On-Site Maintenance

This weekend there have been a couple of jobs completed that have been outstanding for a few weeks now.

With members of the Youth Group cleaning and tidying the oil store out, Cameron has replaced the rotary hand pumps in the oil drums for lever-action hand pumps, making dispensing oil and paraffin more efficient and less messy.

With a new Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system installed in the Joiners Shop, Michael and John complete the construction of exhaust ductwork to numerous wood working machines.

With the Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) in service for LEV installation duties, Michael took the time to inspect the Pit Road roller shutter door due to reports of brief periods of faulty operation. No reportable works were required so operational problems ma have been due to the recent cold weather.

Finally, Ben was found in the Guard's Compartment removing the shelving from Elf Express in preparation to set-up the 'Guard's Van Shop' ready for the start of the 2026 running season.

Inspection Pit Clean-Up

Today's shed volunteers have tackled a deep clean of the running shed's inspection pit, producing a much more pleasant working environment for fitters and loco crews.

Hard graft being done by Aaran, Tristan, Callum, Aadil and Chad...

Chad (L) and Tristan (R) jet washing years of build up of oil and grease.

Work Continues on 401

Winter maintenance has continued on 401 over the past couple of weeks...

Fire bars removed...

...and laid out on the deck. Some had to be cracked to get them out due to them being warped and stuck.

Jack begins knocking out the brick arch.

Chad removing the last of the brick arch...

...and disposing the rubble.

Baffle plate on the welders' bench. What was left of the end of it has been cut off and here it is in the process of being cleaned up before a new extension is welded on.

Belly plate removed.

Michael cleaning up the LH side injector after dismantling it.

Annual Exam Preparation on 401

Volunteers have been busy in the workshop today on 401 preparing the locomotive for its annual boiler exam. 

Aaran removing a mudhole door.

Chad entering the firebox to begin sweeping it out of leftover ash and clinker.

Omar hoovering out the smokebox.

Joss removing a mudhole door.

(L-R) Joss and Aaran cleaning up mudhole doors whilst Chad and Omar start polishing up the safety valves.

Washout plugs, mudhole doors, safety valves and gauge frames cleaned up and laid out on the bench.

Wednesday Gala Prep

Aadil cleaning No.60's tank...

...before applying a coat of polish in the afternoon.

Thomas and Michael setting up the on-board bar in the Guard's Van. 

Thomas, Matt and Joe have been cutting back vegetation in Middle Engine Lane yard to make the temporary stop boards more visible.

The workshop and running shed have had a thorough tidy up and sort out in preparation for the weekend's workshop tours. The tours will allow visitors to see another important vehicle for the Lambton theme, van 21 (pictured here), which was part of the maintenance train based at Philadelphia works on the Lambton railway and travelled all over the extensive system as a mobile 'bait room' for the platelayers.

60 and 29 sitting in the afternoon sun. Both engines have the distinctive Lambton style cabs which allowed them to fit through the narrow bore tunnel down to the Lambton drops. As far as we are aware, this is the first time the two engines have met in preservation.

Of course, the first Lambton railway vehicle that visitors to the gala will see is the new gate guardian (Lambton coal hopper 2374) which has recently been restored by the railway's youth group.

Restoration work

Photos of volunteers Davy and Aarvind working on restoring an old gate post

 

Coal tub relocating

Volunteers have been hard at work re-locating the little coal tub from the pathway to Middle Engine Lane platform, to beside the car park pedestrian gates

 

Ash clearing

Michael loading a freshly overhauled dumper truck with ash from the pit road

 

Pit cleaning

Omar and Jack cleaning the running shed pit

 

Cutting up cabinets

Michael cutting up old running shed lockers/cabinets

 

Container breaking

Volunteers Aodhan, Aarvind and Thomas breaking up the flooring from one of the old containers, which is due to be sent away for scrapping and replaced with a new container in the near future

 

Ash clearing

Dai clearing ash from the pit road

 

New chocks

John has made up 9 new wheel chocks this morning, now on the paint bench awaiting painting

And to save them from getting sprawled out across the workshop when not in use he has also made a new rack to house them

 

Paint bench sort out

Rob has been busy having a massive sort out of the carriage and wagon workshop's paint bench, including creating a new rack and drip tray for paint stirrers

 

Platform benches

The newly restored platform benches have been carted up to the platform today, looking rather good!

 

Signage work

Signage work has continued up on Middle Engine Lane platform, with the installation of a new anti-trespass sign and totems on the platform lamposts

 

Timber removal

Gavin (L) and Daryl (R) busy removing some timbers up behind the platform. These supports used to be the base for the old station hut