BR Swindon class “03” 0-6-0DM*

Heidi

(* now very much a DH)

This class of loco was based directly on the proven Drewry Car design, so forms a logical development from the earlier Drewry loco in Andrew's collection.

Built for general purpose shunting, they incorporated a 5-speed gearbox to enable them to 'trip' at up to 30mph between duties, but otherwise had the same basic configuration (Gardner 1200rpm engine - fluid coupling - change speed box - reversing box) as the earlier industrial/military examples.

D2128 was withdrawn in July 1976 and was sold to a scrapyard in Long Marston, where the Gardner 8L3/fluid coupling was removed for sale but then the rest of the loco sold seperately for use in Belgium (leaving on the Harwich Ferry in December 1976), where the gaping hole under the casings was filled with an air cooled engine and hydrostatic components to match up to the original 5-speed transmission. Additionally about 10 tons of steel slabs were welded into the chassis bringing the weight of the loco up to around 37/38tons.

Repatriated in the 1990s, it worked at Peak Rail for a while but was then sold and ended up at the Dean Forest Railway, from whence Andrew bought it in April, 2008.

Moved in July to Scunthorpe, the remaining incomplete Belgian components were removed, (together with the ballast which was detrimental to axles and springs as well as "in the way" of the proposed new engine and transmission) and work has begun to install a Cummins 14 litre engine and 2-speed Twin Disc transmission. A number of unwanted components have been sold to assist other owners of 03s in restoration. Chassis cleaning has been carried out and preparation of the installation drawings is under way. The envisaged specification on completion is that D2128 will be approximately 300bhp, with a top speed still around 30mph, and be dual (air and vacuum) braked. The target was to have the locomotive operational by mid 2010, however, the AFRPS have asked that Andrew completes work on Beverley first.

The transmission, cooler groups and air cleaner arrived at Scunthorpe within the Palvan on 25th March. The Cummins NT855 was moved from Elsecar and joined the other "lumps" in the Palvan on 7th April 2010