April was a month of strong momentum across the Railway, with major progress on the new siding, steady improvements to rolling stock, and several well‑supported public running days. The month opened with bright weather and determined work on the display siding beside 83C. Volunteers curved and aligned new track panels, drilled fishplate holes, and pushed the formation ever closer to its intended length. One entry captured the spirit neatly: “One more panel and we shall be beyond the end of the building… so we can relax a bit!” Alongside this, a large batch of timber and glazed cladding panels was rescued from disposal elsewhere on site, destined for future use in the construction of shed 83D.
Trackwork continued throughout the month, with additional sleepers fitted, ballast delivered and spread, and check rails adjusted on the new ‘Y’ point. By mid‑month the siding reached the south end of shed 83C, allowing the first wagon to be hand‑shunted along its full length. With this milestone achieved, attention could briefly shift to other long‑standing tasks.
Rolling stock refurbishment featured prominently. The Burning Wagon received extensive cleaning, priming, painting and lettering, with its brake gear stripped, cleaned and repainted. The Bishopton wagons saw new coupling bars designed, prototyped and tested—first in plywood, then in metal—proving effective both in the yard and on the main line. The road/rail transporter unit also took shape, with lettering completed and the trolley mounted on its rail wagon for the first time. Meanwhile, the Wickham trolley project advanced steadily, with new frames fabricated and mechanical components assembled.
Several infrastructure improvements were completed, including replacing the rotten timber steps at Powdermill Cut platform with metal ones, repainting the stores cabin, tidying workshops, and preparing the yard for visiting groups. The pointsman’s hut was also prepared for relocation, with new paving slabs sourced and a suitable base identified.
April was a busy month for operations too. The Railway supported multiple Mills Open Days, school holiday activities and special group visits, carrying more than 170 passengers across the month. A highlight was the visit from the Narrow Gauge Railway Society, who enjoyed a full programme of demonstration trains, cab rides and main line runs featuring both Bishopton and RNAD stock. The diary summed up the day with characteristic enthusiasm: “Who enjoyed themselves more—the guests or the railway crew? Difficult to say.”
The month closed with further painting, fabrication and track packing, as well as preparations for the next phase of siding work. With warmer weather arriving and major projects well underway, April left the Railway in excellent shape for the busy season ahead.
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