The shorter siding with the new route under to the new soakaway seen alongside the wheelbarrow

Hi , despite the rubbish cold, very, and wet weather last Saturday, we managed to get quite a lot done. John, Ben, Peter and Richard did some gardening ‘tidying up’ and with the help of a mechanical digger, (well driven by Ben) extended and backfilled the new soakaway from the storage shed water tank out into the tree belt. (Previously we had shortened and straightened the track coming out of the back of the loco shed, so its just long enough for a loco to stand alongside the water tank.)

Meanwhile, Keith, Kevin and Brian did some more work on the Shay, forming an aperture (posh word for hole !) in the boiler top under the rear dome, that will enable us better access to fit the exhaust, and worked out a method of running the exhaust back into the boiler to the silencer enabling the exhaust to be emitted out of the chimney as before. We also established that the belt drive from the hydrostatic unit under the Loncin can be the same as the original so a new one can be obtained.

Shay Boiler hole

On Saturday we held our first EVFR AGM which went very well with our accounts presented and agreed, as were the the members’ subscriptions for the coming year. A brief summary of our projects was outlined and then the meeting was closed with refreshments taken followed by some trains out and about. Lucille,Viceroy and Chieftain were given a trundle round the circuit and we were were pleased to see Kevin, who has joined us, having a drive too !

A good day 

Kevin with Chieftain                                                                               Dave with Viceroy

                                                      Lucille getting ready (All photos Jon Pond)