Last Running Day of the Season

08915 hauling 401 out of the museum this morning.

Alongside operating the last trains of the season, volunteers have been busy today advancing several projects across the site. Here, Cameron and Robert are applying another protective coat of red oxide paint to No.69's tank.

Thomas and Adam have been laying track on phase one of the miniature railway project.

03078 in the running shed undergoing a brake block change.

Paul and Nev removing a worn brake block.

401 stabled at the water tower over lunch.

The third train of the day arrives back at Middle Engine Lane.

Michael applying a protective coat of bitumen paint to the inside of Ashington No.5's tank...

...assisted by Joe.

At the end of the day, a big shunt had to be carried out to re-organise the museum ready for preparation work for our December 'Elf Express' trains to be carried out. Here, 08915 has picked up A.No.5 from the new road and is stabling it on the flat road. 

08915 picking up the parcel van and 03078 from the pit road.

The 03 shunted onto the back of 401 on the crossover.

After disposal, Consett No.10, the parcel van, 401 and 03078 wait to be shunted onto the pit road...

...by 08915.

The railway is closed now until our Elf Express trains, which begin on November 30th. Tickets can be purchased at stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk. 

NCB No.69 boiler and tank work.

Volunteer Bob has been trying tirelessly to remove the old boiler studs from NCB No.69's backhead for over a month. With varying success in utilising different removal methods, he has so far managed to remover around 75%.

In readiness for the fitting of the new studs, Cameron and Aaran have been re tapping the holes and cleaning the threads.

Robert has also been removing studs from NCB No.69's tank, these studs were seized in the frames and hold the feed water pipes from the tank to the injectors.

Ballast and Timber Delivery

We now have ballast and timber for sleeper replacement as part of our phase one of construction! For those visiting the railway from Sunday you should be able to see the progress, with ballast being laid and track soon to follow!

We would like to thank FE Maughan of Whitley Bay for their service in supplying the ballast.

03078 Hauling Trains Today

In what has become a bit of a rarity outside of special event days in recent years, 03078 has had a full day of hauling passenger trains today. 

Being prepared in the running shed.

Sat at Middle Engine Lane ready for the 1130 departure.

The 03 ready to depart Percy Main with the first train...

...and after arriving with the second.

Nev on the throttle back to Middle Engine Lane.

Running round at Percy Main.

The view from the second man's seat on the climb away from Wallsend Road.

The last train of the day after arriving back at Middle Engine Lane. 

The 03 will be hauling trains again this Thursday for half-term whilst 401 is being used for another BESTT boiler washout course. 401 will be back in action on Sunday 3rd November.

More Levelling on the Miniature

After our last miniature update it may seem a bit of a backwards step to remove the track after spending time getting it down; however, in places we noticed that more levelling was required. So, along with the groundwork for the platform area we took the opportunity to do more preparation on the trackbed to remove the niggles. Next steps are ballasting and relaying of the panels!

The completed groundworks using compacted ash as a base. The trackbed is to the left of the yellow marking, with the platform to the right.

Tom removing the top layer of waste material down to the hardcore below.

Compacting the ash with the roller.

401 in Service Today

401 climbing past the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate with a train for Middle Engine Lane.

Cameron backs the loco onto the train at Percy Main.

Volunteers pause from their respective projects to watch the last train of the day depart from Middle Engine Lane.

Preparing ACC5 for NDT

Before Ashington No.5 can steam again, it must undergo an NDT (non-destructive testing) exam. This involves exposing 10% of the rivets on each section of the boiler (each lap joint, side sheet etc.) and testing them with an ultrasonic testing probe. To facilitate this, volunteers have been busy over the past few days removing the chimney, tank and cab to access the boiler.

Michael W uses the overhead gantry crane to lift out the chimney...

...followed by the cab, which is loaded onto the recently restored conflat wagon. 

Next, the tank is lifted up until it is clear of the steam dome.

03078 removing 08915, Consett No.10 and the conflat from the pit road.

Michael coupling up ACC5 to the flat wagon (which will carry its tank)...

...so that the 03 can carefully propel the locomotive forward from underneath the tank.

The tank is then lowered down onto the wagon behind ACC5 in the workshop. The next step is to remove the cladding and lagging to expose the boiler.

Painting and bolting of NCB No.69's frames.

 Progress continues on NCB No.69! Cameron has been applying the first coat of red paint to the plate which supports the slide bars for the Stephenson Valve Gear.

Before painting...

and after.

Cameron also prepped the rear buffer beam face around the bolt holes, ready for the new bolts to be tightened into the frames.

Cameron completing some sanding.

Robert lends a hand whilst the nuts are tightened.

12 bolts reunited with the frames.

Conflat Update

Michael cutting up metal to be used to create the conflat's side sheets.

Robert using the donkey saw to cut it to the required size.

The four side sheets cut out and being painted...

Aaran painting.

    Michael D welding the deck together...

...along with Michael W.

    The deck after receiving a layer of undercoat.

Davey applying the first coat of black...

Aaran and Steve fitting the side sheets.