Morning shunting and prep

It always rains when you shunt...an early morning start for the crews this morning to get a head start on prepping for our first ever 'Fairytale Express' by Let it Snow Productions. Here 08915 has stabled 401 out the way on the crossover road and is on the back of the dogfish wagon...

...next it picked up the coal wagon, tool van and A.No.5 from the museum

401 stabled on the loading spur after moving the wagons

Said wagons stabled on the pit road, partially going into the shed, this is to 'hide' the view of the train whilst it is stabled in the North headshunt

Some time later...08915 returned from the morning line inspection and after entertainers had boarded the train it shunts the stock back into the North headshunt...

...401 then heads up the yard and awaits 08915 to be clear so it can join the South end of the train

First Thursday running day of the summer holidays

401 was out in service today with the first Thursday running day of the summer holidays. The loco will be out in action again this coming Sunday (28th)

Trainee Fireman Carl and Fireman Richard taking a break during morning prep

Making easy work of the bank, video below

Coming up over the Rising Sun bridge with the second train, video below

Battery servicing

John has been carrying out a service on 08915's batteries this afternoon, seen here on the RHS beginning his inspection

Later part of his service involves taking cell voltage readings whilst Bob types down each reading

Brake van components

Various components such as brackets (above) and handrails (below) off the brake van that volunteer Angus has been cosmetically restoring over recent weeks

Fence Repairs

The view of Percy Main curve on last Sunday's morning line inspection when it was discovered that about 50m of lineside fencing had been completely destroyed/stolen

A group of volunteers went down the line today to the curve to begin work on replacing the fencing, here Carl and Richard set to work drilling new holes with the auger

Richard hammering the first post in

Progress...David hammers in another post whilst Michael in the background puts the cement in

Carl also took the opportunity to do some more vegetation trimming

Wire added

Carriage seat frame work

Work has begun on the carriage seat frames from the SLO carriage being painted with a protective coat of aluminium paint in anticipation for new seat fabric arriving

Brush cutting

Down at Percy Main brush cutting

Bank out of Percy Main getting the same treatment