The group has now been established at the GCRN and Ruddington has become the home for its fleet of mainline locomotives. We thought that maybe there would be others interested in who we are, where we have come from and what the status and plans for the locos are.
Past
The group started in 1998 as three members who worked on the diesel fleet at the Churnet Valley Railway. Jo Coultas, Brian O’Hanlon and Alex Newcombe all met and became good friends whilst working and restoring 33102 and 25912 that were owned by the North Staff Diesel group. (All three of us are professional railway men). We also looked after D2334 (04) and 08350, which were in constant use as yard shunters. D7672 (class25) was bought in working order but 33102 was in a poor state so we, as a team, worked for a few years restoring this loco.
In 1999 we decided to buy our own loco. Initially a class 73 was sought but the deal fell through. During that year EWS put various tenders out for class 20s, 31s and 37s. One of the tenders contained 20154 that was located at Toton. Jo and I went to look at the loco and saw that many parts were missing from it but it was mechanically sound. Most of the cubicle was missing but with the two of us being more mechanically minded we thought that was a good job for Brian, he is the electrical whiz.
After discussing it with Brian we bid for the loco and we were informed that we had been successful in August 1999 and the group - Churnet Traction & Rolling Stock was formed.
After spending time collecting missing parts we transported 20154 to the CVR. The power unit was started 12 weeks after it arrived and we worked every spare hour we could restoring the locomotive. By 2001 she was restored and painted in full BR green (as built).
During 2001 we purchased another locomotive. This time the loco was an 08 from Adtranz, Doncaster. 08823 was transported to Cheddleton and we spent the next 12 months rebuilding the engine and restoring it to operational service.
With the class 20 operational and the 08 nearly complete, we decided it was time to look for another loco. The option of purchasing 31442 at Crewe was made available to us and we acquired our third loco. The locomotive was in a very poor state internally and needed a lot of work. It was moved, by rail, from Crewe carriage sidings to the heritage centre for us to work on before moving to the CVR.
In 2002 we negotiated the sale of 20007 from DRS. There is only one thing better than a class 20 – two class 20s!!!!
20007 was chosen because of its history – it was the 8th mainline loco bought by BR in 1957. D8007 was transported to the CVR to join D8154 in 2002. We carried out major engine repairs removing 5 out of 8 pistons and liners. It also required two overhauled turbos. After 12 months 20007 hauled its first passenger train at the CVR. We spent the next 18 months repairing the very poor bodywork. Most of the cab metal was replaced and it was restored to its original condition and painted in BR green from 1957.
In 2003 the group purchased 37340 (or 37009 as originally numbered) from DRS. The locomotive was moved to the CVR in 2003 and put in store pending it restoration after 20007 and 31442. As ever we spent many an hour sourcing spares for these locos in including a boiler for 37009.
In 2004 a tender form EWS resulted in 9 class 73s being sold to Booths of Rotherham. The preservation movement rushed to purchase these locomotives, as they were all almost switch offs. After much discussion, we decided to dispose of the 31442 for a class 73. This was the original loco the group set up for and 31442 was in such a poor state that it would have consumed most of our engine spares. With a substantial fleet it was also 2-3 years work of restoration.
We visited Booths initially to purchase 73131. Our hearts were low as most of the good locos had been snapped up. 73131 was a complete wreck and we felt even lower. But, at the back of the line, pushed hard up against the buffer stop was 73110. The loco was 98 % complete, just missing two traction motors. Most potential buyers had dismissed this as a real negative issue, to our advantage. As the loco was in such good condition we did the deal along with a spare pair of bogies from 73108 that was to be cut up. This completed the loco.
In June 2004, 73110 was delivered to the CVR. We started work on it instantly and performed a bogie swap (including changing motors) making it a complete loco. Small robbed brake and electrical components were sourced and within 3 months of arriving (and a massive effort by the three of us) 73110 performed without fault at the September diesel gala.
In April 2006 we purchased another Class 08, which we stored at a location near Crewe
In 2005, 20007 was finished as D8007 and we started on the body work of 73110. In May 2006, 73110 emerged as E6016 in electric blue livery.
In 2006 a new face offered his services to the team in the shape of Tony Duncan who joined the uphill struggle restoring the fleet. Tony has been a valuable asset to the group ever since – and even runs the EEP website.
With good connections with Mike Fairburn and Mark Fowler we sounded out the GCR(N) as a possible home. We were made welcome form the start and it still amazes us now how friendly the railway is and how much potential the place has.
In May 2007, D8154 and D8007 were to appear at the Midland Railway; Butterley for the 50th birthday of the 20s D8007 was to star with D8001. After the event, D8154 was moved to Ruddington to help relieve the motive power shortage, which she did and performed on the trains without a fault.
37009 arrived at the same time as D8154 to a lot of (understandable) scepticism. Given that we were new and nobody had any idea of our capabilities or track record on loco restoration, it was heavily criticised. The fact that it was a wreck and had one motor it is still not the biggest job we have undertaken. D8007 was in far worse condition but look at it now!
For most of the year we have been working on 37009 or D6709, as she will become. In September we completed a bogie change a first for the GCR(N) in 5 hours. She now sits on two overhauled bogies. The engine has been finished and was started in late September. The bodywork is progressing and the boiler is now at the railway. Estimated completion is autumn 2009.
D8007 left Butterley and went to the Nene Valley Railway for a gala. Its return, in October 2007, was to Ruddington for use in the Gala.
In March 2007 we sold 08823 to allow funds for repair of E6016, which in turn was moved from the CVR to storage at Long Marston to allow us to take stock on its future and repair. During the Christmas holiday we visited the loco for a damage survey that turned out better than we hoped.
In April 2008 we challenged ourselves to get the locomotive repaired in time for the diesel gala. With a promise to the board that it would run we transported the loco to Ruddington with 8 weeks to repair the engine mount, bogies, exhaust and numerous other jobs. After 7 weeks of intensive labour (and many late nights) she started and performed - finished with a week to spare before the gala.
Then in October 2008 we moved 08220 from a private site in Wrenbury to join the rest of the fleet at Ruddington, and this is the first time all the fleet has been together for a few years. And the restoration is progressing rapidly and will be a welcome addition to the loco fleet at the GCR(N).
