Dean Forest Railway

Class 33012 and the 4TC will be visiting the DFR this coming Saturday on a UK railtours trip.

 

Does anyone know if the railway will be bringing in a locomotive to cover for 5541? As far as I'm aware they're now left with 96xx and Uskmouth No.1, the latter of which is more suited to brake van rides and driver experiences.

 

What happened to the Austerity tank Rennes? It was working until a few years ago , I seem to remember it was withdrawn for repairs rather than due to expiry of the boiler ticket.

 

No real traffic need. With the pannier and 5541 they were effectively "doubled up". Now just back to 1. That will be fine until the sister pannier arrives in a few years...

 

Not loads, but still a fair few.

Interesting

Do they have anything else that can haul service trains if 9681 needs a period of maintenance though?

 

Trying to maintain a service with only one suitable steam loco is sailing very close to the wind IMO. Locos can and will need unscheduled maintenance so what then, diesel substitution?

 

True, but many railways in the country still do it and manage OK. Many railways can't offer enough steaming days for multiple locos so it's not practical for them to have multiple steam locos on shed. So you have just the one, maintain it as best you can, and if it's a bit poorly you just accept that it's a diesel swap, you explain it to the public and hope they are good natured enough to accept

 

In my experience, steam locos never fail singularly but in two's and three's. Having said that, it can't happen if you've only one! Perhaps the diesels will come out in sympathy.

 

AIUI from asking the question at the gala, one of the Austerities should be repaired for/during the early season of 2025. Can't remember specifically which or when was talked about but that appears to coincide with messages upthread about one being stopped for repairs rather than withdrawn.

 

I'd be thrilled if Rennes was back, having a personal connection to the City itself!

 

Steam Railway issue 565 in December confirmed that WD152 Rennes will be back soon to take up the second place in the steam roster.

 

They also need washouts anyway, and the DFR run steam 3 days a week from mid March to November!

 

Yep will be back this year.

 

What diesels? The DFR only has the 08 08769 currently operational!

 

3 days a week is definitely too much for 1 engine just from a maintenance view, not sure how you came up with 'no real traffic need'. As said, WD152 Rennes, will be in service during 2025 as well as 9681.

 

View attachment 89716

 

It's great that they've been saved. The DFR seems to be gaining quite a collection of post steam-era wagons (I know these were initially steam era but in current livery - which looks great - I presume they're representing a later period)... as far as I'm aware there's only their gronk that can haul the oil tankers so just curious what the plan in the medium/long-term is?

 

My shot of 9681 accelerating past Oakenwood Crossing on the DFR yesterday afternoon.