The WESMEK Lives!!!

Class 35 Diesel Hydraulic loco D7076 has recently had an engine transplant, its original Maybach MD870 has leaking cylinder liners and needs to be stripped down for repairs, so in order to get the loco running again for the East Lancashire Railway July Diesel Gala, the MD870 was removed and one of the Maybach MD655 engines out of D1041 "Western Prince" was fitted in its place, The MD655 is only a V12 engine (the MD870 is a V16) so it was a bit shorter than the original lump so many weekends work of modifications were required, but Martin Tottle (otherwise know as Tidds) with the assistance of new volunteer Matt Lindley and BHG leader Malc Kirkwood were finally in a position to push the button on the evening of Saturday 6th June 2009, the first start I didn't catch on film was a bit rough the engine coughed & spluttered into life but started knocking very badly due to oil pressure problems, it was quickly stopped and the fault rectified then it was primed and started again and this time it ran much better, subsequent start ups were more and more successful and the engine was eventually running as sweet as a nut, there are a few issues left to sort out but otherwise the loco will be ready for duty come july, a huge congratualtions to all involved with this project :)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Diesel
• Hydraulic
• Loco
• lcomotive
• Class
• 35
• 52
• Hymek
• Western
• Prince
• East
• Lancashire
• Railway
• lancs
• ELR
• castlecroft
• Maybach
• MD655
• MD870
• WESMEK

[31144]

Iam a little worried about the "knocking badly due to lack of lubricating oil" comment at the beginning of the video !!!! Dont rev the balls out of it to much lads,you dont want 2 f***ed Maybachs now do you ??

[Toontrain]

Well during the first start when it was knocking it was only running for around 15-20 seconds before it was shutdown again, the Lubrication problem was quickly sorted and its the 2nd start up that you see, and as you can hear the engine is running much better also with every successive start up it ran sweeter & sweeter, you for get that Maybachs have tunnel roller race bearings on the crankshafts, also it was the first start of the engine in many years the oil gallerys in the engine were dry...

[class37s]

omg. full credit on this job but please - my ears!!! What is that racket at the beginning of the video....It certainly not music. Some idiot screaming his head off right before I shoot him with a nailgun...

[Toontrain]

Well its kinda like this, on making the text screens at the beginning of this vid, they were a bit quiet for my liking but to fill the void I needed a song that was a minute or so in length and this seemd to fit the bill, I thought the lyrics were quite appropriate :) sorry if it wasn't to your taste but then my taste in music is a little ecclectic ;)

[YITKV]

Impressive

[31144]

Has anyone seen Mr Snuffalupacuss in the engine room of the Wesmek,I did today !!!!! lol,nice cab ride up and down the line too thanks to a certain Mr Baily

[headstandking]

I remember this loco in Glos in the 1970's. Lovely to see it in action. As t having a Western engine - fine! The hymek would have loved having another hydraulic engine inside it.

What's next? Let's see a Deltic engine in a 1970's DMU!

[20bertie]

Congratulations to all involved. I can't imagine how complex this is. Lets hope you get many months reliable running.

[mststv]

'Cmon ! :D

[craigybus1]

Well done lads...The mutant lives :)

[31144]

Fair comment Mr Toon and your right maybachs do have roller bearing main bearings BUT they have white metal over bronze big end bearings and they also have fork style conrods which "share" the same bearing surface per "V",these are what would of been knocking !!,main bearings rumble when they are shagged,pray tell you left the oil priming pump running then went for a brew ?