Volunteer Liaison Officer update 28 March

In a change to our planned running days, Peckett and Sons 0-4-0 saddle tank No. 1722 “Rocket” will be hauling trains for the public on Monday 10th April. Everyone is welcome to come and join us. Our normal fares and timetable will be in operation, with the first train leaving Spring Village at 11am.


MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046.


The rotten areas of the wooden floor continued to be taken up and replaced. Interior painting continues, including in the guards area. More work has also taken place in the the new bar area.


Class 142 and 144 Pacers


More maintenance and cleaning has taken place ready for the ‘Multiple Mayhem’ event on April 29th - 1 May.


Permanent Way (P-way)


More rail recovery has taken place at Horsehay and has been loaded onto the Lowmac.


The rails have been removed from the furthers panel of track at the Barrow Crossing. The old rails (mostly scrap) and wooden sleepers (mostly rotten) will be taken up back to Horsehay and Dawley station (our current limit of operations). Once this has been done, contractors will come in to install new drainage pipes along the line. The plan is to then relay the track with concrete sleepers and flat bottomed rail back to the Barrow Crossing which will be laid to passenger operation standards.


The Command Bunker/Crew mess room continues be refurbished with wooden slats being replaced and a waterproof membrane added.


A new hand rail has been installed to the walkway created in front of the old signal box at Horsehay and Dawley station.


The waiting room at Spring Village station has been emptied ready for passenger use.


The new picnic benches that have been made on site have now all been painted. These will be placed at our picnic area and Furnaces tearoom.


A full on board dress rehearsal for our Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event took place at Spring Village station. The costumes look fantastic and the event is going to be spectacular. Tickets are available for the 8th and 9th April from our website.


Sunday was our Volunteer Open Day. A shunt of the yard took place to get Ruston and Hornsby No. 382824 ‘Hector’ to the platform at Spring Village and coupled to the TOAD.


We ran two tours of the site. Each tour was well attended and they were shown around our steam engines; Peckett and Sons No. 1722 ‘Rocket’, GWR 56XX 5619 and the steam tram, and our BSO being restored. They were then given a brakevan ride behind ‘Hector’ to Horsehay and Dawley station where they visited a Pacer, and saw the P-Way gang working trackside. We then went to see the model railway exhibition before enjoying a cup of tea or coffee at the tearoom. Finally those that wanted to, and were able, were offered a guided walk along the formation to Doseley Halt (two miles there and back) to see firsthand our expansion plans and the potential that the line has. Those on the second walk did not want to stop at Doseley Halt though, and continued on the formation to Lightmoor (another mile away) to see where our line will eventually join the mothballed track into what was the Ironbridge Power station (our ultimate ambition).


Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. We have had an increase in membership and a number of those wanting to start volunteering with us. It was a fantastic day, and I can’t wait to do it all again in July.


Our thanks to all our current volunteers for their support of these events. It couldn’t happen without them.


Thank you to Dave and Doug for the addition information used in this update


Please consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway.


Sign up at
https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events


The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th April with our Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event.