It's been all go down the sunny Apedale Valley. Yesterday (Friday) saw the Kerr Stuart steam loco "Stanhope" having its first public outing this year, when we hosted a couple of group visits. Today has been the first "Steam & Industry Traibs" weekend of the new season. We run the steam loco on passenger trains, and let some of the diesel locos from the collection loose on demonstration freights, recreating the industrial trains of the past. But just to add to the busyness, the site has seen the arrival of two new locomotives - these are a breeding pair of 2'6" gauge Hunslets. Formerly stored at the ARPG site at Dalmellington, near Ayr, they both worked the ROF Bishopton munitions factory. Each is fitted with a Perkins engine. Hopefully the owner will be regauging them in the immediate future, and we can put them to work on the railway. Meanwhile, down at the workshops, Project Genesix has reached a milestone - the first engine start and moving under its own power. This loco, Motor Rail 7066, has come together very quickly - the photo shows the state in which it arrived on site in 2009. One outstanding issue is that the radiator is somewhat less than water tight, so the loco cannot venture too far from a water supply. The Dutch version of the CME, Johan Van Der Rowlands, is seen trying to plug the deluge. If you fancy plugging a deluge, get in touch here.
