A section of the Lambton Platelayers Van has been tested with a layer of potential top coat paint.
Thursday, 13 February 2025
Lambton Van panel painting
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Crossing timber donation delivery
Last week the railway took delivery of a large number of crossing timbers donated by Nexus.
Members of the Youth Group completed removing the chair screws and palletising the base plates.
Then they were loaded onto the Salmon wagon and stored in Middle Engine Lane yard.
Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Metro sign installation
Richard has been in the museum today installing a donated Metro sign.
Monday, 10 February 2025
Woodland Walk lodge roof completion
Joiner John has been completing the installation of roof shingles to the lodge at the bottom of the Woodland Walk.
Sunday, 9 February 2025
Woodland Walk Quayside art installation wall construction
James, Michael and Cameron have been down the Woodland Walk this week completing the construction of a small boundary wall which will serve part of a Quayside art installation.
James places the concrete into the foundation trench.
Michael shovels the sand into a wheelbarrow to transport to James who mixed it with cement to produce concrete.
After a few days waiting for the concrete to dry, the laying of the concrete blocks can begin. James mixes sand with cement to produce the correct mortar mix.
All complete! A decorative railing will be installed on top of the wall with visitors being able to look out onto the Quayside.
Sunday, 2 February 2025
Priming to NCB No.69's frames
Cameron has been priming an area behind the rear buffer beam of NCB No.69 that showed excessive signs of rust.
The areas in question were the interface between the support brackets that connect the rear buffer beam to the frames.
This also lead to the opportunity to add some red oxide primer to the brackets before final painting.
All complete. Now needing grey primed and then painting black.
Bush making completion for NCB No.69's brake hanger
George has completed the making of new bushed for NCB No.69's brake hangers.
George set ups one of the final bushes in the Bridgeport milling machine for drilling of the oil feed holes.
With the location of one of the three holes marked, he begins drilling.
Once drilled, he completes the rest for the remaining bushes.
The completed batch, now waiting to be pressed into the final brake hangers.
Sentinel 9559 frames receive primer
This week Aaran, Robert and Ben have been needle gunning the Driver's side of the Sentinel's frames and sections of the cab floor.
Robert applies a coat of red oxide primer to the recently needle gunned areas of the sentinel.
Here Robert is applying the first coat of grey phosphate primer to the front two sections of the running board for both the Fireman's and Driver's side in preparation for reuniting them with the engine.
Woodland Walk concreting works
Last week James was busy constructing the foundation for a new wall down the Woodland Walk.
The wall will form part of a display to recreate the scene from the Quayside from years gone by.
With the trench for the wall foundation dug, James placed reinforcing rebar mesh suspended to provide extra rigidity and support for the wall in the damp conditions of the soil.
James uses the Belle mixer to knock up a concrete mix. Here he is shovelling the mixture into a wheel barrow to be transported to the trench.
The first batch of concrete tipped into the trench, having been levelled and smoothed. Just repeat until the entire foundation is poured.
Painting the inside of Ashington No.5's tank continues
Over the past couple of weeks Joe has been undertaking the task of painting the inside of Ashington No.5's tank with bitumen paint.
Protected in white disposable overalls, Joe manoeuvres himself through the tank opening.
Having complete 95% up to the time of posting, Joe can see light at the end of the tank.
Laying of the ash sub base to the Miniature Railway
A small group of volunteers started on laying the ash sub base for the main station area. With the combined effort this task has been ticked off the job list!
Adam operates the vibrating roller to compact the ash sub base down to form a solid level foundational base.
The finished sub surface with the platform path to the left and track bed to the right.
Soon work will start on digging the traverser pit - its outline marked out by the pins and yellow caps.