Progress reports for week ending 7th March

Monday [MM]

This month has started very well with an informal visit of the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Willie Tucker, his wife Jill and diary secretary Susan. They enjoyed our whole line experience with the participation of Phil, Neil, Mike Evans, Graham, Mike Craft and Anton concluding with a visit to Ravenstor and the Museum Coach. They were charming company and extremely complimentary about all our achievements reflecting on everyone who has participated the great adventure. Anton's lunch in the Gatwick Express attracted particular appreciation and rounded off the visit. It was also good too see Martin Smith from the Steeple Grange Light Railway as our near neighbour which is also extending its railway with some vigour. The sun shone and the temperature rose to present the valley at its best.

Before the Lord's arrival Phil and Neil has been hoisted out of bed to do an early interview on site as part of Radio Derby's breakfast programme on the subject of tonight's first episode of Five Days 2 to be shown on BBC 1 at 2100 hrs each night this week. Your task is to spot the scenes that involve Mike Evans as a hand double at the controls of the Met-Cam set or even with wig as he doubles for the driver. We wait with interest!

The Dream Steam Team started their first day of a working week to draw the project to conclusion that will culminate, all being well, with a full steaming and movement under its own power of Ferrybridge No 3. Truly another milestone in our development.

Last, but least, was Lynne tending to the Wirksworth garden, noted by the Lord, and Pat Craft who returned from the model railway exhibitions at Chapel and Ilkeston to return the unsold goods to stock. I should also mention that Pat had prepared the Museum Coach for inspection in anticipation that the Lord might visit - it turned out difficult to tear him away!

A most satisfying day

Tuesday [PT]

After a frosty night, today was fairly warm, with sunshine. Just the
sort of day when the Per way team could play with water. The morning
was spent north of Shottle where we have been having problems with
flooding. Various channels were dug and two major cross drains and
associated ditches were created. A 6" as well as a 9" pipe were
inserted, and the main ditch was cleared out. the result looks
pleasing. After lunch was taken, the southern gate was removed from
Idridgehay crossing. This has some rotten timbers that need replacing,
it was delivered to the timber dept foe refurbishment. Some routine
clearance was also carried out on the outfall on the Racing Straight.

The VCT, took delivery of their new trailer, which was given a good
baptism.They removed a few trees near 134.25, and then returned to the
Postern Lodge area to continue work around the foot crossings.

The DST continued making final tweaks to No 3 and also coaled up ready
for its first movement under its own power, this is not far off.

The Passenger Dept held one of their group meetings as things prepare
for the new season, the new tills have started to  be installed and
some training has started.

Another large shunt of the yard took place, to rearrange vehicles for
the next few weeks.

Wednesday [PT]

 Another nice spring like day saw the Per way team at Duffield, where
the remaining Check rails have been fitted to Duffield South crossover,
quite an exacting task, everything was screwed down as well. Rails were
pulled and gaps set. A hard but most rewarding day We had a visit from
NR electrical engineers who were trying to trace a missing cable to the
lights and things on the platform, they were shown and have now claimed
the cable buried about 6" down - advice has been given about the
arrival of the tamper and the cable imminent destruction!

Back at base, further final work on No 3 took place on shed, whilst
the S&T team continued fitting out their vehicle, and loading material
(taking care not to scratch the 42" plasma screen TV). A start was made
on the rebuilding of the Idridgehay gate, after all the gate is very
old and various bits have started rotting and dropping off. Lynette
carried on gardening, getting things tidied up for the forthcoming
season. The last of the PTS courses for the time being was held, so
that all working members now are up to a basic level of training.

Thursday [MM]

A very pleasant, if cold, day allowed a smooth process for today's test customer and further development work on Ferrybridge No3 as preparations advance for its first movements under its own power.

The VCT reported a two fire day and two trees felled at bridge DJW6 (or Derby Road 4) together with clearance of vegetation from the river bridge at Postern Lodge. The PWT achieved a 16 sleeper day with quite a small gang and are a little north of milepost 135 1/4 leaving a mere two miles to go before they reach Duffield tunnel.

At base the talking tunnel is now talking again, a socket has been fixed on the exterior of the Training Room for the benefit of travellers berthed on the Dust Dock and DRE completed the work needed to ready their van for transit to Duffield tomorrow.

Phil has been quite unbearable after his second appearance on Five Days 2 and we still await a view of the Evans wig - maybe tonight!

Friday [MM]

Will it all be explained tonight? Will the diva Tarry have another appearance? Will we see the wig?

Meanwhile, the IT system moved ever forward and the new till system is installed in the Booking Hall. My first impressions are that it is an improvement on the previous system and should be fairly easy to use. There was much shunting of stock this morning and a transfer of freight stock to Shottle to make room for the anticipated arrival of the first of the passenger coaches next week.

The Dogfish have been in and out of the Wash Green Dock as it was realised that we had a charter to Ravenstor tomorrow. This gave the mechanical team an opportunity to prove that both Hydra and Tommy are ready for service. There was a slight glitch with Hydra which revealed some bodged repairs during its residence with BP. This discovery has enabled a solution that ensures the locomotive moves in the direction selected. Three cheers to all that we have achieved the plan to have three operational shunting locomotives.

The collective efforts of DRE and IMT saw the transfer of stock to Shottle, the movement to the DRE van to Duffield and a track patrol on the Idridgehay to Wirksworth section.

There was a little activity to extend the track bed of the 3 1/2 gauge track towards the former Ennis garage and work started in ernest to remedy the defective woodwork on the Idridgehay gate.

A sunny, pleasant and cold day to round off this week.

Saturday [ME]

55006 completed its first run of the year with a charter to Idridgehay/Ravenstor.

Iris received a new set of injectors to its No 2 Engine which greatly improved its starting and running. Ferrybridge No 3 received some further work and

Lesley the Lister was run up on the Narrow Gauge.

Sunday [AS]

Glorious sun enabled us to progress cheerfully. At Duffield the S&T
Dept, assisted by the division of charter catering and the chief
technician (poles), removed rails, replaced the necessary crossing
timbers and replaced said rails, to enable the fitting of the facing
point locks, and have connected the cranks to the frame, a major
achievement for the day.

At Wirksworth the certificated First Aid took place and a number of
colleagues have saved Annie yet again, though just how much mouth to
mouth took place cannot be discussed in this e-group. In the
engineerium, routine maintenance work took place on the class 31; and
training proceeded in how to multi-up DMUs (that is how to connect
several together without requiring Duck Tape). Shunting was undertaken
to place the class 108 in a more accessible location, and the engineers
have asked me to draw the attention of colleagues to Breeze being put on
charge tonight: please disconnect the wire before commencing operations.

The sun brought an almost vast number of visitors to the station today
and a new till system, involving writing sales down manually and putting
the takings in a bucket was found to be necessary, but I am assured this
will be short term. The only conscript to appear was delegated to litter
clearance in response to the request from IMT for Cromford Road Bridge
to be cleared and the whole of the Ravenstor - Wirksworth section was
therefore litter picked. Our own staff also took some time over tidying
up as the very surprised Wheelie Bin will testify.

Around the station, the gates were oiled (just in case speedy closing
catches you out), and new closers fitted to the toilets and the staff
footgate. Repairs were carried out to the front of the Booking Hall and
an undercoat of paint applied. Those of you who have been with this
e-group for a long time will remember it is time for the annual reminder
about the Car Park. Our season begins in less than two weeks and the Car
Park is now needed: should you have left anything in the Car Park, for,
say... six months... your washing; Complete Railway Aggregate Products;
things you meant to move but didn't, well, now is the time for it to go.
We can't make money if the public can't get in: your annual co-operation
is always appreciated.