A dry, bright and surprisingly dusty day on site for late April, with the breeze whipping up little dust devils as work got underway. The mid‑week team was slightly smaller than usual, but there was no shortage of progress across the Gunpowder Railway.
New locking bars were fabricated and fitted to the doors of 83C, leaving the building feeling far more secure. The sea mine received its final black topcoat, while the fire‑alarm standard gained another layer of red and now looks impressively smart. Work on the Dough wagon continued with repairs and filler on one end, getting it ready for repainting. Over at 83D, the top wall panels on the east side were cut and fitted, steadily closing in the structure.
Down at the far end of the site, the final paperwork for ordering the 83D roof materials was handed over, with hopes that everything will arrive by mid‑May. There was also a useful conversation with senior leadership about the recent arrivals, all of which was very positive. Later in the day, a visit of the CEO to the Railway included a short drive of Tinkabell and a run around the yard on the Wickham trolley.
Tinkabell herself was a little reluctant first thing, but once coaxed into life she behaved well. The tank filler at the back was removed and the exhaust conditioner topped up with water for the first time in many years, judging by the muck inside. A newly donated bandsaw arrived at lunchtime, and a temporary new wooden slatted seat for Tinkabell was made and sent to the woodwork shop for varnishing.
The PAT testers returned to complete yet more checks, and workshop tasks continued steadily in the background. All told, it was a productive and satisfying day across the site, with plenty of visible progress and a good sense of momentum.
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