We must start this blog with the sad news that our Creator, Elizabeth Beresford passed away on Christmas Eve. Naturally we are all devastated but no flowers please but we will accept cash donations!
It’s been another day of snow clearing – ice off the platforms and level crossing and generally around the points which now work! Elsewhere the snow is thawing nicely and we have had a burst at a stop tap, now fixed after a dig around to find another manhole in the snow – a lot easier said than done, especially in the dark! The glazed roof over the Gents has been cracked due to the weight of snow on it which is now removed.
We have been finally relieved by the Weighbridge Teas team and had our daytime thirst slaked. Don’t forget they are also open for you as well. Come and visit them I’m sure they will be pleased to see you.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Monday, 27 December 2010
27th December 2010
I hope all our readers had a very Happy Christmas and Santa gave you everything you wanted.
Guess what, it’s snowed again! There was 5” of snow covering the platforms again and adding to the accumulations elsewhere. Although we have clear platforms the one thing we don’t have is trains. Due to frozen water supplies at Grosmont there are NO trains today (Monday). Hopefully they will get it sorted out and we will be back in action tomorrow.
Guess what, it’s snowed again! There was 5” of snow covering the platforms again and adding to the accumulations elsewhere. Although we have clear platforms the one thing we don’t have is trains. Due to frozen water supplies at Grosmont there are NO trains today (Monday). Hopefully they will get it sorted out and we will be back in action tomorrow.
Thursday, 23 December 2010
23rd December 2010
Well it’s still blooming cold at the station. Monday night excelled itself with minus 19!!! It was only minus 5 there this afternoon!
As Station Master can I thank all our volunteers for all their help and support over the year, all our sponsors for their donations – they are gratefully received and our readers, I hope you have enjoyed this years news and pictures.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Don’t forget we are running between Christmas and New Year but at present do NOT come by car, the road is impassable. Come by train and enjoy the scenery from the safety of the train.
As Station Master can I thank all our volunteers for all their help and support over the year, all our sponsors for their donations – they are gratefully received and our readers, I hope you have enjoyed this years news and pictures.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Don’t forget we are running between Christmas and New Year but at present do NOT come by car, the road is impassable. Come by train and enjoy the scenery from the safety of the train.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
19th December 2010
Guess what, its snowing again! Another two days clearing platforms and freeing up signals. The road to the station is impassable at present so we had to walk in from Levisham village on the Friday night. The road to the station is covered in ice so we spent time on Saturday morning putting the stream back in its ditch and chipping off the ice where we could. The temperature got up to minus 4 on Saturday and ‘peaked’ at minus 11 overnight!
With the poor weather we have made further inroads into tidying the workshop coach and even fitted the final bit of skirting board in the front bedroom in the cottage. Our weighbridge team have deserted us for the comfort of the Santa trains, hopefully they will return between Christmas and the New Year as we are getting thirsty.
We have been working hard on our new booklet on Grosmont to Whitby with a visit to the railways archives to look at old plans and maps. We plan to have a visit to the area during Christmas to see what remains.
Can I finish off by saying I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With the poor weather we have made further inroads into tidying the workshop coach and even fitted the final bit of skirting board in the front bedroom in the cottage. Our weighbridge team have deserted us for the comfort of the Santa trains, hopefully they will return between Christmas and the New Year as we are getting thirsty.
We have been working hard on our new booklet on Grosmont to Whitby with a visit to the railways archives to look at old plans and maps. We plan to have a visit to the area during Christmas to see what remains.
Can I finish off by saying I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Well we had more snow this week but by Saturday it had melted to just a couple of inches, so it was back to clearing the platforms, points and signal runs again. We finally got the outer home signal working after 2 weeks of digging!
Elsewhere the sales cart is now in its new hut and we have begun modifying the drinks machines door fixtures so it all looks tidy. Michael has commenced repairing the rotten window on the General Room having pre-built a replacement section as a homework project. Most of Sunday was spent digging a path to the Camping Coach to get it ready for re-use at Christmas week. Unfortunately when Jill, the cleaner, entered the coach she found water all over the place. It would appear several joints had burst in the frost so the rest of the day was spent hunting for split pipes and repairing them.
Elsewhere the sales cart is now in its new hut and we have begun modifying the drinks machines door fixtures so it all looks tidy. Michael has commenced repairing the rotten window on the General Room having pre-built a replacement section as a homework project. Most of Sunday was spent digging a path to the Camping Coach to get it ready for re-use at Christmas week. Unfortunately when Jill, the cleaner, entered the coach she found water all over the place. It would appear several joints had burst in the frost so the rest of the day was spent hunting for split pipes and repairing them.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
5th December 2010
After clearing the Down platform ready for the trains it was then time to deal with the signals. The only way to get the signals to work is to dig off the snow – all 15” to 2’ off the wire runs, every yard of them! It’s a long, heavy job and took the whole of Saturday. Sunday morning, all of it, was spent digging out the three sets of points ready for next weekends operations. Just as we were thinking about lunch, we were called out to another tree which was fouling the line due to the weight of snow. Hopefully it will be back to some sense of normality next weekend but we will have to wait and see. Don’t forget to check out the pictures from the weekend in the Gallery under November snow!
Friday, 3 December 2010
3rd December 2010
Well it’s snowed again this week. When we arrived this afternoon there was 15” on the platforms – these we had cleared completely last weekend! So it was back to clearing again. We have not cleared the points or all the signals yet, there being over 2’ laid everywhere. The railway ran the Class 25 through this afternoon to check the line ready for tomorrows Santa trains and we were called out to cut down a couple of trees which were foul of the line. We will see what happens overnight.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
28th November 2010
Guess what it did overnight?! After more platform and point clearing we could get back to our own work. We also had a further 4" of snow during the day giving us around 16" overall! Many hands make light work though so thanks to Geoff, Stephen, Neil and Beth for their help over the weekend. The Christmas banners are now fitted on the lamp posts and the ‘Big W’ light is hung on the front of the cottages. Work for the sales cart cupboard has continued with the old end wall removed and a new door made and hung. A new rim lock has been fitted. Thanks to Geoff for his help here whilst his wife Janet opened the Weighbridge for our visitors – there were quite a few! Michael renewed the extractor fan in the Weighbridge as the old was has worn out.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
A snowy 27th November 2010
It’s snowed, big time! Yes we have another 12” of snow to deal with. It doesn’t stop us though although some staff had to walk to the station as they could not get down last night. Both platforms have been cleared several times during the day, as were the points, to ensure the trains and passengers had a safe journey. Its still snowing so I’m sure we will be doing the same tomorrow.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
21st November 2010
Following on from last weeks excavations it’s been personal access chambers this weekend – and what a pig they are! Tight space, working around cables, oh and a large gate post to plant as well! Anyhow the one next to the signal box is nearly done and the lineside one is started.
In our lineside storage hut further organising has been undertaken by storeman Steve and new steel doors prepared for fitting on a unit inside. Work has continued in our shock van getting it sorted out by our electrician with new lights and sockets. The big changeover today has been the relocation of the coke machine from one end to the other in the lean to shed, with the tea machine moving sideways as well. This is part of making a new store for the sales cart instead of using our warehouse, releasing this back into a metal working area. Thanks must go to Richard H for moving all the gardening stores into van, whilst we get a new gardening shed, Michael for moving the electrics around and Tony 2 and Malcolm for doing the rest. We even had a visit from Glynnis and Tony 3 who PAT tested our concrete mixer and new 110v light set – their list of equipment at the station keeps growing and growing.
Right at the end of the day we went to Pickering to collect a load of spare ducts and bends, transport being via an empty stock train move back to the station. These will be used for the undertrack crossing north of the level crossing this winter.
In our lineside storage hut further organising has been undertaken by storeman Steve and new steel doors prepared for fitting on a unit inside. Work has continued in our shock van getting it sorted out by our electrician with new lights and sockets. The big changeover today has been the relocation of the coke machine from one end to the other in the lean to shed, with the tea machine moving sideways as well. This is part of making a new store for the sales cart instead of using our warehouse, releasing this back into a metal working area. Thanks must go to Richard H for moving all the gardening stores into van, whilst we get a new gardening shed, Michael for moving the electrics around and Tony 2 and Malcolm for doing the rest. We even had a visit from Glynnis and Tony 3 who PAT tested our concrete mixer and new 110v light set – their list of equipment at the station keeps growing and growing.
Right at the end of the day we went to Pickering to collect a load of spare ducts and bends, transport being via an empty stock train move back to the station. These will be used for the undertrack crossing north of the level crossing this winter.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
14th November 2010
The P-way department had delivered us a wagon full of ash from Pickering during the week. Time was spent pushing the wagon further up the north end siding before dropping the side doors and shovelling out the contents (about 20 tons).
After getting in practice a fortnight ago in Pickering, it was back to digging at Levisham. As part of the works towards renewing the level crossing, new cable ducts were required for the S&T cables across the road so we were back in our element. Most of the excavation went fairly straightforward but several sections required old concrete or large stones breaking out. With the trench dug, 2nr 4” and 2nr 2” ducts, complete with draw wires, were installed, surrounded by sand and covered with concrete before warning marker tape was laid on top. New personnel access chambers are required at each end and the bases have been laid. Guess what we are doing next weekend?! With the short daylight hours, flood lighting was required both days to complete the works. The loco crews did ask whether we had a home to go to as it was dark!
Weighbridge teas had a good weekend with a steady flow of passing visitors sampling their wares.
After getting in practice a fortnight ago in Pickering, it was back to digging at Levisham. As part of the works towards renewing the level crossing, new cable ducts were required for the S&T cables across the road so we were back in our element. Most of the excavation went fairly straightforward but several sections required old concrete or large stones breaking out. With the trench dug, 2nr 4” and 2nr 2” ducts, complete with draw wires, were installed, surrounded by sand and covered with concrete before warning marker tape was laid on top. New personnel access chambers are required at each end and the bases have been laid. Guess what we are doing next weekend?! With the short daylight hours, flood lighting was required both days to complete the works. The loco crews did ask whether we had a home to go to as it was dark!
Weighbridge teas had a good weekend with a steady flow of passing visitors sampling their wares.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
7th November 2010
Well this weekend went with a bang and a flash, yes, it was the Womble bonfire on Saturday evening complete with a few fireworks! A large pile of lineside tree and brushwood trimmings and life expired timber from recent fencing works made a grand blaze to keep away the evening’s frost. The temporary rails on the new fence at the north end hut have now been replaced with the correct size new ones - 5 rails with anti-climb mesh affixed. Two gates give access to the lineside. Thanks to Kevin and Elaine who stayed on from the Weighbridge into the dark to help us get the job finished! With the trains only running at weekends in November, the Weighbridge team are still opening to provide much needed hot drinks and snacks for passengers, passing walkers and motorists and, most importantly, the staff!!! Tony 2 has taken in the fire buckets for a clean and winter refresh along with the small roadside notice boards next to the station yard entrance. Our thoughts are turning more to this winter’s job of replacing the level crossing surface and associated works. We’ve been checking what materials we already have and what we need to bring in and making plans for how the project will be done.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
31st October 2010
Happy Halloween! Well it’s been all go at Pickering!? Yes readers we have been back down there doing more work at the station. This time it was removing surplus spoil from the back of Platform 2. This we achieved with use of a minidigger to load our wheelbarrows which we then unloaded into our own freight train which the railway had supplied. You could tell it was our train as we had our ‘Wombles on Tour – Making The Earth Move!’ headboard and our ‘Wombles on Tour’ carry box on the rear with 3 Wombles riding around. We also had a hard hat wearing Womble riding in the digger to supervise operations! We think around 100 tonnes were loaded, by hand, onto the wagons. We left the site levelled and clear of surplus materials ready for the next stage of the works. Thanks to digger drivers Stephen and Beth, diesel drivers Gerry Skelton and Ken Jackson , guard Kieran Murray and barrowers Mark, Brian and Simon.
Elsewhere back at our own station, Weighbridge Teas remained open and they, together with assistance from the volunteer S&T gang, dismantled the marquee in the yard and put it all away. Community Payback have moved the picnic tables down to the viewing area near the paddock for the winter.
Elsewhere back at our own station, Weighbridge Teas remained open and they, together with assistance from the volunteer S&T gang, dismantled the marquee in the yard and put it all away. Community Payback have moved the picnic tables down to the viewing area near the paddock for the winter.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
24th October 2010
Well it’s been another wet weekend, we were so lucky last with the Wartime event. Readers will be pleased to know that yet again it broke all records both at the station and across the railway as a whole. We had hoped to get the marquee down but the weather has put paid to that! Elsewhere we have made some additional larger trestles for the tables and tidied up the contents of the marquee. The cottage front room ceiling and walls have benefitted from a repaint, which has been waiting for quite a while and some of the paperwork has been caught up. Following a vacuum and a mop out the General Room floor has received its winter carpet to help protect the timber floor. Next weekend a group of us will be at Pickering digging out spoil behind platform 2, onto our ‘own’ train, to prepare the site for the erection of the ex Church Fenton canopy steelwork. Do come and see us plus don’t forget that Weighbridge Teas are now open every weekend in November from 10am until 4pm.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
17th October 2010
Well what a weekend! Talk about crowds. Yes, we’ve had another successful Wartime Weekend with stunning displays to entice visitors off the trains to see the best station on the railway!
We welcomed over 50 re-enactors who took over our station with a troop camp in the paddock, weapons stripping and military vehicles in the yard and even a crashed Messerschmitt ME109 north of the station, which required the pilot to be rescued several times over the event. Both our catering facilities – Weighbridge Teas and the Tea Hut, were open with record sales over the 3 days PLUS Café Alle du Bois in the yard serving sit down hot food, drinks and alcohol under the capable leadership of the railway’s Catering manager Paul Brown.
None of this would have been possible without a large turnout of station and Levisham catering volunteers who set up site, manned facilities and tidied up from dawn to late the following evening – each day! They also provided, serviced and washed up dinner with drinks for 75 on Saturday night!! Mention must be made of the signalmen and booking office staff who also helped, plus our crossing supervisor who helped to ensure trains and visitors did not meet!
We are now all knackered and going off for a rest.
We welcomed over 50 re-enactors who took over our station with a troop camp in the paddock, weapons stripping and military vehicles in the yard and even a crashed Messerschmitt ME109 north of the station, which required the pilot to be rescued several times over the event. Both our catering facilities – Weighbridge Teas and the Tea Hut, were open with record sales over the 3 days PLUS Café Alle du Bois in the yard serving sit down hot food, drinks and alcohol under the capable leadership of the railway’s Catering manager Paul Brown.
None of this would have been possible without a large turnout of station and Levisham catering volunteers who set up site, manned facilities and tidied up from dawn to late the following evening – each day! They also provided, serviced and washed up dinner with drinks for 75 on Saturday night!! Mention must be made of the signalmen and booking office staff who also helped, plus our crossing supervisor who helped to ensure trains and visitors did not meet!
We are now all knackered and going off for a rest.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
13th October 2010
Just a quick reminder that there is no parking at Levisham Station this Friday, Saturday or Sunday as we are taken over by the German Army. The nearest parking will be around quarter of a mile away. You can still visit us by train and there is a Park and Ride service operating from the A169 into Pickering Station.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
10th October 2010
A dry weekend at last! Its been a getting ready for Wartime weekend with the marquee erected in the yard together with lighting, bar (no contents) and picnic tables. Some new serving tables have been made using some heavy doors with trestles made of recycled, non standard fence palings. The barrel rack has been improved as well.
Elsewhere more posts have been installed along the lineside and the public viewing area north of the level crossing has been completed, albeit with temporary rails, ready for the crowds next weekend. The runner beans have come to an end and been cut down and the platform gardens have been weeded and fresh manure applied ready for next season. Replacement of the life expired lineside fencing north of the station continues with Community Payback assistance.
Weighbridge Teas celebrated passing the £20,000 mark this weekend when serving drinks and food to passengers off the last train on Saturday night. Do help them to beat last years total by calling at the weekends, they will be pleased to see you. Next weekend is our biggest and busiest. Both catering facilities will be open all 3 days.
REMEMBER, THERE IS NO PARKING ANYWHERE NEAR THE STATION SO PARK AT PICKERING AND VISIT US BY TRAIN.
Elsewhere more posts have been installed along the lineside and the public viewing area north of the level crossing has been completed, albeit with temporary rails, ready for the crowds next weekend. The runner beans have come to an end and been cut down and the platform gardens have been weeded and fresh manure applied ready for next season. Replacement of the life expired lineside fencing north of the station continues with Community Payback assistance.
Weighbridge Teas celebrated passing the £20,000 mark this weekend when serving drinks and food to passengers off the last train on Saturday night. Do help them to beat last years total by calling at the weekends, they will be pleased to see you. Next weekend is our biggest and busiest. Both catering facilities will be open all 3 days.
REMEMBER, THERE IS NO PARKING ANYWHERE NEAR THE STATION SO PARK AT PICKERING AND VISIT US BY TRAIN.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
3rd October 2010
Well its another wet weekend to welcome the new month and its also Steam Gala. We were graced with Tornado and Manston for the weekend together with the ‘local’ fleet. There were plenty of visitors and Saturday did very well in Weighbridge Teas but Sunday was another wash out. We have installed new fence posts alongside the railway north of the level crossing to fence off our lineside hut and provide a compound for photographers. We await the delivery of the rails to allow us to complete the works. Elsewhere we have been preparing for Wartime Weekend with the marquee moved into the yard ready for erection next weekend, the picnic tables similarly and new trestles manufactured for the serving tables. If you want to know why there is a wind sock up you will just have to come and see us then, but not by car. There is no car parking within a quarter mile of the station as we try and keep the road open for emergency vehicles.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
26th September 2010
This weekend followed the pattern of last weather wise, which rather hampered some of our planned work. Anyhow, the logs from down the line have been collected and brought back to the station for further use and the new fencing has been started north of the level crossing.
Our workshop coach now sports undercoat on the station side and the yard side has been scraped off and sanded thanks to Alexa and a volunteer from the Netherlands! It now awaits some dry days to allow it to dry out before we can repaint it.
Andy has been working hard on the CCT with the new top beam spliced into place and tied into the new vertical corner post. Elsewhere the van Eric and Kevin have removed rotten screws, cleaned down and primed the E side doorway steelwork doorplates. A new lighting loom has been fitted in the GE van to help us locate stores in the dark (we are used to working in the dark, some say we perform best that way!) and the wiring under the dock has been tidied up onto supports.
Young Alexander is still going from strength to strength, won’t be long now before I get him to work.
Our workshop coach now sports undercoat on the station side and the yard side has been scraped off and sanded thanks to Alexa and a volunteer from the Netherlands! It now awaits some dry days to allow it to dry out before we can repaint it.
Andy has been working hard on the CCT with the new top beam spliced into place and tied into the new vertical corner post. Elsewhere the van Eric and Kevin have removed rotten screws, cleaned down and primed the E side doorway steelwork doorplates. A new lighting loom has been fitted in the GE van to help us locate stores in the dark (we are used to working in the dark, some say we perform best that way!) and the wiring under the dock has been tidied up onto supports.
Young Alexander is still going from strength to strength, won’t be long now before I get him to work.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
19th September 2010
Well it’s been a weekend of two halves – good weather on the Saturday followed by drizzle and rain damp-out on Sunday. Work does still go on. More paint has been applied to the CCT metalwork items and further lettering has been applied to some of the vans. A replacement axle box cover has been fitted to the 3 plank wagon replacing a crude steel plate with which it was delivered – it’s only taken 15 years to do it!
Diesel weekend has been fairly busy on the trains but relatively quiet here. It makes a change to see some different diesels from the usual pair which are regular callers here. As usual TPWS and ERTMS were fitted for the weekend at the station for the modern trains.
To aid loco drivers further, more scrub and bushes have been taken out so the signals can be clearly seen. The timber has been logged and brought back to the station, to keep the home fires going! The brush will be dealt with in a while. Stephen has continued tidying up the workshop coach and has identified some surplus tools which we have donated to ‘Tools for Africa’ and Simon has been tidying up in the Palvan so we can find our way around our wagon spares. The lineside fence, which we removed south of the station to get the lineside ditch re-dug, has finally been reinstated with recovered materials from north of the station. You can hardly tell where the work we undertook was as the lineside has fully greened up.
Diesel weekend has been fairly busy on the trains but relatively quiet here. It makes a change to see some different diesels from the usual pair which are regular callers here. As usual TPWS and ERTMS were fitted for the weekend at the station for the modern trains.
To aid loco drivers further, more scrub and bushes have been taken out so the signals can be clearly seen. The timber has been logged and brought back to the station, to keep the home fires going! The brush will be dealt with in a while. Stephen has continued tidying up the workshop coach and has identified some surplus tools which we have donated to ‘Tools for Africa’ and Simon has been tidying up in the Palvan so we can find our way around our wagon spares. The lineside fence, which we removed south of the station to get the lineside ditch re-dug, has finally been reinstated with recovered materials from north of the station. You can hardly tell where the work we undertook was as the lineside has fully greened up.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
12th September 2010
Well we should have had the Junior Volunteers helping us on Saturday but heavy rain first thing in the morning put paid to that. Of course once they had cancelled the sun came out and it has been another good weekend. On the dock Alexa has continued rubbing down the workshop coach and priming the bare wood. Michael has continued replacing old wiring in the CCT and the shock van. The wooden floors in the cottage and the General Room have benefitted from a clean down and 2 coats of varnish. Stephen has installed the spanner shelves and continued tidying the workshop coach – you can see the floor now!
The shock van is now sitting correctly on its underframe rather than being up on blocks of wood, again this was easier said than done. On the CCT the north end door closing mechanism has been reinstated and lo! the doors now close securely. The steelwork from the far end has been cleaned down, primed and undercoated ready for Andys return and reinstatement. A bit more cleaning down has been undertaken on the lowmac on its West side.
Over in the Paddock the marquee side pole lean to has had its felt roof fitted to keep the poles dry. North of the level crossing the Community Payback team have carefully dismantled the lineside fence ready for the installation of new materials next weekend. In the meantime a temporary orange fence protects the lineside.
We had a visit from around 40 Goldwing motorcycles on Sunday morning. These were some of the around 300 which have visited Scarborough this weekend. They kept the Weighbridge Teas busy and gave them a flavour of, hopefully, how busy they will be next weekend for the Diesel Gala.
The shock van is now sitting correctly on its underframe rather than being up on blocks of wood, again this was easier said than done. On the CCT the north end door closing mechanism has been reinstated and lo! the doors now close securely. The steelwork from the far end has been cleaned down, primed and undercoated ready for Andys return and reinstatement. A bit more cleaning down has been undertaken on the lowmac on its West side.
Over in the Paddock the marquee side pole lean to has had its felt roof fitted to keep the poles dry. North of the level crossing the Community Payback team have carefully dismantled the lineside fence ready for the installation of new materials next weekend. In the meantime a temporary orange fence protects the lineside.
We had a visit from around 40 Goldwing motorcycles on Sunday morning. These were some of the around 300 which have visited Scarborough this weekend. They kept the Weighbridge Teas busy and gave them a flavour of, hopefully, how busy they will be next weekend for the Diesel Gala.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
5th September 2010
Another dry weekend so it’s on with the painting. The NER van is now all in topcoat and is even partly lettered – is anyone a signwriter, as there is a lot to do!? The VEA doors have been re covered with new ply on the yard side to give us a few more years use before they need replacing. That side has now been repainted and very smart it looks. The shock van and shock open now sport the correct pattern white strips – long and thin for early BR and short and fat for late BR era. Thanks to Alexa, Geoff, Michael for the painting.
Brian and Stephen have constructed the lean-to to house the marquee short poles on the paddock. North of the level crossing the lineside has been tidied up and strimmed giving a much neater appearance. A new set of shelves have been made to support the selection of spanner boxes we have, a further stage of tidying up our workshop. Tony 1 has continued repairing and painting the double notice board.
David & Richard gardening-will the weeding never end!
The various handrails and deck boards for the yard point levers have now been fixed in place by Brian.
Brian and Stephen have constructed the lean-to to house the marquee short poles on the paddock. North of the level crossing the lineside has been tidied up and strimmed giving a much neater appearance. A new set of shelves have been made to support the selection of spanner boxes we have, a further stage of tidying up our workshop. Tony 1 has continued repairing and painting the double notice board.
David & Richard gardening-will the weeding never end!
The various handrails and deck boards for the yard point levers have now been fixed in place by Brian.
Monday, 30 August 2010
30th August 2010
Well it’s August Bank Holiday but the weather is more like Boxing Day! Painting has continued between the showers with half the NER van now in top coat thanks to Alexa and Tony 2 has been improving the headstock paintwork. Andy has comedown from Hamilton to continue rebuilding the SE corner of the CCT with a new corner post now fitted together with the new bottom bar. There is still a few more weekends work required by him though before we can fix the planking. Repairs to the VEA yard side doors continue with Simon and Brian.
We have finally disposed of the scrub with a nice bonfire on Saturday evening and a lot tidier the area now looks.
The safety handrails have been made for the point handles in the yard sidings to prevent operators falling into the adjacent field. The walkways have been trial fitted and the surplus sleepers placed into store and the area tidied up. Community Payback have been down tidying up the land adjacent to the station and completing the burning of the scrub.
The ash ballast dropped at the north end siding two weeks ago has been spread and a bit more of the track has been levelled and packed.
Hunmanby brass band came to the station on Monday so it was up, and then down of the marquee – a lot of work for an afternoons visit. The weighbridge team were kept busy with both of their outlets open for business.
During the evening we have been updating our wagon book with new drawings, photos and prose. Look out for this publication later this autumn.
We have finally disposed of the scrub with a nice bonfire on Saturday evening and a lot tidier the area now looks.
The safety handrails have been made for the point handles in the yard sidings to prevent operators falling into the adjacent field. The walkways have been trial fitted and the surplus sleepers placed into store and the area tidied up. Community Payback have been down tidying up the land adjacent to the station and completing the burning of the scrub.
The ash ballast dropped at the north end siding two weeks ago has been spread and a bit more of the track has been levelled and packed.
Hunmanby brass band came to the station on Monday so it was up, and then down of the marquee – a lot of work for an afternoons visit. The weighbridge team were kept busy with both of their outlets open for business.
During the evening we have been updating our wagon book with new drawings, photos and prose. Look out for this publication later this autumn.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
22nd August 2010
The wiring installation in the paddock hut has been completed and the cabling to the yard sockets has been installed. This is now awaiting final sign off by the railways electrician. With the wiring complete the final shelving in the hut has been completed. Elsewhere the NER van has been cleaned down, primed and undercoated on the yard side and south end. The platform gardens have been weeded and tidied up again – this is an ongoing job. The Weighbridge Teas staff have had another good weekend sales wise and are looking forward to a bumper Bank Holiday weekend, weather permitting. The yard donations sign had seen better days so the timber background has been cleaned down and painted and a new notice prepared and fixed in place.
Community Payback have continued tidying up the land near the station.
Community Payback have continued tidying up the land near the station.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
15th August 2010
Another wagon of ash has been delivered ready for Womble ballasting services to deal with – so we did! We will use it to pack and lift the next length and provide the level walking routes either side.
Both the exhibition van and the Palvan have now had the topcoats completed. Only the lettering to do now. The lowmac clean down has continued with the west side now well on the way to completion. The underframes have continued to receive a clean down and touch up. The NER van has had the station yard side cleaned down ready for its repaint.
Malcolm has commissioned a further wooden can bin housing, improving the look rather than the old blue can tubs. Tony 1 has continued repairing another large noticeboard for Goathland. The cleaned down guttering has been undercoated and put away ready for use in the future. Tony and Glynnis have continued PAT testing equipment at the station – their progress would have been quicker if they had remembered the labels! The sunken sleepers around one of the manholes in the paddock have been lifted and the ground relevelled.
Both the exhibition van and the Palvan have now had the topcoats completed. Only the lettering to do now. The lowmac clean down has continued with the west side now well on the way to completion. The underframes have continued to receive a clean down and touch up. The NER van has had the station yard side cleaned down ready for its repaint.
Malcolm has commissioned a further wooden can bin housing, improving the look rather than the old blue can tubs. Tony 1 has continued repairing another large noticeboard for Goathland. The cleaned down guttering has been undercoated and put away ready for use in the future. Tony and Glynnis have continued PAT testing equipment at the station – their progress would have been quicker if they had remembered the labels! The sunken sleepers around one of the manholes in the paddock have been lifted and the ground relevelled.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
8th August 2010
First up is a denial from the Weighbridge Teas staff who state that there is no rumour that they bribe locos to fail at Levisham so their takings go up!
Elsewhere, the exhibition van has had its second top coat applied on the yard side and the NER van has received undercoat on the station side. Painting continues elsewhere with the recovered guttering receiving undercoat and main marquee poles have been cleaned down and repainted. Several wagon underframes have been cleaned down and the headstocks repainted where necessary. Thanks to Alexa, Lesley, Tony2 and Malcolm for this. The shock van has had its door fixings recessed to allow them to fit properly whilst work continues removing metalwork from the yard side of the VEA ready for its repair and repaint. Spare ‘wriggly tin’ ends have been prepared to replace the rotten ends of the shock open wagon. Thanks to Tony, James and Chris for all this.
The water butt for the vegetable patch north of the level crossing has had its outlet tap fitted which will cheer up Richard as it will mean less distance carrying his watering can. Work has also continued fitting out the paddock hut and spare metal shelving has been dismantled and placed into store. Elsewhere in the paddock, one of the corner manhole surrounds has settled so this has been lifted and sorted. Thanks to Stephen, Brian, Chris (again) and Michael.
We have also produced our first vegetable sales this year with a selection of fresh cabbages, beetroot and beans going ‘like hot cakes’. There will be more to come so pop down and you may strike it gold!
Elsewhere, the exhibition van has had its second top coat applied on the yard side and the NER van has received undercoat on the station side. Painting continues elsewhere with the recovered guttering receiving undercoat and main marquee poles have been cleaned down and repainted. Several wagon underframes have been cleaned down and the headstocks repainted where necessary. Thanks to Alexa, Lesley, Tony2 and Malcolm for this. The shock van has had its door fixings recessed to allow them to fit properly whilst work continues removing metalwork from the yard side of the VEA ready for its repair and repaint. Spare ‘wriggly tin’ ends have been prepared to replace the rotten ends of the shock open wagon. Thanks to Tony, James and Chris for all this.
The water butt for the vegetable patch north of the level crossing has had its outlet tap fitted which will cheer up Richard as it will mean less distance carrying his watering can. Work has also continued fitting out the paddock hut and spare metal shelving has been dismantled and placed into store. Elsewhere in the paddock, one of the corner manhole surrounds has settled so this has been lifted and sorted. Thanks to Stephen, Brian, Chris (again) and Michael.
We have also produced our first vegetable sales this year with a selection of fresh cabbages, beetroot and beans going ‘like hot cakes’. There will be more to come so pop down and you may strike it gold!
Sunday, 1 August 2010
1st August 2010
First up is a warm welcome to new volunteer Michael. After a quick introduction it was straight into the thick of things. We have been requested to remove a few bushes and some branches off the trees south of the station which were obscuring the drivers sight of the signals so it was out with the chainsaw and bush saws and 3 hours later the view was much improved. The bushy stuff has been tidied up ready for collection whilst the timber has been logged ready to keep the home fires burning.
Both the Palvan and Exhibition van now sport their new paint all round although a second coat will be required on the yard side (note to station master, more paint required!). A start has been made by Chris and Alexa on the North Eastern van as it is also looking very tired.
A further section of tarmac has been removed at the level crossing to remove a remaining trip hazard. The crossing is now a lot more level and you do not bounce across it in a car anymore.
Stephen has finished cleaning off the old cast iron guttering and it now sports new primer and looks a lot better. Malcolm has started making a new timber can bin in the same style as the other timber bins around our station.
The Weighbridge Teas crew – Malcolm, Doreen, Janice, Tony, Jane and Phil were all sporting white roses for Yorkshire day although the latter two did grumble a bit as they come from Lancashire and would have rather worn red! There was also sponsorship from Yorkshire Tea who provided new aprons, tea and biscuits.
Community Payback have continued cutting down the bushes and strimming the rushes, improving the area around the station.
Both the Palvan and Exhibition van now sport their new paint all round although a second coat will be required on the yard side (note to station master, more paint required!). A start has been made by Chris and Alexa on the North Eastern van as it is also looking very tired.
A further section of tarmac has been removed at the level crossing to remove a remaining trip hazard. The crossing is now a lot more level and you do not bounce across it in a car anymore.
Stephen has finished cleaning off the old cast iron guttering and it now sports new primer and looks a lot better. Malcolm has started making a new timber can bin in the same style as the other timber bins around our station.
The Weighbridge Teas crew – Malcolm, Doreen, Janice, Tony, Jane and Phil were all sporting white roses for Yorkshire day although the latter two did grumble a bit as they come from Lancashire and would have rather worn red! There was also sponsorship from Yorkshire Tea who provided new aprons, tea and biscuits.
Community Payback have continued cutting down the bushes and strimming the rushes, improving the area around the station.
Sunday, 25 July 2010
25th July 2010
This weekend was special as the wedding reception of Paul and Laura was held in the paddock on Saturday, so it was back up with the beer tent on Friday and we set up the stage in the main tent plus tables etc. Saturday morning was a game of two halves. First up both marquees were set up, the bar stacked up ready and flowers and food prepared. Then it was off lifting and packing the siding with the ash dropped last week. We commandeered Stephen from the S&T to assist us as the rest of the gang had disappeared elsewhere! Following this we were off setting up some safety fences for the junior volunteers who are coming on Monday.
The vans have not been neglected either, with the Exhibition van getting its yard side metal cleaned and primed by Horace whilst Ian undercoated the Palvan. Saturday afternoon was party time (for some) whilst the S&T and the two painters continued undeterred. Stephen and Brian were kept busy manning the bar all afternoon and even had time to have a quick drink as well (they were off duty!).
Sunday was dismantling day for both marquees, with the beer tent getting a power wash to try and clean some of the dirt off it. We were again assisted by the S&T with new volunteer Martin getting roped in, literally, to tidy up the marquee. After lunch it was again back cleaning off the vans and applying more paint. Community Payback continued cutting down the reeds and tidying up the area near the station.
The vans have not been neglected either, with the Exhibition van getting its yard side metal cleaned and primed by Horace whilst Ian undercoated the Palvan. Saturday afternoon was party time (for some) whilst the S&T and the two painters continued undeterred. Stephen and Brian were kept busy manning the bar all afternoon and even had time to have a quick drink as well (they were off duty!).
Sunday was dismantling day for both marquees, with the beer tent getting a power wash to try and clean some of the dirt off it. We were again assisted by the S&T with new volunteer Martin getting roped in, literally, to tidy up the marquee. After lunch it was again back cleaning off the vans and applying more paint. Community Payback continued cutting down the reeds and tidying up the area near the station.
Sunday, 18 July 2010
18th July 2010
A mixture of work again all over the station but all working towards a common aim. First up was the re-roping of part of the marquee where the ropes were wearing thin. This is not easy when it is erected but needs must. It saved taking it all down and then putting all back up again.
The lineside fence alongside where we had regraded the ditch has had some further rails fitted and three gates temporarily used to close it off so the adjacent landowner can introduce cows back into his field. Rotten rails were also brought back for disposal.
We have constructed a new gate halfway down the yard fence. This is to enable us to have easier access to the stock when required. You will have to look carefully for where it is though as Stephen and Andrew have worked hard to conceal it.
North of the station the PWay Dept have delivered another wagon load of loco ash to us. We had planned to use it around the level crossing and adjacent lineside where we are tidying it up but the dumping of the DMU in the north siding prevented us. Instead we have unloaded it at the far end, levelling the ground and packing the siding up to level. This job is becoming a family effort for the station master as his father, father in law and brother, Andrew have now all been involved in this work.
On the wagon front the south end of the Palvan has been filled and part primed whilst the roadside is now half in topcoat thanks to Lesley. The other half has been cleaned off and primed where rusty.
The community payback team have continued cutting down the grass and reeds near the station tidying up the area.
The lineside fence alongside where we had regraded the ditch has had some further rails fitted and three gates temporarily used to close it off so the adjacent landowner can introduce cows back into his field. Rotten rails were also brought back for disposal.
We have constructed a new gate halfway down the yard fence. This is to enable us to have easier access to the stock when required. You will have to look carefully for where it is though as Stephen and Andrew have worked hard to conceal it.
North of the station the PWay Dept have delivered another wagon load of loco ash to us. We had planned to use it around the level crossing and adjacent lineside where we are tidying it up but the dumping of the DMU in the north siding prevented us. Instead we have unloaded it at the far end, levelling the ground and packing the siding up to level. This job is becoming a family effort for the station master as his father, father in law and brother, Andrew have now all been involved in this work.
On the wagon front the south end of the Palvan has been filled and part primed whilst the roadside is now half in topcoat thanks to Lesley. The other half has been cleaned off and primed where rusty.
The community payback team have continued cutting down the grass and reeds near the station tidying up the area.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
11th July2010
A long weekend by some started on Wednesday evening. The VEA now has its topcoats on the 2 ends and dock side complete and very smart it looks too. We have now commenced on the station yard side of these 3 vans with the Palvan doors now sporting drab undercoat. Thanks to Martyn and Alexa for the paintwork.
A couple of small lineside fires were attended to on Thursday with assistance from the Fire Brigade to damp down the area.
The cottage extension bedroom now sports a ‘new’ carpet thanks to Eric and Janet Barraclough – its much softer on the feet as well! The excess carpet has gone towards a new cover for the compost heap. Tony has returned to the station after helping Goathland station group fix their new noticeboards and commenced restoring another double size board we have had in store for many years. Friday commenced with a trip to the brewery for 5 barrels of beer before the stage was set up, the ale tent erected and the yard prepared for the weekend.
Vintage Vehicle weekend was again very popular with 30 vehicles on Saturday and around 50 on Sunday. In addition we had our miniature traction engines again with 7 and 5 respectively. Thanks to Elaine and Kevin for organising the engines plus managing the yard on both days. Across in the paddock Jive Express on Saturday and Shadows Music on Sunday played to the crowds and the real ale bar nearly ran out – around 12 pints were left out of 360. Both Weighbridge Teas and our Tea Hut were open again and doing a roaring trade. Thanks to all the helpers, I cannot remember all your names but there are quite a few of you. With the end of the event the beer tent had to come down, plus the bar and barrel rack and the main marquee had to be tidied up and sealed shut as it is required in a fortnight for a private event.
Alex is doing fine and is enjoying the company of his many surrogate grandparents. He is still not fazed by steam and diesel engines fortunately, even when they toot alongside.
A couple of small lineside fires were attended to on Thursday with assistance from the Fire Brigade to damp down the area.
The cottage extension bedroom now sports a ‘new’ carpet thanks to Eric and Janet Barraclough – its much softer on the feet as well! The excess carpet has gone towards a new cover for the compost heap. Tony has returned to the station after helping Goathland station group fix their new noticeboards and commenced restoring another double size board we have had in store for many years. Friday commenced with a trip to the brewery for 5 barrels of beer before the stage was set up, the ale tent erected and the yard prepared for the weekend.
Vintage Vehicle weekend was again very popular with 30 vehicles on Saturday and around 50 on Sunday. In addition we had our miniature traction engines again with 7 and 5 respectively. Thanks to Elaine and Kevin for organising the engines plus managing the yard on both days. Across in the paddock Jive Express on Saturday and Shadows Music on Sunday played to the crowds and the real ale bar nearly ran out – around 12 pints were left out of 360. Both Weighbridge Teas and our Tea Hut were open again and doing a roaring trade. Thanks to all the helpers, I cannot remember all your names but there are quite a few of you. With the end of the event the beer tent had to come down, plus the bar and barrel rack and the main marquee had to be tidied up and sealed shut as it is required in a fortnight for a private event.
Alex is doing fine and is enjoying the company of his many surrogate grandparents. He is still not fazed by steam and diesel engines fortunately, even when they toot alongside.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
4th July 2010
Another warm, sunny weekend. First up was the erection of the marquee, this time for the Marina and Ital Owners club event on Sunday plus next weekends Vintage Vehicle event. With the big tent up Glynnis and Tony 4 could continue PAT testing our electrical equipment while Ben worked on the lowmac, Stephen, Geoff and Simon weeded the lineside beyond our storage hut and then spread ash over the area. Following on from this another section of poor tarmac was removed from the level crossing and replaced with ash, providing a more level, trip free crossing. Work on the wagons continued with Alexa, Simon and Geoff working on the Palvan with the side getting its undercoat and first topcoat applied and the VEA getting new paint on the sides and south end, really smartening up the look. Stephen has tidied some more stores into huts 3 and 5 so we can see the floor now, all the way to the back!
Don’t forget next weekends bands – Jive Express on Saturday and Shadows Music on Sunday with the Real Ale bar open on both days. We also have the vintage cars and a selection of miniature traction engines both days. Come and see them roll the ash on our level crossing – you see we can even get display visitors to work for us!
Don’t forget next weekends bands – Jive Express on Saturday and Shadows Music on Sunday with the Real Ale bar open on both days. We also have the vintage cars and a selection of miniature traction engines both days. Come and see them roll the ash on our level crossing – you see we can even get display visitors to work for us!
Sunday, 27 June 2010
27th June 2010
Blimey its hot! Two wonderful sunny, hot days. Our level crossing has been getting worse with regards an even surface so we have got round to doing something about it. This was helped by the delivery by the PW Dept of a grampus full of loco ash for us to deal with. So it was out with the big diamond bladed cutter to cut out the poor tarmac so we could replace it with ash. To use the ash we first had to empty the wagon so, with the signalmans co-operation, the wagon was brought nearer the crossing, by hand, and unloaded onto the lineside. It doesn’t take long with Mark, Brian, Stephen, Scots Andy and Simon ‘shovelling for England’. The old tarmac is not wasted though, it will be used to fill in potholes and improve the hardstanding near the station. The crossing is now level again and cars don’t bounce and grind over it. Long term the crossing requires replacing but this will keep it trip free for a while longer.
Elsewhere, the Palvan end has received its second top coat, the side has had a second primer and the Exhibition van is now also in topcoat and looks very smart.
We have been given some primula plants and these have been planted in our lineside tubs. Although they have finished for this year, next year they should be fine.
We now have some further road pins in new orange paint and very smart they look.
Elsewhere, the Palvan end has received its second top coat, the side has had a second primer and the Exhibition van is now also in topcoat and looks very smart.
We have been given some primula plants and these have been planted in our lineside tubs. Although they have finished for this year, next year they should be fine.
We now have some further road pins in new orange paint and very smart they look.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
20th June 2010
A weekend when not much new seems to get done but a lot of work is undertaken. Trains were delayed on Saturday with the failure of a diesel just north of Levisham. Passengers were queuing up the platform for Weighbridge Teas who did a roaring trade. There is no truth in the rumour that they bribed the driver to fail so they could increase their sales! Meanwhile, back on the station, first up was the dismantling of the two marquees and putting them and all the equipment away. This process was not helped by rain wetting the main marquee on the Saturday afternoon when it was part dismantled so it had to be re-erected for the night whilst it dried out before trying again on Sunday. Sunday was also the day the Womble fire crew were requested to deal with a pair of fires near Yorsfalls. They were only small ones and did not require the presence of the fire brigade.
Elsewhere the jumbo (triple) sized poster board has been delivered by Tonys 1 and 2 to Goathland whilst Ben has continued grinding off the rust from the lowmac and applying metal primer.
Elsewhere the jumbo (triple) sized poster board has been delivered by Tonys 1 and 2 to Goathland whilst Ben has continued grinding off the rust from the lowmac and applying metal primer.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
13th June 2010
A 3 day weekend by the time we had collected 8 barrels of beer from York Brewery and some surplus pallets that were great for our stage, set up the small marquee and bar, cleaned all the chairs and set up both the Tea Hut and Weighbridge Teas on the Friday!
Saturday got just better and better weather wise. By the end of the afternoon it was very hot. Both Shazam and Shadows Music played to a packed paddock with around 350 people enjoying the music for most of the afternoon. Both catering outlets ran out of 2 days of sandwiches and pies, the bar sold 4.5 barrels of beer, plus wine, on the first day. Although the weather was poorer today with drizzle there was still a good turnout and everyone appeared to have a good time. Fergus came down from Grosmont to man our level crossing and ensure that our visitors all had valid tickets before going to the concert.
Saturday evening was Wombles on tour with a visit to Goathland by train to sample their music, food and beer. We know who has the best bands, beer and midges! Boy, were they biting this weekend!
Elsewhere the minidigger spent 2 days working down the line reinstating the lineside ditch together with its outfall into the river. He successfully dug out the roots of the scrub we had been unable to dig out and these will be collected up and disposed of. Alexa, Eric and Geoff cleaned down further areas of the Exhibition van and the Palvan and painted the same. Tony has been lettering his noticeboards, Stephen painted the road pins in station orange whilst Brian, Eric, and Geoff fixed most of the fence rails where the digger has installed the posts which we had removed to landscape the lineside. The two long timbers for the double slip point lever have been fitted (thanks to the PW Department for supplying the second hand timbers).
Saturday got just better and better weather wise. By the end of the afternoon it was very hot. Both Shazam and Shadows Music played to a packed paddock with around 350 people enjoying the music for most of the afternoon. Both catering outlets ran out of 2 days of sandwiches and pies, the bar sold 4.5 barrels of beer, plus wine, on the first day. Although the weather was poorer today with drizzle there was still a good turnout and everyone appeared to have a good time. Fergus came down from Grosmont to man our level crossing and ensure that our visitors all had valid tickets before going to the concert.
Saturday evening was Wombles on tour with a visit to Goathland by train to sample their music, food and beer. We know who has the best bands, beer and midges! Boy, were they biting this weekend!
Elsewhere the minidigger spent 2 days working down the line reinstating the lineside ditch together with its outfall into the river. He successfully dug out the roots of the scrub we had been unable to dig out and these will be collected up and disposed of. Alexa, Eric and Geoff cleaned down further areas of the Exhibition van and the Palvan and painted the same. Tony has been lettering his noticeboards, Stephen painted the road pins in station orange whilst Brian, Eric, and Geoff fixed most of the fence rails where the digger has installed the posts which we had removed to landscape the lineside. The two long timbers for the double slip point lever have been fitted (thanks to the PW Department for supplying the second hand timbers).
Sunday, 6 June 2010
6th June 2010
A weekend of contrasts, from a very hot and sunny Saturday to a very wet Sunday. Friday was ‘memorable’ for several lineside fires resulting in assistance being called from the fire brigade. Although many could be beaten out, once the fire gets into the ground then water is required to douse it all down. This was particularly true south of the station when Chris Ware and Simon B used the Womble Fire Train aka a PW trolley with 4 wheelie bins full of water to get water to site and damp down the lineside.
Saturday was a painting day for Alexa when the N end of the Palvan received its first topcoat. Elsewhere Stephen set out the main poles for the marquee and continued the sort out inside our workshop. During the afternoon Graham Reussners family came down to scatter his ashes on our station. Graham, as well as being the railways Archivist was also one of the founder restorers at Levisham station and a member of the North Eastern Railway Coach Group who saved our workshop coach, 945 and the Clerestory coach.
Sunday was marquee erection day ready for next weekends 60’s event when Shadows Music and Shazam will be playing in the paddock. There will also be the beer tent here with beer from York Brewery available as well as Weighbridge Teas and the Paddock tea hut. We have also had a midi digger here cleaning the lineside and ditch south west of the station. It will be here for the next few weekends so we can get the job sorted. Alexa also managed to paint the end of the Palvan in topcoat, the end of the exhibition van in undercoat and the side sanded ready for paint on a dry day! The S&T have again been here wiring up the HD link equipment. Still a few more weeks to go.
There are some photos of young Alexander and Beth on the website now. All being well they will be down next weekend.
Saturday was a painting day for Alexa when the N end of the Palvan received its first topcoat. Elsewhere Stephen set out the main poles for the marquee and continued the sort out inside our workshop. During the afternoon Graham Reussners family came down to scatter his ashes on our station. Graham, as well as being the railways Archivist was also one of the founder restorers at Levisham station and a member of the North Eastern Railway Coach Group who saved our workshop coach, 945 and the Clerestory coach.
Sunday was marquee erection day ready for next weekends 60’s event when Shadows Music and Shazam will be playing in the paddock. There will also be the beer tent here with beer from York Brewery available as well as Weighbridge Teas and the Paddock tea hut. We have also had a midi digger here cleaning the lineside and ditch south west of the station. It will be here for the next few weekends so we can get the job sorted. Alexa also managed to paint the end of the Palvan in topcoat, the end of the exhibition van in undercoat and the side sanded ready for paint on a dry day! The S&T have again been here wiring up the HD link equipment. Still a few more weeks to go.
There are some photos of young Alexander and Beth on the website now. All being well they will be down next weekend.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
5th June 2010
Simon and Beth are pleased to announce the arrival of their son Alexander at 11.25 this morning. He weighed in at seven pounds nine ounces. Both Beth and Alexander are doing fine.
Sunday, 30 May 2010
30th May 2010
A totally different weekend weather wise. In the paddock Dave has continued installing the new wiring and sockets whilst Stephen and Brian has just about completed the shelving (the last has to wait until the wiring is tested and commissioned by the railways sparkie). The Palvan is slowly changing colour as its repaint progresses. Much of the metalwork has been cleaned down to bare metal where the rust has started to come through and the paint has been scraped off, where loose, back to bare timber. The bushwood cut down the Junior Volunteers last week has been collected and brought back by the Community Payback team to the fire pile. All we need now is a dry evening to dispose of it! Malcolm and Geoff has been busy laying new lino in the Tea Hut ready for the 60’s weekend as well as making a new can bin timber shroud. Our rusty unpainted road bins has finally been cleaned off and repainted into orange. Richard has now planted the runner beans and other seedlings in our vegetable patches, hopefully the frost will not come back and kill them. Tony has lettered and continued painting his notice boards. Some of the Goathland ones have been delivered there ready for erection. Andy is working on the CCT still making new framing for the rotten corner.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
23rd May 2010
Wow what a scorcher! We had the Junior Volunteers come and help us on Saturday and they painted more of our yard fencing; cut down some bushes on our lineside; dug out a trench in front of the cottage for a new wall; packed and spread ash on the north end siding and sanded down the side of the Palvan. Elsewhere Stephen has continued tidying the workshop coach and labelling storage bins, the General room had its cream gloss completed (bar the windows), the Palvan has been primed, undercoated and masticed and the cottage trench has been filled with concrete. Tony has continued with his notice board construction and was helped by Steve and Steve from Goathland who were also given a tour under our weigh table to see how it is constructed so they can see what needs doing to their own. On the line we have had one or two small lineside fires but nothing which required the services of the fire brigade. I am wondering if I should ask for a 4x4 from the railway instead of using my 2 wheel drive family car on the lineside. Will this week be the week for a new small Womble, watch this blog to find out!
Sunday, 16 May 2010
16th May 2010
All back to ‘normal’ this weekend!? As the last weekend of the Gala it held lots of promise, as it was it was an exciting weekend but for all the wrong reasons. Failure of several locos did not help and Saturday was memorable for a large lineside fire in Newtondale. Although several of us attended the site we were unable to contain it and had to call in the fire brigade to help – in all 6 fire engines attended. This did lead to many stranded passengers at the stations for our staff to deal with. Weighbridge Teas did very well though!
At the station the Warehouse received its new copper beech top coat paint, the lamp posts a repaint and several table tops were spruced up ready for the special events. The new cast letters for the noticeboards have arrived and received several coats of primer and undercoat. Thanks to Kevin, Stephen, Alexa for the painting. The palvan has had its repaint begun with the cleaning down of the metalwork on the dock side and the sanding down of the timber. Brian undertook the clean off and priming of this. Our VEA stores van has been further tidied under the supervision of Storeman Stephen and more has been transferred into the paddock hut.
The back wall of the coal shed has been rebuilt in blockwork and strimming has been carried out around the station area. Malcolm and Tony have completed the new timber litter bin housings and these have replaced the unsightly 'modern' plastic ones we had.
At the station the Warehouse received its new copper beech top coat paint, the lamp posts a repaint and several table tops were spruced up ready for the special events. The new cast letters for the noticeboards have arrived and received several coats of primer and undercoat. Thanks to Kevin, Stephen, Alexa for the painting. The palvan has had its repaint begun with the cleaning down of the metalwork on the dock side and the sanding down of the timber. Brian undertook the clean off and priming of this. Our VEA stores van has been further tidied under the supervision of Storeman Stephen and more has been transferred into the paddock hut.
The back wall of the coal shed has been rebuilt in blockwork and strimming has been carried out around the station area. Malcolm and Tony have completed the new timber litter bin housings and these have replaced the unsightly 'modern' plastic ones we had.
9th May 2010
This last week has been the Annual Womble Boating holiday. This year a group of intrepid Wombles led by Uncle Bulgaria, Orinoco and Bungo undertook the Avon ring with additional forays around Birmingham. A mixed weather week was realised but good fun was had by all, even by Stephen who came down with Shingles and spent a day in Worcester hospital!
Don’t worry though, work did still proceed at the station.
Don’t worry though, work did still proceed at the station.
2nd May 2010
Tony and co have continued on with the noticeboards whilst Stephen and Brian have done the same with the paddock hut fit out. The marquees, poles, pegs etc together with the A frames or our display stands are now all securely in store. The GE van has benefited from a tidy up by Gary whilst Tony 3 painted the roofs of the location cases behind the signal box. Malcolm and Horace have continued building the new timber litter bins.
The weighbridge team had a good weekend including selling out of the Belgian chocolate Tiffins (all 32!!!) by Saturday afternoon and Brian was gutted!
Brian, COOKED a lovely Sunday breakfast (he doesn’t normally cook ever!).
The weighbridge team had a good weekend including selling out of the Belgian chocolate Tiffins (all 32!!!) by Saturday afternoon and Brian was gutted!
Brian, COOKED a lovely Sunday breakfast (he doesn’t normally cook ever!).
Sunday, 25 April 2010
25th April 2010
A glorious Saturday meant it was time to get the paint out. The Warehouse has had its cream top half repainted (with a sand down, prime, undercoat and top coat), as have the Ladies and General Room. We had planned to do the same to the bottom of the Warehouse but the new top coat is not what we ordered, although the label claims it is! We will have to go back and get the correct colour. We have just used the last cabbage from our garden but new seedlings are now being planted to restock our larder. We have also harvested the first of the rhubarb and very nice it was too.
Stephen has continued tidying up around the north end hut and the Community Payback people have finished the stone headwall alongside. Malcolm has continued manufacturing new bin cupboards using the second hand hardwood timber we have in store.
We had a visit from the railway’s tamper this evening as it goes off to tamp the track around bridge 30 overnight – the only time the PW can get out now until next winter.
Stephen has continued tidying up around the north end hut and the Community Payback people have finished the stone headwall alongside. Malcolm has continued manufacturing new bin cupboards using the second hand hardwood timber we have in store.
We had a visit from the railway’s tamper this evening as it goes off to tamp the track around bridge 30 overnight – the only time the PW can get out now until next winter.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
18th April 2010
Well the daffodils are out and look a treat all over the station. Its been another weekend of steady progress on small jobs. We had a trip to Newtondale Halt on Saturday to collect the last remaining planks from the old platform deck. These are all for recycling at our station. Stephen and Brian have constructed a water butt cupboard, to hide the plastic tank from view, using some of the planks we have just recovered. Others have been placed near the camping coach turnout ready to act as a standing point for the point lever operator.
Elsewhere work has continued making and painting notice boards with help from John Bruce, the Goathland Station Master, on Sunday (some of the boards are for him!). The right hand pair of CCT doors now close properly following adjustment and the paint has been touched up. Tony 3 has welded our small marquee’s metal legs where they had been damaged in the winds last year and the final door catch for the CCT side doors. These have now all received several protective layers of paint.
On the cottage the back upstairs window frame has been cleaned down and repainted and the ‘new’ window temporarily fitted and secured for the week.
Elsewhere work has continued making and painting notice boards with help from John Bruce, the Goathland Station Master, on Sunday (some of the boards are for him!). The right hand pair of CCT doors now close properly following adjustment and the paint has been touched up. Tony 3 has welded our small marquee’s metal legs where they had been damaged in the winds last year and the final door catch for the CCT side doors. These have now all received several protective layers of paint.
On the cottage the back upstairs window frame has been cleaned down and repainted and the ‘new’ window temporarily fitted and secured for the week.
Sunday, 11 April 2010
11th April 2010
Another glorious weekend of weather. The shelves are now fitted in the lean-to cupboards on Hut 5; the new replacement cottage window is in top coat and should be fitted next weekend; embankment strengthening has been installed for the hand point lever for the double slip; the right hand CCT end door is partially adjusted (lack of time); another section of the lowmac has been cleaned down and primed; all the platform lamps have been cleared of flies and the glasses washed; the running in boards have been washed and their backs given a coat of bitumastic; the level crossing gates have been sanded and touched up with new paint where necessary, whilst the new white gate has received the full works and a start has been made on making new timber litter bins using, yes you have guessed it, second hand timber!
Friday, 9 April 2010
9th April 2010
Easter week has been a continuation of the long weekend albeit with a reduced number. On the turnout point lever the long timbers have been supported and fence posts installed to provide a handrail due to the drop into the lineside ditch. The paddock hut window frames now boasts gloss paint following the earlier glazing; the paving to the rear has also been completed and the soil under the fence dug out so stone can be laid ready for the seats to be stored there. The lean to cabinets on the end of hut 5 now have their doors hung with catches fitted to secure them. The lowmac has had its top beam painted into BR early grey Engineers livery. Hopefully more of this side will be cleaned and prepared this weekend. A certain amount of aluminium and steel scrap has been weighed in as part of a ‘trip round the houses’ collecting, dropping off and visiting work sites. The latter was to look at a water tank which may be suitable for use on the railway. However power cables nearby may prevent easy recovery by both mechanical or manual means. The end doors of the CCT have been adjusted and partially rehung so they will close correctly. Our neighbour is undertaking some improvement works on his land. In conjunction with this we are rebuilding the rear of the coal house, which is on the boundary line, which will benefit both parties.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
4th April 2010
Happy Easter! Good Friday was a good day for the station. Sixteen volunteers were working including the tea hut crowd. The gates near the Camping Coach have been constructed and hung; the timber stack near the CCT has been put away into our wagons; the new PW lean to is well underway alongside hut 5; the paddock soil heap has finally been spread, levelled and seeded; the gardens have been weeded and the roses tidied and the station approach road has been ‘widened’ by cutting back a lot of encroaching grass off the tarmac – it is now 2’ wider!
Saturday was more of the same with 16 again. Stephen and Brian slated and leaded the shed roof and Andy, Horace and Chris completed the Camping Coach gates and fixed the ‘Private’ sign. We also managed to cut down and remove to our burning site the lineside scrub north of the level crossing; widen the holes in the repaired corner hinge for the end CCT door; complete the grass encroachment works opposite the cottage; begin work to replace the rotten door frame on the SE side of the CCT and cut the surplus steel off the lowmac. We also had a visit to Pickering station to view the Bridges and Wheels art exhibition and discuss our contracting services for works at the back of platform 2 – spoil removal, foundations and canopy erection, plus track slueing and wagon exchange at the south end and the foundations for the new visitor signal box! Fortunately our services are spread over April, June and November but as usual all help will be gratefully received.
Sunday dawned bright, frosty and sunny. Numbers were up on yesterday – 19, helped by a pair of S&T chaps working in the signal box, carrying out wiring work for the HD link. Elsewhere we have commenced fitting the point levers to the double slip and headshunt turnout by installing long timbers and the lever mechanisms themselves. Dismantling work still continues on the CCT to confirm the amount of rotten timber requiring replacement and the new noticeboards continue to breed. This evening we disposed of the scrub we removed yesterday.
We're still here all week so feel to pop in and help, all are welcome.
Saturday was more of the same with 16 again. Stephen and Brian slated and leaded the shed roof and Andy, Horace and Chris completed the Camping Coach gates and fixed the ‘Private’ sign. We also managed to cut down and remove to our burning site the lineside scrub north of the level crossing; widen the holes in the repaired corner hinge for the end CCT door; complete the grass encroachment works opposite the cottage; begin work to replace the rotten door frame on the SE side of the CCT and cut the surplus steel off the lowmac. We also had a visit to Pickering station to view the Bridges and Wheels art exhibition and discuss our contracting services for works at the back of platform 2 – spoil removal, foundations and canopy erection, plus track slueing and wagon exchange at the south end and the foundations for the new visitor signal box! Fortunately our services are spread over April, June and November but as usual all help will be gratefully received.
Sunday dawned bright, frosty and sunny. Numbers were up on yesterday – 19, helped by a pair of S&T chaps working in the signal box, carrying out wiring work for the HD link. Elsewhere we have commenced fitting the point levers to the double slip and headshunt turnout by installing long timbers and the lever mechanisms themselves. Dismantling work still continues on the CCT to confirm the amount of rotten timber requiring replacement and the new noticeboards continue to breed. This evening we disposed of the scrub we removed yesterday.
We're still here all week so feel to pop in and help, all are welcome.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
28th March 2010
Attention may be elsewhere on the railway this weekend with the re-opening of bridge 30, but here at Levisham life goes on. To ‘celebrate’ the re-opening the railway was unfortunate enough to have a lineside fire further up Newtondale. Some of our station staff were called to attend, and provide a ‘taxi’ service for some of the local fire crew who were also present. The fire was soon put out and normal service could resume. At the station it has been a pottering weekend with many small jobs undertaken but not a lot to show for it at the end of the weekend.
The notice boards have received another coat of paint, a vice donated from Newcastle has been repaired and repainted and further shelving construction has continued in the paddock hut, which now sports a letter P on the front. Community Payback have continued work on the stone culvert headwall and further type 1 has been moved around the paddock hut for the chairs to stand on. The yard has been further tidied up, with some timber planks being moved to the north end huts ready for converting into ‘new’ doors which will house the PWay Departments grease store.
A bumper weekend and week of work is planned for Easter so if anyone is looking for something to do, drop in and I am sure we will be able to keep you busy!
The notice boards have received another coat of paint, a vice donated from Newcastle has been repaired and repainted and further shelving construction has continued in the paddock hut, which now sports a letter P on the front. Community Payback have continued work on the stone culvert headwall and further type 1 has been moved around the paddock hut for the chairs to stand on. The yard has been further tidied up, with some timber planks being moved to the north end huts ready for converting into ‘new’ doors which will house the PWay Departments grease store.
A bumper weekend and week of work is planned for Easter so if anyone is looking for something to do, drop in and I am sure we will be able to keep you busy!
Sunday, 21 March 2010
21st March 2010
With a wet Saturday it was a cue for some inside work. Stephen and Brian have been busy constructing the new shelving inside the Paddock hut to store the marquee equipment. Elsewhere a new gate frame for near the Camping Coach was built using second hand materials and the new (shock horror!) hinges were painted.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny. All the spare fence timber has now been tidied up and placed into store in one of our wagons.
The empty windows in the paddock hut now sport new (to us) panes of glass expertly fitted and puttied in by Kevin. He has also glazed the missing pane in the replacement window frame for the cottage (the existing is rotten and has cracked glass. The steel pipe under the lineside huts has been partly faced in stone by one of the Community Payback team.
Tony has continued building the new noticeboards and John Brue, the Goathland Station Master, came to inspect the works on his boards.
Pansies, primulas and vegetable seeds have been planted today by Richard and Patience. Hopefully the frosts will not harm them.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny. All the spare fence timber has now been tidied up and placed into store in one of our wagons.
The empty windows in the paddock hut now sport new (to us) panes of glass expertly fitted and puttied in by Kevin. He has also glazed the missing pane in the replacement window frame for the cottage (the existing is rotten and has cracked glass. The steel pipe under the lineside huts has been partly faced in stone by one of the Community Payback team.
Tony has continued building the new noticeboards and John Brue, the Goathland Station Master, came to inspect the works on his boards.
Pansies, primulas and vegetable seeds have been planted today by Richard and Patience. Hopefully the frosts will not harm them.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
14th March 2010
Happy Mothers Day! Saturday was fencing day with two gangs constructing away. The fencing around the Camping Coach is now complete bar the gates (which are under construction). To the rear of the station yard the pig wire fence protecting the vegetable patch from the sheep has been replaced with a diagonal paled fence. The old, short, substandard fence recovered from near the camping coach has been re-used here (including the nails!). A new gate has been made and hung near the compost heap to access the vegetable patch. We are awaiting some road kerbs to finish the back of the yard here. Watch this space.
Sunday began with the delivery by the PWay department of a wagon full of ash. This was emptied just north of the level crossing and spread on the site of the old hut. The wagon had to be emptied before the first passenger train and pushed, by hand, into the north siding. Once we had emptied it Community Payback then spread it around for us. Following a final finish by ourselves the whole area now looks much tidier.
Elsewhere the notice board team ably led by Tony 1 continue to roll out new noticeboards for Goathland and Levisham.
Sunday began with the delivery by the PWay department of a wagon full of ash. This was emptied just north of the level crossing and spread on the site of the old hut. The wagon had to be emptied before the first passenger train and pushed, by hand, into the north siding. Once we had emptied it Community Payback then spread it around for us. Following a final finish by ourselves the whole area now looks much tidier.
Elsewhere the notice board team ably led by Tony 1 continue to roll out new noticeboards for Goathland and Levisham.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
7th March 2010
This weekend saw the new hut in the paddock get its roof felted properly. It should now keep the contents dry for many a year. Surrounding the hut the paving flags have been completed and the turf completed up to it. Thanks to Martyn, Mark, Stephen and Simon.
Elsewhere new fencing has been erected around the oil tank at the Camping Coach and the first part of the new cross fence erected. This fence and double gate will have to wait for the replacement Camping Coach steps to be delivered and installed.
The lineside north of the level crossing has been tidied and levelled ready for a final topping of ash, 20 tons of which is due next Sunday by the PWay.
Tony, Stephen (from Goathland and Dave have been busy building new notice boards for Goathland. They have also cleaned down an old triple notice board we had in store, again for Goathland.
Community Payback were busy filling potholes in the road near the cottage, soil in the paddock and bricking in the base of No7 signal ladder.
Elsewhere new fencing has been erected around the oil tank at the Camping Coach and the first part of the new cross fence erected. This fence and double gate will have to wait for the replacement Camping Coach steps to be delivered and installed.
The lineside north of the level crossing has been tidied and levelled ready for a final topping of ash, 20 tons of which is due next Sunday by the PWay.
Tony, Stephen (from Goathland and Dave have been busy building new notice boards for Goathland. They have also cleaned down an old triple notice board we had in store, again for Goathland.
Community Payback were busy filling potholes in the road near the cottage, soil in the paddock and bricking in the base of No7 signal ladder.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
28th February 2010
After many false starts we finally collected a 30cwt yard crane from the North Tyneside Railway Museum, where it was surplus to requirements. It had originally been sited at Pelaw Goods Station in North Eastern Railway days. It was built by Cowan Sheldon of Carlisle and had a steel jib, instead of the timber one found on the early cranes. We arranged for a hi-ab of Archers of Northallerton to collect and deliver it to Levisham station. Thanks to Paul, the driver, it only took an hour to load and tie it all down on the lorry. It is now stored at our station awaiting the identification of a site for it. It does require an oiling and repainting but will have to wait for some dry weather.
Whilst the hi-ab was here a minor shuffle of the yard stores was undertaken, which has allowed all the hazel pence panels to be erected and the area looks much neater. Immediately in front of these panels the ground was a bit soft so has been dug out and filled with stone.
All our scrap has now gone into the scrap skip which has further tidied the area north of the level crossing. A new pair of gates has been fitted at the end of the Camping Coach fence. This will allow maintenance access to the line and yard.
The General Room seating has benefited from a coat of paint applied by Beth, who was not destroying something for a change!
Whilst the hi-ab was here a minor shuffle of the yard stores was undertaken, which has allowed all the hazel pence panels to be erected and the area looks much neater. Immediately in front of these panels the ground was a bit soft so has been dug out and filled with stone.
All our scrap has now gone into the scrap skip which has further tidied the area north of the level crossing. A new pair of gates has been fitted at the end of the Camping Coach fence. This will allow maintenance access to the line and yard.
The General Room seating has benefited from a coat of paint applied by Beth, who was not destroying something for a change!
Sunday, 21 February 2010
21st February 2010
A weekend of contrasts. A nice, sunny, warm Saturday and a white, cold Sunday. The hut in the paddock has had its concrete floor laid and the duct for cables fitted. The concrete was mixed in our yard and then barrowed across. We have splashed out and bought four new wheelbarrows as many of ours are beyond help. If anyone would like to sponsor them they are available at £40 each. The hut has also had its window frames cleaned down and primed and a second coat of green stain has been applied to the sides. We have laid the paving along the front side and had planned to do the side on Sunday, but the weather put pay to that.
Sunday dawned frosty but dry. A 9am it started to snow, and snow, and snow. This continued until mid afternoon by which time 2” covered everything. The platforms required clearing before the arrival of each train to make it safe for passengers. Today has been an inside job day with the loft hatch architrave fitted in the cottage and our workshop has been tidied up. David has been wiring again under the signal box and getting very cold at the same time. Beth has been writing a booking office manual, and hasn’t destroyed anything this weekend!
Sunday dawned frosty but dry. A 9am it started to snow, and snow, and snow. This continued until mid afternoon by which time 2” covered everything. The platforms required clearing before the arrival of each train to make it safe for passengers. Today has been an inside job day with the loft hatch architrave fitted in the cottage and our workshop has been tidied up. David has been wiring again under the signal box and getting very cold at the same time. Beth has been writing a booking office manual, and hasn’t destroyed anything this weekend!
Sunday, 14 February 2010
14th February 2010
Happy Valentines Day! Its been a mixed weather weekend with occasional showers spoiling the days. Following the tidying up of the General Room ready for the first passengers of the season, there has been major progress on the new hut in the paddock this weekend. The precast concrete base sections went down very well on the type 1 base we had prepared during Saturday morning. During the afternoon, with a bit of jiggery pokery, we got the sides erected and bolted together. We even managed to get the first coat of green stain on the sides, helping it to blend in. The roof went on during Sunday and needed a certain amount of adjustment to fit. It is now awaiting better weather so we can apply a new layer of felt on top. At present a white tarpaulin is currently keeping it dry.
Elsewhere the timber has been removed from under the CCT siding and this will be sorted before going into our wagons. This has allowed the CCT and all the other wagons to be placed back in the siding.
Beth has continued her demolition duties this time on our worn out cement mixer which is now awaiting a scrap skip to take it and other metal away.
Community Payback have moved the surplus type 1 from the middle of the yard to the corner for us.
Elsewhere the timber has been removed from under the CCT siding and this will be sorted before going into our wagons. This has allowed the CCT and all the other wagons to be placed back in the siding.
Beth has continued her demolition duties this time on our worn out cement mixer which is now awaiting a scrap skip to take it and other metal away.
Community Payback have moved the surplus type 1 from the middle of the yard to the corner for us.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
7th February 2010
The last weekend without passenger trains until next January! We have got the metalwork fitted to the CCT now and all doors run properly. It is now ready to go back into its siding again. The siding itself has undergone a tidy up of rubbish and the long timber stored underneath has been placed to one side ready for allocating to new under cover stores.
Tony 1 has made a single size poster board and prepared the timber frame for a second.
The rotten platform trolley has been dismantled, the steelwork going into store and the ‘woodwork’ going onto the fire pile. The stores at the rear of the yard are now mostly screened by our hazel fence panels and much neater they look too. The Community Partnership team has spread and levelled the spoil over the site of the old black hut north of the level crossing. This area is now awaiting a delivery of ash to top it off. The large pile of general scrap is awaiting a small skip to take it all away.
The S&T have continued work for the HD link including making timber shelves for the battery back ups and new wiring under the signal box.
Don't forget that Weighbridge Teas is open again from next weekend (hurrah!)
Tony 1 has made a single size poster board and prepared the timber frame for a second.
The rotten platform trolley has been dismantled, the steelwork going into store and the ‘woodwork’ going onto the fire pile. The stores at the rear of the yard are now mostly screened by our hazel fence panels and much neater they look too. The Community Partnership team has spread and levelled the spoil over the site of the old black hut north of the level crossing. This area is now awaiting a delivery of ash to top it off. The large pile of general scrap is awaiting a small skip to take it all away.
The S&T have continued work for the HD link including making timber shelves for the battery back ups and new wiring under the signal box.
Don't forget that Weighbridge Teas is open again from next weekend (hurrah!)
Sunday, 31 January 2010
31st January 2010
The light snow showers forecast for Friday evening managed to drop 4” snow on the area – again. First up again was clearing the paths and platforms where we needed access before we could get on with our jobs.
The main project was fitting three CCT doors properly, which was easier said than done. Several adjustments were required before they hung correctly and rolled back and fro correctly. A lot more metalwork has also been fitted including draught straps, door runners, door stops and handrails.
Inside the warmth of the General Room several old notice boards, ex film props from 30 years ago, are being cleaned down ready for re-use in the new exhibition next year (2011).
The S&T have continued works for the HD link both at Newbridge and Levisham.
The main project was fitting three CCT doors properly, which was easier said than done. Several adjustments were required before they hung correctly and rolled back and fro correctly. A lot more metalwork has also been fitted including draught straps, door runners, door stops and handrails.
Inside the warmth of the General Room several old notice boards, ex film props from 30 years ago, are being cleaned down ready for re-use in the new exhibition next year (2011).
The S&T have continued works for the HD link both at Newbridge and Levisham.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
24th January 2010
We have been fencing and van-ing this weekend. The new NER design fence has been extended alongside the Camping Coach and the area levelled and tidied up as we progressed. 17 posts were installed in holes 3’ deep.
The CCT has been placed alongside the Up platform by the PW Dept during the week. This has allowed us direct access off the platform for installing the new doors on the East side. The first activity was removing the final original door, some of it by shovel. Although the wood work was rotten the metalwork is not too bad. The metalwork has now been cleaned down and primed.
The new doors have been offered into place and are temporarily held in place. This is the first time in over 20 years that the van has had all its doors fitted!
The type 1 stone has been transported into the paddock and the site is ready now for the BR sectional hut to be re-erected.
The CCT has been placed alongside the Up platform by the PW Dept during the week. This has allowed us direct access off the platform for installing the new doors on the East side. The first activity was removing the final original door, some of it by shovel. Although the wood work was rotten the metalwork is not too bad. The metalwork has now been cleaned down and primed.
The new doors have been offered into place and are temporarily held in place. This is the first time in over 20 years that the van has had all its doors fitted!
The type 1 stone has been transported into the paddock and the site is ready now for the BR sectional hut to be re-erected.
Friday, 22 January 2010
17th January 2010
Well the snow has diminished down to a manageable level although the heavy rain on the Saturday brought the rivers next to us up to maximum. The bottom third of the paddock was flooded on Saturday afternoon.
Work has continued on the CCT with a major tidy up and sort out inside. It is now possible to get down the full length of the vehicle (the first time in many years). The van is hopefully going to be shunted by the PW Dept into the station so we can hang the 3 East side doors more easily and repair the main frame at the south end.
We have also recommenced work on the yard fencing with a large section of the existing Camping Coach fence removed and 2 new fence posts installed – only another 16 or so to go!
Work has continued on the CCT with a major tidy up and sort out inside. It is now possible to get down the full length of the vehicle (the first time in many years). The van is hopefully going to be shunted by the PW Dept into the station so we can hang the 3 East side doors more easily and repair the main frame at the south end.
We have also recommenced work on the yard fencing with a large section of the existing Camping Coach fence removed and 2 new fence posts installed – only another 16 or so to go!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
9th January 2010
Well, we have 15" of snow down here and very pretty it looks too. Guess we will be working inside today, not much chance of working on the new hut in the paddock! CHeck the latest pics for todays photos. No trains yet.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
2nd January 2010
Well a Happy New Year to all our readers! Its been snowing again - no surprise with a couple of inches yesterday and a similar amount today. Its not stopped the work though, although we did have a partial day off yesterday - our annual day off. It was partial as we had to clear the station and points before we could go Goathland for a walk to Water Ark and a final look at Bridge 30. Today after clearing the station of snow (again), we dismantled the siezed brakegear on the LNER high goods wagon, cleaned the rust off the parts and applied a protective coat of bitumastic. We have also commenced clearing the timber from under the CCT ready for its move into the station once the trains have finished.
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