55019. The loco was made ready for the move to the GCR planned for Monday 5th August and then it was shunted round the site by the electric 08 ready for collection.
D9015. Final preparations were made this morning in readiness for the long awaited engine starts. Coolant was pumped through, oil primed by hand and fuel primed as per a normal engine prep.
03066 coupled up and after shunting 55009 over the inspection pit D9015 was parked outside in the glorious sunshine. A far cry from the miserable weather last September when the power units were installed.
After a final rollover to make sure everything was as it should be the #1 engine start button was pressed by long standing volunteer Geoff Brain (who had been present when 15 was last shut down in April 1997) and PU538 roared into life as though it had been run yesterday. This unit was last operation in 2019 when it suffered a generator failure while in 55009.
After a minute or two the unit was shut down for a check round and topping up the oil. Once satisfied it was started again and run for about 20 minutes during which time the engine and radiator compartments were checked for any leaks. None found.
Next up PU417, which hadn’t run since 2003. Once again, the unit roared into life with an almost immediate clear exhaust.
As with 538, it was shut down after a couple of minutes and a small oil leak was attended to.
Once checked over to the engineers satisfaction it was started and run for about 15 minutes before being joined in the Napier Chorus by 538 and Tulyar stood proud in the afternoon sun idling on both engines.
A fantastic day and the ease of which the engines started and ran after so long out of action is testament to the outstanding team effort and meticulousness of the preparation leading up to today’s engine runs.
The loco is now into the final stage of the restoration.
Photos: Nigel Julian
New member of the DPS but 9015 was first delly i ever saw in 1972 & this is making me emotional
Jeff, Middlesbrough