Excellent news on the D1010 front today. The newly installed engine was started up successfully after several attempts. The team had spent much of the day filling the engine with oil and water as well as carrying out the final preparation checks. The pre-heaters were given a good run as well to ensure the water was well up to temperature prior to the start. Before the engine fired, much air in the system had to be bled out replaced instead by fuel. Much more testing is required yet, but this is excellent progress, brining the project much closer to conclusion. Work is still required on the fuel tanks and the battery box doors before test runs can start to be carried out. Several defective pipes were also identified following last weeks test of the old engine requiring minor repairs.
Elsewhere, there was much shunting done today. Various tenders were shunted around in order to get them in place for the association works. We also got D7017 in position ready to go inside the workshop for a re-paint. 33057 is going away for repairs off site to the traction motor at one end and the bodywork. As a result we towed the loco (boxed in between two braked locomotives) to Bishops Lydeard. Photos below. This provided a good opportunity to get the Class 08 back to Bishops Lydeard, following routine maintenance and repairs in time to work during the steam gala assisting with the loading/unloading of visiting steam engines.
All in all a very good day, with more to follow in the coming weeks as we gradually get closer to the June Diesel event!
More on 33057 elsewhere on the site. Picture below of the train at Williton from Ian.
