Shunter Sunday

03078 ready to depart with the coal train.

Stabled in the loop at Percy Main as the brake van gravitates through the platform.

Coal train ready to depart from the bottom of the south headshunt.

The view from the cab of 03078 at Middle Engine Lane.

08915 shunts the tankers ready for the afternoon freight train...

03078 hauling the first passenger train of the day...

03078 waits in the loop as 08915 departs Percy Main.

45 minutes later and 08915 returns with the train.

03078 backs onto the train and 08915 waits in the loop...

...until the afternoon freight train, which it leads back to Middle Engine Lane.

Second Man Aaran watching as passengers board the busy last train of the day...

...which is double headed by 03078 and 08915.

(L-R) Guard Dan with 03078's crew, Joe and Aaran, all in appropriate 1980's BR uniforms.

Diesel Cleaning

    Volunteers have been busy this week cleaning our diesel locomotives ready for Sunday's 'Shunter Sunday' event.

Callum and Chad cleaning CIC No.10 ready to be displayed on the apron on Sunday.

Joe giving the 03 a wash.

Miniature Trackbed

Michael D has been busy this afternoon using the mini-digger to excavate the trackbed for the miniature railway.

A working party then carried out a test laying of some of the miniature track to identify which areas would need to be levelled and packed out.

This section of the miniature will be a reverse curve into its southern terminus...

...pictured here in a drone photo by Paul.

Later stages of the project will see the trackbed being excavated northwards. A crossing will be installed over the footpath to take the line behind the volunteers' cabin and onto the picnic area opposite the museum's main entrance.

Next Steps on the Peckett

Richard instructing Thomas and Aaran on the refitting of brake hangers.

Thomas, viewed through the firehole door, refitting hornstays...

...aided by Michael and Richard.

Joe and Richard refitting the brake rigging.

The front coupling rods are next to go on.

Michael rotates the centre axle to match the leading one to allow Richard to get the rod on.

The next day, John, George and Michael are doing the same on the fireman's side.

Dropping the Peckett

Today has seen one of our long-term projects take a major step forward. Peckett 1970 'Ashington No.5' was removed from traffic at the end of 2018 and lifted off its wheels in April 2019 in order to carry out a thorough bottom end overhaul. Unfortunately, this overhaul was then delayed by the pandemic and several other projects which have taken precedence in recent years. 

As a result, ACC5 has been up on blocks at the bottom of the workshop for the past 5 1/2 years with CIC No.10 remaining in-situ to act as a barrier vehicle. During this time, the Peckett has had new crosshead slippers and new side rod bushes fabricated, new axlebox and horn guide wear plates welded on, new horn guide bolts, new axlebox lubrication pipework, its brake rigging and spring hangers bored out and re-pinned, its tyres turned and its wheels, rods, frames and buffer beams repainted (not an exhaustive list!).

Seen here in late August 2024 prior to being lowered back onto its wheels.

Aaran building a packing tower.

With the wheels rolled under, the front end is carefully lowered down onto blocks.

Coming down.

The back end on the jacks being lowered down onto blocks.

After repeating a few times, the engine is back on its wheels.

Michael on the deck...

and Aaran underneath re-fitting the springs.

Now no longer required as a barrier vehicle, Richard and Michael pose with No.10 after it is hauled out of the workshop for the first time since 2019.

Workshop Painting

Davy painting roof supports for a van body...

...and a set of chocks.

NCB No.69 Update

Cameron has been producing some nuts for the reproduced bolts for the rear buffer beam. Elsewhere, Robert has painted both front buffer housings the first coat of red and are awaiting to be stored until fitting back on No.69. Also, George, Alan and Simon have been trial fitting the overhauled brake hangers to see if the new bushes are within tolerance.

Facing the hex bar stock.

Centre drilling for the 3/4" twist drill hole.

Long strands of swarf are produced drilling to an approximate depth of 2".

Drilled hole ready for tapping.

Tapping the 9 TPI thread for 7/8" BSW nut.

Yard Clear-Up

Today, a working party has focused on clearing an area of the yard previously used for storing permanent way materials. This area will become the northern terminus of our miniature railway project.

Robert, Callum and Chad hard at work.

Using the dumper to remove sleepers.

P-Way equipment being removed...

...and stored on the other side of the footpath.

With the area now cleared of the P-Way materials, work can begin on excavating the trackbed for the miniature railway.