Clearing Brambles at Percy Main

08915 brought a van load of volunteers and equipment down to Percy Main to carry out further vegetation control this afternoon.

Josh, Chad and Robert trimmed the hedges around the station entrance whilst Michael, Aaran and Joe cleared bushes of nettles and brambles...

...to increase the station's visibility from the street adjacent (with a view to improving security).

Aaran cutting back brambles between the tress whilst Michael cuts down nettle bushes towards the platform end.

08915 propelling the brake van back to Middle Engine Lane...

...with Aaran at the controls.

Workshop Tidy-Up

Over the last few days, Cameron has carried out a deep clean and tidy up of the workshop...

Sweeping up.

This Week's Progress on ACC5

Ashington No.5 has been the centre of attention in the workshop this week, with volunteers ticking several jobs off the to-do list in preparation for a test steaming.

On Monday, Michael and Richard began building the new ashpan to a new design drawn up by Michael.

Joe began rebuilding the manifold and cab controls.

Michael and Richard lifting the new ashpan into position for a trial fitting.

The new ashpan in position.

On Tuesday, Aaran and Joe continued installing boiler fittings and rebuilding the cab controls.

Michael welding brackets onto the new ashpan to support a rear damper.

Some impressive welding by Richard on the new ashpan.

By Wednesday night the cab was mostly complete.

On Thursday, Aaran and Joe retrieved ACC5's firebars from down the field and palletised them in the workshop.

When the tank was filled with water last week, we found significant leaks from the bolts that secure the tank to the boiler. To remedy this, Joe applied Tigerseal to the bolt heads inside the tank.

Woodland Walk Update

James has been forging ahead with the Woodland Walk in recent weeks, preparing this area of the site to open to the public at the end of June.

Along with volunteers from NTAS, he has focused on "phase three" of the walk, seen here.

This has involved laying the foundations and pouring concrete for several exhibits, including sections of the 1863-built Tanners Bank bridge, which was removed and replaced by Metro in 2022.

James and Aaran installing a boat in the recently-completed Willington Quay section.

Looking down the path past the pond and towards the butterfly mounds.

Today's Trains

401 raising steam on the new road.

Steve is today's fireman.

Ready for departure from Percy Main.

The view from the Guard's Van under Wallsend Road bridges.

The miniature railway open for rides behind the petrol loco...

...driven by Michael.

Guard Josh (left), Station Staff Kai (centre) and Guard's Van Shopkeeper Chad (right) ready to welcome passengers for the 1230 train...

...driven by Joe.

401 has carried Roly's headboard today, on the closest running day to what would have been his birthday. Roly was an ex-Percy Main fireman and long-serving NTSRA volunteer who contributed a great deal to the railway.

Ready to set off for Percy Main with the 1500 train.

Robert couples up at Percy Main.

On shed for disposal.

North Tyneside Local History Day

Today our volunteers have taken a stall to North Shields Library for 'North Tyneside Local History Day'...

Katie, our head of archives, staffing the stall.

Guide books and merchandise on sale with various items from the archive also on display, including an original Percy Main 52E shed plate and Ashington No.5's whistle.

Percy Main De-Veg

Michael has cleared some vegetation from around Percy Main station entrance this morning in order to improve visibility into the station.

Meanwhile, Aaran has cut the grass.

Today's Work on ACC5

Richard and Michael cutting a section of ACC5's new ashpan down to size whilst Robert and Aaran remove the blanking plates fitted to the regulator to enable the hydraulic exam to be carried out.

Robert fitting and splitting split pins in the brake rigging.

Richard welding the ashpan together.

Later, Joe and Aaran used 08915 to shunt the pit road.

The Sentinel being shunted to the bottom of the workshop so ACC5 can be stabled over the pit to allow the ashpan to be finished.

NCB no.69's wheels move workshops

The driving wheelset from NCB No.69 have been moved into the machine workshop in preparation for the journals and coupling rod pins.

Over the coming weeks, measurement will be taken and recorded for these components, with necessary work planned to be undertaken to remediate such problems that may be encountered.

Busy Bank Holiday Monday

Callum lighting the fire on 401.

401 raising steam in the company of Blyth Harbour Company No.2 'Pony'.

Robert is today's driver on the miniature.

401 running round at Percy Main on the second train of the day.

Aaran keeping an eye out behind the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate.

'Loki' leading a train back to the museum on the miniature whilst 401 stables on the coal road for lunch.

Trainee Guard Josh gets the 1310 away from Middle Engine Lane.

08915 running round at Percy Main. The 1310 and 1500 departures are diesel-hauled on bank holidays to give experience to trainee diesel crews...

...like Dan, who is today's Trainee Driver on the 08.

A busy scene at Middle Engine Lane - 08915 prepares to swap over with 401 for the 1400 departure whilst Robert and Matt have just arrived at Engine House Halt on the miniature.

Callum driving 401 in the yard.

Both locos on shed at the end of the day.

Matt and Robert loading up Loki after a successful day's running on the miniature railway.