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WD Drewry Diesel 0-4-0 70037


ploughman

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Well it's a British Vehicle so I thought it best to put it here.

 

Our Group on the NYMR ( North Yorkshire Moors Railway) had this loco donated to us a number of years back by BP at Saltend near Hull.

 

 

Drewry Shunter 0-4-0 DM 70037 - MEF 44 or BP 16

 

This loco may be the most travelled loco on the NYMR.

Built by Drewry Car Company at Burton on Trent in 1941 for the WD as number 37 0f a batch of 20 (29-48)

Electrical equipment and the exhaust system were flameproofed for use in munitions factories and fuel dumps.

Worked in The UK until 1943 then shipped out to the Middle East and renumbered MEF 44 and later 70037, working mainly around Suez.

Returned to the UK in 1947 to Kings Norton WD Depot near Derby from where it was sold in Feb 1948 to Shell Mex / BP for work at Manchester Trafford Park becoming number 12.

1950 transferred to BP at Jarrow on Tyneside and again renumbered this time becoming No 16, it worked at Jarrow until 1964.

Then for repair by Bagueley’s then to BP Saltend near Hull until 1984 when it was donated to the York Are Group for use on the NYMR.

Work on the NYMR was on Civil Engineers PW trains hauling work trains on the line.

Out of use now since 1999 but a requirement for another loco at Newbridge may mean its return to service.

As part of this it was extricated from the bramble patch at the end of the yard and placed in the shed were our fitter can begin to check it over.

2 main areas initially, Check that the engine will turn over and if possible start. and also to check on the state of the Torque Converter.

 

A brochure is available on the web detailing the capacities etc as built.

 

http://www.enuii.org/vulcan_foundry/photographs/Pre%20EE%20Diesel/vulcan%20drewry%200-4-0%20shunters.pdf

 

Note the photo of in service locos 1 being the beach landing in Normandy of 2 similar locos There is another available of the same 2 locos on a rebuilt bridge near Caen but copyright may be a problem.

Unfortunately no one had a camera that we know of out in Suez.

16 West side rear.JPG

16.jpg

16 West side front.JPG

Edited by ploughman
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Re the crane.

It has been available for purchase for over a year now, all we ask scrap price and that it is removed from the railway.

As a guide we estimate approx 35 tonnes x £150 / ton

Last in use about 8 years ago and laid aside as larger cranes were more readily available.

 

There is also likely to be number of wagons destined for a similar fate unless someone steps in quickly.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Our fitter has been looking at the state of the engine over the last couple of days.

Not possible to bar the engine over so he has removed one of the heads from the Gardner Diesel.

Stuck his hand into the piston and found about 4" of water.

Looks like more of the cylinders are similar so I think it means an engine out job sometime in the future.

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  • 3 months later...

Thought it about time I posted a few more photos.

No real work has been done on the loco yet as this is now our groups bueriod involved with the track renewals on the NYMR.

Maybe about March - April we can start to think about other projects.

 

Somebody called it water in the cylinder. That is not what it looks like.

 

16 Engine general layout.jpg

16 Gardner plate.jpg

16 No 1 cylinder with liquid.jpg

16 No 2 manifold.jpg

16 No 2 Rocker.jpg

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  • 3 years later...

Just to bump this topic.

 

We are looking for any information on this locos service in the Middle East during WW2 from 1943 and upto repatriation in 1947.

Can anyone supply any detail please?

 

Otherwise we have had no progress on this loco as other vehicles have had to take priority.

That may change in the near future though.

 

Thanks in advance.

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  • 4 years later...

We have some progress.

Recently the Loco was moved from Pickering on the NYMR and now resides at the Derwent Valley Railway at Murton near York.

One of the guys working on the Loco has set up a webpage to show progress.

http://tonysimons.me.uk/Drewry/

Some of the photos are before and after showing the amount of Cab pipework and fittings that have been removed.
This is so that the cab can be removed to fabricate a new one. The existing cab is too corroded to be reused.

Does anybody have any photos of its earlier life at BP Saltend up to 1984
or any of the other refineries or even in military service.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 2 months later...

Cab has been freed off, awaiting a lift.

Then the cab to be sent to a fabricator who will build a new cab, the old steel is too badly deformed with rust lamination to do anything with.

Some other bodywork being done in the meantime.

All controls removed from cab, now being cleaned up and painted.

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  • 6 months later...

York Area Group on the NYMR has amongst it's collection of vehicles an ex WD 0 - 4 - 0 DM shunter.
This loco is currently resident on the DVLR at Murton near York where it is being overhauled by the DVLR.
We are trying to put together it's operational history.
We have the date ex works from EE at Preston 29-10-41
From Preston it was sent to Penarth, presumably to the docks there for shipping to the Middle East.

Is there likely to be any record existing of what date it left Penarth?
Ship and Convoy detail?
Arrival in Middle East for delivery to the WD operations on the Suez Railway?
Where was it used out there?
Date of return to UK? in 1945 and route back?

I have tried the various Military museums at Chatham RE, Lyneham REME and Worthy Down RLC, who all responded as nothing known. The NRM at York Search Engine had some records that we did not know.
Thanks to all the Museums for trying anyway.

Can anyone else answer the queries listed above?
Thanks in advance.
Bryan

Link to photos of work under way.
http://tonysimons.me.uk/Drewry/

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l WOULD like to make a suggestion go back and ask the RLC museum about the railway squadron history ledgers these were at BEVERLEY they  will hold the answers to your questions . Two ask the K&WVR if they took any of the railway records as BILL BLACK  used to visit and get   copies of the loco drawings and other items Three if these fail to help get in touch  with the  NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM and ask where these item are or WHO has them. Sadly there were three people  who could have given you chapter and verse  on  any thing to do with military railways   Major tubby ROBINS  chief instructor LONGMOOR and Staff basil SANDERSON the first person to drive RORKE'S DRIFT both shunting clouds god bless them and one other who was commandant at LONGMOOR

 

Edited by wally dugan
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BRYAN as some one else on the FORUM found out he was told that they did not have the records  for his vehicle in his case But after he then got back in touch they found the information l have no faith in the RLC MUSEUM because they cannot think out side the box unless it is on the computers they just stop

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Wally,

Sadly you will have to add another name to those who are "shunting clouds". Bill Black of K&WVR passed away a few months ago. A man of his experience, intelligence and capability will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

Pictures of military locos are quite rare on this forum. I have attached an image of a Defence Logistics Thomas Hill Vanguard - despite the modern look it is chain driven!

David

 

thvanguard.jpg

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DAVID that is indeed sad news l got to know BILL first when we met and found that we had a connection with DALMUIR he with the CONQUEROR when he worked  there and later when he became involved with the K&WVR and the need they had for railway plans and information  to help with the restoration of rail equipment that was housed at BEVERLEY

WALLY

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