Containers by Rail

Another busy - and occasionally very damp - weekend has seen progress on various projects. The restoration work on Motor Rail 1320 has slowed just for the moment whilst we await supply of a critical part in the re-assembly of the loco. So, the main project has been improving rail access to a container which contains a number of the operational locos. Road tailings have been railed to site - which is inaccessible to everything except foot and rail - and tipped to improve the ground conditions. A set of points was then brought in and unloaded using a combination of experience and gravity. The points have a very shallow crossing angle, so the tracks diverge slowly; this is essential, because the tracks are not far apart in the container. The approach to the points was also re-laid to remove a particularly hideous rail joint. The final step will be to assemble the tracks leading to the container doors, and the "bridge" sections needed to allow the doors to open and close.

In between all this, we also welcomed a party from the RCTS, and even ran a railtour for the more resilient member of the party!

Cars

A big thank you to everyone who came along last weekend with their bears/unicorns/meerkats (delete as seen fit). Our next Event Day at the railway will be Classic Cars and Steam Trains day on August 27th. It would seem that one of the Classic Car magazines contains an error, and the error says that the event is on the 17th which is this Thursday! Whilst I am sure that our friends at the Apedale Heritage Centre would be delighted to see you on Thursday, I'm afraid their will be neither trains nor old cars!

An apology

A small apology....unfortunately, we will be running the trains on Sunday using a heritage diesel locomotive rather than the expected steam loco. We are still running trains and we are still looking forward to seeing lots of children with their bears!
This change is because of a shortage of qualified volunteers on this day. We apologise for any disappointment this may cause - we are a 100% volunteer railway, and this shows why we are always looking for new members. If you are interested in becoming a member, check out the information www.mrt.org.uk or come along and have a chat.

Diesel Delights

It is perhaps worth reminding ourselves that the king of the railway Internal Combustion engine is the Diesel (or, if you are from Lincoln, the "Oil Engine"). To be fair, the Diesel Delights event - October 7 & 8 - will feature both compression-ignition and spark-ignition IC locos. However, that really doesn't make for a snappy event title, does it? One loco which will hopefully feature is the newly-repaired Hunslet "Twusk", seen having a run out at the weekend before slumbering in a container for a while. The event organisers have decided that, with over 60 IC locos on site, we need a few more - just not enough choice. So, we are expecting a few arrivals in the next few weeks, both permanent residents and visitors. In the latter category is Motor Rail 11258, a 60HP loco which is the twin of resident No.13. MR11258 was also at Pilkington's Glass sand pits, as their No.12. So, we'll have No.12 and No.13 together. Keep watching for more announcements!

Internal Combustion progress

As we head towards the Diesel Delight event on October 7 & 8, various projects on the IC loco front continue to progress. The big Motor Rail, 1320, is continuing in ites PRISM-funded restoration project. The frame is now sitting upside down on a wagon, rather dominating the workshop. The frame has been shotblasted and primed. A few repairs were needed, and various castings were somewhat past their best. Since they were fitted in 1918 and probably not touched in 99 years, there isn't really room to complain. Also, the Motor Rail Warranty Department doesn't work on a Sunday.

At the opposite end of the Motor Rail spectrum is the tiny Autin-engined 12/20hp loco number 6031, known as Lord Austin. The loco was ordered for use by the Midhurst Whites brickworks, and they specified that it was for use in a low-height application; hence the cut down brake stand, and an unusual configuration of the gearbox controls. The loco has been finally fitted with its cab to complete the restoration - predictably, a low height cab. Getting in and out is interesting, to say the least, but the photo proves that the owner can manage it. How much vaseline was need to accomplish this feat is not known. The remains of the original cab are, as can be seen, at the "pattern use only" stage.

Finally, it's been an interesting few days in railway preservation in the UK, and not in a good way. We particularly think of friends and colleagues affected at Felin Fawr, and we sincerely hope that the future works out. It is only a few months since "Stanhope" was operating on that railway, and the future seemed so bright.

Superheroes

We have been honoured to host a visit from Dr Ailsa, and his glamorous assistant, who should have been called Craig but wasn't. They cam to lay hands on the Hunslet "Twusk", and more specifically its rather troublesome Ailsa-Craig two cylinder engine. The problem with this one is that the big end bearings were shot. The engine would run but wouldn't generate oil pressure, and would then try to seize. The Good Doctor got to work; after an epic day's efforts, the loco has been restored to health. Well done, chaps! Elsewhere on site, it's been a steam train weekend with the Joffre doing its level best to broil the crew. A new "temporary" building has also been erected - the objective being to give covered accomodation for the increasing population of restored wagons on site.

Snakes on a Train

One could reasonably wonder what is going on here? Have we decided to simplify AVLR operations by fitting some form of remote control, thereby saving all the faffing with running the loco round the train at each of the train? Tempting, but wrong. This is testing the Portable Air Brake Panel (better names are doubtless available). The PABP is intended to allow some of the locos which are not fitted with a permanent air brake installation to be used with the passenger train. Supported by all the necessary risk assessments and the like, this new piece of kit will be the centrepiece of the Diesel Delights event on October 7 & 8. The event will see some of the Trust's vast collection of historic diesels being given a chance to haul passenger trains, for the first timer ever. So, if you want to see an interesting piece of railway brake technology, plus maybe some trains, put the date in your diary today!