Miniature Traction Group http://mtg.fotopic.net/ 4 rows en-gb 60 Hymek D7096. News and workings for 2009. http://mtg.fotopic.net/c1722210.html D7096 has spent the first half of the year in storage and having work completed on her. The first event she attended in 2009 was at the Swanley New Barn Railway in Kent on July. For future working please see the main page. Monday 6 July 2009: D7096 has spent the first half of the year in storage and having work completed on her. The first event she attended in 2009 was at the Swanley New Barn Railway in Kent on July. For future working please see the main page.

Sunday 5th July, Swanley New Barn Railway. Kent. Paired with the SNBR's Mardyke Hymek D7069. Double header. Double header Richard De smedt of Mardyke Railways took control of D7096 for one trip. Leaving lakeside Heading back to lakeside Posing in the sun. Awating right away. Blue pullman, D7096 amd D9015.

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]]> Mon Jul 6 2009 'REMUS' Industrial shunter project. http://mtg.fotopic.net/c1355385.html This project started in 2001, but was shelved soon after it was started. In 2001 the basic chassie was built and a hydrostatic box was purchased. In December 2005 it moved from store in the North to join other stored MTG items in the south where we are based. In July 2006 it was decided that it was time to press on with the construction of the loco as the railbus, No5 and the Hymek were either operational or away for overhaul, also with the Hymek being re-engined this left us with a spare engine perfect for a small shunter. The loco was origanally going to be of a narrow gauge outline and the idea was that it was to assist the Romulus steam loco at Swanley on heavy 5 coach trains, But 7 years on we decided to make the loco to standard gauge profile to fit in better with our rolling stock and it will be easier to transport to other railways. Saturday 25 August 2007: This project started in 2001, but was shelved soon after it was started. In 2001 the basic chassie was built and a hydrostatic box was purchased. In December 2005 it moved from store in the North to join other stored MTG items in the south where we are based. In July 2006 it was decided that it was time to press on with the construction of the loco as the railbus, No5 and the Hymek were either operational or away for overhaul, also with the Hymek being re-engined this left us with a spare engine perfect for a small shunter. The loco was origanally going to be of a narrow gauge outline and the idea was that it was to assist the Romulus steam loco at Swanley on heavy 5 coach trains, But 7 years on we decided to make the loco to standard gauge profile to fit in better with our rolling stock and it will be easier to transport to other railways.

20/4/08.Work continues at a steady pace. The engine mount brackets have now been fitted ready for the engine mount plate to fit in. Also attention has been given to the side frames that started to show signs of rusting away! The buffer beams now painted. AUGUST 2007. The Chassie fresh from storage. The chassie all cleaned up and awating some bufferbeams. The main components are now positioned so drawings can now be produced so the rest of the chassie, main body, cab and control system can be designed and built with ease. 24/2/08. Work has recomenced after a winter break, as this is an out door project! The bufferbeams have been added and the hole are being filed out for the hooks and chains, a teadious job! 9/3/08. All buffers are now fitted and the couplings now in place. After cleaning and painting attention will now go into fitting of break gear, hydraulic unit and engine.

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]]> Sat Aug 25 2007 Railbus http://mtg.fotopic.net/c1299845.html This is our on going project to restore and operate this unique single car unit based on a Leyland experimental railbus. I think it was built around 1980 by Mardyke Railways and was stored there and I think occationally used on there short garden Railway, but certainly has stood idle for the last 10 years. It was purchased by myself and a friend in March 2007 when is was moved into our private workshop for restoration. On completion it is intended to take the railbus visiting 71/4 gauge railways. Sunday 16 March 2008: This is our on going project to restore and operate this unique single car unit based on a Leyland experimental railbus. I think it was built around 1980 by Mardyke Railways and was stored there and I think occationally used on there short garden Railway, but certainly has stood idle for the last 10 years. It was purchased by myself and a friend in March 2007 when is was moved into our private workshop for restoration. On completion it is intended to take the railbus visiting 71/4 gauge railways.

20/4/08. This is how LEV6 stands today. The new coat of white is almost complete. The final coat of white is applyed. The Baron takes his new bird for a drive! Stage 2 of the restoration will see anti bellowing bars fitted!!!! This is the old 24v electric motor mounted on one of thebogies. This is me starting to dismantel the unit. The railbus in store in 2000. Our Railbus in the Mardyke catalogue, There was also another one built, Powered by a petrol engine, This is still in store at Mardykes. She is stood outside our workshop the day after arrival. THE BIG DAY! 1/7/7. The railbus was moved to Swanley N.B.R for testing (playing!). She is seen here through the lens of David Clark drifting down the yard. Two proud owners, who else would buy somthing like this?!!!! MTG members enjoy the first few yards of railbus bashing! The first trip on Swanley's hilly main line. And she made it back..... Ready to go back to the sheds, A repaint, fitting of lights and horn beckon now... 4/8/07. Visit of railbus to Spa Valley Railway diesel weekend. She ran along with no5 on the short line on the platform at Tunbridge Wells. She proved very popular with SVR staff, all wanting to get her in..... She ran along side the Thumper' DEMU for much of the day. 15/9/07. VISIT TO FANCOTT LIGHT RAILWAY. This little railway runs behind a pub near Luton. This day was there diesel gala. Railbus heads round the triangle on to the main line. Passing the Dutch 08 shunter. The track was maintained to a very high standard. On the main line. Railbus rests. 16/9/07. Railbus takes a trip to Canvey Island Railway. All clear Newark again! Passing the sheds. Having a rest Ron Manning from Chingford club loved the railbus! After Canvey the Railbus did a few round trips at Swanley, seen here heading towards lakeside. Railbus at Swanley taking a spin. 7/10/7. Visit to Chingford Railway, N London. L.E.V.6 ran a number of passenger trains. Waiting the road at Larksfield station. Crossing the bridge at Pond Loop. Passing a Hunslet. Waiting in the passing loop. Genral view of Larksfield station. Hunslet waiting for LEV 6 to clear the section. 9/2/8. Visit to Beckonscot Light Rly. The visit was to a private function held on the line. LEV 6 is being preped for the day. The Unit is seen coming of the figure of eight section. The line is a compact 'garden' style railway that is well landscaped. Railbus is stood next to Tim Dunn's Mardyke 125 set. A lovely scene showing how nice Mardyke trains look on a railway. On the figure of eight. M Humphreys In the Cutting. M Humphreys M Humphreys M Humphreys LEV 6 leaves the main station as the HST power car looks on. The famous headboard that was made for the Swanley New Barns Mardyke gala back in 2000, It seems to re-appear now and again reminding us of that weekend over 8 years ago.

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]]> Sun Mar 16 2008 Hymek D7096 History, Restoration and 2008 Events. http://mtg.fotopic.net/c1291389.html PROJECT 7096 is a new project to re-build a 7.25 gauge 5hp petrol powered Mardyke hymek and turn it in to a 11hp diesel engined beast! D7031 as it was then was built in 1997 at the Mardyke works in Essex and moved to the 'Grand Chigwell Railway' in the early 90's where is ran on there steeply graded line until the railway closed in 2006. The Loco then went into store at the Hop Farm, Kent until June 2007 and was stripped of all major components leaving just the body shell, floor pan and bogies. Then it left for Mardyke loco works for a £8.5K overhaul and rebuild in to a proper diesel hydraulic locomotive, capable of hauling very heavy loads. She will emerge in March 2008 a new locomotive, with a new identity D7096. There was a couple of reasons '96 was picked for the loco. 1, out of the 11 hymeks that Mardykes built 2 managed to to get the same number 7031! So this one had to stand apart.... " 2, After the great hymek 'cull' in 1975 by British Railways only 5 hymeks survived, 4 went into preservation by 1986, the 5th which was stored at the Old Dalby test centre and was classed as too far gone for preservation so it was scrapped in February that year. It donated many of its components to it's sister D7076 allowing '76 to be returned to running order on the East Lancs Railway, Bury. Therefor it is fitting to give our hymek D7096's identity as a tribute to the "one that did'nt quite make it". Monday 17 March 2008: PROJECT 7096 is a new project to re-build a 7.25 gauge 5hp petrol powered Mardyke hymek and turn it in to a 11hp diesel engined beast! D7031 as it was then was built in 1997 at the Mardyke works in Essex and moved to the 'Grand Chigwell Railway' in the early 90's where is ran on there steeply graded line until the railway closed in 2006. The Loco then went into store at the Hop Farm, Kent until June 2007 and was stripped of all major components leaving just the body shell, floor pan and bogies. Then it left for Mardyke loco works for a _8.5K overhaul and rebuild in to a proper diesel hydraulic locomotive, capable of hauling very heavy loads. She will emerge in March 2008 a new locomotive, with a new identity D7096. There was a couple of reasons '96 was picked for the loco. 1, out of the 11 hymeks that Mardykes built 2 managed to to get the same number 7031! So this one had to stand apart.... " 2, After the great hymek 'cull' in 1975 by British Railways only 5 hymeks survived, 4 went into preservation by 1986, the 5th which was stored at the Old Dalby test centre and was classed as too far gone for preservation so it was scrapped in February that year. It donated many of its components to it's sister D7076 allowing '76 to be returned to running order on the East Lancs Railway, Bury. Therefor it is fitting to give our hymek D7096's identity as a tribute to the "one that did'nt quite make it".

D7031s Last day in traffic was spent on track recovery dutys at Grand Chigwell on the 16/12/06. This was certainly an authentic train for the hymek, as this class of loco was famous for the track recovery trains on the Somerset and Dorset in 1967. Im not sure if British Railways stacked there track panels on a pullman coach roof though!!!! The special heads down the bank. L to R Marc Humphreys, Chris Dixon and Matt Rutherford. The last members special on the last remaining section of the GCR. this was the last time D7031 ran with it's petrol engine. Chigwell show in the late 90's. An early shot of D7031 at Chigwell. One of the last duty's of 7031 was performed in August 2006, a 'tribute train' to mark the passing away of Des De Smett a few days previous. Des was the founder of Mardyke Railways and had built around 100 locomotives in his time! From L toR: Matthew Rutherford, Bill Dadswell and Chris Dixon. D7031 in the mid 90's at Chigwell. '31 recives attention at chigwell, she has a 5hp Briggs under her bonit and powers only one bogie via a hydrostatic box. this is its downfall as she struggles to gain grip on the inclines at Chigwell. Once rebuilt she will have a hydralic motor on each bogie fed by a powerful pump. The old Briggs and stratton can be consigned to a lawnmower where it belongs! D7031 stands at Chigwell (Roding Lane) in Sept 2000. '31 is carrying the name 'Metropolitain Police' in this view as it ran in the grounds of there sports centre. A look back to the 22 June 2007, the day the loco left storage in Kent and moved to the Mardyke works. 12/2/8. The radiator grills have now been extended to a greater depth, as of the prototype. Other work has taken place including a novel fuel tank! I shoud have more photos and an update from the Mardyke works in the next week. 1-3-09. D7096's first outing this year. She was used for driver training duties on the Woking Miniature Railway. The 9 coach formation leaves Woking. Close up. Photo Paul Wenham. Some shots from aboard the test run, The rain and the fading light made photography difficult. Thanks to RON STANBRIDGE of the Fancott MR for these Photos. Test Run. ( R. Stanbridge). 21/3/08. Hymek progress! Here the hydraulic tank is being positioned in the loco. Looking rather like a hymek! The cut out headcodes improve the hymeks face 100%. The engine and pump are now fitted. 29/3/08. The grills are test fitted and the body prepaired for painting The exhaust system is now complete and the loco is waiting its hydraulic hoses. 15/4/08. In the paint shop. 8/5/08. D7096 is moved out of the Mardyke works. She is 90% complete at this point and is moving to a private premisis in kent for completion. The engine has been started and the hydraulics tested. She is being loaded, with Richard saying goodbye! 12/5/08. The roof has now been fitted. Work on instaling the electrical systems is well under way This picture could be taken at Paddington in 1965! Air filter and muffler guard now fitted. A close look at the commonwelth bogies. Horns now fitted also the chains. The loco was latter started and moved under it's own power for the first time, if only for a foot each way! 15/5/8. Running numbers, headcodes and flashes added. 7096 in the workshop as work on the electrics continue. 17/5/08. THE BIG DAY! 7096 arrived on shed a Woking MR, Surrey at Mid day as a non runner, Here our MTG hero (CME) is seen working flat out all day to try and get the loco working! This photo by BILL DADSWELL shows the loco being pushed in to the shed at around 12am Ready for work to commence. The rain stayed most of the day, but did not hinder our determination to see her run! By 6.30PM, She's alive!!!! By 7.00, The Baron got hold of her.... By 7.30 The loco has been backed on to it's first test load, the blue pullman! Could be a rescue from the 1960's. The loaded test run also included 12 people including Mr Wenham and Mr peach. Night photo shoot: Could this be Bristol Bath Road 1964? The hymek is still waiting it's handrails. Hellfire! 15/6/08. EASTLEIGH LAKESIDE RAILWAY. D7096 stands 'on shed' ready for a days work at the annual diesel day. On shed The first run of the day was a test load. ELR's Rob Hart at the controls, A big thanks to him for helping prep the loco and organizing the day. This is a Historic event! This was the first passenger train she has worked under diesel power. An interesting fact that it is dead on one year ago that we decided to re-build the loco!! Out on the main line late afternoon, We kept her to 3 coaches for the day to let the engine/hydraulics run in. At 5pm she ran a members special with 8 on! 7096 at the summit of the line. Handrails, windscreen wipers and BR crests will enhance the loco futher.

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