9/8/10 Restoration News:
Volunteers made progress with the restoration of D8233 over the working weekend of 31 July/1st August. A report is here. The next working weekend is for D5705 and is on 14/15 August - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
7/8/10 Restoration News:
A report for the D8233 start up weekend is here
22/7/10 Restoration News:
A report for a recent working party on D5705 is here
24/6/10 Restoration News:
On Saturday 19th June at precisely 11 am, preservation history was made. Class 15 D8233's Paxman 16YHXL power unit burst into life. Utilising Class 20 20087, which had its own power unit disconnected from its start contactors and the Paxman on the class 15 connected via the newly overhauled BTH generator, two car batteries to power the run solenoid and a battery charger to run the oil priming pump.
The button was then pressed on 20087 and D8233 burst into life and did not disappoint in the noise and smoke departments. The power unit was allowed to run for a short period then shut down to allow vital checks to various items be made, it was then restarted and allowed to run for an hour. The start up is the first time a Class 15 has run in two decades (as heating units) and D8233 last ran (as heating unit) in the early 1980's. The start up is result of 4 years hard restoration by a dedicated team and went successfully with only a few minor snags to now sort. The start up also now test proves other areas of the loco, such as cooler group, oil and fuel systems which have all been completely stripped down over the years for renovation. Although the power unit has been started up, it will be some years before D8233 is ready to haul a train.
Around £60k has been spent so far to get to this stage and it is estimated it will require the same again plus more to get it hauling its first passenger train. Its estimated that another 4-5 years work is required. The power unit and generator will now be drained down and effectively stored until D8233 has its own control system in place to be able to start it again. Project leader Chris Baily said " Its been a very fulfilling event and very emotional for the restoration team. It just shows what time, patience, passion, vision, planning and shear hard graft can achieve. A great moral booster and we now cant wait to get it on a train, we just need the funds to do so."
Photos are here
23/6/10 Restoration News:
Reports for two recent working weekends on D8233 are here and here
13/6/10 Restoration News:
Progress was made on both locos over the weekend of May 22/23. A report for D8233 is here and a report for D5705 is here. The next working weekend is 19/20 June - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
14/5/10 Restoration News:
April was a busy month for the volunteers with the overhauled generator being refitted and work on the power unit taking place in readiness for an engine start up. Reports for the week long working party on D8233 are here here and here. Iif you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
13/5/10 Generator Appeal:
The overhauled generators were returned to Bury in mid April after Dowding & Mills completed the overhaul work to a very high standard. The Generator Appeal is now closed and the Society would like to thank everyone who made donations to the fund and although we did not reach our target the shortfall was made up by the activities of our sales stand.
16/4/10 Restoration News:
A busy few days at the end of March saw progress made on both locos. A report for D8233 is here & for D5705 here. Iif you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
23/3/10 Restoration News:
A busy weekend over 13/14 March with excellent progress made on both locos. A report for D8233 is here & for D5705 here. The next working weekend is for D5705 and is on 27/28 March & on 3/4 April for D8233 - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
13/3/10 Restoration News:
Volunteers made progress with the restoration of D8233 over the working weekend of 13-14 February. A report is here. The next working weekend is for D5705 and is on 27/28 March - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
2/3/10 Restoration News:
A change to the working party dates on D8233 during April sees the planned weekend on April 10/11 now cancelled and replaced with a date a week earlier on April 3/4.
17/2/10 Restoration News:
The societies Preservation Officer has begun the overhaul of two exhausters destined for D5705. The work is taking place away from Bury and a report for the overhaul of the first machine is here
7/2/10 Restoration News:
Volunteers made progress with the restoration of both locos over the working weekend of 30-31 January. A report for D8233 is here and D5705 is here. The next working weekend is for D8233 and on 13/14 February - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
27/1/10 Restoration News:
A report for the first working weekend of 2010 on D5705 has been added here. The next working weekend is 30/31 January on D5705 - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
13/1/10 Restoration News:
The reports for the final working weekends of 2009 on both locos have been uploaded; D8233 and D5705. The society wishes to thank all who have volunteered and supported us during the last year. The next working weekend is 16/17 January - if you wish to lend a hand please contact Chris Tatton
8/1/10 Restoration News:
Working Party Dates for 2010 on both D8233 and D5705 are as follows;
January: 2nd & 3rd (D5705),
16th & 17th (D8233), 30th & 31st (D5705)
February: 13th & 14th (D8233), 27th & 28th (D5705)
March: 13th & 14th (D8233), 27th & 28th (D5705)
April: 3rd & 4th (D8233), 24th & 25th (D5705)
May: 8th & 9th (D8233), 22nd & 23rd (D5705)
June: 5th & 6th (D8233), 19th & 20th (D5705)
July: 3rd & 4th (D8233), 17th & 18th (D5705),31st (D8233)
August: 1st (D8233), 14th & 15th (D5705), 28th & 29th (D8233)
September: 11th & 12th (D5705), 25th & 26th (D8233)
October: 9th & 10th (D5705), 23rd & 24th (D8233)
November: 6th & 7th (D5705), 20th & 21st (D8233)
December: 4th & 5th (D5705), 18th & 19th (D8233)
If you want to get involved please contact Chris Tatton
Click here to visit the news archive
D8233 WILL RUN AGAIN!
Thanks to an intake of new members from the "Project D8233" group, The Class 15 Preservation Society is now re-launched with a newly elected committee. The "Project D8233" name will however live on as the name given to the restoration team.