Summertime

The steam drivers having a chat whilst steaming up under the shed canopy

Hello there, we are still here, but been very busy with this 'n that, so just found some time to update you on the latest happenings on and off the railway.
Our May Open Day was very successful, thank you for coming to see us. All went well and we thoroughly  enjoyed the afternoon. 'Isabel', 'Remus' and 'Little Olive' provided the steam power and we also had General, Chieftain, and The Shay  out and about.

John brings a train out of the station with 'Chieftain'

The works train including the new tool van was on display in the Tunstead Road siding, for all to admire and at long last our track gang Boys are using a loco to take out the wagons and tool van to where they are working on the track, mostly in the Lake area recently, where the generator is providing power as required.

Ray 'supervising' Randy on trackwork duties

The 'work' train with 'Viceroy' at the flat crossing

We have altered the ashpan bottom plate on 'Isabel' so it can 'hinge' down when required to lose ash during the afternoon so we don't  get a build up of very hot ash and clinker, which is not good for the grate ! This should mean that we don't have to drop the grate over the pit after each session which will make life a bit easier for the drivers after a hard afternoon's driving !!!!!! It was tested last Wednesday and worked well. So we may do the same on 'Hotspur' ?

'Prospero' is unserviceable at the moment due to very soft springing which is causing the brake gear to foul the track and sleepers now and then, resulting in a derailment. Stiffer springs are being provided by Station Road Steam, which we hope will solve the problem, so until then, the loco is being 'rested'!

Gardening, of  course, continues and all is looking tidy.......
Last weekend five of us popped down to the South Coast to ride some trains and had a great weekend on the Moors Valley, Swanage, Eastleigh, Mid Hants and the Isle of Wight railways. Good weather, great trains, excellent hosts on each, comfy hotels and good food with a few beers, what more could the Guys want!
Hope to see you on Sunday 1st July(surely not another month gone?), when we will be open to the Public with trains running from 2 til 5 pm....

TTFN

'Hotspur' comes through the station with Keith in charge during our June Open Day