Museum Decorating

Over the past few weeks, volunteers have been busy decorating the museum ready for the upcoming 'Elf Express' trains, starting on December 2nd.

This has involved building a stage in front and mock-up tunnel in front of Meaford No.1 (complete with smoke machine in the smokebox!) where the visitor experience begins with a performance by Santa and the elves.

E4 looking very festive!

Museum decorations

Meaford No.1 decorated and set up in the museum ahead of Elf Express

 

Shunting

Following the Metro cab being removed from the museum, rolling stock was shunted into place in the yard and Meaford No.1 was shunted into the cabs place in the museum

 

MEA1 and E4 out in the sun

RSH Meaford No.1 and Harton E4 out in the sunshine this morning

 

Shunting

Trainee driver David at the controls of 03078

A.No.5 and Meaford No.1 hauled out of the museum to make room for the AGM

 

Morning prep

View from the yard apron, with 401 steaming up for the day ahead

Meaford No.1 shunted outside

08915 returning to Middle Engine Lane after the morning line inspection

 

Meaford No.1 in the sun

RSH Meaford No.1 basking in the afternoon sunshine today. The loco is normally stabled in the museum, however it is hauled out every morning on operational days to allow for the museums one way walking system

 

Morning prep

401 steaming up for today's services

Hauling Meaford No.1 out of the museum to bask in the sunshine

 

69 and MEA1

08915 shunting wagons in the yard...

...for a quick photoshoot with 69 and Meaford 1

 

Cleaning Meaford No.1

Adam up top polishing Meaford No.1s safety valves

Volunteers (L to R) Thomas, Kevin, Adam and Katie (up top) cleaning No.1

 

Shunting

Meaford No.1 being dragged out the museum by 401 this morning

 

Shunting

03078 and 08915 out shunting the yard

View from 03078

No.1 stabled in the workshop

Shunting

Shunters view on the front of 03078 this morning

Picking up wagons

Picking up more wagons and shunting them out the way of the museum road

This was to allow access to E4 and Meaford No.1, these were being pulled out of the museum to allow the lighting to be replaced in the museum

Stabling Meaford No.1 on the pit road

Smoke machine

Smoke machine set up under the blastpipe in Meaford No.1s smokebox

Proving successful

Polishing A.No.5 & No.1

A.No.5 and Meaford No.1 receiving a bit of polishing by volunteers Michael and Steve this evening

Museum shunt

03078 and 08915 were used to carry out a big shunt today in order to rearrange the museum, in this photo 03078 has just shunted the 3 flat wagons down into the south head shunt out the way

Dragging the parcel van, No.1 and the brake van and battery wagon (out of view) out the museum/carriage and wagon workshop

After stabling the brake van out the way, No.1 is shunted back into the museum on the other road

Parcel van back re-positioned in the museum

03078 leaving the museum adjacent to 08915

08915 picks up 401 and A5 out the running shed and takes them up the yard to allow 03078 to be disposed in the running shed

After stabling A5 in the museum, 08915 shunts 401 back into the running shed

03079 stabled in the carriage & wagon workshop to continue its cosmetic work