Saturday, 31 May 2014
Progress Saturday 31st May 2014
A dry and reasonably warm day which saw the passenger service operate in our usual timely manner. The DMU team overcame several challenges throughout the day and managed to work on nearly every vehicle at some stage.
The PDLG finally managed to apply some paint to 33035 and work continued on Cathryn's boiler and the 8F coach respectively.
Some tidying up took place in the Passenger Department inbetween serving the customers and at Duffield, attention was turned to the flower beds to keep them looking in top condition.
Leigh
Friday, 30 May 2014
Progress Report Friday the 30th of May 2014
Dear all,
A largely pleasant day for pottering around with our Driver Experience guests. Down the yard Smiths Industries scrabbled away at the roof of the 8F group's support carriage. The LMSCA Senior Vice President
(Europe) carried on with preparing the operational SK for the summer season, with further work to make this carriage the best in our hauled fleet. The DMU team ate cake and looked at their parts. The PDLG carried on with the Siberian camouflage programme for the class 33.
Around the station the Foremen gave the Station Workshop a serious tidying up and deposited some assorted rusting bits in the skip and spare wood back in the wood store, before enjoying a short excursion to
far parts of the empire without a spade.
All the best,
Anton
Vacancy: Pullman Buffet
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Progress Thursday 29th May 2014
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Progress Wednesday 28th May 2014
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Progress Tuesday 27th May 2014
Monday, 26 May 2014
Progress Bank Holiday Monday 26th May 2014
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 25th of May 2014
Dear all,
A rather damp and cold start didn't exactly bring out the Bank Holiday hoards but we pottered around happily for most of the day, and naturally by the time we had finished the sun came out.
Down the yard, the Austerity Team waited for the morning's heavy dew to clear before getting more paint on the frames, and in the shed, protected from the heavy dew, the DMU Team worked steadily on the interior trim of unit 50253 and on her headcode box. Nearby, routine maintenance took place on both the class 33 and the class 31 and this seemed to involve a steam cleaner.
The quiet progress of the day was therefore little interrupted by excitement, unless mowing the grass could be thought of as excitement.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Progress Report Saturday 24th May 2014
Dear All,
Typical English bank holiday weather greeted us this morning on day one of the Wirksworth Carnival. Despite the grey skies and forecasts of tropical downpours our first service train was pleasantly busy resulting in a full to capacity incline service. Down the yard the LMSCA, DMU group and Oaks enterprises were duly engaged on their respective projects.
The Pullman Buffett was busy throughout the day as was the model railway. Today we sold a further 54 Station Master luncheons and the booking hall staff were extremely busy taking the resulting telephone bookings.
We played host to a number of visitors from near and far today. One visitor I chatted with was from Washington D.C. and worked for the US Government as a bank regulator. It's amazing the people you meet on the 13.53 train to Ravenstor!
Finally the sun came out this evening just in time for our first cheese and wine land cruise.
All the best
Tom
Friday, 23 May 2014
Progress Report Friday the 23rd of May 2014
Dear all,
A rather damp Wirksworth greeted us this morning, rather damp that is after a huge downpour yesterday which deposited an inch and a half of mud on the Booking Hall doorstep, all of which has had to be dug out and washed down, as well as large amounts of detritus the platform.
We hosted a Diesel Driver Experience and various things boggled through the station during the course of the day, including a sanded down class 33. In the yard, Smith's Industries scrabbled the roof of the 8F's support coach in preparation for yet another dose of coach roof painting. Painting also continued in the shed with the Met Cam receiving a further dose of greenery. One of the road-rail landrovers got a jolly good seeing to from Brassington Field and is once again nearly white. The duff toilet handle in the Extra Ladies has been replaced and should be rather more resistant to ladies forceful flushing than its predecessor.
In the Booking Hall, the usual selection of pre-event tasks was fitted
between the ever ringing phone and a large wad of Amazon lunch bookings was duly deposited in the buffet. The platform lines were hand weeded by
a convenient biker and the Duffield desptach box was filled with a vast selection of urgent items. Its collector tomorrow should lift it carefully in case of getting a surprise hernia.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Progress Thursday 22nd May 2014
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Progress Wednesday 21st May 2014
Another nice day in Wirksworth which featured the grand opening celebrations of Line 1 in Wirksworth Yard. The celebrations consisted of a large cup of tea and many biscuits.
In the engineerium, work continued on the C Exam on W55006 with special attention being paid to the drive shafts. Iris received much sanding and Field Enterprises whipped out his self-separating paint for 50253. 55012 leaves at the crack tomorrow so it was moved to the car park.
The LCC continued cleaning around the station and the buffet was quite busy. The Booking Office answered 157 phone calls from Amazon customers to keep them busy.
A good day!
Leigh
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Progress Tuesday 20th May 2014
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 18th of May 2014
Dear all,
Another lovely sunny day here in the Peak. We pottered around with visitors and passengers, spreading some general happiness, and the last of our traction engine visitors chuffed off into the wide blue yonder.
Down the yard the Austerity received further paint; the EVRA SO received attention; railcar 55006 received its C exam and railcar 50253 received a replacement door pillar amongst much other forward progress.
Around the station JCB Purves had a wagon moment, followed by a tarmac moment, followed by a mowing moment. Indeed the mowing moment became a mowing afternoon courtesy of Trent Barton Mango Farmers, so at least the grass is only as high as the nellefants knees now, and the tarmac moment got as far as filling some potholes which have never been filled before in the length of our endeavour.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday 17th May
Hi Guys - Wirksworth smelt like a steam Loco Shed this morning but not our Engines,varied types of Traction Engines as seen on Martins Video.The Drivers seem to enjoy The Pullmans bacon butties !!.
We entertained a Party from the Vintage Carriage Trust who seemed very interested in our Varietry of DMUs.The Duke and Cathryn had their usual band of Workers.The Class 33 had some paint preparation ready for a repaint before its little Holiday to Keighley and Worth Valley.Wonder whether they dare do it NSE.The DMU group washed a couple of our road rail vehicles, shunted some wagons and carried on with 55006 C Exam.
In all a very Busy day.
Mike Evans
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Wirksworth Assessment Trial Saturday 17th May 2014
Friday, 16 May 2014
Progress Report Friday the 16th of May 2014
Dear all,
A wonderful sunny day saw us chuffing up and down with a number of Driver Experience guests. However, the sun brought out the painters and
things have been painted all over the empire including carriage roofs, railcars, walls, seats...
Much gardening and weeding was in evidence along the west embankment, also at Duffield and in hanging baskets. However, if anyone feels like some mowing, an extra pair of hands would be useful, the grass is as high as a nellefants eye, and we can't cut it fast enough.
The class 33 received routine maintenance and the Station Foreman had a poster session, as well as a tarmac session.
Late in the afternoon a number of traction engines appeared and these
will be starting a large chuff of their own tomorrow, leaving for Crich via Whatstandwell at 09.30.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Progress Thursday 15th May 2014
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Progress Wednesday 14th May 2014
A glorious day in the Gem of the Peak with the peace only broken by the telephone continuously ringing. Actually, that's not quite true. The phone did indeed ring quite alot but the buffet was pretty busy for most of the day too.
The Pway team worked on the new pointwork when not spending several hours talking to visitors about the intricacies of rail.
Down at the engineerium, work pushed along on Iris and 50253. Having been sanded yesterday, Iris received 2 pack undercoat to the No.2 side and gloss to the roof. But because the paint was already flowing, 50253 was receiving the same treatment on the No.1 side.
A good day.
Leigh
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Progress Tuesday 13th May 2014
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 11th of May 2014
Dear all,
A day of intermittent and torrential downpours in which we pottered around with a few hardy visitors. It was rather the calm after the storm though, given yesterday's high excitement, and the calm mainly involved an awful lot of tidying up, so much so that our wheelie bins proved
hardly adequate to the task.
Down the yard, the DMU team painted the ceiling of 50253 again and carried out some work on the vents. The class 31 received further attention to its brake cylinders.
The passenger department attempted to recover its far-flung furniture
and eventually grew a little weary of picking up bits of red ribbon and burst balloons, not to mention finding strange notices and stress balls, which had been given out in their hundreds yesterday and were a source of stress today, being often lodged in random and remote tight spots beyond the reach of the tweakers. No doubt these will in due course prove a source of entertainment for the station cat, Spank. The platform and quad area are more or less back to normal but the two low-flying gazebos have been reduced to one, the other having had an argument with the shop roof, which it lost.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Progress The Big Bus & Train Bash Saturday 10th May 2014
Friday, 9 May 2014
Progress Report Friday the 9th of April 2014
Dear all,
A day of odd showers and sunny spells saw us pottering up and down with the day's driver experience guests, but the main thrust of the day was a large number of tasks towards tomorrow's major event, with everything arriving from roundabouts to burger vans. In the background work continued on lever frames for Shottle and in preparing the LMS Third Open for its first public viewing after its paint job.
All the best
Anton
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Progress Thursday 8th May 2014
A damp day which featured a big shunt involving both LJ Breeze and 33035. The aim of the shunt was to position everything ready for the Big Bus and Train Bash on Saturday. The LMS TO was pulled out as the LMSCA are having a stall/display inside, the coaching stock was filed away and a six-car DMU set was constructed in anticipation.
Meanwhile, the Booking Office continued with preparations for the event including sign production and gazebo erection. It was nice to welcome Millside Radio, a hospital radio station who will be broadcasting live from the event on Saturday; they performed some test broadcasts via the 3G mobile network to their base in Mansfield. All successful and quite impressive!
The DMUs were all cleaned ready for their role too.
The PWay team had another day of great progress on the new pointwork, as did the VCT who have created a view now. One can stand on the platform and see through to the end of the line.
Today's photograph is the six-car DMU stabled up, with toilet filling, cleaning and general fettling going on.
Hope to see you Saturday!
Leigh
Supplementary Thursday 8th May 2014
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Progress Wednesday 7th May 2014
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Progress Tuesday 6th May 2014
Monday, 5 May 2014
Progress Bank Holday Monday 5th May 2014
Progress Report Sunday May the 4th
Dear all,
A quite pleasant dry Star Wars Day brought out an improved number of visitors to our fine railway, and the till could be heard ringing gently in the distance even from the parlour of the Malt Shovel.
Down the yard, the class 31 received a routine inspection to its brake cylinders while various things chuffed past. In the shed, the DMU team painted the ceiling of the south end compartment of 50253 and Formica Field finished the vestibules, another vehicle stripped of the orange peril.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Progress Report Saturday 3rd May 2014
Dear All,
We have had glorious weather for day one of our Rock and Rails weekend in association with the Steeple Grange Railway. Our quarry tours proved quite popular and we received good feedback from our guests.
Down the yard the DMU restoration group were busy repairing the roof of 50599 roof, replacing the ceiling panels on 50525 as well as replacing windows on 50253. The LMSCA commenced a clean up operation of the 3rd open in preparation for their stall tomorrow and work continued on the SO and SK roofs. The 8F group carried on with their work on Cathryn and Tim Oaks et al were busy reaming holes in the Duke's frame and painting frame steps and axles.
Today's picture is of one of our passengers, Bertie aged 10 who proved a big hit with his fellow visitors and our volunteers alike. Apparently he is very well travelled.
All the best,
Tom
Friday, 2 May 2014
Progress Report Friday the 2nd May 2014
Dear all,
A relatively peaceful sunny Friday apart from the phone wearing a hole in the desk. We entertained a number of Steam Driver Experience guests which gave the station an impression of activity.
Various intensive tasks took place to increase our readiness for the weekend including tidying up of the children's area; the creation of a
vast Aunty Wainwright Emporium in the Training Room and the replacement of antimaccassars in the units being used for the weekend. Can I remind train crew that litter should be removed from units prior to them being put away for the night.
Down the yard the newly motorised Smiths Industries was dealing with carriage roofs and the European Vice President of the LMSCA was finishing off the replacement of seats in the SK as well as removing light fittings for cleaning. Nearby, the Head of Signals and Telegraphs was cogitating the interlocking of levers for the multi-million pound resignalling scheme for Shottle.
The Station Foreman occupied himself in the saloon and the usual selection of road signs, timetables, maps were prepared for the excitement which is the Rocks and Rails Weekend. Would Booking Hall
Staff please make a note in the diary of any further bookings for Vince's walk on Monday. For those of you who may be bored on Monday, Vince Morris will be guiding a three hour walk "Rails and Quarries of Wirksworth" starting at 12.30 (£3 donation) from the station quad. Stout shoes or boots are advised as well as strong underwear. Oh sorry, it doesn't say strong underwear.
There will be two shorter guided walks around Steeple Grange approx 30-40 minutes by Robin Jeffcote at 12.00 and 14.00 from Ravenstor Station on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, no booking is required, just turn up.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Progress Thursday 1st May 2014
First day of May and what a May it is going to be! We have Rocks and Rails this weekend, the Big Bash next week, traction engines the weekend after, followed by another Bank Holiday and our Cheese and Wine Special!
Back to today and the DMU team spent the morning doing a shuffle with the coaches, before attending to a leak on Class 108 E50599 so that it will be OK this weekend if it rains (although of course we don't want it to rain as we have an event on, although one could exercise the new Rainy Day Guarantee anyway).
Also in the yard, the PWT assisted with a remote part of the Shottle project and the VCT had a multi-fire day in their quest to open up the bank between the former headshunt and the incline line north side of Cemetery Lane bridge.
The Booking Office dealt with yet more Amazon enquiries and items relating to this weekend's event and the Big Bash.
I will leave you with a reminder video from our friends at trent barton about the Big Bash next week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X15RW48FQlo
Cheers,
Leigh