401 Deep Clean

Over the past couple of weeks, Aadil and his team of cleaners have been busy giving 401 a deep clean in preparation for its Elf Express duties next month.

Wheels, rods and running boards cleaned up...

A thankless task! Aadil and Josh after sourcing and cutting up rags ready for cleaning.

Smokebox door after being polished up by Josh.

The cab has had a thorough clean-up too, with Shane polishing the brightwork...

Lastly, tinsel was applied on the tank handrails...

An immaculate locomotive ready for the Elf Express.

Before and after! Stunning work by Aadil, Josh, Shane and Ben.

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!

401 Warming Fire

401 has been steamed this evening to protect it against frost damage and to check the locomotive over in advance of the upcoming Elf Express trains. 

Aadil, Omar and Aaran (L-R) take a break from cleaning.

Aadil polishing the smokebox door.

Trundling around the yard in the dark.

03078 Returns

03078 has been on loan to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway since May 2022, bolstering their fleet of diesels.

However, the locomotive is now surplus to requirements and has today returned home to NTSR, seen here on the lorry getting ready to be unloaded.

Driver Michael Wortley taking the 03 back into the shed.

Shunting the yard the next day.

Nighttime Shunting MIC

 To help volunteers learn new skills and develop old ones, the railway holds occasional 'mutual improvement classes' (or, MICs). This evening, the focus has been on practicing nighttime shunting skills.

Steve talking Joss and Omar over the different bardic lamp signals.

We very rarely have to carry out shunting in the dark at NTSR. However, with the nights drawing in and later trains timetabled for the upcoming 'Elf Express' event, this becomes a necessity at this time of year.

With such decreased visibility, shunters have to rely on communicating with their driver via lamp signals, rather than by hand.

Tonight's team!

Alfie guides 401 back into the museum with a green aspect. 

08915 on the move.

P-Way Work Continues...

Volunteers have been grafting on Middle Engine Lane curve again today, packing out underneath the track with sand and ballast.

08915 using the dogfish wagon to drop ballast along the curve.

The finished product.

P-Way Working Party

Today, volunteers have been busy digging out the curve between Middle Engine Lane platform and the yard gates in preparation for further packing and levelling. 

Depositing ballast outside the yard gates.

 Some help from the digger.

BESTT Boiler Washout Course

This week six of our volunteers have undertaken a five-day boiler washout course, delivered by BESTT.

The course started with an introductory classroom session.

The washout commences...

Aadil using the pressure washer to clear scale from the foundation ring.

401 on the pit road after being washed out.

Aadil in the firebox removing fusible plugs.

Handhole doors, mudhole doors and boiler plugs laid out on the bench after removal.

Ben and Aadil cleaning up washout plugs...

Replacement fusible plug to be fitted...

...by Ben in the firebox...

Tom and Ben begin refitting mudhole doors...

...and taking tyre measurements...

Ben in the pit refitting a mudhole door...

...as are Aaran in the cab and Aadil on the running board...

...and Thomas down below.

    Aaran refitting washout plugs in the front tubeplate under the instruction of BESTT instructor Lawrence.

A theoretical paper was sat on the last day of the course...

...which all six volunteers passed! Congratulations to Thomas, Aadil, Ben, Aaran, Cameron and Jack (from L-R, BESTT instructor Lawrence on far right) on their new qualification.