The day began under overcast skies, with conditions becoming noticeably warmer and more humid as the afternoon went on. A slightly larger group of volunteers was on site, allowing a variety of maintenance tasks and ongoing projects to continue making progress.
Work on the Wickham trolley moved forward, with filling work being completed before the green paint was applied to finish the end panels and it’s looking rather smart. Attention then turned to the carport and locomotive cover project, where the various components were checked to establish exactly what parts were still missing. Once everything had been identified, the parts were gathered together and stored safely in T184 to keep them organised and out of the way.
A general tidy-up of the container followed, as it had gradually become rather cluttered and disorganised. During the course of this work, a gate was rediscovered that could be incorporated into the fence surrounding the p-way yard. Having been a source of frustration for months, the temptation proved too great and with a hint of rogue-ness… The gate was finally installed in the fencing. Although the decision was somewhat spontaneous, the result was immediately worthwhile, providing permanent access to the yard without the need to continually move sections of fencing. It also greatly improved the appearance of the display area, particularly for visitors taking tours around the site.
Significant progress was also made on Hunslet No. 15. Continued investigation and repair work on the locomotive led to the belief that the long-standing hydraulic oil leak from the gear box has now been resolved. Further work was then carried out on the rebuilding the braking system, with additional components being removed so that repairs can be undertaken.
Elsewhere, the less glamorous but equally important task of cleaning the mess/tea room was tackled, leaving the facility looking much improved and ready for use.
Preparations were also made for the display of the unique Greebat locomotive we have, with sleepers set out ready for the installation of the 3-foot gauge track on which it will eventually stand.
As it was also one of the last few Mill’s open days, part of the afternoon was devoted to operating the regular passenger services. Three trains were run, carrying many happy passengers and helping to showcase the railway to visitors.
Overall, it was a productive day marked by steady progress across a range of projects, practical improvements to the site infrastructure, and another successful day of train operations for the public.
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