Locomotive D6515 / 33012

The Group's own locomotive was one of a fleet of 98 delivered to the Southern Region of British Rail in 1960. The class earned a reputation for reliability and capability across many of BRs regions.

It was added as D6515 to BR stock on 08/07/1960 at it's first depot, 73C Hither Green. It was at various times allocated to Hither Green, Eastleigh, and Stewarts Lane depots. It was re-numbered 33012 in January 1974.

33012 was withdrawn on 13/02/97 as surplus to requirements and saw a few months use as Eastleigh Depot pilot until finally switched off with a number of electrical faults. It was briefly stored on the Mid-Hants Railway at Ropley.

12 was on the back burner while we were busy operating 109 & 208 on the mainline but repairs to the electrical systems were undertaken gradually and the loco was started at Easter 1999 and moved under its own power in October 1999. It was delivered to Swanage by road on 7th October and undertook its first loaded test run that evening. Bodywork repairs commenced promptly, although the loco appeared at the Swanage Railway Diesel Day in red primer! It received the name 'Stan Symes' on 27/11/99 after the Bournemouth and Swanage Driver; who had achieved 60 years on the footplate. 12 was eventually handed over to the SR Operations Department for driver training in March 2000, following completion of bodywork restoration and re-paint into original BR Green livery. It soon became an invaluable part of the motive power fleet.

During Spring 2002, routine oil samples showed signs of the cylinder liners leaking coolant into the engine sump. During the autumn, the engine was completely stripped and re-assembled with new seals. Test runs were completed in time for the annual Diesel Day in November; small yellow warning panels were applied for this event. It was fortunate that the engine re-build had been done, because 2003 saw a 150% increase in use by the Swanage Railway, it is not immune to the nationwide shortage of steam locomotives!

Since then our loco has provided reliable service service and has also had a bodywork overhaul which took place in late 2006. During 2008 the committee voted to allow 33012 to travel to Knights Rail at Eastleigh Works for a general overhaul including generators and running gear. The loco moved to Eastleigh on the 14th January 2009 and stayed for two and a half years during which time it was equipped with TPWS and OTMR allowing the loco to work on the national network.

33012 underwent a successful mainline test run on May 5th 2011 and returned to the Swanage Railway. It was re-named 'Lt Jenny Lewis' on 12/06/14.

In January 2021, 33012 returned to Eastleigh Works to undergo corrosion repairs to the upper cab structures and fibreglass repairs to the cab roofs, on both of 33012's cabs.

It left the works on 14/04/22 and returned to the Swanage Railway.