Apron clean

The apron after being pressure washed by Michael in readiness for it to be opened to the public on Sundays End of the Season Special

401 Progress

Some photos from the weekend and some from today of the on-going work on rebuilding No.401

Alan on the ladders and Bob in the cab tightening nuts & bolts that connect the top half of the cab with the bottom half

Same on the drivers side

George up top and John on the ground, making some adjustments to the chimney

Steam brake assembly fitted

Various pipes fitted to the manifold, top pipe is the steam brake to the manifold and the pipe in the centre of the photo is to the whistle

Blow down valve handle fitted

Firemans View

The fireman's view of the sun setting on the last Percy Main bound of today, only two days left for the 2018 running season before Santa Special prep begins!

Ashington No.5 in service today

Photos below of Peckett & Sons Ashington No.5 in service with today's Halloween Specials!

The End of Season Special!

Join us on Sunday 4th November when we'll be ending our 2018 running season with a bang!

We'll be operating an intensive passenger & freight train timetable throughout the day with Ashington No.5, 08915 and D2078 all in service!

Bagnall No.401 will be out on display, alongside A.No.5 & Consett No.10 allowing visitors to get an up-close look at the progress with the locomotives overhaul.

As well, from 11:45am - 2:45pm the Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society will be running FREE heritage bus rides from the museum to Dial Cottage!

Halloween Decor

Photos showing just some of the hand-carved pumpkins that were scattered around the site, decorated museum and the spooky tearoom volunteers!

Ashington No.5 Prep

Photos from this morning of Ashington No.5 being prepared for service, raising steam and being coaled up by hand

Trains this weekend

It's our Halloween Specials this weekend with Ashington No.5 in service!

Trains departing Middle Engine Lane at 11:30, 12:30, 14:00 & 15:00 both tomorrow and Sunday with additional departures at 17:00 & 18:00 tomorrow ONLY (27th).

Visit the Stephenson Railway Museum website to book tickets for the 17:00 & 18:00 departures!

Flat waggon shunt

The 4 wheel flat waggon that carried 401s tank for the past 7 years has been shunted into the South headshunt and looks quite at home with the other flat waggons

08915s brake block fitting

New brake blocks fitted to 08915 prior to being adjusted up

Richard about to knock out the pin to lower the hangar down for shoe removal. It is easier to remove the hangar as a whole than removing the shoes individually

Drilling an old rusted split pin from a brake block hangar

Yard Shunt

With the crane lift complete, volunteers begin shunting the yard back together

D2078 shunting the salmon wagon and the flat wagon

Freight stock being shunted to the other side of the yard

Shunting 401 into the workshops

Back in the workshop to continuing re-building, not long now!

401 Tank & Cab Lift

It's certainly been a busy one today with the last of the 'big lifts' today for Bagnall No.401s overhaul, receiving its water tank, cab and chimney! Photos below

Shunted onto the apron

Tank lift complete

Off to pick up the cab roof

Nuts and bolts for the tank bracket to cab front

Robin tightening up the other side

Looking like a steam locomotive once again...

Richard lifting the chimney onto the pallet truck (out of shot) to transport out

Picking up the cab roof

Michael re-connecting the cylinder drain cock linkages

Roof lift

Cab roof lift complete

Chimney going in

Michael guiding the chimney onto its studs

Job done!