Half-Term Trains

Trainee Guard Oliver flagging away the train from Middle Engine Lane...

...and Percy Main...

...and waving 08915 onto the stock in preparation for the second train of the day.

Ready for departure at Percy Main.

Shunting at the end of the day to swap over the CL and SLO carriages.

The CL (composite lavatory) stabled in Middle Engine Lane platform.

Second Man Matt shunting the brake carriage back into the loop to collect the SLO (Third Lavatory Open)...

...which will then be propelled onto the south end of the CL in the platform.

Bank Holiday Diesels

Some photos of 03078 and 08915 working trains together today after 401 failed with a collapsed brick arch...

Ready to leave Percy Main with a double header back to Middle Engine Lane...

Another double header later on, this time with 03078 leading...

Work on No.69's Steam Brake Piston

This week George has been completing some maintenance work on the steam brake piston. Due to it being cleaned a couple of weeks ago, any signs of damage or wear can be properly inspected. Plans are being put in place to complete work on the piston, piston cover and steam brake cylinder to ensure that it is fully operational when it is put back together.

George flogging a 1 1/8" whitworth spanner trying to remove the piston head from the shaft, which proved unsuccessful.

The piston now put in the lathe to enable removal of the seized piston rings.

The use of a brass drift allowed for the piston rings to be removed without damage.

Photographic Evening

Continuing with our short run of events coinciding with this month's 'Back to Backworth' exhibition, tonight volunteers have organised a photographic evening for members of the public to get up close to a variety of locomotives and wagons, complete with crews in historical clothing.

The evening started with photographers being able to get up close to the engines as they were lined up around Middle Engine Lane yard.

A5 was hauled out of the museum and paired with a short rake of coal hoppers whilst 401 raised steam.

03078 and 08915 lined up further down the yard. This was the 03's first public appearance since the buffer beam repaint earlier in the month.

Crews pose for the cameras in front of the diesels.

Joss (L), Nev (centre) and Thomas (R) with their engines.

Later, 401 headed down the line with a freight train, meeting photographers at the Coast Road bank in preparation for a series of run-pasts.

Charging up the 1 in 48 away from the Coast Road.

Joss and Nev having a breather in between shunting.

Diesels in the dusk.

Photographers gather around 401 ahead of disposal and the opportunity for some long exposures as the fireman throws the fire out.

Vegetation Clearance

Michael D has been busy this afternoon clearing vegetation from the Coast Road bank in order to open the area up for the photographic evening later on today.

Tool Talk

David, the railway's Engineering and Operations Manager, delivering a tool box talk to some of our younger volunteers on the topic of safe angle grinder use.

Today in the Workshop

George and Michael removing two studs from the peckett's boiler.

Steve making a new bracket for the 03's air pipes.

Drilling plate for the new bracket.

George removing expansion rings from 69's steam brake piston.

Lambton Van Progress

John (L) and Michael (R) discuss the work to be carried out.

Planking starting to take shape on the north end.

Freight Train Day

 Today has seen the second installation in our events accompanying the 'Back to Backworth' exhibition, a demonstration freight train day to recreate the coal and oil trains that frequented our railway in its heyday.

The freight train heads around rising sun curve on the way to Percy Main.

Waiting in Percy Main loop for the brake van to be gravitated through the platform.

401 at the head of the re-marshalled freight train in Percy Main headshunt, ready for departure to Middle Engine Lane.

The view from the guards' van on departure from Percy Main.

After arrival into Middle Engine Lane north headshunt.

Driver Michael (L) and Fireman Cameron (R).

Permanent Way Working Party

Some photos from tonight's P-Way evening, during which volunteers focused on more jacking and packing around the south end of Middle Engine Lane yard...

Michael (L), our Head of Permanent Way, and Aaran (R) using the handheld tampers at the south end of the new south crossover.

Joss building up a ballast shoulder at the south headshunt to provide easier access for plant vehicles to the woodland walk project.

Nev (L) and Aaran (R) tamping...

...as are Michael and Joss.