Dear all
Today represented the inevitable feeling of being the day after the Lord Mayor's Show with signs of exhaustion by those who have actively participated in the last few days. Nonetheless, the show goes on with Allsop Enterprises undercoating the east side of the Class 119 and sanding down the north end of the vehicle.
The service worked well with the 2 Car on the Duffield run and Iris on the Incline with passenger numbers returning to a peaceful, appreciative, audience. The support teams in the Booking Halls at Wirksworth and Duffield together with the Pullman Buffet Car and EVRA shop looked after today's visitors.
We welcomed two customers who were testing and trialling trolleys, iron men and radar detection, all of whom expressed appreciation of the service provided. The LMSCA were quite pleased to return to Stanier vehicles after their supreme bust of BR1 activity. Another window was fitted to the BTO and much housekeeping took place. The M1M continued to enhance the panelling in the Royal Saloon and achieved an operational toilet in the CK.
The VCT were busy with the fencing at Shottle station and thinning the vegetation north of the station with the customary fire. The DST concentrated on preparing 5643 and Henry Ellison for their next tasks this week. They all seemed to get satisfyingly dirty during this process. The SBT were in action with help from members of the PWT prevented from track work activities by today's passenger services.
The Watt track patrol operated finding no concerns after an intensive Bank Holiday service with our visiting steam engine.
Martin
PS - I would like to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for the participation of everyone who helped the weekend be so successful. It is not really thought through how many people give of their time to make such an event work with the evident joy of all our visitors. Both the Company and EVRA have earned some very necessary revenue without which the enterprise cannot continue. We not only managed to operate three steam engines for three days but fielded all the necessary train crew for these services, supporting dmu services, loco watering crew, narrow gauge and miniature journeys, Booking Halls at Wirksworth and Duffield, EVRA shop and Bric a Brac stall, Pullman Catering, the Steamers on train bar/buffet, Royal Saloon steward and, quite critically, a crossing keeper at Gorsey Bank. They should all take a bow!
PPS - The Asset Manager who is trying to form a SMT, Structure Maintenance Team, is appealing for scaffolding as responsibility for all our many structures is being firmly placed on us after many years of help from Network Rail. If you can help please let me know.