Ahoy shipmates. Another blazing, sun‑soaked day down at the railway, with a fine crew aboard to tackle a range of tasks. It’s the Pirates Adventure weekend, so the Mills were bustling with visitors. Three trains sailed the rails and were packed to the rafters with passengers, with the crew fully embracing the spirit of the day. Hearty work, me hearties, but don’t call us, we’ll call ye!
The second gloss topcoat went onto the Dough wagon, and an expert hand took on the tricky job of cutting in the new black paint on the body metalwork with the result looking sharp and shipshape. Next up is fitting the new roof covering and giving that a lick of paint before the lettering goes on, the end of this voyage is finally in sight.
One of the lads welded new buffing plates onto wagon B10 and managed to conjure a bit of drama… Smoke rising from one end where sparks had set the old timber buffing block smouldering. Buckets of water were poured over the buffer shank and the fire was out, or so we thought! More smoke, more water, and finally a new hole drilled through the top to pour water straight down. We left B10 outside overnight, just in case the ghost of the flame fancied another dance.
Elsewhere, the Wickham trolley recreation continued: the exposed timber floorboards and seat slats were sanded and given a first coat of thinned gloss varnish to seal them. A couple of sheets of plywood were hauled from shed 83C, and one of the new end face panels was cut and fitted with much measuring and muttering, it turned out to fit perfectly, bringing the Wickham closer to completion.
The restored 3-wheel motorized pony trolley was started and bravely driven from the main workshop to shed 83C for safe keeping beside the Bishopton rake, while the day ended with the start of cleaning the curved bench units behind the mess room these soon will be repainted and set out for visitors to rest their weary sea legs outside ARS2.
A day full of bustle, laughter, and progress the kind of day that makes a pirate proud of their railway.
Normal service will resume with the next entry – Editor
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