A day in which we had the best of both worlds. On the one hand the
passenger service pottered cheerfully up and down the line, carrying
families, small groups and individuals intent on enjoying our line, as
well as an equally happy Day with a Driver guest. On the other hand
there was enough time for several small groups of volunteers to
undertake many of the myriad of tasks which keep our railway going and
move it forward.
In the yard, the DMU group worked on the door backs of unit 51505,
scraping and staining them and fitting new formica to replace the
dreadful orange which so infests 1980s refurbished DMUs. The LMS brake
van team dealt with the fitting of the floors to the verandahs of that
vehicle so they will be able to sit and sip Pimms on them once the sofas
have arrived. The Class 31 had its sanding gear attended to and this is
now operational as well as the rest of the locomotive.
Some shunting took place to clear some gaps in the Gat Ex siding so that
one of the box vans can be repainted by Big Nathan (Box Van "Fanny" is
the one receiving this treatment. Those of you who have read these
annals from time immemorial will remember that our two principal box
vans are called Fanny and Johnny, after Fanny and Johnny Craddock).
Would weekday staff please ensure these gaps are maintained while this
work is in progress. The conscripts tidied up a number sandbags from the
car park and, to our very deep joy, constructed three working
wheelbarrows out of four duff ones, thus saving the General Manager
several thousand groats.
Much of the rest of the day was spent mowing and attempting to keep the
bins cleared, which given the increased number of people filling them
seems to occupy the Passenger Department's every waking moment.
All the best,
Anton