Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Progress Tuesday 30th April 2013
Monday, 29 April 2013
Progress Monday 29th April 2013
Saturday, 27 April 2013
saturday 27th April
A mixed day weatherwise with overcast clouds which gave us both rain & hailstone sbut it still failed to dampen the spirits of our numeous visitors on Derbyshires friendly railway as they traveled up and down the line in the warm class 122 bubble car. With lots of praise for both the pullman buffet and the train crews well done guys.
An early start for the 33 lads and Graham who revived Breeze to ensure a trouble free lifting of the failed generator which was soon whisked away to Ripley to be repaired
The Dmu team helped shunt the Dmus around the yard and onto the pit road before moving the class 33 onto road 3 so further work can be undertaken,on it , whilst the rest of the group worked on the rubbing down and stainning of the woodwork on the 119.
The 8f group worked hard to free the regulator on katherine but were soon depleted in numbers as some had to leave and deal with a minor mishap on another local railway
There was lots work going on in the ck berthed in the shed as the lmsca continued further work painting and cleaning the sk in platform one
The duty conscripts worked hard cleaning the inspection pit and digging out the redundant post under wash green bridge.as anton was kept busy chipping away on the new gents toilet door Wirksworth station was also kept busy with both directors who had their monthly meeting and our shareholders who held their afternoon annual meeting the Red Lion.
Duffield had a minor problem when a tree slipped down the bank and Rodney ,Jake and stuart soon dealt with the offending branches
All in all another very busy day as we approach next weeks Steam gala .many thanks to all
ATB John E
Progress Report Friday the 26th of April 2013
Dear all,
A pleasant sunny day for the most part. We entertained a large number of steam and diesel experience guests and as part of their experience they participated in Shunt of the Month. I am most grateful to everyone involved in this mammoth task, in which we shunted everything out and then shunted everything back (in a different order), in fact we have been in and out like a dog in a butcher's doorway, but I think
everything is now where it is supposed to be for the weekend. The LMSCA and Allsops painters were fully engaged. The class 33 was also being readied for some special maintenance tomorrow morning.
In other news, the gents has had a new door as the old one was so rotten you could put your finger or various other things through it. The new door will require painting and while this is in progress the Spare Gentlemen will, inevitably, be round the corner.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Progress Thursday 25th April 2013
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Progress Wednesday 24th April 2013
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Progress Tuesday 23rd April 2013
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Progress Report Sunday the 21st of April 2013
A lovely sunny day during which we entertained the Morgan Sports Car
Club in the Station Yard. The Duty Conscripts continued painting the
ramp fence and began a general tidy up of the Car Park and the area
round Dale Tunnel entrance. The Guerilla Gardeners were also hard it on
the top of the embankment.
In the shed, the BSK painting proceeded at such a pace that we very
nearly had spontaneous combustion in the paint brush department, and
this vehicle has now had both sides of undercoat and one side of top
coat and is looking like a real carriage after many years of being
stabled in various places feeling sorry for itself. Also feeling less
sorry for itself is the CK, which, having had its floors done during the
week, has had its compartment doors rehung and a start made in tidying
and minor snagging of the interior.
Down the yard, the class 31 had routine maintenance and the class 33 had
is generator detached ready for further work to be done. Meanwhile, the
DMU team got to grips with the interior panelling of the class 119
guards van.
Can I remind all staff, that whilst all this important and vigorous work
is being carried out of two issues:
1. It is of the first order of importance for the safety of all staff
that you keep your work area tidy and in particular all walkways and
paths must not be obstructed by detritus. This represents a formal
reminder that items left where they are a threat to the safety of other
staff will be removed, if you then complain that you have left something
important lying around on a path and it has been removed you will be
called to account for why you left such materials there in the first place.
2. It is also of the first order of importance for the safety of the
public that all gates between the car park and the yard must be closed,
we cannot and must not, though neglect of regard for the safety of
others, have children in particular wandering around work areas simply
because they can get in. I remind all staff that principal gates are
under the surveillance of our CCTV and if you are seen to leave a gate
open in such a way as to endanger the public you will also be called to
account for your actions.
Anton Shone
Passenger Services Manager
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
Fwd: [wirksworths_railway] Progress Report Friday the 19th of April 2013
A pleasant day of pottering around with several Steam Taster guests. The
Passenger Dept spent the day dealing with a phone ringing itself off the
hook and will shortly be sending the usual monthly invoice to social
services. The buffet began preparations for its first ever Curry Night
and this will no doubt be in full swing even as you read this (unless
you read it during your breakfast).
Down the yard the west side of the BSK turned a charming green colour as
Allsop Enterprises used up the national stock of filler and
anti-corrosive green paint. On the other side the guards door began to
look like a real door again, after ministrations by a range of
engineering experts. Meanwhile the south end of the Third Open began to
receive attention to the rather singed corridor connection, and this is
no doubt the first stage in the long road to recovery for this vehicle.
In the carriage sidings the CK team laid the new marmolium floor in the
vestibules and corridor and much effort was expended on glue and
determination.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Thursday 18th April 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Progress Wednesday 17th April 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Progress Tuesday 16th April 2013
Pie and Pea Quiz Evening
Monday, 15 April 2013
Progress Monday 15th April 2013
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Progress Report Sunday the 14th of April 2013
Dear all,
A rather blustery day, but at least it was vaguely warm here today. We pottered around with our passengers and visitors, and in between these the Booking Hall carried on with the mammoth envelope stuffing process, so that many of you will receive the Annual Report, that wonderment of accounting exactitude, in a very soon moment. The Head of Gardening gardened at Wirksworth and the Station Foreman at Duffield mowed several parts of the garden at that fine station as well.
Meanwhile, down the yard, the Class 33 received routine maintenance with very large spanners. In the CK some window frames were attended to, as well as panelling and trimming in the vestibule. The bogies and the Passenger Manager were also painted. In the shed, the BSK had its roof
cleared ready for a coat of paint on Tuesday, and in the class 119 the cab doors were also painted.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday 13th April 2013
As The snn shined on Derbyshires friendly railway we had a steady stream of passengers who all had a nice pleasent day traveling up and down the line before sampling the daily delights of the pullman buffet which was also busy taking more booking for the curry night on friday.
Late in the afternoon the smokey smell of steam engines drifted over the railway as four traction engines crossed wash green bridge tooting and waving to the passegers and staff on the platforms as they headed up the hill following the aroma coming out the Malt shovel.
Elsewhere on the railway-
The two daily conscripts found themselves getting involved in the cleading of the oil seperator and soon found out that their arm muscles do actualy work.
Anton was to be found digging for water in the station 6 foot but decided instead that putting a box and hose pipe in would fill the coaching stock quicker than a bucket.
The Dmu group worked their little cotton socks off as they welded the guards area and fitted the first class seats.
Young Jake helped with the painting of the fencing along the ramp , Matt was to be found working on the evra coaches both doing a sterling job.
Graham and Rob fired Breeze into life and managed to coax her to move and complete a minor shunt before replacing a seal on iris and tested her on the incline.
The station gardener cleared cleared the flower beds along No 1 platform ready for the May gala.The 8f group worked on the bearing of No 3 which they refitted ready for the revenue earning steam experience friday
The Lmca were like busy little bees in the shed as they worked hard on preparing another coach ready for the May Gala.
All in all a busy day for the railway and my thanks go out to you all for your sterling effort which allows to go from strength to strength
ATB John
Saturday, 13 April 2013
A pleasant interlude
Friday, 12 April 2013
Progress Report Friday the 12th of April 2013
Dear all,
A slightly foggy start to an otherwise rather pleasant day saw a number
of guests arrive for their steam and diesel experiences, some of which
included the joy of shunting at Duffield and at Shottle.
Down the yard the main activity was, once again, carriage restoration,
with old bitumen glue being removed from the CK prior to its
re-flooring. I am advised that as the mechanism to remove said bitumen is the application of parafin, that unless you wish to visit Uranus by the miracle of parafin powered space travel, that naked lights should not be used in the CK until it is thoroughly aired again.
In the shed the BSK was ministered to by a multitude of people and the main aspects were attention to the interior, and to the guards and other
doors. In addition Allsops Painters and Decorators filled and sanded a large number of dents and dips which this vehicle has accumulated over time and a significant investment in another giant economy pack of filler will be made shortly.
The Passenger Department, after an hour or two of envelope stuffing and sign fixing, got down to its main task of the day, which was the fitting of a brand new multi-million pound inter-platform carriage watering facility, which consists of a wooden box with a B&Q value hose reel in it (£27.99). This facility is now operational and can be seen between the tracks opposite the Wirksworth platform shelter. In order not to obstruct the six foot, the wooden box containing the brand new
multi-million pound inter-platform carriage watering facility will be buried flush with the ground in a very soon moment.
Will Booking Hall staff please note that after a trip to America, the DVD player in the Museum now has to be turned on using the remote, and by pressing the Green Button then the Red Button on the front of the unit.
All the best,
Anton
Supplemental Progress Thursday 11th April 2013
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Progress Thursday 11th April 2013
Martin
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Progress Wednesday 10th April 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Progress Tuesday 9th April 2013
Monday, 8 April 2013
Progress Mon 8th April 2013.
A busy day for p way today tripping all the material to Duffield for the platform extension. With Breeze out of action again we had to call on steam traction to save the day. Many thanks to Hilton and JHT for turning out early and a late finish. Sorry but the loco will have to be disposed on Tues as the crew had done 9 hours already and with no other help forthcoming there we are. Thanks to Bob and Vince as well for crossing keeper and guards duties. Logistics again have been a nightmare with lots of other jobs to complete plus two testing customers to deal with later in the week and trying to get all the timber, nuts, bolts, washers paving slabs and chippings delivered to site by Tues meant my Sunday was spent manufacturing brackets for said platform so when the steam crews alight from their loco at Duffield and feel the silky, delightful timber platform under their feet which means they don't have to bother with all the performance of shunting the train about then perhaps they may spare a thought for the sacrifices made by others on their behalf.
Talking of unsung heroes saw LMSCA here again today doing battle with the BSK under the spectre of a fast approaching deadline.
Allsop painting corporation was also present along with DMU gaffer Mike Evans doing coach and DMU things although by the time we returned they had flown the nest so I am bereft of detail.
Rodney was also present at Duffield sorting more top soil from the pile of spoil near to our entrance.
A very positive day with all going smoothly to plan with even the Komatsu not sulking for once though I suspect the picture of a set of cutting equipment in the cab is having some effect. I have also commissioned a voo doo doll of said komatsu and intend to cut bits off it at random with a hacksaw as my mood takes me.
MKT.
Progress Sunday 7th April 2013
Dear all,
A lovely spring day in the Gem of the Peak which brought out a number of visitors to the trains and the buffet.
The Class 31 and Class 33 both received routine maintenance. Henry Ellison had final paint applied. The DMU team also painted their cab doors. The duty conscript started painting the ramp fence and the CK had paint applied to its bogies. This frenzy of painting reached a crescendo on the roof of the CK which is now delightfully grey.
ATB
Anton via Leigh
saturdays daily report
After a cold start to the morning Derbyshires friendly railway settled down to looking after oursteady stream of contented pasenger who all enjoyed their trip down the line to Duffield and up to Ravenstor in the class 122 bubble car before their visit to the pullman buffet where the munched their way through the varied food on offer.
Down the yard No3 was busy shunting the stock around and repositioned both locomomotives and coaches as well as the works train many thanks to Matt and J H T for their stirling effort today
The 8f group helped in the movement of katherines wheels in and out of the shed again many thanks to them for their help.
the dmu team where busy working on the restoration of the class 119 where they where able to repair and fit the drrivers seat and Rob played with his little box
all in all a satisfactory day for all concerned
ATB John