Saturday, 31 January 2015
Progress Saturday 31st January 2014.
Todays weather was a little warmer with sunshine melting
last of the snow.The LMSCA had a small group doing various tasks and
the 8F group moved the Duke forward installing more of the Braking
system.
The DMU group rebockled No 2 Bogie on the Bubble,repaired
the steam Cleaner and commenced
refurbishment of a heater.
All the best
Mike Evans
Friday, 30 January 2015
Progress Report Friday the 30th of January 2015
Dear all,
Another perishing day. The LMSCA occupied themselves with doors and this theme also continued with our Foremen, once some snow clearance had been undertaken.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Progress Thursday 29th January 2015
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Progress Wednesday 28th January 2015
Snowing again today in Wirksworth but the PWay battled with it to continue with the point so known as P10.
The LMSCA continued with the BSK welding up a door which had some tin worm trouble.
We welcomed some preliminary discussions to do with some overhead catenary which will be used for testing in the yard. Not live of course!! We also welcomed the new training company, ARC, to Wirksworth who continued interviewing recruits for their course.
Some work was done on the PWay bubble this afternoon but it was quite damp.
Some spoil was moved at Duffield to tidy up.
The Booking Office was in go mode and booked the band for Tunes and Chips. So far in advance we work! Book online at www.e-v-r.com/tunes15 - you know you want to!
Leigh
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Supplementary Tuesday 27th January 2015
Monday, 26 January 2015
Progress Monday 26th January 2015
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Progress Report Sunday the 25th of January 2015
Dear all,
A reasonably pleasant winter's day saw us pottering around the puddles from snow melting around the site, but otherwise it was a dry day. Down the yard the LMSCA carried on with door works for their BSK and the DMU team proceeded with seat frames courtesy of Paginton Paintworks as well as carrying out an A Exam.
Nearby, in the Training Room, we gained a further three volunteers for our enterprise at the monthly induction, carried out by yours truly and Station Perkins.
In the Pullman, Oliver Stokes-Field dealt with some electrical work notably the cleaning of the lighting contactors, so that our lights shine brighter in the Peak District darkness, and people can see us frolicking in First Class from miles around.
However, in terms of interesting steps forward, the Passenger Department began work on what will be our new Station Office accommodation. This is part of the former Tannery Building, adjacent to the back of the Mess Room and it is intended to replace two of our quietly rotting Portacabins. We are leasing the upper part of this building (a kind of balcony or mezzanine, level with our platforms) to give us a comparable space to the two Portacabins, about 50 square metres. The lower floor has another tenant. This mezzanine area will effectively become our reception, stores and office, given time and effort. As an indication of that effort, I attach three pictures. One showing a general view; one showing myself and JCB Purves repairing the safety rails and one showing Station Perkins and JCB Purves (again) wielding the paintbrushes, although today's work was mainly a tidying up and dust moving exercise.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Progress Saturday 24th January 2014.
pleasant for all at our Railway.We entertained a party of 1st Year
Students from Birmingham University studying Railway Engineering.They
were collected from Duffield at 0900 and on arrival at WW were split
into three groups ably hosted by Richard Buckby,John Evans and Myself
and rotated so they all received Knowledge of a working Railway from
coupling vehicles to working Ground Frames.The Derby Lightweight and
55006 received a good Exterior wash by the Students also.
The LMSCA and the 8f Groups were also in attendance.The DMU
team repaired the Pullman Buffet Electrics so all worked well today !!
Our Chief Fitter battled on with cylinder heads on IRIS with completion
in sight.
The Pullman Buffet was open supplying hot drinks and
sandwiches for the students and odd visitors to the Railway.Eric
Boultbee was seen fetching extra supplies so lets hope they had a good
take.
Thanks go to all who helped make it an interesting Day
for the Students who were appreciative of our help and time.
Best Wishes
Mike Evans.
Friday, 23 January 2015
Progress Report Friday the 23rd of January 2014
Dear all,
The usual run of winter weather continues here in the arctic circle with snow on the ground and nearly freezing drizzle.
The LMSCA painted a door in the balmy warmth of the Mess Room and received a massive load of giant wood from the forests of Scunthorpe, or possibly Swadlincote, for their carriage floors.
Field Industries occupied the morning machining a part and later rediscovered a pair of missing pants (thanks to Sharon).
The Foremen continued their quest to remove more Christmas ephemera from our estate and had a preliminary foray into the nearby Tannery.
The SO received attention and a World of Testing took place in the yard.
All the best, Anton
Supplementary Friday 23rd January 2015
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Progress Thursday 22nd January 2015
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Progress Wednesday 21st January 2015
Supplementary Wednesday 21st January 2015
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Progress Tuesday 20th Jan 2015.
Despite the gloomy weather forcast, today turned out to be one of the best days for a while with sweltering temps of at least 5 c and the sun beating down.
P way continued work on the 3 way turnout stretcher bars which is like a Chinese puzzle, tidying the work site, preparing the works train for Wed and making preparations for stripping the next turnout for attention next week. The planned track packing had to be postponed due to the ballast being frozen solid.
VCT had a good day with 7 members attending 2 fires at mp 134 and Mike the flail cutting down the vegetation on the incline with the Komatsu.
LMSCA were in attendance again working on the BSK.
The buffet was open for business and looking at the orange jackets in there at lunch time and the lack of bodies and chip papers in the mess room they got some.
Steam team were preparing for wash outs and continued with the never ending welding up of axle boxes.
DMU team spent much time shunting with the last remains of the steam crane runner sent to the car park for execution and despatch to the Razor blade and Cutlery Corporation in Shanghai.
Passenger services met to discuss the last Santa event and what went well and what didn't with proposals for next year explored. Needless to say this year was a great success with a brilliant effort from all involved resulting in our best turnover ever.
Cheerybye
MKT.
Monday, 19 January 2015
Progress Monday 19th January 2015
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Progress Report Sunday the 18th of January 2015
Dear all,
A sunny if chilly winter day here in the Peak. Down the yard the LMSCA worked on the west side guard's door of the BSK and set up a new router table in their workshop. Unit 50253 had its seat legs ground by Paginton Grinders and Field Enterprises, working on some uprights, followed his grinder with a welder.
The Pullman set received a great deal of attention with paint being applied in the GLV guards vestibule and with a new seat layout being adopted in the buffet to enable the Ice Cream freezer to fit more comfortably. Interviews took place for the post of Catering Assistant and more of these will follow shortly. Work on problem solving the electrical system in the First Class identified a long standing fault preventing the lights and heating coming on, but this set still requires a replacement MA set to be sourced at a modest cost or for the duff one to be repaired at an equally modest cost. Nothing containing four noughts is likely to be considered given how heroically tight our R&R budget is.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 17 January 2015
progress Saturday17th January 2014.
A bitterly cold Day saw Meetings of The LMSCA Trustees
and a Guards Meeting.The 8f Group moved the Dukes restoration further
forward and the DMU Group tried to sort out the electrics on the
Pullman Buffet.Thanks to all who turned out in the cold to attend both
Meetings.
All the Best
Mike Evans.
Friday, 16 January 2015
Progress Report Friday the 16th of January 2014
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Progress Thursday 15th January 2015
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Progress Wednesday 14th January 2015
A strange kind of day in some respects with a special driver training departure from Wirksworth this morning. This doubled up as a most useful exercise in looking at and discussing aspects of the entire railway and items along it's length.
Back at base, the LMSCA continued with the BSK rebuild. Derek was seen poking a screwdriver into a lock on a newly reskinned door at the time of passing.
I suppose the heros of today were the PWay team who had secretly got three way point into such a state that they could run a train over it, whilst their leader was down the line. It does look amazing.
Leigh
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Supplementary Tuesday 13th January 2015
Progress Tuesday 13th January 2015
Monday, 12 January 2015
Progress Monday 12th January 2015
Just three people on site at Wirksworth today which led to a good day to continue with admin. A booking came in for a wedding reception party who want to travel from their wedding ceremony in Duffield to their home at Cower's Lane for a garden party. Needless to say it's in the summer!
The LMSCA carried on with their brilliant work on the back end rebuild of the BSK. The back end is, indeed, now rebuilt and work is turning towards the inside of the brake compartment.
At Duffield, some more tidying was carried out.
Leigh
Progress Report Sunday the 11th January 2015
Saturday, 10 January 2015
Progress Saturday 10th January 2014.
Hi all,
Sunny but blustery was the order of the Day.The Morning saw an enquiry from a MTT Customer to use our Facility.The 8F continued to further the progress of the Duke and the LMSCA were out in good numbers
on various tasks on their Coaches.The DMU Team added more parts to the cyclinder heads on IRIS, 50253 interior and the PWays Bubble
Exterior.Lots of small but important tasks by all Groups.
Mike Evans.
The DMU Group are desperate for cotton rags.Any donation of old
cloths,towels etc would be very welcome.
Friday, 9 January 2015
Progress Report Friday the 9th of January 2015
Dear all,
A rather pleasant sunny morning gave way to a little wind and then to rather more wind. The LMSCA carried on repairing their wood for the BSK and consulted on the arrangements of the BSK's new kitchen with a local microwave technician.
Around the station, the Foremen removed more of the evidence of Christmas and now only the very observant will note where the Reindeer have been. Following this they then removed a large fallen tree from the Children's Area path and concluded their day by painting a lamp head.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Progress Thursday 8th January 2015
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Progress Wednesday 7th January 2015
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Progress Tuesday 6th January 2015
Monday, 5 January 2015
Progress Monday 5th January 2015
Not a bad day for a winter Monday. This morning the new training company were shown around the site at Wirksworth and made to feel welcome. The Booking Office caught up on some admin that had been building over the last few days and took bookings for a team building day from a TOC and also a coach party booking too.
The EVRA coach team were out in force sampling the mince pies left in the mess room and the LMSCA continued with the BSK too.
Lots of tidying up post-Santa took place and the train was given a thorough clean. At Duffield, the disposal of the Christmas tree began.
Leigh
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Progress Report Sunday the 4th of January 2014
Dear all,
An absolutely perishing day saw us warming our parts in the Mess Room and anywhere else that boasted above zero temperatures.
Down the yard the EVRA carriages received attention, and the LMSCA finished work on their BSK gangway door and door locks.
The DMU team struggled with various flat batteries and managed to fit in some coolant heater cover painting in the brief winter sunshine.
Back at the station the Passenger Services Department (Brassington and Co-op Divisions) continued their efforts in the Pullman, with the replacement of a further duff heater and the replacement of yet another recalcitrant fridge. On platform 1 Stokes Enterprises spent the day pole prepping as part of the north end illumination project (a new lamp head).
All the best,
Anton