Volunteer Liaison Update | 2nd August

​This week at the railway

Ben and Nigel continued working on MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220. The remainder of the floor was lifted and will now be replaced. Thankfully, there were no major surprises waiting to be uncovered, just one small area that had rusted through. Painting of the metal floor continues.

Sean and Martin continue to put up new wooden panels in the Brake Standard Open (BSO). One side of the coach is now completed.

Trevor has finished painting the signal post in Spring Village. The last couple of months has seen a lot of hard work taking place to repaint the fences and gates around our stations. We have received a lot of positive comments and feedback from residents though, saying how much brighter and tidier the place looks, so this has been a really worthwhile exercise.

Ruston 0-4-0 diesel mechanical No. 313394 'Jammo' needed a few running repairs this week so Andrew has been busy making sure she would be ready for use on Saturday 

Dave and Marian were cleaning up the Pacer and coaches ready for the weekend and Chris, Martin and Ian were replacing one of the tracks on the mini digger.

Saturday was our open day for prospective new volunteers and members. This was a fantastic success,  with two tours of the site filled with visitors. They were shown demonstrations of coach restoration, permanent way, steam and diesel loco operation, guard duties, gardening, signalling, tearoom, and model railway operation. The Pacer was also open for people to view. It was great to be able to talk to our visitors, show them all the brilliant things we are doing, and share our plans for the future. Feedback has been excellent; membership of the railway has increased and so has our number of working volunteers. 

Trevor was also back on site, having a break from painting......by varnishing the waiting room floor at Horsehay and Dawley station!

The first two new volunteers, Antony and Nathan, were back at the railway bright and early on Sunday morning. They began by coaling Peckett and Sons W6 0-4-0 steam engine No 1722 'Rocket', which was being prepared for the day's services, before giving the Pacer a good clean on the outside.

Work also continued on the platform extension at Spring Village over the weekend. Martin, Chris, Josh and Ian broke up and cleared the concrete pad (which the miniature railway's tunnel originally sat on), and the top of the retaining wall was removed down to the level of the existing platform. 

Thank you to Ben and Andrew for the additional information used in the update.

Our next service will be on Sunday 7th August when trains will be again hauled by Peckett & Sons W6 0-4-0 steam engine No. 1722 'Rocket'. First train leaves Spring Village at 11am. No need to pre book, just pay once and ride all day.

The next planned event is a 'mixed traffic' weekend on 24th and 26th September. However, this will be dependent on the effect of ongoing disruption and road closures due to the major sewage works being undertaken around our site by Severn Trent Water.