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| GW TPO carriage 814 on display |
I arrived at Didcot Parkway station at 10:15 ready to meet the participants of this visit which was to start at 11:00. As time passed those already on the platform were treated to the sight of two 59s (59104 and 59206) which left the stabling point and headed off towards Swindon, and a lengthy ballast train being parked up having been topped and tailed by 66522 and 66596. This manoeuvre was watched by the drivers of a Cross Country train on the East Curve and a stopping train in platform 4. These two 66s left later, and just as we left the platform to make our way to the GWS entrance, two more Freightliner 66s (66531 and 66616) were seen arriving from the Swindon direction.
| | | | | Freightliner 66522 entering Didcot PW yard |
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| | | 59206 about to leave Didcot westwards behind 59104 | |
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So at 11:00 13 members of the Windsor and Maidenhead and the Surrey branches congregated at the gate to be met by our two tour guides for the day - Branch members and members of the GWS, Allan Machon and Brian Clark ready for the start of a behind the scenes tour of the whole site.
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| | 08604 about to leave GWS premises |
First up was a team photograph followed by an introductory history of the formation of the GWS at Taplow and the move to the current site at the former GW Didcot steam shed. During this time 08604 ‘Phantom’ was to be seen behind us going through the gates onto Network Rail metals to collect one of two Coal Wagons. Our first bit of exercise was to walk up the incline into the Coaling stage. Here Allan described the manual work involved in unloading a coal wagon into the small wheeled trucks used for filling the tenders and bunkers. These trucks are original Great Western vehicles of two types, one for tender engines and one for tank engines (the one with a narrow end). Allan commented that using one of the tender trucks to load a tank engine led to a lot of coal lying in the track bed.
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| Restoration work on the air raid shelters | |
Next it was down the steep stairway to have a look at some strange wagons (4 articulated Pollen E wagons on loan from the NRM, two of which were in GW livery and two in BR. Easy to tell apart, the GW ones were grey and the BR ones were grey – oh and the GW ones had numbers and logos, the BR ones did not! We then walked onto the bike shed used by staff cycling to work and then into the Science, Learning & Railways exhibition. The exhibition is based in two former Mk2c carriages bought from Steam on the Met. The facility has a lecture theatre and a hands on area where one can learn about many aspects of railway operation. Outside we saw restoration work proceeding on two 2nd World War Air Raid shelters.
We then headed towards the locomotive workshops via the artefacts garden. After passing an original wheelset from 6023, removed at Barry to enable the locomotive to be moved. In the artefacts garden you can find many railway artefacts including mileposts and boundary markers. Looking around the workshops we were able to see first hand the progress being made on both the County and the Saint projects as well as the repairs to 4079 Pendennis Castle, 6023 King Edward II and Pannier Tank 3650. Nearing completion is 5322, built in 1917 and sent straight to France to work for the MOD.
Time for a lunch break. Whilst Allan and Brian took their lunch with the Didcot volunteers, the party used the restaurant or sat outside eating their sandwiches. Some just had time for a quick look in the shop or the museum before we resumed the tour.
| | 0-4-0ST 1338 inside the locomotive shed |
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| | 0-6-2T 6697 outside the locomotive shed |
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| | Boiler bogie of the steam rail motor |
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| | broad gauge closed carriage under construction |
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We started the afternoon with a look around the locoshed where all the locomotives can be kept undercover whether they are awaiting attention or part of the operational fleet. At the back of the shed we found the boiler and bogie for the Steam Rail Motor project, the remainder of the vehicle is being modified at Llangollen. Having explored the locoshed
we then walked up to the turntable to watch 3822 being turned manually ready for the afternoon runs on the “main line”, before moving onto the carriage sheds.
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| | the turning has commenced |
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| | the turning of 3822 has been completed |
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| no:22 inside the carriage shed awaiting the return of its engine | |
Inside the carriage shed we saw many GW carriages, including the three Ocean Saloons owned by the GWS plus a large variety of other types in various states of repair. Also seen was a second broad gauge carriage being built on the frames supplied by the NRM. At the front of the shed we saw Railmotor 22 sitting forlornly waiting for the return of its engine. Allan, who is one of its drivers, recounted many stories of its GWS life including some of its visits, such as the time it went to the Severn Valley Railway and Saltley open day, hauled by a BR DMU. Apparently whilst laying over at Oxford a passenger on the platform asked an employee what this was, to be told that it was a prototype for the Turbos – another satisfied customer!
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| | Fire Fly about to depart from the transhipment shed |
Time now for our first ride of the day on the broad gauge behind the replica of Fire Fly. It was an interesting ride in an open carriage, either standing up or sitting on the benches where the view was restricted by the high sides. Back at the transfer shed we had just enough time to walk across to the “main line” to catch the last passenger train hauled by 3822 before the TPO demonstrations. Back at the “main line” platform, Allan left us whilst he acted as guard on the empty stock movement of the carriages, whilst the regular guard went and prepared the TPO train. Meanwhile we all found vantage points to watch the TPO demonstration runs. Three runs were done in all, and it took me a while to realise that bags were being dropped on the same run as the pick ups – my first time seeing this action!
| | 2-8-0 3822 hauling the TPO demonstration run |
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With Allan back in harness we headed back towards the branch for a ride in the autocoach being hauled / propelled by Pannier Tank 3738. Considering that these were branch trains, the cushions were extremely comfortable (and welcome after all the walking). After a ride from Didcot Halt to the Transfer Shed and back we had our final tour of the day in the Signal Box – Radstock North box in its fully operating glory. After this there was just enough time to have a quick look round the museum and to make some purchases in the shop, before closing time.
Our grateful thanks to Allan and Brian for all their efforts in making our day so enjoyable and a thanks also to all the other GWS people who provided information to us and allowed us views of all the working parts of the centre during the day.
Steve Ollive
Chairman, Windsor & Maidenhead branch
29/06/08
