All Diary Entries for April 2026
Wednesday 29th
More painting, advancing the Dough Wagon, and Tinkabell restoration
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…
Saturday 25th
Fog lifted, trains flowed, and everyone enjoyed themselves
What a glorious day on site, and the weather played its part too. Once the early fog lifted, the sun broke through and we were treated to a warm, clear blue sky. It happened to…
Wednesday 22nd
New locomotive arrives – Ruston LBU
Fine, warm weather and plenty of sunshine made for an ideal Wednesday on site, and the usual mid‑week team got straight to work. A section of fencing beside the weir had been broken open, so…
Saturday 18th
A cleaning, clearing and inspecting day
A fine day on site, with everyone managing to arrive by 9.30am as required. There were no trains scheduled today so instead the morning was spent washing the locos and rolling stock in shed 83A…
Wednesday 15th
Mixed day with progress on the Wickham, Sea Mine and Dough Wagon
A bit of a mixed day on site with the weather — warm but overcast, with a couple of brief showers drifting through. Work settled into a steady rhythm once everyone arrived, with jobs spreading…
Saturday 11th
As one restoration nears completion another starts
Not the best weather today, rather overcast with a few moments where it looked like the rain might set in, though it actually stayed dry until everything was packed away. It was a Public Open…
Wednesday 8th
A big rearrange to get the Yard in order
A warm, almost summery spring day on site always seems to lift the pace, and this one was no exception. With the sun beating down after lunch, the place felt unusually bright and energetic, even…
Saturday 4th
First passenger running day of 2026 arrives
The opening day of the 2026 operating season arrived with the kind of energy that reminds you why all the winter graft is worth it. Four trains ran throughout the day, each one packed with…
Wednesday 1st
Final push before the 2026 season begins
A warm, overcast day on site set the tone for a final push toward Saturday’s season opening, and the whole place had that satisfying buzz that comes when a team knows it’s on the home…
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