Progress reports for week ending 29th August

Monday [MM]

 

An inclement start to the new week but it was good to welcome today's Drive a Diesel Day participant who had the pedigree of living in Rotherham overlooking the Harrison's haulage yard that had for so long played host to Ferrybridge No3 and Henry Ellison. He was ably looked after by Richard and Lewis who able to guide him on L J Breeze and D8001.

The LMSCA seat project was quietly progressed and 50599 had a second flat down of its west side aspect and the application of BR blue paint. Repairs were conducted to the ramp leading to the EVRA shop and Information Room with a substantial piece of steel chequer plate being applied to its base.

Tony Watt refurbished a total of 40 footplate bolt nuts and we received a further 200 sleepers towards the track refurbishment project. These were tripped to Duffield after the Drive a Diesel Day activities had concluded and during the process opportunity was taken to weed treat around Gorsey Bank, Idridgehay and Duffield platform.

The Booking Hall welcomed a few visitors and the Buffet Car looked after the inner needs of our Drive a Diesel Day driver and his guests.

 

Tuesday [PT]

 

'Ello! 'Ello!, I see a right 'orrible shower! This plays havoc when
trying to apply weedkiller.However, Idridgehay station and the track
have been treated as has the Incline.

The Dream Steam Team raised steam on No3 after its recent washout,
they also checked that recent work on the lubricators worked okay and
that the work on the piston packing was tested. All appeared succesful.

The Carriage people continued work on the TO with the Cieling panels
and cheek pads being added to the non smoking end (aren't they all non
smoking?).

The per way team started as a team of 5 but this was reduced to only 3
after lunch, managed to offload 200 sleepers - this was more difficult
than usual owing to the fact that they were delivered the wrong way
around. They also managed to change 11 sleepers.

At Duffield platform, the infilling has started, with the southern end
having many tons of spoil dumpered into position.

The Vegetation Clearance Team continued clearing the Down side close
to 135 1/2 A large fire kept the chill off them.

The Incline service ran, conveying passengers to Ravenstor, the
Booking Hall, Buffet and EVRA Shop were also open.

 

Wednesday [PT]

 

On the first dry day of the week, the Wednesday per way team excelled
themselves, and managed 39 sleepers changed, they have now reached F4,
The last hundred yards or so has been very difficult by the fact of so
much leaf mould being used as ballast! Some re gauging also took place
as the Gauge Tie Bars have been removed. Well done to the team for
their hard work.

The Platform team at Duffield achieved more success with the
rebuilding of the face to the southern ramp, concrete was put on top to
provide a level fot the blockwork. The coping stones were moved nearer
to their final resting place.

The Incline service ran with a scattering of passengers, whilst a few
more persons wandered around the station and shop at Wirksworth.

 

Thursday [PT]

 

A quiet day at Wirksworth, with negligable passenger numbers. The last
train was used as a show piece for potential new customers.

At Duffield, the southern ramp had its concrete blocks added to get it
to the right height and the bottom coping stone was positioned.

At F$, the Per way team (of 3 1/2 ) managed to lay 18 sleepers, which
was a very good total owing to the size of the team.

A little further north, the VCt  continued clearing the are between F5
(north of Hazlewood towards the errosion site). They also assisted
contractors in delivering the first few sheets for piling the erosion
site, more are to follow. The contractors are now on site with machines
and have set up camp. They will be operationf between F5 and the
erosion site for the next couple of weeks.

 

Friday [PT]

 

A pleasant dry autumnal sort of day saw much shunting to position
stock for the weekend..

The day started with the arrival of what is I think, the biggest
machine to be tested on our line. It appears to be too big to get out
of the yard! It is in for testing next week.

Steam footplate training continued, and No3 went to Idridgehay  with
two coaches and made a succesfull trip.. Water remains a problem - as
do matches!

The per way/IMT had a day of moving and transporting rails, from
shottle to Duffield, and from Willow Crossing and Idridgehay to Old
Lane bridge. This was after they came across the team carrying out
repairs to the erosion site. All of their steel piles (please do not
mention piles) were transported from Hazlewood to their site.

At Wirksworth the frame of the northern Met Cam as well as the bogies 
were cleaned and painted.

A busy weekend ahead!

Sunday [AS]

Today saw us start with what TV weatherpersons now call Rogue Showers, known to us up north as torrential rain. After the torrential rain the sun came out, rather to our surprise. Like yesterday, once this happened passengers turned out to sample our cheerful little railway and, as was the case yesterday, we once again exceeded the numbers for the corresponding weekend last year, to our considerable satisfaction.

Both services were in operation, with steam to Ravenstor (and again tomorrow), and the Met Cams to Idridgehay, beating their way through wet weather, road cones, sheep, fallen trees and Eon's attempts to electrify the line. Train crew will shortly be issued with helmets.

Meanwhile, in other news, yesterday the Conscripts were delegated to the moving of a redundant electrical box to its new home, the moving of brash and scrap wood to the potash creation area (fire) and the collecting of general rubbish from around the yard, which comes with a gentle but firm reminder: the reason our yard is tidy is because we don't want to fall over things, colleagues new to our railway, possibly from other railways where the concept "tidy" is, er, rather looser than it is here, may wish to observe this more attentively.

Those of you familiar with these annals will have noted that the headshunt drain project was completed recently, and consequently Criminal Drains Plc have now moved onto the down shed drain, which is being stoned up in the traditional manner, with a wheelbarrow.

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