A larger team was on site today and, had the weather been better, a start would have been made on the roof of Shed 83D. Unfortunately, the wind and rain had other ideas, particularly after lunch.
As it was dry first thing, a major shunt around the yard was carried out. Gilbert was used to move the RNAD flat wagon from alongside the mess cabin round to Shed 83E. At the same time, the tower scaffolding platform in Shed 83D was dismantled and moved into 83A, allowing the passenger train to be backed up and coupled to the RNAD tower wagon before pulling it out and up to the limit of shunt sign. No. 15 was then started and coupled to the manrider before being moved round to Shed 83C.
With 83A partially emptied, it was possible to bring Gilbert round, reverse back onto the tower wagon and push it round to Shed 83E where it is now out of the way. The tower scaffolding was then returned to 83D and the passenger train put away again. Confused? So were we. The important thing is that everything is now ready for work to begin on the roof of 83D when the weather permits.
As No. 15 and the manrider were already out and running, it seemed a shame not to take them up the line to Long Walk and back to see how the locomotive performed. The answer is very well. It will be a joy to drive once everyone becomes accustomed to the workings of the air-operated throttle. I do not think anyone fully appreciated just how compact it is until it was posed alongside the Baguley.
After lunch, a replacement light switch of the correct size was fitted to the dashboard of the Wickham along with installing the 3D-printed wire cover conduits to the end panels. Wagon B10 was moved onto the level concrete slab at the end of Shed 83A as the body was visibly twisted from the way the wagon had been sitting on the uneven hardcore floor area. Work then continued on the wagon, with the new floor being completed while remedial work was carried out to the partially installed roof timbers.
Attention also turned to painting, with green paint applied to the Wickham electrical covers and the sanded-back area on the end of B10, before black paint was applied to the bodywork fixing members. Elsewhere, more floor space was cleared in the woodwork shop, work continued on the brake gear adjustments to No. 15 with the exhaust stack being removed so that a replacement can be manufactured in stainless steel. Remedial work was also carried out on the fuel cap and strainer.
All in all, it was a busy and productive day despite the inclement weather. Although the roof work on Shed 83D will have to wait for drier conditions, a great deal was achieved and preparations are now in place to make rapid progress when the weather finally cooperates.
> View - All Entries in October 2026 | Most Recent Entries | All Diary Entries