Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Progress Wednesday 30th April 2014
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Progress Tuesday 29th April 2014
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 27th of April 2014
Dear all,
A much more pleasant day than expected and also rather busier than expected. The Duty Station Gardener attempted to weed and infill plants in the quad and other places whilst our visitors admired our selection of prize tulips.
Down the yard, the Austerity Team scraped and painted their way through their frames and the DMU Team, newly returned from heathen parts (Norfolk) were all over railcar 50253 like a rash. Work include windows, doors and removing seats from the passenger compartments as a prelude to restoring the floor.
The Passenger Department, when not playing Grand Theft Clio and Station
Bike Simulator with the DMU team, painted the platform 1 benches, the
Ladies floor (again), the back office floor (again), the Information Room exterior trim, the picnic area fence and a large number of patches in strange and remote places. Please do not touch anything maroon, cream, black, white or grey until tomorrow.
All the best,
Anton
Friday, 25 April 2014
Progress Report Friday the 25th of April 2014
Dear all,
A slightly damp day of pottering around with our Driver Experience guests and dealing with the usual selection of routine and bizarre enquiries. Behind the weighbridge the International Vice President of signalling considered many strange and unusual parts.
The Station Foremen once again attempted to make a silk purse out of the sows ear that is the back door of the Booking Hall, but with the most extreme reluctance a new door will have to be obtained at long last.
The passenger department also applied floor paint to the back office and to the Ladies. Will staff please note that the Ladies will still be wet tomorrow and therefore ladies should be directed to the Extra Ladies.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Progress Thursday 24th April 2014
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Progress Wednesday 23rd April 2014
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Progress Tuesday 22nd April 2014
Monday, 21 April 2014
Progress Easter Monday 21st April 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 20th April 2014
Dear all,
A rather damp and quiet start to the day, but things gradually picked up and the passenger service pottered around.
Down the yard, the Austerity Team carried on with their mammoth frame and wheel painting exercise, the EVRA SO received attention and the reduced DMU team carried on with unit 50253.
Gardening appeared to be the other main theme of the day with the guerilla gardeners working on their parts and the passenger department
trimming theirs.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Progress Report Saturday 19th April 2014
Dear All,
After a quiet start our Duffield service became much busier with good passenger numbers throughout the afternoon and early evening. Number 3 made a welcomed return to the Ravenstor service and proved popular with both our young and older visitors. Following a transmission problem 'Lenny the Lister' sparked into life and provided a narrow gauge service after lunch. The miniature and model railways were not to be out done and these also enjoyed good visitor numbers. The Pullman Buffett coped admirably with the demands of the day.
Down the yard the PCLG group attended to the class 33 and Tim Oaks continued to work on 'Duke'. The 8F group carried on with their work on 'Cathryn's' boiler and further DMU related activities took place in the shed.
Finally today's source of amusement was the Wirksworth Station Public Address System which intermittently sounded like a constipated Dalek following the installation of an extra speaker by one of our young Sound Engineers. After many attempts to re-balance the system, the Booking Hall team have restored normal communications by temporary disconnecting the offending speaker.
A good day was had by all.
All the
Tom
Friday, 18 April 2014
Progress Report Friday the 18th of April 2014
Dear all,
An extremely pleasant day for running a railway: we pottered up and down happily with our passengers, and our other visitors sunned themselves around the platform watching the world go by, which is of course, the true and rightful purpose of sitting on a railway station.
Down the yard work proceeded on the EVRA SK interior, began on the roof of the EVRA SO, and continued on railcar 50253 which had various trim sanded and painted. Much of the DMU team is going on a short visit to the far end of the world (Norfolk) and I have promised them that we will have finished 50253 for when they get back - consequently a 40 ton truck will arrive on Tuesday with the words "Gaffer Tape" written on it.
The LMSCA carried on with changing seats in their SK and the Third Open
was shunted into the afternoon sunlight with its painting is now finished. It sat glowing gently outside the shed and once a bit of tweaking is done no doubt a fine picture of it will appear in these renowned annals.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Progress Thursday 17th April 2014
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Progress Wednesday 16th April 2014
Another beautiful day yet again and it really was the calm before the storm, with 6 days of service coming right up!
Today, a pass was made at the weeds along the line and the Permanent Way team continued to empty a wagon of its contents.
The LMSCA continued working on the Third Open as well as fixing a corridor plate to Class 108 50599 ready for use at the weekend with the steam engine. Work continued to brighten up the Pullman coaches externally too.
The Booking Office was kept busy with all manner of enquires and a planning meeting was held with team trent barton to discuss progress on the preparations for the Big Bus and Train Bash on 10th May. This day certainly does promise to be something we have never tried before!
Leigh
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Progress Tuesday 15th April 2014
Another beautiful day where Iris was called into emergency action to increase the number of cars operating the service. This was due, in part, to the weather as well as the school holidays. We also welcomed some visitors from the Weardale Railway who are admiring our enterprise as they restart heritage operations again soon as a new company.
The yard saw another shunt today to alter the arrangement in the shed area. Nearby, the VCT continued the beautification of the headshunt area.
The steam team progressed their maintenance of the locomotives and work progressed on the wagon at Ravenstor.
Work progressed in changing the seats in the SK and some attention was turned to maintenance of the dumper truck.
The LMSCA pottered about also, as did Fred and Iris who swept around the station and stained the flower pots wood.
Sorry if anybody has been missed!
Leigh
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 13th of April 2014
Dear all,
A very pleasant day along the line today, we didn't deal with huge numbers but the steady routine is always satisfying.
Down the yard the Austerity wheels became resplendent in gloss black and no doubt the rest of the locomotive will become equally resplendent in a very soon moment. Nearby, the LMSCA carried on with fitting a corridor end cover to the class 108.
The DMU team carried on with the Formica work in unit 50253 as well as further fitting out of the cab.
The Duty Conscript and his close personal friend, being assisted our own cadets and a deputation from the DMU team strove to cleanse the car park of its accumulated winter tat ready for the Easter weekend, and whilst this might sound a small task it took eight staff all day to achieve.
Many thanks to all involved.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Progress Report 12th of April 2014
Dear All,
Another wonderful day on Derbyshires friendly railway.
The passenger service bobbled up and down and was slightly surprised by a large party of walkers at Duffield.
In the yard the LMSCA painted the under fames and varnished the sides of the TO. They also fitted a tasteful corridor end to 50599.
Not far away the 8f group carried on painting the Austerity. While another of their group worked on Kathryns boiler.
The DMU team found themselves to be wiped out after finally fixing the troublesome wiper motor on 50253. A Lings improved heater duct was also fitted to this vehicle. Several members of this team covered themselves in glory (know round here as used oil) by cleaning out the pit for the first time since records began.
All in all a good day.
Regards,
John Stokes behalf of Mike Evans
Friday, 11 April 2014
Progress Report Friday the 11th of April 2014
Dear all,
A delightfully sunny spring day here in the Gem of the Peak. We entertained a number of steam and diesel driver experience guests and all went very well.
Down the yard work proceeded in unit 50253 where Field Enterprises continued stripping, and nearby Perkins-Colledge painted some narrow gauge items ready for the new season. JCB Purves also continued with the painting of both the Cromford and High Peak Water Carrier and of the Passenger Manager.
The Station Foreman had a day of shuttling and steps and the Booking Hall dealt with the opening of some warming envelopes. May I say a word of thanks to all our shareholders who are supporting the current appeal for funds to finish Shottle and start the works needed to make the Temporary Maintenance Facility ("Shed") a place which doesn't blow the circuit breakers when you turn the lights on.
All the best,
Anton
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Progress Thursday 10th April 2014
A dry and pleasant day with little pockets of activity around Wirksworth as we rush headlong into operating 10 of the next 15 days through the Easter holidays.
At the most northerly point in the yard, the VCT continued their quest to tidy the vegetation in this area. Our testing teams were nearby completing their tests and ending their day with the machine leaving site. This enabled logs to be put into position for our customers to collect.
Attention was once again turned to LJ Breeze to help sure up the clutch arrangement, with satisfactory results.
A small team worked on sprucing up the paintwork on the Pullman coaches which has weathered recently and a team worked on replacing the cushions in the SK.
The Booking Office was kept busy by Amazon customers ringing to book Afternoon Tea and in between, was flinging messages backwards and forwards with trent barton to assist with plans for the Big Bus and Train Bash on 10th May. This event promises to be a brilliant one of special with all sorts going off. Check our their website at www.trentbarton.co.uk/bigbash for more details on this!
Another productive day.
Leigh
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Progress Wednesday 9th April 2014
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Progress Tuesday 8th April 2014
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Progress Report Sunday the 6th of April 2014
Dear all,
A rather chilly start saw the first train of the day surprisingly busy and various visitors pottering round for the rest of the day. At Duffield work was taking place with benches and signs. Back at base the Austerity was having its frames and wheels painted, a process likely to take a while longer, and the theme of paint continued in the shed with the first coat of varnish being applied to the Third Open.
JCB Purves spent the afternoon moving gravel and work continued in the steam pit, the EVRA carriages and in the SK, which is gradually receiving new upholstery compartment by compartment.
However, the main activity of the day was with the DMU team including routine maintenance checks on the operational units and the continuing work in unit 50253. In practice the refurbishment of 50253 fairly roared along today with so many members of the DMU Team in the vehicle that you could hardly move for people sanding trim, cleaning their pelmets,
welding up holes in the floor, screwing in the cab, fixing the fire alarm covers and glueing tasteful new woodgrain Formica to anything that moved and several things that didn't. I suspect another astonishing DMU refurb will be unveiled upon us in a very soon moment.
All the best,
Anton
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Daily Report Saturday 5th April 2014
A steady day on Derbyshires friendly railway as the 122 bubble car 55012 looked after the Wirksworth to Duffield service and Iris the railcar looked after the Ravenstor Service.
Down the yard the LMSCA worked hard to finish off the painting of the third open doors ready for starting the varnishing tomorrow as well as steaming of ash roof struts.
The Dmu team carried out further restoration of the 101 50253 , the servicing of the 119 as well as working to fix LJ Breezes fuel leak .
Oakes enterprises prepared and painted the frames of the Duke .
The 8f group are still trying to drill out the copper stays on Kathryns firebox
Another successful Induction and PTS course was held this afternoon in the training room and we would like to welcome several potential members of staff to the railway.
All in all a pleasant day was had by all and I would like to thank Richard , John Allsop , Vince , Eric and John Jarman for providing todays service.
ATB John Evans
Friday, 4 April 2014
Progress Report Friday the 4th of April 2014
Dear all,
A rather pleasant day of unusual activity for a Friday. We had the pleasure of both steam and diesel experience guests as well as some testing, fitted in between trains.
In the shed the LMSCA carried on with the joy of the Third Open, about to emerge in its full colour version. The Station Foremen, never knowingly users of fresh items, recovered various pre-used materials for a top secret project as well as stopping the public falling off the top step of the Booking Hall.
The Booking Hall, overcome with joy at its new sales gondola, fitted it out with assorted goods for the delectation of the public, a process only interrupted by calls for Afternoon Teas at shockingly regular intervals.
All the best,
Anton