12th October 2008 - Class 103 Started!
Sunday 12th October saw a huge milestone reached by the Helston Railway Diesel Group. For the first time in their ownership Park Royal class 103 power car no 50413 had one of its engines started up. The drivers side engine on 50413 was started by the groups mechanical experts Lester and Gary. The YouTube clip below by member Conner Nolan shows the event:
Click on the video to play......
Despite the engine last being started up in 2001 today it started with fautlessley (about six turns), after running for apx 10 minutes it was shut down for apx 10 minutes before being started again when it started on half a turn! Attention will now go towards starting the other engine before moving on to the drive etc. The gearbox shaft was disconnected during todays startup.