Pickering. The loco finished off the day hauling the 16:00 service back to Grosmont.
Saturday 18th September saw 45041 haul the 09:30 service from Grosmont to Pickering, returning with the 11:00 back to Grosmont. The loco had a layover at Grosmont before hauling the 13:30 service to Pickering, returning immediately from Pickering with the 15:00 to Grosmont. On Sunday 19th September the loco started services later and hauled the NYMR dining service, complete with steam loco 63395 dead on the rear. Departure was at 12:30 and 45041 ran round at Pickering and hauled the service back to Grosmont once the steam loco had been removed, departing at 14:00. 45041 completed its days workings by hauling the 15:30 Grosmont to Pickering, returning to Grosmont with the final departure of the day from Pickering at 17:00.
45041 did not miss a beat during the three day diesel gala and looked brilliant in its ex-works condition attracting much favourable comment from the visitors and later on various enthusiast web sites. Even the NYMR drivers commented on how well the loco handled the line with the loco having to be held back at times even on the steep gradients to maintain the 25mph maximum speed after reaching 42 mph at one point during Sunday.
The return of visiting locos 45041 + 20227, minus 37264 which is staying at Grosmont, to Swanwick was originally booked for Tuesday 21st September with a plan to deliver 20227 (and originally 31271) to the Wensleydale Railway in time for their diesel gala the following weekend. The convoy departed Grosmont on time on Friday 24th September behind 66117 with 20227 + 45041 in tow as train 0Z30, the 15:50 Grosmont to Tees Yard. Arrival at Tees Yard was 4 minutes late at 17:36 before a 2 minute early departure at 17:58 from Tees Yard to Toton with the same class 66 saw 0Z30 on the move again. The trip did not stop to drop off 20227 at the Wensleydale Railway as intended and ran via Eaglescliffe and Thirsk before arrival at Holgate (York) for a driver change to occur. The convoy passed Skelton Junction north of York 2 minutes late but was recorded passing Colton Junction south of York 137 minutes late due to the relief driver being late.
The convoy was also supposed to be diverted from its booked route because the relief driver did not know the route from Colton Junction to Aldwarke Junction via Moorthorpe. The diversionary route took the convoy via Doncaster and Mexborough, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield and Derby arriving at Toton 141 minutes late at 23:59.
The locos enjoyed the weekend resting on Toton TMD parked beside the two rows of stored Class 60 on the east side of the depot front just like old times. 45041 was then hauled by 66010 up the Erewash valley to Codnor Park Junction as trip 0Z66, the 11:10 Toton to Codnor Park Junction on Tuesday 28th September. This trip only conveyed 45041 and left Toton 30 minutes late arriving at Codnor Park Junction just after midday for collection by 25321 for the short journey back up to Swanwick Junction. All in all a very successful and exciting adventure for our Class 45.
Upon arrival back at the Midland Railway Centre, 45041 was allocated to take part in the railways Sulzer BR Blue diesel event over the weekend of 2nd/3rd October alongside 25321, 45133 and 47401. This event was worked in top and tail fashion because thieves had stolen signal cable prohibiting two train operation until new cable is installed and buried to avoid theft.
Updated 8/8/10
45041 Royal Tank Regiment was moved from the diesel shed up to ‘C’ bay in the main shed on Sunday 18th July by D4 as the diesel shed is one of the venues for the Indietracks music festival held at the MRB from 23rd until 25th July. All of the nose end louvered doors have been refitted to the loco with and all of the cab roof guttering fitted to number 2 end. The locos radiator grills have been taken away to be steam cleaned and much sanding has been done around the cab roofs and down the locos body sides. The roof around the radiator fan grill has also seen attention of the sander and the final patches to repair corrosion have been welded to the roof to allow painting to begin. It is planned that the loco will have been sanded down and filled by the end of July in readiness for a repaint to be completed by the end of August. Two new weather strips have been made and fitted to protect the joint between the body sides and the cabs so the externally almost complete.
The faulty buffer at number 1 end on the secondmans' side has been replaced with a spare and the engine heat exchanger has been repaired to cure a leaking tube. The batteries have been charged to run the loco and allow the insurance inspector to issue certificates for the brake systems necessary to allow movement by rail to the North Yorkshire Moors railway diesel event. The on-going work will be completed on 45041 by September because the loco has an invitation to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the railways diesel gala (17th – 19th September). 45041 will see three days of operation including hauling the ‘Moorlander’ dining train although I understand the allocated turns will appear on the NYMR website. Movement of locos visiting the event from the MRB will be during week commencing September 13th using a DB Schenker loco.
Updated 3/6/10
45041 Royal Tank Regiment continues to have significant bodywork repairs undertaken in the diesel shed at Swanwick. Two cab sides have been replaced (no.1 end secondman side and no.2 end drivers’ side) and many patches have seen new sheet metal welded in on the bodyside and nose ends to repair years of corrosion damage. The tail light at number one end on the secondman side has been replaced with a spare reclaimed from 45035. Both nose crowns have been stripped of their inner insulation and have been needle-gunned to remove all old paint. This has revealed quite a few places in the nose crowns that are thin and will need patches welding in. There are also a couple of places on the boiler room roof that metalwork will need to be cut out and replaced.
The cab guttering will be refitted at number 1 end once the various weld repairs have been dressed and the rain strips on the secondman side at both ends are still to be refitted. A buffer change is also required as the one fitted on the secondman side at no.1 end has seen better days. Fortunately class 08 buffers are the same and we have a replacement buffer in stock. Following bodywork repairs a repaint into BR Blue will be completed. The bodywork repairs have cost about £400 and the quality of work improved by doing all of the work ourselves.
The air tank reservoirs have been examined internally by the insurance inspector after the last 10 year insurance certificate expired. The associated pipework removed to allow inspection has been put back and the safety valves from the air system have been removed for testing by the insurance inspector, returned and refitted. It is hoped that all of the planned work will be completed on 45041 by August and the loco has an invitation to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the diesel gala (17th – 19th September).
Updated 7/4/10
45041 Royal Tank Regiment continues to have bodywork repairs in the diesel shed at Swanwick including two new cab side sheets. Following bodywork repairs and air tank re-certification (the 10 year insurance ticket has recently expired) a repaint into BR Blue will be completed. It is expected that the work will be completed on 45041 by August because the loco has an invitation to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the railways diesel gala (17th – 19th September).
Updated 6/2/10
45041 Royal Tank Regiment has had all areas of bodywork corrosion identified, measured and cut out ready for new panels to be welded in. The loco is to receive two replacement cab sides in addition to the bodywork repairs and a complete repaint. The locos air tanks are to be re-certified to allow it to be moved over the national rail network as its 10 year insurance examination certificate has just expired. We are hopeful that new techniques will allow the reservoirs to be examined in position on the loco avoiding the pain and heartache of removing them for hydraulic testing prior to attending the North Yorkshire Moors railway event this September.
The Stones steam heat boiler has been thoroughly cleaned and awaits a hydraulic testing when the boiler inspector returns to Swanwick in February. Hopefully this will be found in good order and move the loco another step nearer being able to provide steam heating, something it has not done for some 30 years.
Updated 5/12/09
45041 Royal Tank Regiment was drained of coolant on Sunday 11th October and the loco was moved into the diesel shed at Swanwick Jct to allow bodywork repairs to commence. At number 1 end, the Secondmans cab side was removed for replacement on Sunday 18th October. The locos nose end louvre doors and tail lights were removed on Sunday 25th when the rotten steelwork around the bottom of the nose ends cut out. The radiator grills were removed at the end of October and revealed major metal corrosion. It has also been found that the engine room roof has a crack in it due to corrosion which is a common problem with Peak locomotive roof sections.
All of the guttering from the number 2 end roof has been removed and both nose end crowns were removed on Sunday 22nd November. There are still some areas of bodywork to be cut-out before a start is made to welding new steel on to the loco, but progress on the loco slowed during November due to the work required to get the steam heat boiler in D182 certified for use this winter. It is planned that 45041 will be repainted early in 2010 following its bodywork repairs as well as the loco having its air receivers certified to allow movement over Network Rail.
Updated 3/10/09
45041 Royal Tank Regiment hauled the 14:38 Riddings to Hammersmith service piloting D182 on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August as part of the Works Open Day event. At Hammersmith 45041 ran round with D182 remaining on the rear of the service and 45041 hauled the 15:32 Hammersmith to Riddings. Here 45041 again ran round and piloted D182 on the 15:58 Riddings to Hammersmith as far as Swanwick Junction where both locos were removed and ran light engine to Swanwick shed.
45041 worked services at the D4 50th Anniversary event held over the weekend of 26th/27th September alongside D4, 45133 and D182 and is due to have bodywork repairs undertaken this winter and will be repainted early in 2010. The air receivers will also get their ten yearly inspection and certification to allow the loco to visit other railways.
Updated 4/8/09
Royal Tank Regiment remains operational and available for service. The ‘Tank’ is next in line for bodywork repairs and repainting again in blue livery.
Updated 3/6/09
45041 Royal Tank Regiment hauled services on Bank Holiday Monday 13th April at the MRC but was replaced at Swanwick Junction half way through the day because of a leaking drivers brake valve. With the brake valve repaired, 45041 then hauled services at the MRC diesel gala held over the weekend of 25th/26th April. 45041 also hauled the 11:10, 12:20, 13:50, 15:05 and 16:15 departures from Butterley on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May. It is hoped that the loco will get some bodywork repairs and a repaint towards the end of this year for which blue paint has already been bought.
Updated 4/4/09
45041 Royal Tank Regiment will have its leaking heat exchanger examined and repaired before being filled with water in readiness for the loco to take part in the Diesel gala taking place over the weekend of 25th/26th April. The locos batteries are charged on a weekly basis and it is hoped that the loco will get bodywork repairs and a repaint towards the end of this year. If repaired in time she will run on Easter Monday April 13th.
Updated 1/2/09
45041 Royal Tank Regiment was drained of all coolant (as it does not carry any anti-freeze) on Saturday 22nd November. The locos batteries are charged on a weekly basis and the engine was barred over between Christmas and the New Year.
Updated 5/12/08
45041 Royal Tank Regiment has been in use recently. The loco worked 3 trips alternating with a steam loco during the Diesel and Steam weekend on Sunday 28th September where loco changes were made at Swanwick Junction.
The loco was also used in top and tailed formation with steam loco 73129 on the Midland Railway Butterley (MRB) evening Halloween services on Friday 31st October. The following day 45041 was again used top and tailed with steam loco 73129 on Firework shuttles between Butterley and Swanwick Junction. 45041 was started up for the final time in 2008 to ensure that the batteries were fully charged on Saturday 22nd November and was then drained of all water (it does not carry any anti-freeze) later that day and sheeted over.
www.greatgable.co.uk