Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Progress Tuesday 31st July 2012
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Progress Report Sunday the 29th of July 2012
A very delightful sunny summer day here in the valley. Down in the yard,
the LMS brake van (accompanied by Songs from the Shows) had its glazing
addressed and its solebars painted, and very fine it looks. The steam
team fitted the boiler clothing to Henry Ellison, and the DMU team
worked on the floor of the class 119. A flurry of light repairs was
carried out round the station, the picnic area and to a choice selection
of potholes in station approach and its adjacent footpath.
In a slightly surreal day of passenger activity, we picked up a number
of people at Ravenstor, had a pleasant turnout of passengers on the main
service trains and to our very large surprise we took more money at
Shottle than at Duffield, which really must be a first: I would thank
the staff at Shottle, if we had had any on duty.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 28 July 2012
Progress Report Saturday 28th July 2012
It was a very pleasant day at the railway with good visitor numbers on all trains. The Pullman Buffett welcomed Martin Beresford and friends for a birthday celebration (photo attached) following a trip down the line.
The first Railwayman's course got off to a promising start with a small number of eager volunteers. The LMSCA and the DMU Restoration Team continued work on their respective projects.
All the best,
Tom
Progress Report Saturday 28th July 2012
It was a very pleasant day at the railway with good visitor numbers on all trains. The Pullman Buffett welcomed Martin Beresford and friends for a birthday celebration (photo attached) following a trip down the line.
The first Railwayman's course got off to a promising start with a small number of eager volunteers. The LMSCA and the DMU Restoration Team continued work on their respective projects.
All the best,
Tom
Friday, 27 July 2012
Progress Friday 27th July 2012
Progress Friday 27th July 2012
Progress Thursday 26th July 2012
Martin
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Progress Thursday 26th July 2012
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Progress Wednesday 25th July 2012
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Progress Tuesday 24th July 2012
Progress Monday 23rd July 2012.
Another hot and sunny day lifted our spirits somewhat as we gave our attention to the North loop point at Shottle. Several rails were removed and the kinks taken out with our recently aquired rail bender. The crossing legs were straightened ready for installation, the switches will be stripped and straightened with the whole lot re gauged on Wed and Thurs when we can have possession of the line.We are still a couple of bull head rails short to make the inside curved closure and the downside stock rail but there are a couple of nice lengths of bull head under wash green bridge we can replace with flat bottom rail as we have plenty in stock- a job for anther day.
Vct were again in attendance at bridge 24 working their way North into 40 steps cutting - a veritable jungle after all the rain. However a couple of fires saw at least some of it sent back to it's maker.
At last we have received the component parts for the water pump for Breeze and research has begun to obtain the parts required to repair it.
Trouble is the shaft is missing and unless it can be run to ground then I shall have to make another - a time consuming and difficult task with no drawings or pattern to work to as at least with the old shaft measurements could be taken from it- now I shall have to assemble the pump without the shaft to assess the diameters and lengths using specialist micrometers for the task- fortunately I have a wide selection.
The booking hall and buffet saw a steady trickle of visitors basking in the sunshine.
MKT.
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Saturday, 21 July 2012
Progress Report Saturday 21st July 2012
Our first day of the Classic Car Rally has been a resounding success. Derbyshire's favourite branch line basked in glorious sunshine as we welcomed visitors from near and a far to our event. The Narrow Gauge and Miniature Railway enjoyed a steady stream of passengers throughout the day and our Wirksworth to Duffield service was very busy too. Number 3 attracted high passenger numbers too as it performed faultlessly on the incline. We welcomed a party from the Welsh Highland Railway and thanks goes to Rob Green for facilitating trips to the yard and engine shed. Feedback from the group was very positive and complimented us on the tidiness of our facilities and the high standards of restoration work.
Overall, Wirksworth station and car park was a sea of smiling, happy faces. One of these days which serves as a reminder why volunteering on our railway can be such an enjoyable and rewarding experience. More of the same tomorrow please!
All the best,
Tom
Friday, 20 July 2012
Progress Friday 20th July 2012
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Progress Thursday 19th July 2012
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Progress Wednesday 18th July 2012
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Progress Tuesday 17th July 2012
Monday, 16 July 2012
Progress Monday 16th July 2012
Work commenced in the cutting just North of Idridgehay level crossing.
All 13 manholes were cleaned of silt etc and the pipe runs between rodded out. This revealed 3 places where the pipes are partially blocked due to collapsed pipes, broken pipes or foreign matter - either way digging out the offending areas with the Komatsu and replacing the pipes is the order of the day to cure this problem.
Vct made more progress at bridge 24 with 1 fire and very soggy volunteers. Further survey work was carried out to assess the work required South of Jebbs lane Bridge.
Steam team were in attendance to cure steam leaks from the main steam pipes on No 3 and we await the result.
We also played host to another lad on work experience- Ryan. I wonder what he thinks to a job that involves being wet all day - but hey, if you're gonna live on an island in the middle of the Atlantic then what do expect, sunshine - surely not!!
MKT.
Supplementary Lift to our Spirits Monday 16th July 2012
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Progress Report Sunday the 15th of July 2012
At last a pleasant summer day, for the whole day: even the station cat,
Spank, was able to lie around in a sunny spot without being rained on in
a random moment. The passenger service poddled up and down in a
leisurely kind of way with modest passenger numbers including the Day
with a Driver guests and some car drivers and visitors from a Morris
Minor meet, who assembled on the Dust Dock for a day of polishing and
sandwich eating.
At Duffield, the International Weedpulling Competition continued with
the debris being brought to Wirksworth for disposal. At the south end of
Wirksworth station, the former Wash Green weighbridge began to receive
its contents for its new role as a small station workshop.
The DMU team having cleared out the standard class compartment of the
119 yesterday, began by applying slime green anti-rust paint to its
ceiling and cif-ing the gunge off the interior partitions, as well as
making some amendments to the lighting circuits.
Down the yard, the Rod and Mary show assisted by Ted replaced the buffer
stock packers on south end of the LMS brake van, one of those jobs of
seeming simplicity which is in fact requires serious time and effort.
The Class 20 team made preparations for that quality locomotive, D8001,
to be moved to Washwood Heath, where its several rusting parts around
the general cab region will be attended to. This will however render it
unavailable for the diesel weekends, but once it returns, pristine, it
will doubtless be much caressed by its many followers.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Progress Report Saturday 14th July 2012
The weather was rather seasonal today for a change and we enjoyed sunny spells throughout the day. Down the yard the LMSCA continued their restoration work and the DMU team emptied the standard section of the 119 to enable restoration work to start. The class 31 was prepared for shunting duties next week and work continued on the 'bubble car.'
Our day with the driver guests travelled from Milton Keynes to visit us and were most complimentary about the hospitality they received. The 2-car set behaved itself today and Iris received some minor adjustments to its number one engine. The model railway was open and enjoyed a steady stream of visitors. Down at Duffield the station foreman removed an abundance of weeds.
A most satisfactory day down at Derbyshire's favourite branch line.
All the best,
Tom
Friday, 13 July 2012
Progress Friday 13th July 2012
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Progress Thursday 12th July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Progress Wednesday 11th July 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Progress 10th July 2012
Progress Monday 9th July 2012
These bolts cost nearly £3 each and what would we do without aircon in Derby technical center.
We also welcomed a new recruit today on work experience - a pleasant lad called Will who won't, no doubt, due to his excellent attitude find any problem gaining employment when the time comes.
VCT continued with their work at bridge 11 with 2 big fires ( quality not quantity ) allowing more daylight onto the railway.
Other than that a quite day Wirksworth.
MKT.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Progress Report Sunday the 8th of July 2012
A pleasant, largely sunny and rather satisfying day here in the very
navel of the universe. The passenger service tootled up and down in its
quietly reliable way and we hosted a ladies 60th birthday: they were
fairly cheerful when they arrived and completely cheerful when they
left, having served themselves cider in their reserved carriage to
Duffield and back, followed by several cases of wine in the Pullman.
At Duffield the Station Foreman weeded the main line platforms, which
was much needed and attended to similar duties in our car park, before
returning the mower by train to Wirksworth, where it is required on Tuesday.
Down the yard the LMS brake van received further carpentry and further
paint. The south weighbridge was tidied having received its new floor,
and the search proceeded for the elusive electrical cable which once
served it, as well as the long suffering, and now long gone, but not
forgotten, ground signal WH1.
The Class 33 group arrived in time for a voluminous luncheon, and
proceeded to empty some water out of the 33 before taking an equally
voluminous afternoon tea, and then putting the water back. They then
carried on to polish their parts for the rest of the afternoon. We are
deeply proud of them.
A Clag of Engineers gathered around the class 119 and this project began
the day with an examination of the ball cock for the coolant tank, and
then undertook a mass of electrical work whose excellent outcome was
apparently slowed down by the Crappy Crimpers. Naturally I had no idea
that the 119 contained a ball cock, or indeed that the DMU team
contained so many lousy hairdressers.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Progress Report Saturday 7th July 2012
I am happy to report that the weather forecast was wrong for today and our railway was blessed with glorious sunshine for most of the day which had a positive impact upon visitor numbers. At Wirksworth we welcomed a group of visitors from the Skipton Railway Society together with heritage railway enthusiasts from the Embsay Railway and Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group. A special mention must go to Eunice and Ken from the Ribble Steam Railway who run the railway's cafeteria. They happily stepped in to help our catering team cope with the hungry hordes descending on the Pullman Buffett.
Down the yard the DST made excellent progress and have successfully re-fitted both No 3's steam pipes. A revitalised DMU Team continued their interior restoration of the class 119 interior whilst the fitters commenced work on its engines. The saloon also received attention in preparation for Friday's special event. The LMSCA continued making pattens for BTO 27001 and the PDLG worked on the heat exchanger of 33035.
A very enjoyable day.
All the best,
Tom
Friday, 6 July 2012
Progress Friday 6th July 2012
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Progress Thursday 5th July 2012
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Progress Wednesday 4th July 2012
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Progress Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Progress report Monday 2nd additional information
MKT
Progress Monday 2nd of July 2012
A more miserable Monday of late thanks to British weather plc.A leaflet dropped through my letterbox the other day extolling the virtues of holidays in Britain - are these people for real.
Anyway P way trundled off to Idridgehay and commenced further cutting of the cwr with 6 joints completed today despite the rain. Difficulty was experienced cutting the rail as even with the rail temp as low as 15 degrees the rail was under compressive stress. It shows just how far out of spec this section of cwr has become and a stitch in time cutting some expansion gaps into it before we have a track buckle - mind you with our wonderful weather there's not much chance of that.
Vct continued work at br 24 with 2 fires and Mike Billings continuing to flail down offending tree branches that are foul of the line. Another group of men who, like p way, work in the horrible weather without complaint to further our cause.
Steam team member JHT spent his day taking a cracked main steam pipe to Israel Newton for repair and arrived back late in the day with said pipe duly fixed allowing steam experiences to go ahead on Friday.
MKT
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Progress Report Sunday the 1st July 2012
The sun shone for much of the day, on and off, here in the Gem of the
Peak, and we were very nearly killed in the rush. The Classic Bus Gala
brought out the hordes (well, by our standards) and much general
happiness was spread around, to the delight of all concerned, even as
far as the parlour of the Malt Shovel from whence the ringing of the
Booking Hall till could be heard faintly on the afternoon breeze. Many
thanks, therefore, to everyone involved and in particular to Geoff Clark
the Bus Organiser, for a wonderful day. We had a fine gathering of buses
and the opportunity to take the train down the valley one way and a
heritage bus the other way was very popular. The barbecue went very well
and the buffet was the home of several queues. We also received a Day
with a Driver guest from Lincolnshire, who was very satisfied and an
extremely complimentary coach party from Weston Super Mare, the moreso
as our cunning fitters managed to fix their somewhat defective coach
which had very nearly chugged its last at the bottom of Coldwell Street.
Meanwhile around the yard, the hoary hands of toil in the steam team
struggled with the challenges of a selection of choice tasks from
repairing a steam pipe to getting the bunker off Katherine. The J94 also
received attention by way of aluminium primer to its boiler parts and
the LMS brake van had its brake handle pillar and assorted other items
painted. At the south end of the station work commenced to clear the
jungle around the south weighbridge, and the hum of the mower was barely
interrupted by the crunching sound of running over stray ballast lurking
in the grass.
All the best,
Anton