The opening day of the 2026 operating season arrived with the kind of energy that reminds you why all the winter graft is worth it. Four trains ran throughout the day, each one packed with smiling passengers, and the guided tours of both the yard and the Ordnance RailwayMuseum went down a treat. The atmosphere had that perfect early‑season balance: dry, warm enough to be pleasant, a little overcast, and with a breeze that hinted at spring still finding its feet.
While the trains drew the crowds, a determined team focused on the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps everything running smoothly. Additional safety fencing panels were set out early in the morning, the passenger train was prepared, and the site had a thorough spruce‑up with the rubbish cleared, bins emptied, weeds pulled, and the lingering winter muck finally shown the door.
Locomotives were fuelled and the yard exhibits positioned for visitors, before attention turned to one of the more intricate tasks: cleaning, checking, and lubricating the points across the main yard. Nearby, work continued on fitting the top cladding panels to the west side of shed 83D, while restoration progressed steadily on the Dough wagon. Even the last set of sleepers in ARS2 were cleared, ticking off another job that’s been waiting patiently for attention.
In the workshop, a powered hacksaw received a switch replacement, rounding off a day where every corner of the site saw progress. The feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive which is the best reward for the effort that goes into making a day like this run seamlessly.
A huge thank‑you goes to everyone who contributed. The season couldn’t have asked for a better start.
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