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.