Class 03 shunter D2128 at Midsomer Norton, Somerset and Dorset Railway.
D2128 was built as a diesel-mechanical shunter at Swindon Works and entered traffic in January 1960 allocated to 83D Plymouth Laira. It remained a Western Region allocated engine throughout its BR career.
It was finally withdrawn from Bristol Bath Road depot in July 1976 and sold for scrap to Bird's at Long Marston. There the Gardener engine and fluid coupling were removed possibly for resale. Despite the loss of these key components the loco, together with two others, were sold to an industrial concern in Belgium and left the UK on the Harwich train ferry in December 1976.
The new owners fitted a replacement engine and it ran like this for a number of years. By May 1989 it was noted at a railway museum. Four years later it was repatriated to the UK, going initially to Peak Rail.
It was subsequently sold on for industrial use at the Nottingham Sleeper Company in Retford. Following an engine failure, it was sold again and went to the Dean Forest Railway albeit it had certain engine and transmission parts missing.
Andrew Briddon was undeterred by the missing parts following an inspection he undertook of it in late 2007 finally purchasing it in 2008. It was moved to the Corus steelworks Scunthorpe, to join other locos there at the Appleby-Frodingham Railway Society.
During the period it was there it was fitted with a Cummins 14 litre engine along with hydraulic transmission. This necessary departure from its original power train set up prompted Andrew to renumber it 03901 and paint it in black livery. This distinguished it from other members of the class particularly those still fitted with the original Gardener engine and mechanical gear train.
Class 03’s were used over the S&D on demolition trains primarily on the branch to Highbridge. So as with D4095, it has redeemed to some extent the reputation of its class on the S&D by hauling construction works trains rather than demolition ones, as well as operating passenger services to bring income to a part of the revitalised S&D.
With agreement from Andrew Briddon the locomotive has been renumbered back to D2128 as this relates to the 1950/60’s period the Trust is recreating on the railway. It will shortly be repainted into BR green livery.
Info from sdjr.co.uk/locomotives-stock/d2128-03901
Class 03 shunter D2128 at Midsomer Norton, Somerset and Dorset Railway.
D2128 was built as a diesel-mechanical shunter at Swindon Works and entered traffic in January 1960 allocated to 83D Plymouth Laira. It remained a Western Region allocated engine throughout its BR career.
It was finally withdrawn from Bristol Bath Road depot in July 1976 and sold for scrap to Bird's at Long Marston. There the Gardener engine and fluid coupling were removed possibly for resale. Despite the loss of these key components the loco, together with two others, were sold to an industrial concern in Belgium and left the UK on the Harwich train ferry in December 1976.
The new owners fitted a replacement engine and it ran like this for a number of years. By May 1989 it was noted at a railway museum. Four years later it was repatriated to the UK, going initially to Peak Rail.
It was subsequently sold on for industrial use at the Nottingham Sleeper Company in Retford. Following an engine failure, it was sold again and went to the Dean Forest Railway albeit it had certain engine and transmission parts missing.
Andrew Briddon was undeterred by the missing parts following an inspection he undertook of it in late 2007 finally purchasing it in 2008. It was moved to the Corus steelworks Scunthorpe, to join other locos there at the Appleby-Frodingham Railway Society.
During the period it was there it was fitted with a Cummins 14 litre engine along with hydraulic transmission. This necessary departure from its original power train set up prompted Andrew to renumber it 03901 and paint it in black livery. This distinguished it from other members of the class particularly those still fitted with the original Gardener engine and mechanical gear train.
Class 03’s were used over the S&D on demolition trains primarily on the branch to Highbridge. So as with D4095, it has redeemed to some extent the reputation of its class on the S&D by hauling construction works trains rather than demolition ones, as well as operating passenger services to bring income to a part of the revitalised S&D.
With agreement from Andrew Briddon the locomotive has been renumbered back to D2128 as this relates to the 1950/60’s period the Trust is recreating on the railway. It will shortly be repainted into BR green livery.
Info from sdjr.co.uk/locomotives-stock/d2128-03901