It was a warm day on site, beginning with a little cloud cover before the sun eventually broke through, making for a hot afternoon after lunch. Due to the failure and sadly absence of the mill’s tractor and trailer tour vehicle, an emergency passenger train needed to step in and was run for a group of special visitors. The service proved to be a success, with a full load of passengers enjoying their trip and helping to maintain the railway’s contribution to the day’s activities.
Work continued on a number of restoration and maintenance projects across the site. Significant progress was made on the Dough wagon, where fabrication of the new timber buffer beam moved closer to completion. The beam is now almost ready for bonding together, with the fixing holes already drilled and preparations well advanced for the next stage of the work.
Inside Building 83C, painting continued steadily as the gloss topcoat was applied to the museum interior. To make access easier and improve the visitor’s environment, the large quantity of timber previously stored along the west side of the building was relocated into the new container. The timber was stacked neatly and securely, leaving the area much tidier and creating valuable working space within the building.
Attention also remained focused on the ongoing refurbishment of Tinkabell and the Wickham trolley. The bonnet panel for Tinkabell was rubbed down and given its first undercoat, while work on the Wickham included drilling finger holes into the under-seat panels before applying an undercoat to one side. Further progress was made on the Wickham’s distinctive appearance, with a third yellow topcoat applied to the warning panels on both ends before the green and yellow border lines were carefully cut in. The vehicle is now approaching another visible milestone, with the installation of the black wasp stripes expected to begin on Saturday.
Work on Hunslet No. 15 also continued, with attention focused on the refurbishment of the cab instrument panel. Although less visible than some of the exterior projects, this steady and detailed work is another important step towards returning the locomotive to full service.
The afternoon also provided an opportunity to discuss the final details of the roof installation for Shed 83D. Plans were reviewed and practical arrangements agreed, helping to ensure that the next phase of the project can proceed smoothly. The day concluded with further progress on wagon B10, where one of the timber roof fixing rails was successfully installed, bringing that project another step closer to completion.
As always, there was no shortage of activity across the railway. From train operations and restoration work to painting, construction and planning for future projects, a great deal was achieved throughout the day. By the end of the afternoon there was a real sense of progress across multiple fronts, demonstrating once again how much can be accomplished through the combined efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers.
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