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!