Alex a volunteer Driver takes the controls of the Class 33 of the DEPG

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group was formed with the aim of preserving diesel hydraulic locomotives and to educate the public about the history of diesel loco development in the West Country.

We have our base at Williton half way along the picturesque West Somerset Railway which operates trains (steam and diesel hauled) around eight months of the year.  We have a two road purpose built maintenance shed, a visitor centre and a further siding giving us room to store and work on the locomotives.

The group is funded by annual membership fees, donations and locomotive hire fees. Anyone can join the Group details of how can be found elsewhere on this site. We always welcome new members and they are most welcome to become an active volunteer or to visit the Williton depot site to see our locomotives.
However visitors should contact the Group first due to strict insurance and health and safety requirements. This will also allow the DEPG to help you get the most out of your visit.

The active volunteers meet every Saturday, some Sundays and Thursday at the Williton depot. Thursday is the retired members day (The Old Codgers Brigade!) and the depot is manned occasionally on other days of the week too. .

So what exactly happens on an average Saturday?

Various maintenance tasks are undertaken on locos and in addition work is done to keep the depot in order for example new shed lights were installed fairly recently in our maintenance shed to assist staff working. There is much to be done and on average about 15 people turn up each Saturday to help out. We come from all professions, some are fitters and railway workers, by trade others are not. The primary reason we volunteer is to enjoy ourselves but we are also all committed to helping the group and ensuring that the locos the group owns and manages are well looked after.

Hydraulics are not well represented in the Diesel preservation world. The Group owns two of the four surviving preserved Hymeks plus a Western. Hydraulics played an important part in railway history and we are proud to be able to keep examples of these fine locomotives for future generations. We are not only interested in Hydraulics though. We care for a number of other mechanical and diesel electric locomotives some of which are privately owned. We own rolling stock too including a recently acquired brake van which is currently undergoing restoration work.


Like all preservation groups, we are always looking for new members and active volunteers so if you are interested, please get in touch as your skills will be put to good use in and around our heritage fleet and depot. There are always too many little jobs to do in support of our engineers from tidying the shed to applying a coat of paint or welcoming visitors. If you are interested and we hope you are please go to the contact page and fill out the membership form on the DEPG website, or enquire in person to Mr Graham Perry (DEPG membership secretary) who can be found at the DEPG on most weekends. We look forward to seeing you.

Click here to go to the DEPG Website

Photographs on this site are (c) Respective owners and not to be used without written permission