For some weeks, even months, a few dedicated members had been preparing 33065 for its first attempt at starting. One of the single most time consuming jobs was the repair to damaged and burnt wiring, the result of a battery charging fault when still on the books at Stewarts Lane. That was in 1996.

Bearing in mind 5 years of inactivety, considerable cleaning was focused on the electrics, particularly all those contactors and switches. Much attention was focused on the electrical cubicle at No.2 end and inside the driver's control desks. The main generator and brushes, for example, had not escaped the operation, either. On the morning of the 14th July 2001 itself, efforts were still in progress to free-up the seized starting contacts. The only real treatment being copious amounts of WD40 and elbow grease.

As the events on the first day of the E.K.R. Summer 2001 Gala got underway, the band of members steadily went through final checks with two technical experts that had travelled up from Hampshire. They would also be the vital eyes and ears to watch and listen for anything untoward in the event of 065 actually firing up.

Meanwhile, the SELG sales stand was selling raffle tickets for the opportunity to start 33065 following the departure of the 15.00 passenger train from Shepherdswell.

Following arrival back at Shepherdswell of a service train and shunting complete, 33 063 was despatched to the sidings to collect 33 065 and draw the locomotive down on the spur adjacent to the platform to enable public viewing of the attempted engine start. Below, 33063 slowly draws 065 forward to the viewing area.

As raffle tickets continued to sell and interest accumulated at the end of the platform, SELG members began to feel nervous at the prospect of such a public first attempt and suddenly the idea of finding a quiet siding somewhere seemed more appealing. The raffle was drawn and the winning ticket number 296 was held by none other than 'BA' Barry Evans. Despite Barry's offering of an SELG member to press the button we insisted that he do it and at 15.00hrs the headcode of 33 065 was suitably altered to 'BE' in the hope that this would somehow assist in the persuasion of 33 065 to start for the first time in five years. All other locomotives at Shepherdswell were shutdown and in silence we stood and waited….. We need not have worried, at 15.15hrs 33 065 erupted into life with an accompanying thick black smoke and cheers from the platform!

33 063 then shunted 33 065 back into the sidings whilst further technical checks were made on 33 065 to ensure all was well following the start up, and whether she would take power. 33 063 then uncoupled and left to prepare its train for the 16.00 departure. As this was taking place, a blast from the horn of 33 065 heralded a further milestone as she began to ease slowly down the siding under her own power. Indeed, as 33063 departed the station with the 16.00 to Eythorne, the locomotive passed 33 065 moving under its own power in the sidings therefore presenting the first time that our two Class 33's had passed each other, both under power!

For a number of hours whilst 065's power unit was idling, a lateral rocking motion was evident in the body, one that has been associated with 'A' frame cranking on the Cromptons. However, the movement gradually disappeared. The driver's eye view of 33063 from 065 is pictured. The rocking movement, here, is not apparent as the scanning process has sharpened the image. The video is not so lucky!

Upon return to Shepherdswell of the 16.00 train, it was decided to take 33 065 for a light engine test run to Eythorne and back. For insurance purposes 33 063 would be added for the test. At 17.25 in the pouring rain, 33 065 eased out of the platform for the first time. An impromptu photo stop was taken at Shepherdswell crossing whilst the gates were closed. As 33065 accelerated across the crossing the locomotive shutdown and failed to restart with each attempted restart greeted by the fire alarms going off. It was finally decided to abandon the test run and 33 063 duly returned the locomotive the short distance back to Shepherdswell and into the siding where its batteries were placed on charge for the night. By no means downhearted by these final events, the Group reflected on a successful day that had witnessed the start up and first moves of 33 065.

Sunday 15th July and 33065 basks in glorious Summer morning sunshine. The headcode might offer some hint as to who might be working on the loco already (photo - D.Robinson). For a higher definintion, 94K jpeg file, CLICK HERE.

Following the successful engine start up and taking power trials, much work now needs to be completed on the locomotive before it can be considered as fully operational. The tasks ahead include the following;

• Main Generator needs to have a comm - stoned and set up by qualified persons (Arcing currently present above 1000 amps).
• Tighten Main Generator brush ring locking bolts.
• Oil and filter change.
• Suss boxes must be topped up with oil.
• Traction motors need to be greased.
• Bolt missing from the exhaust system must be replaced.
• Hydrostatic header tank is leaking and may be overfilled.
• All electrical systems need checking and cleaning.
• TMV7 valve needs changing.
• Feed cut off valves need to be removed and cleaned.
• Engine room cleaning and painting.
• Batteries to be charged at frequent intervals.
• Air tanks removed, tested and certified.

The oil sample taken from the engine at the Gala Weekend has now been analysed and we are pleased to report that the results are normal. No problems have been diagnosed.

In addition, the locomotive is currently being rubbed down, red oxide paint and primer applied in readiness for a full repaint into BR Blue which has very kindly been funded by a Group member. All these tasks require considerable time, effort and expense but the rewards in having a third fully operational locomotive will be substantial.