A hot day on site again, though thankfully not as oppressive as earlier in the week, which made for a better working environment. A good turnout on site, and lots of news to pass on. it was a Mills open day and we ran two trains, carrying lots of happy passengers
Work on the Wickham Trolley continued with fitting the beading trims to the second end panel, followed by tidying up the window and vent grille edges while a third coat of varnish was put onto the woodwork, bringing that job close to completion.
Attention then shifted to the Dough wagon roof, where a couple of coats of grey waterproofing paint were applied, pushing that project firmly into its final stages.
Out at the back of shed 83A, a team used the JCB to bring up two track panels from the PW Yard. After some careful ground levelling, the panels were cut and installed to form an extension to an existing siding and giving a second storage track. It sounded straightforward enough, but it took a lot of effort to get everything aligned and seated properly. A few fishplates and some tamping are still needed, but with luck vehicles can start being moved around next Saturday to ease congestion in the main yard.
The biggest news, though, was following a visit earlier in the week to a private collection in Colchester there will now be a further TWO new additions to the motive power fleet. One is powerful enough to serve as a second passenger locomotive, giving the existing engine a well‑earned rest and the other will be an unusual companion for Tinkabell. Both machines will need restoration but appear sound and complete, with delivery expected in early September – watch out for more details and the reveal next month!
With the lorry relocated, a clear space has opened up for assembling the 3‑foot track to display the Mines Safety Greenbat and cleaning unit—another step forward in bringing more of the collection into public view.
Support for ongoing restoration work remains welcome!
> View - All Entries in August 2026 | Most Recent Entries | All Diary Entries