Hi

We are still enjoying our railway and the recent lovely sunny days have allowed us to enjoy running trains  and watch them go by in the warm sunshine, very relaxing and very enjoyable. On Saturday last (18th) we had a little celebration as it was Ray’s 90 birthday on Sunday ,so we thought it would be nice to have a running day to celebrate his special birthday. Ray is now being looked after in a local care home and he enjoys his little trips out on running days !

So a gathering of some of his previous neighbours and friends came along and enjoyed a party atmosphere in the clubroom which had been decorated with balloons and  colourful banners. A good variety of food and drinks were consumed and then we ran some trains ! ‘Prospero’, ‘Bronwyn’ and ‘Hercules’ were out together with Chieftain and Viceroy’ ,all running under the control of our impressive (well we think !) automatic colour light signals. A lovely day.  

John’s wagon is just about complete and runs very well, and there is a seat that can be added to turn it into a Guard’s vehicle should we need one at any time, another useful item of rolling stock for the EVFR.

Brian B is busy working on a driving trailer/ tender for his lovely ‘Hercules’ steam loco, and we look forward to seeing it attached in its final form soon !….our steam locos are all in good nick with a new sight glass fitted to ‘Bronwyn’ following which she had a good polish and came out to play, she’s a lovely little engine and loves being out on the EVFR.

Kevin and Keith are looking into the electrics on’Chieftain’ which are in need of some attention, new LEDs have been fitted to the loco front and rear and then she will have some cosmetics done as she /he is looking a bit tatty.. ‘

Viceroy’ is to have a master charging socket fitted so as to save having to take off the bonnet and disconnect the batteries for each charge, and we keep discussing whether to turn the centre driving wheels into flangeless  in the hope that would prevent some of the derailments that occur from time to time?

We have also done some improvements on one of the 3 way points leading into the yard off the main, as there have been issues with the frogs and check rails, it is much better now ,with some rotten sleepers replaced too.

The station fencing has been re stained and the flower boxes replanted to look smart during the summer , and we have started to restain the other timber fencing and gates around the site.

and Peter cannot understand why his new Raspberry Pi carriage engine isn’t working ?