WHEN the Gwili Railway found that it needed new bearings for its Class 03 diesel shunter D2178, it decided to make them itself.
It was decided that the bearings needed changing due to excess wear. Checking the unit’s history it was found they were last changed at the last major overhaul of the 1962-built locomotive, at Swindon Works in 1980.
Tony Hancock, who works with Stephen Caws as the line’s employed motive power department crew, and who has over 35 years’ experience in turning and machining, decided he would do the repairs and make the bronze bearings himself in the line’s workshop.
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The job took three weeks with the cost of the bronze blanks totalling over £2000.
Stephen said: “As a professional team we are able to help other railways in the production of turned fittings and bearings. They only need to ask and we will give them a quote.”
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