SELG Crompton On-loan, 2003/4 [More recent info appears at the top of the page] | |
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WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE SELG TO THE SPA V.R. IN AUTUMN 2004, NO FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE ADDED TO THIS PARTICULAR PAGE |
The S.E.L.G. held its 2004 AGM at Tunbridge Wells West on Sat.3th April. When all the talking was over, we made our way to the platform where 6583 (33063) had been prepared by the very nice people at the Spa Valley Rly. for a few trips up'n down the line. The 'face' carried earlier during the "Friends of Thomas" event was stored securely out of sight and so our Crompton was restored to normal, once again. In failing light and deteriorating weather, members and friends retired to the coach immediately behind and enjoyed an hour of Sulzer/Crompton mileage. The resident ED, 73140, providing the traction to take us west to Groombridge whilst our '33' did the honours on the slopes going east to TWW. Based on the experience of the said hour, I can safely say that 6583 is back in rude health. Infact, she seems at least a notch stronger and quicker on the uptake since its recent attention to the power unit governor. I wish to tender a 26-second video clip as evidence. The loco is seen and heard from the lineside, tearing out of High Rocks in full flow with over 200 tonnes in tow. Note our happy Treasurer strategically positioned at an open window, giving a friendly wave to the camera! | |
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Video clip link : | 
<<VIDEO STILL>> |
 6583 is pictured just moments before it left High Rocks platform and captured on the lineside video clip, described above, some 150 yards further east from this location. Photo - D.Robinson. | |
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Over the weekend of 11/12 Oct. 2003, the Spa Valley Rly. held their Steam & Diesel Gala. 6583/33063 took out a Tunbrigde Wells - Groombridge service just before lunch on the Saturday but was struggling on low power. On the return leg it got worse and required some nursing to get it home. In the platform at TWW the loco was unable to idle and as such was deemed to have failed. Resident 73140 had also failed on an earlier train with low power but that was restored to traffic on Sunday morning after an electrical fault was found. However, 33063 had no such luck as it was strongly suspected it was suffering power unit governor problems, something to which they are prone and had been giving small signs recently when appearing to ignore the last notch on the power handle. Usually drawing around 3000 amps on full power, it was tending to sit at 2500. On the day it failed it was barely turning in 600 without intervention. In the intervening days and weeks, enquiries have been made on the 'governor' front and as a result it is hoped to have the parts and remedial work done by mid-December, but sooner if possible. On the Sunday after the failure (12th), the down time was used to begin a much need bogie and underside pressure-wash, something it's been waiting for for some time. | |
 | 6583 prepares to depart Tunbridge Wells West with the Noon departure for Groombridge. 6583 would struggle on low power for the whole trip. Some passengers realised all was not well as it just would not throttle up to any extent. |
 | 6583 has struggled back to TWW but is stopped
after failing to idle when on 'engine only'. The stock would be removed by the next service then the Crompton was uncerimoniously dragged
dead onto shed. At the time of writing it had still not fired up due to the power unit governor problems. photo D.Robinson |
 | 73140, the resident 'ED', on shed at Tunbridge having failed with low power. An electrical fault was found and rectified. The ED went back into traffic on Sunday workings. No such luck, unfortunately, for the Crompton. |
| 6583/33063
pictured on shed. CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A DETAILED 164K jpeg file opened in another browser. |
 | Jinty 47493 in light steam, framed by an engine room window of 6583. The 'kettle' will be back in service for the 2004 season. |
| As per the Jinty, 73140 could be viwed from 6583. |
 | The SpVR's green class 12, 15224, leads black class 10, D3489, having brought in a train to TWW. |
 | The power unit governor. Not the circular bit at the front but the rectangular lump attached immediately behind it. The circular contactor is controlled by the governor, rotating the inner contact allowing switching through the load banks when increasing/decreasing engine revs. |
 | 6583 lined up next to 73140 on Sunday 12th Oct 2003. Pressure washing in progress. |
 | With 6583 out of traffic, pressure washing was commenced on areas below the solebar. After this picture was taken, the photographer climbed into the inspection pit beneath, suitably clad in waterproofs, and proceeded to clean the area between the fuel tank and the inner traction motor of No.2 end. The muck was quite thick proving how necessary the wash was needed. Bogie fires are a risk but such an event occurring on 6583 should now be much reduced. |
| For the younger enthusiast, 33063 popped up during the Spa Valley Rlys' "
Day Out With Thomas" weekends over 20th/21st & 27th/28th September 2003, complete with face and a 'Charlie' nametag. | |
 
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| During W/C 1st Sept. 2003, 6583 was employed on shunting movements in Groombridge, including hauling all of the out-of-service stock out of the engineer's siding (pictured L). Later on in the day when the shunting was complete, 6583 is pictured sitting at Groomebridge prior to returning to Tunbridge Wells. Both photos courtesy of Matt Dives, Spa Valley Rly.. | |
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| 6583/33063 is pictured in glorious, morning Summer sunshine at Tunbridge Wells West station during the Diesel Gala weekend, 9th August. I am grateful to Andrew Wilson for the use of his photographs. | |
 
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On 7th July 2003, 33065 & 33063 are pictured, left, at Shepherdswell prior to 063
moving to the road crossing for loading. Right, 063 is sporting its new replica, builders plates, fitted for the occasion. The plates
read " The Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd. Smethwick England serial no. DEL 187" and are only fitted when
on operating days which includes the Spa V.R. Gala days. | |
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Sporting a fresh coat of paint and it's pre-1974 number 6583, 33063 was successfully transferred by road on 8th July 2003 from the East Kent Railway to the Spa Valley Railway. Beginning it's loan period, the loco was loaded during the evening of 7th July at the road crossing, North of Shepherdswell. The Allely's low-loader then remaining there for the night. | |
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| The ensemble departed at approx 8am on the 8th July, arriving at Tunbridge Wells
West at
2pm, having taken something of a tortuous route with a police escort, in order to avoid low bridges etc..
Left,
the heavy load is seen crossing the top of High Street, Tunbridge Wells, and at the next turning will turn south onto the
A26 heading
towards the Pantilles. (photo - C.Smith)
Above right, 6583 is pictured at Tunbridge Wells West pending removal from the low loader (photo M.Dives, Spa Valley Rly.) | |
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6583 is gradually lowered down from the low-loader onto Spa Valley
Railway metals, touchdown occurring at 15.45. The freshly painted snow ploughs can be seen to be getting close to grounding
but there was enough of an air gap to avoid contact. By 4.30pm, 6583 was performing a few shunting duties in the yard at TWW before running the length
of the Spa Valley Rly. light engine to Groombridge and back at around 6pm.
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The Crompton and visiting 'JB' Electro-diesel 73140 are planned to operate on the SVR's Diesel Gala weekend, 9th/10th August and again on their Steam & Diesel Gala on 11th/12th October. | |
 
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| This is only 33063's second repaint since coming into SELG ownership, the previous one completed in July 2000. This time around, the loco has been fitted with it's pre-TOPS number of 6583, an identity carried for approximately 12 years (a 'D' for diesel prefix was also carried until the end of mainline steam in 1968). A 73C, Hither Green shed plate has also been added to each cab end. Left, 6583 is seen performing shunting duties at TWW, whilst right, the Crompton is pictured stretching its legs to Groombridge in fine, evening, Kent sunshine. Both photos courtesy of Matt Dives, Spa Valley Rly.. | |
 | After a long day loading, travelling and unloading, by 19.00hrs, our Crompton has a chance to rests-up outside the shed at Tunbridge Wells West. |
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