Updated 7/4/10
44004 Great Gable can be found in the museum at Swanwick Junction where electrical repairs are almost complete. The electrical cubicle (switchgear cabinet) is being cleaned and the security of the connections checked after the earth fault relay has been installed, the last piece to repair damage suffered when a broken connection caused overheating. The loco will not operate at the Midland Railway 1960’s and diesel gala events at the while the group concentrate on the restoration of 45041 and 45108. Using the internal 240 volt charger, the battery's are now being charged regularly.
Updated 6/2/10
44004 Great Gable is on display in the Museum building at Swanwick. Following the electrical damage suffered whilst celebrating her 50th birthday, rewiring and other electrical repairs have been made and the earth fault relay is all that remains to be fitted. D4 is expected to feature in the MRC diesel gala which is being held over the weekend of 22nd/23rd May to be confirmed nearer to the event.
Updated 5/12/09
Great Gable was drained of coolant on Sunday 11th October in readiness for a move into the Museum building at Swanwick, where the loco will be on display when not in operation. Whilst the loco has been in the museum building, the burnt wiring (which occurred during the locos 50th anniversary event) has been replaced with new (£300). A replacement tufnol board (£75) for fitting into the electrical cubicle is also in the process of being drilled ready for fitting. Material to replace the burnt traction motor link has been dug out of our stores container along with some material kindly provided by the Class 45/1 Preservation Society to allow its repair. A replacement earth fault relay is also to be fitted.
A picture of D4 and steam loco 13809 appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph on Wednesday 18th November in the bygones section and asked for any information on the picture. D4 was carrying a Peak Silver Jubilee headboard and was in all over green livery so the picture would have been from September 1984 and taken during the last anniversary weekend when the loco was 25 years old as featured on the cover of #163 of Great Gable News earlier this year.
Updated 3/10/09
Great Gable had its repaint into all over green livery completed by 31st August and varnishing of the loco started on 1st September. On Sunday 6th September D4 went for a test run after normal services had finished taking D182 along as insurance. The locos left Swanwick Shed at 17:30 with D182 leading D4, heading for Riddings and returned from Riddings behind D4 at 17:45. The light engine test run was a success and the following Sunday, the 13th September, D4 worked its first passenger train since 1st August 2004 when it piloted steam loco 73129 on the 14:34 Riddings to Hammersmith, forward from Swanwick Junction as a ‘loaded’ test run. D4 ran round the service at Hammersmith, leaving the steam loco on the rear and hauled the service to Riddings, where it again ran round and piloted the steam loco back as far as Swanwick Junction where D4 ran to the shed.
The following Sunday saw D4 replace a 3F steam loco at Swanwick Junction on the 15:46 Riddings to Hammersmith service. At Hammersmith D4 ran round and hauled the 16:25 Hammersmith to Riddings, but due to late running earlier in the day this service was terminated at Swanwick Junction. D4 ran round and hauled the service back to Hammersmith where it again ran round and hauled the train back to Butterley before running light engine back to Swanwick Shed. No problems were encountered with this loaded test run. D4 worked services at the D4 50th Anniversary event held over the weekend of 26th/27th September alongside 45041, 45133 and D182. See separate report below.
Great Gable’s 50th anniversary event report
The planning for an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D4’s entry into traffic goes back to late 2008 when a work plan was put together to identify the tasks required to get D4 back into traffic. D4 entered traffic on 26th September 1959 and this was a weekend that had no special event planned at the Midland Railway – Butterley in the 2009 proposed timetable. This date was settled upon in agreement with the MR-B and the event was listed in the MR-B events timetable for 2009.
Once the restoration team had completed the bodywork repairs and repaint into BR Blue of 45108 the work could begin in earnest to return D4 to as near built condition as possible. The loco was successfully started up for the first time in almost 3½ years on Sunday 10th May so that D4 could be checked over mechanically and electrically before its planned bodywork repairs and repaint begun. No problems were found when the loco was running which was the first hurdle overcome. The loco was then moved into the main shed at Swanwick to allow bodywork repairs to begin. The silencer was also removed from the loco to allow the repair of a small hole.
The repaint of D4 was completed by 31st August and varnishing of the loco started on 1st September and once completed the loco looked stunning. One of the team involved in returning D4 to as near the livery it was introduced was Ernie Bradley. Ernie worked in Derby Works as a painter and has most probably painted every single peak at least once during his time in the Works. Railstaff, an industry newspaper, carried a small story about Ernie and his involvement in painting D4 once again. Test runs with D4 took place to ensure that everything was well following the repaint.
Unfortunately an inspection by the Railway Inspectorate the week before the event resulted in part of the railway downgraded from 25mph to 10mph due to the condition of some of the wooden sleepers. The timetable had to be rewritten and we decided that all trains of the two train service would to be operated in top and tail, a loco at each end. The two green peaks (D4 and D182) would be on one service and the two blue peaks (45041 and the Class 45/1 Preservation Societies 45133) on the other service.
A free bus service from Derby station to Butterley on the Saturday of the event was offered by Club member Justin Monk using his heritage Midland General Bristol RE number 356 which added to the event. An original headboard from the 1977 Peaks Express tour to Manchester was brought out for the weekend as was an original INGLEBOROUGH nameplate and the original NEWMARKETEER nameplate carried by 45130 for a few weeks in 1978.
The morning of Saturday 26th September saw Swanwick Shed looking like Toton in the good old days with 4 peaks all ticking over and gleaming 45108 being positioned on shed road number 2 to allow the photographers good positions to take pictures of the loco. The Newmarketeer nameplate was fastened to the side of 45108 giving many people the opportunity of seeing the wooden nameplate for the first time.
D4 and D182 ran light engine from the shed into Swanwick platform and the GREAT GABLE nameplate was removed from D4 on the platform side and replaced by the original INGLEBOROUGH nameplate loaned by Company shareholder Nick Leverton. D4 also carried the Peaks Express headboard. The pair of Peaks then ran light engine to Butterley to form the first departure of the day. Whilst D4 and D182 were at Butterley the second pair of peaks, 45041 and 45133 ran off the shed and stood in the platform 2 at Swanwick waiting for the first train of the day to arrive at Swanwick Junction.
Once D4 and D182 arrived at Swanwick Junction, 45041 and 45133 ran up to Butterley to shunt the second set of coaches from the North siding and end up with 45041 on the West end of the coaches and 45133 on the East end. Upon arrival at Riddings, D4 ran around its coaches and D182 remained on the rear, forming the second top and tailed coaching set.
All services passed one another at Swanwick Junction and Peak Locomotive Company volunteers manned the foot crossing allowing passengers to cross from one train to another. One day the footbridge at Swanwick Junction will be completed and the requirement to escort people across the foot crossing will be removed. The rumbling presence of four Peaks in one place created a great atmosphere and overcame the disappointment of having to operate the train services at reduced speeds.
We were very lucky wit the weather on Saturday which was excellent and many photographs were taken of the locos in the sunshine – if you have any photographs of the event you are happy to share please e-mail or send them for the groups archives to Mike Kerry at the Club address. Club members choosing to have their newsletter by e-mail will have received some photos kindly donated by Dave Carnelly.
Sunday of the event started quite overcast and cold at Swanwick with D4 and D182 again hauling the first train of the day, and 45041 and 45133 (on the opposite end of the coaches from the Saturday) hauling the second coaching set. The Newmarketeer nameplate was fitted to 45133 on Sunday to allow photographers different pictures from the previous day. The weather did improve but the event was not bathed in sunshine as much as on the Saturday.
Unfortunately the star of the show, D4 had a small electrical cubicle fire whilst hauling the 11:48 Riddings to Hammersmith service, whilst coming through the Country Park. Quick thinking by the loco crews enabled D182 (which was on the rear of the service) to push D4 and its train to Swanwick Junction. At Swanwick Junction, 45133 was removed from the rear of the passing Hammersmith to Riddings service and was coupled to D4 to allow its service to get on the move again.
The departure of 45133 from Swanwick Junction was very impressive, with a trailing load of D4, 5 coaches and D182. 45041 continued hauling the other set of coaches for the remainder of the day, running around at Riddings and Hammersmith as necessary. D182 hauled the heavy-weight 12:22 Hammersmith to Riddings and 45133 was again impressive hauling 2 peaks and 5 coaches from Riddings with the 13:08 to Hammersmith. At Swanwick Junction D4 was removed and hauled to the shed for inspection and later in the afternoon D182 was removed from the rear of a service at Swanwick Junction to allow it to be checked over prior to its planned move to the Nene Valley Railway for their diesel gala the following weekend. 45133 then carried on with this set of coaches running round at Hammersmith and Riddings as required. At one point in the afternoon 45041 was adorned with a headboard ‘The Sounds of the 45’s’ while it rested at Swanwick Junction heading a service to Hammersmith.
It was a credit to all of the loco crews, signalmen, guards and platform staff that even with a loco failure and locos having to run round at Hammersmith and Riddings the timetable was maintained without any services being cancelled and whilst the speed limit was rigidly adhered to. Passenger numbers were good on both days with many Club and Company shareholders attending a single event where they could enjoy all of their Peaks at one time. Visitors came from as far away as Lowestoft by train and Dorset by car and people were seen to stay all day which was very encouraging. Positive discussions have already taken place between the Peak Locomotive Company, the Class 45/1 Preservation Society and the Midland Railway – Butterley about the event being re-run next year. Of course next year there could be 5 peaks in service at the event.
Updated 4/8/09
Since D4 was started in May, the engine silencer has been removed after a hole was discovered. Using the on site services at the Midland Railway, the silencer was shot blasted to remove rust scale, weld repairs made and the unit lifted back into the loco and reconnected. Great Gable was started up again on Sunday 19th July without problems although the loco could not be left to run for too long due to low fuel. Many patches of new steel have been welded into the bodywork and new weather strips fitted to protect the joint between the cab and bodywork keeping water out. The cab roof ventilators have been cleaned and years of corrosion damage repaired by fabricating new ventilators. The repaint of the loco is in progress where the body sides and roof have been rubbed down. The loco has been moved into the diesel depot at Swanwick junction for the paintwork to be completed in August.
Inside the loco, the air intake area for the engine has been cleaned and painted. The engine intake filters have been cleaned, oiled and refitted. The engine heat exchanger has had corrosion damage in the end cover repaired. The three fire bottles have also been replaced inside the engine room after removal to allow electrical repairs.
Great Gables’ 50th birthday weekend
Plans for a weekend of Peak running featuring D4 as the star are being made for the weekend of 26th/27th September in celebration of D4’s 50th birthday anniversary. A special timetable of services over the weekend of 26th/27th September at the MRC will be Peak hauled by D4, 45041, 45133 and D182 subject to availability. An article about Great Gables preserved life has been submitted to Traction magazine for publication in September and press releases sent out to the principle railway magazines. Great Gable will carry the Peaks Express headboard from the railtour she hauled in October 1977 from Toton to Manchester and carry an original D7 Ingleborough nameplate.
Updated 3/6/09
44004 Great Gable was started up successfully for the first time in almost 3.5 years on Sunday 10th May after a great deal of attention to the batteries. Replacement cells have been fitted and the battery connections modified to improve clearance. Once checked over, the loco proved serviceable allowing bodywork repairs started a year ago to be completed. The loco has now been moved into the main shed at Swanwick in readiness for its bodywork repairs to begin. Four cab roof vents have been removed so that replicas can be fabricated from the rusty remains of those present whilst the cab roof will be repaired to replace corroded panels.
The engine silencer has been removed from the loco roof to allow the repair of a small hole and the engine breather pipe has a fractured pipe connection which will be welded up. Much rust scale has been removed from the heat exchanger which is being cleaned out and a small leak in the end cover repaired. A repaint into green livery in the same condition that the loco was delivered back on 26th September 1959 will take place over the summer. A weekend of Peak running featuring D4 as the star has been scheduled for the weekend of 26th/27th September in celebration of the locos 50th birthday with D4 and all of the other serviceable Peaks at the MRC taking part in the event.
Updated 4/4/09 44004 Great Gable. The batteries are charged regularly over the winter and the locos repaired voltmeter and ammeter fitted. As soon as the repaint of 45108 into blue livery is completed, that Great Gable will take its place in the Swanwick Junction diesel shed for its restoration to be completed. A repaint into green livery in the same condition that the loco was delivered back on 26th September 1959 and as shown on the cover is planned. A weekend of peak running featuring D4 as the star has been scheduled for the weekend of 26th/27th September in celebration of the locos 50th anniversary with D4 and all of the other serviceable peaks at the MRC taking part in the event. We have spent about £1100 on paint recently to repaint of 44004, 45041 and 45108 this year.
Updated 1/2/09 44004 Great Gable has her batteries charged on a weekly basis. The engine was barred over (turned over by hand using a special tool) just after Christmas. It is planned for 44004 to move into the diesel shed at Swanwick for its bodywork repairs to be completed and a full repaint when 45108 as been completed. A repaint into green livery will follow as well as some electrical repairs to get her to go again. An engine serial number plate removed from 44004 years ago sold on e-bay for £35 but no one in the owning group won this item which could have been reunited with the loco.
Updated 5/12/08
44004 Great Gable has been moved nearer to the power supply at Swanwick Junction yard so that the internal battery charger and the loco’s batteries are being regularly charged over the winter. It is planned for the loco to swap places with 45108 in the diesel depot during January 2009 for its bodywork attention to be completed where a small amount of welding remains to be done. This consists of some small patches in the bodywork and the plating over of the cab roof vent holes which does not alter the locos appearance but reduces can draughts and corrosion. A repaint into green livery will then follow and we are grateful to Club member and shareholder Tom Fisher for making a significant donation towards this cost. Internally, the battery ammeter has been removed for examination and repair since it does not show an accurate reading.
The batteries fitted to the loco when it arrived at Swanwick are unlikely to be serviceable but have been given a short charge to check their condition. The lights worked although very dim so a selection of newer batteries surplus batteries from 45133 along with some pares of our own may well be fitted next year. It is hoped that 45108 will be completely in undercoat by January 2009 which will allow it to be removed from the diesel shed and sheeted over in the yard. Its place will be taken by 44004 in the diesel shed and 45108 will be painted into BR Blue next year when the weather is warmer and drier.
D4 news
