ACC5's Valve Gear

This week Joe has been busy completing the assembly of ACC5's valve gear. The valve gear has been re-pinned with pins fabricated by stalwart machinist, George.

Once finished, attention will turn to re-fitting the cylinder drain linkage.

Miniature Railway Arrivals

Tom and Adam have been representing the miniature railway and N.C.B. No.69 at Narrow Gauge North in Pudsey today. Following the show, they travelled to Barnsley to collect the two carriages to be used on our miniature railway.

On Sunday, they visited Foxfield Miniature Railway in Staffordshire to collect a petrol electric locomotive for use on our miniature railway. The locomotive, inspired by a Hibberd Planet and named "Kibworth Castle", was then tested along with the coaches on their line.

A taste of what is to come!

The current miniature fleet of steam, battery and petrol electric.

Planting of the NTSRA Christmas tree

Aaran and Robert have spent the morning relocating the Christmas tree of the NTSRA to the entrance of the site.

Having previously being located in the picnic area, the tree is required to be moved due to the construction of the Miniature Railway.

Having dug a hole and removed the tree from its pot, it is now in the ground at its new location.

With shovels already in hand, they reduced the pile of donated wood chippings by scattering them in the garden area to aid in the growth of plants and seasonal foliage.

Repair work to Sentinel 9559's regulator valve housing

Steve has began the task of repairing the housing which accommodates the regulator valve for Sentinel 9559.

with the casting being cracked prior to removal and dismantling, above, Steve is seen filing back the cast iron to create a surface to rebuild with weld.

He plans on forming a welded surface to then drill a new hole into the casting across where the crack formed so that the housing can be reassembled to form the regulator body.

401 Washout

Steve in the smokebox pressure washing scale and sediment towards the foundation ring...

...where it is removed.

Lambton Van Painting

Work on the Lambton van, No.21, has continued this week with Cameron busy applying more of the Lambton red top coat.

NCB No.69 features in Steam Railway Magazine

 One of the volunteers, and member of The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, discovered NCB No.69 featuring on the back cover of Issue 115 of Steam Railway Magazine from November 1989!

The front cover features 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No.45596 Bahamas.

The inside cover reveals more details about the picture on the back cover: 'The incongruity of a modern road system and a steam worked industrial line seems somehow strange viewed from a 1989 standpoint. Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.3785 of 1953 crosses the A19 with a coal train on the South Hetton Colliery system in Durham on July 17, 1972. credit - Andrew Smith'.