The unmistakable sight & sound of a Spitfire |
Dinmore Manor at Paignton (photo courtesy of Martin Ginger) |
A usefully large HIAB |
The old oil store being lifted onto a container wagon... |
...and shunted across the yard to become the new wood store. |
The new oil store takes up residence in its final location |
The training cabin, flying without its usual pilot, Steve, at the controls. |
3850's old boiler takes to the air... |
...before landing on a lorry. |
Moving on to Wednesday, more coal has arrived
That should keep us steaming for a while (photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge) |
The collection of steam and other vintage cars being admired in the car park (photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge) |
This one looks rather grand (photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge) |
You wouldn't kick it out of your garage for leaking oil would you! (photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge) |
A view of the boiler (photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge) |
Moving on to Friday, it was another footplate experience day, this time Gold one. The big difference from the crew point of view is that you don't get a sticky bun at the start of the day, however on the plus side you do get a cooked breakfast and a very nice packed lunch provided.
The fireman still needs to pitch up early and dispose the loco (in this case 2807) from having been running the day before, without the benefit of having a cleaner to help. As many things had been relocated on Monday, one of the first tasks was to locate the oil store and wood store. The new wood store was actually the old oil store and was located close to where the old wood store had been. The new oil store had been relocated to where the old oil store had been. Confused, you should be. Anyway, everything was located and more importantly able to be opened with the appropriate keys. There was even enough wood in the wood store, which had been a source of concern as Roger, who makes sure the wood store is stocked had been away on holiday.
The new wood store |
35006 watches on whilst 2807 starts to come into steam |
Control familiarisation on siding 1 (Mark on the right) |
One of the participants using modern technology to check the weather forecast. |
Dave easing the regulator open |
Another departure from the silver course is that the participants can have a go at coupling and uncoupling if they want. Some of course didn't want to, whereas others were as keen as mustard.
Steve was one of the keen ones |
Andy operated the points for us at the north end... |
...whilst Richard operated the ground frame at the south end. |
It was all a bit Hitchcockesque when they lifted into the air. |
Andy shovelling coal forward... thanks Andy! |
Some preferred to take selfies on the footplate whilst driving |
Dave uncoupling us from the stock. |
We had just got back to Toddington at the end of an otherwise largely dry day and were coaling up, when Mark ill-advisedly mentioned that we'd got away with it as far as the weather was concerned. Providence having been well and truly tempted led to the heavens being opened and some extremely heavy rain. We got soaked just running round to the shed, taking water and shunting 35006 indoors.
2807's cab provides very little shelter from the elements. |
Mike drilling through the old plate into the new. |
In at the deep end. |
Smoke box, chimney and sand box. |
Smoke box on the move. |
The smoke box, chimney & 2874's cab roof all found their way in here. |
By the end of the day, the only remaining item in the way of the new welfare facility was the toilet/shower block. That will be removed in the next week, foundations for the welfare facility will be laid soon thereafter.
Soon to be a building site. |
Bob about to hoist up a new brake block |
The last task to be taken on by team Dinmore Manor was to get the final wheel set underneath the tender that will run behind 3850. The refurbished vacuum cylinder had been installed and some modifications to the pipe work were undertaken before the last wheel set could be installed.
Mike shortening a vacuum pipe |
Ready for some black top coat when it dries out. |
Mark (centre) and Mike locating one of the axle boxes onto an axle. |
By the close of play, we had both axle boxes in place and the tender lowered onto them... |
...and even had one of the springs in place. |
Over the course of the last week or so, we have been fortunate enough to have a number of people pass out as footplate crew. The first is now driver Jones... yes, we have our own "Jones the Steam".
Driver Jones (L) with Inspector Lacey. (photo courtesy of Dan Wigg) |
Inspector Irving (L) congratulates fireman Hunt. (photo courtesy of Chris Irving) |
Fireman Bartlett (L) with Inspector Irving.(photo courtesy of Chris Irving) |
Erlestoke Manor pilots Foremarke Hall at Toddington just before our 2016 gala |
Bradley Manor in happier times |
Just for clarification what is the welfare building intended for.
ReplyDeleteStephen Smith.
Secunda South Africa
Super comprehensive blog. Seems a very busy time up there
ReplyDeleteThe welfare building is to provide proper changing room for male and female volunteers, toilets, showers and a new Mess facility as well as training and operational offices. We currently reside in a falling apart Mk1 coach which is past its best.
ReplyDeleteWe (lineside clearance)noticed the crows last Wednesday when out at Peasebrook they were further north though as they were probably around childswickham bridge.
ReplyDeleteGraham
Ray and Mark thanks for a great day out on the Fire and Drive day last Friday and yes, it did feel like I had never been away.
ReplyDelete