A late season Crompton bonus was the unexpected appearance of 33102 on a passenger train in 2009. The locomotive has seen very limited use this year as its protracted bodywork repairs are carried out, but the late removal of 37075 due to square wheels saw the Crompton added to the bill. The weather was mixed to say the least, the shunters threw the timetable on both days, but it was great to see 102 back in action. More please!

A few photos from Jule's (Boogers) 40th Birthday Bash at Swanage on 6th November. A superb occasion - two blue bagpipes in top and tail mode for 5 round trips, a great turnout, a superb cavery and beer stop for lunch at the Greyhound in Corfe and after the trains stopped, the party continued at The Red Lion and some very fine tunes (and dancing!) were to be enjoyed long into the night. Happy Birthday Jule's - hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Many thanks to Ian and the team at the GWR for a truly superb day out. Proving once again that running days are the future, 4 round trips to Cheltenham on load 7 with lots of thrash, plenty of unclutered photo opportunities, a few angles you wouldn't normally get, a multitude of headcodes, together with a trip around the shed at Toddington to see 26043/45149 made for one of the best Crompton days out of 2009...and thanks to 33106 for providing the fine Bath Ales beer! In short, in preservation terms...this was a classic!

A flying visit to the Battlefield Line 'Gridlock' event. 33019 never gets lots of turns at the Gala here due to the rich variety of motive power always on offer. Nervertheless, its always an excellent line to visit for 70's/80's nostalgia and the thrash is always memorable - I enjoyed my first run off 019 for two years - very noisy it was too! Oh....and the Grids looked the part!!

An excellent weekend at the GCR with fine weather and an intense timetable with something for everyone! The double track and late running on the Sunday with missed connections and last minute traction changes gave it a real nostalgic typical BR day out. I predictably spent most of my time on 33116 in superb push-pull mode where its diagramming on frequent Rothley Brook shuttles lead to many a loud departure from Rothley....and I only made it to Leicester North once!

The first and potentially only mainline Crompton passenger action of 2009! No sooner had I bid farewell to 207 at Crewe the previous Saturday contemplating whether it would see the mainline again this year then came the news that Joint Line Railtours 'Merry-Le-Bone' tour had reverted to Plan A which would see a WCRC 33 and 37 top and tail a Worksop - Marylebone charter with a mini trip out and back to Quainton Road thrown in for good measure! Mass alteration of plans! 33207 was as loud and strong as ever with a storming run through the Chilterns into Marylebone - rare Crompton territory indeed. The equivalent load 12 made for lots of noise and an excellent performance by both 33207 and 37516. Thanks to Joint Line Railtours and WCRC for a superb late summer treat - a real bonus and very much an oasis in the desert of Crompton railtours - more please!!

33207 returned from its annual summer holiday on the Cambrian on Saturday 29th August working the 5Z72 0851 Machynlleth - Carnforth ECS, dropping Kettle 76079 + support coach off at Crewe. Here's hoping this isn't the last Crompton mainline action of 2009! An eventful hour or so at Crewe also produced the DBS 37 duo rescuing the sleeper stock from the previous night!

The Crompton Comeback of 2009 - Well it was worth the wait! A very enjoyable day at the South Devon Railway, where 33002, recently returned to operational use was rostered for 5 return trips along the scenic line..with plenty of opportunities for some noise thanks to a few speed restrictions along the route. The external and internal restoration of D6501, the oldest remaining Crompton is a real credit to SDDT and all its volunteers. Well worth the 500+ mile round trip and one I will do again...running days are the future!!

The first proper Crompton mainline action of 2009 finally occurred when 33207 set off for its annual summer holiday on the Cambrian, acting as standby for the weekday steam specials from Machynlleth to Porthmadog/Pwllheli in August. It got to work the ECS from Carnforth to Crewe where it met up with 76079 which then took over for the trip down the Cambrian, with 207 running round to sit on the rear. 207 put in a very fine performance by all accounts....now all we need is the Kettle to need a day off or two! Updated with 3 photos on arrival at Machynlleth courtesy of Stephen Humphrey.

33109 on tour Pt 2 - well its been over 7 years since the first and only time we've had a chance to sample a Crompton at the GWR...and that was a decidely dodgy notch 1 only performance from 33202...so the visit of 33109 to Cotswold country was most welcome indeed providing the first proper Crompton action on the line, and now with the added bonus of extra track to Cheltenham Racecourse. With added bus rally and narrow gauge railway options and intense timetable, it made for a very enjoyable day out....as 109 is there until January 2010, i'm already looking forward to the Christmas busting Diesel Day on 27th December!

The recent restoration of the 4 BIG at the GCR has enabled the return of some pure Southern nostalgia with true push pull operation and proper use of red blinds! 33116 was in typically fine form and the intense diagram celebrating the return ot the 4 BIG enabled 66+ miles per day....thats Waterloo - Andover!

If I ever get divorced, 33109 will be cited in the proceedings! Another afternoon trip to Bury to sample Captain Bill before the loco departs for an extended stay at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, almost ended in disaster as WesMek 7076 (the Hymek with one Western engine in it!) was bolted on for a loaded test run on the final round trip. All was not in vain however, as despite plenty of entertaining clag and noise, the loco needed a fair bit of assistance from the Crompton...just like the old Weds 1115 Crewe - Bangor when an ex Crewe Works loco would often pilot the Crompton.

33109 on tour 2009 Pt 1 - KWVR has built up a superb reputation for memorable diesel gala's and the addition of 33109 to the line up presented the first opportunity for a Bagpipe on the line. A very enjoyable day despite the weather and the temporary failure of 109 due to a burnt out resistor after its first round trip which put paid to its evening on the beerex's. Thankfully it was back by Saturday afternoon....roll on Gloucestershire and Warwickshire in July!

Well the omens weren't good - no published roster....the potential for 053 to be a brake translator for the Grid all weekend....sound advice on Saturday not to make the 400 mile return trip as loco's were proving unreliable, the timetable had disolved and there were a number of freight trains diagrammed! However...the lure of my first 33/0 of 2009 and the first opportunity to have 053 at the Mid Hants proved too much and I boldly ventured south on the Sunday and got lucky as the sun shone and the freight trains got withdrawn which meant 053 got a further round trip! Despite the odds, an excellent day with some top Crompton action. I wonder how many were put off by the lack of advance information though!

A superb collection of engines, all in BR Blue (apart from the 31!) combined with fine weather, a beer festival and the superb setting of the Swanage Railway resulted in surely one of the events of 2009! Thanks to all at the Swanage Railway and the various Diesel Groups for a fantastic event. Photos here of the preparation the night before whilst the convoy from the North was awaited, and from the first day of the event - Friday 8th May.

With 33048 called out to replace a failed Kettle on the West Somerset Railway, there was a choice of 4 Cromptons to be had on 25th April - Other commitments over the weekend saw me opting for my monthly meet up with Captain Bill which was as superb as ever..its not rostered for May.....What will I do?....Swanage and the Mid Hants!

A chance to relive the world of the Crompton overnight was offered by the East Lancs as part of their annual spring Night Rider event which saw 33109 take over from 47402 just after midnight at Bury for 4 round trips before breakfast! Load 8 saw some excellent thrash under the full moon and rising sun. The 200 scouts seemed to enjoy themselves too....since when did scout camp = 96 miles of Crompton haulage? Many thanks to the staff/loco groups of the ELR for another ambitious and excellent event providing a very different experience to the average diesel gala and recreating an essential part of the past.

I know this is rapidly becoming '33109 corner' but over the barren winter months, Captain Bill has been keeping us entertained on a monthly basis. Here are a few more photos from another fine day (not the weather!) at the East Lancs

The unavailability of originally rostered D5054 gave 33109 a welcome first outing in 2009 on the Saturday diesel turn where once again its ETH capability was much appreciated!

A very welcome early opportunity to get my first Crompton of the year in - an enjoyable day despite the freezing conditions. The GCR Steam Heat Diesel Gala allowed us to fondly remember bashing on BR in the middle of winter with no heat locomotives and operational problems due to the freezing conditions!

As synonymous as the 33's were to the Southern Region, the same can be said with Scotland and the excellent BRCW Class 26's/27's. Here are a few photos - wish i'd done more in BR days but let me see where was I....oh yes, usually on a train heading south to the Southern.

Another trip to the East Lancs to sample 33109 on the diesel diagram. My monthly trips to the East Lancs have been providing some welcome Crompton action in an otherwise barren October and November. The onset of the winter weather gave 109 an opportunity to show off its ETH capability...and very effective it was too! All those in the first coach regretted not bringing their beachwear!

A few photos from another excellent day out on the East Lancs and another couple of noisy performances by Captain Bill!

A few photos from 33109's turn on the diesel diagram at the East Lancs - most untypical British and East Lancs weather....glorious sunshine!

A selection of photo's from an excellent Friday at the GCR where good rostering saw a sulzer set and an EE set out for the day offering 3 round trips behind the 25, 31, 37 and 33116. This was 33116's first outing for about 4 months following much needed bodywork attention and a fond farewell to 'Banger Blue!' It's an ongoing process and will be stopped again following the gala to allow Cab No.1 to be completed, the collision damage sustained in 1998 at Purley repaired, and a full repaint in BR blue! The loco is as loud as ever!!

A selection of photos from Spitfire Railtours 'The Dorset Dumpling' - another excellent day out, back on the Southern with a Crompton...and back to Weymouth again. The tour was hauled on the outward leg from Waterloo to Weymouth via Laverstock and Chandlers Ford by 33025 and returned direct by 73136. The first Crompton hauled passenger train out of Waterloo for well over a decade and with a single Crompton, on the equivalent of load 7-8, gave it a distinct and very welcome Waterloo - Salisbury/Exeter feel. Predicted to be a monsoon, we managed to avoid the rain for most of the day apart from 2hrs at Weymouth. More proof that even when not in full health, 33025 is a complete beast!!

Well it was worth the wait! Postponed from the original date of 17th May, the first opportunity to sample a pair of Cromptons on the mainline since late 2006 took 33025/207 from Crewe - Weymouth, outwards via Bristol and Yeovil and returning via Bournemouth, Reading and the Cotswold line. A welcome and long overdue return to the Southern saw the pair storm Upwey and Parkstone Bank before levelling the Lickey incline! A fantastic and very loud performance from both engines. A brilliant sociable day out - more please!!!! Also some photos at Crewe the following day as 025 returned the ECS to Carnforth and 207 prepared to resume steam standby duties on the Cambrian.

A rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at the West Coast Railway operation at Carnforth - an absolutely superb event matched by fabulous weather...just like the old BR open days! A brilliant range of Steam and Diesel locomotives on display, and Crompton wise, a rare chance to see 33030 along with 33025/029, the former just returned from a 6 week stint on Royal Scotsman duties. Only 33207 was missing having left on Friday 25th July with the ECS to Machynlleth in readiness for the Cambrian Steam Specials.

Apparently there was once a plan to name all 98 Cromptons. Whilst this never quite happened, they've carried name's from Southern towns to Scottish Glens, from Royalty to Railtour Operator and fittingly some distiguished engineers, both of the railway and aeronautical variety, and notable figures in railway preservation. All in all, excellent, fitting and relevant names - each and every one!

It was never easy....I moved to Scotland in 1993, missing much of this era, moving back south in 1999...months before EWS moved 025/030 to Aberdeen!

The South East Locomotive Group was formed initially from members of the Class 33 Locomotive Club in late 1991 with the objective to preserve the club's mascot, 33046. The Group was thus originally called The 33046 Fund. However in 1998 when it became evident that 046 was stored with power unit defects and then donated most major components to the remaining EWS Class 33 fleet, it was time to look at other Cromptons. In late 1999 we were fortunate to strike a deal with Mike Biddell to purchase not one 33, but two in the shape of 33063 and 33065. Both had been in covered storage in his bus depot in Essex and both were almost runners! Initially based at The East Kent Railway, 063 was revived in July 2000 with 065 following in July 2001. Both locomotives are now based at the Spa Valley Railway at Tunbridge Wells, a line synonymous with the Class when in BR use. Recent highlights have been the visits of 065 to Kent & East Sussex Railway in 2004, and to Nene Valley and Mid Norfolk in 2007. 063 took centre stage on 3rd September 2005 when it was named RJ Mitchell - Designer of the Spitfire (a name once allocated to a 33 in BR days but it never happened), the event witnessing several flypasts from a Spitfire! Following major traction motor repairs in 2007, 33063 also visited the Nene Valley at the October 2007 diesel gala

Updated to include a few photos from the West Country in April 09 of the Crompton Comebacks of 2009 and 2010!

The first of Kingfisher Railtours 'Settle-Carlisle Experience' tours which saw a fantastic solo performance by 33207 on its first run of the year! The train will utilise 33/37 or 47's from WCRC and operates from Skipton - Carlisle and return on several weekdays between June and the end of September! There was a good turnout for this midweek tour and despite the grim weather south of Blea Moor tunnel, an excellent time was had by all. Thanks to WCRC, Kingfisher and to JC for some stirling mid tour intervention to fine tune 207!

Updated to include recent photos from a trip to Barrow Hill in November 2008

The best news in recent years was the purchase of 33025/029/030/207 by WCRC from DRS in September 2005 - a move that has seen 025/029/207 break further new ground for the Class including the Scottish West Highlands, the Cambrian Coast, Cromer and Sherringham...and New Holland Pier!

Several visiting loco's meant that 33102 didn't get enough action for my liking but a great gala it was all the same - including 102 performing a great shove operation from Leekbrook to Consall in the morning as the Deltic required some attention...

1983 - 1994

The Vintage Era

Updated with some further scans - August 09

33008, 33019, 33027, 33029, 33043, 33109 & 33115