Yearly Archives: 2025

Hi

It seems ages since we updated our site, and it is ! so, we have been keeping fairly busy with a few things ! The installation of the new refuge siding is almost complete with the trackwork and points in and ballasted, the point levers fitted and the ground signals that will control entry and exit to the siding, made and installed.

 

The refuge track installed

 

          

 

Peter is working on the alterations required to the ‘computer’ system that will control the signals and Kevin has fabricated magnetic switches that will alter the signals indication once the point lever is thrown. So we are optimistically excited to see it all working, the siding will be a very useful addition that will allow locos/trains to move off the main line for whatever reason, mainly, we think to water and build up steam on the locos, leaving the main line clear…

                                 Testing the ground signals

 

We have also been working away tweaking the track as necessary and have almost done with just the last part of the old layby siding to be done.

Kevin and Thomas have been working diligently on the Tram loco which is coming on well, they are now deliberating on how they will make the cow catchers!  The loco was shown at the recent Lowmex exhibition at Lowestoft (strangely!) where it was well received , (as was John’s tug). So the loco is almost ready for some paint to be applied, then it will look really smart!

Peter’s ‘Prospero’ recently had some work done to it as there was a problem with the welds around the smokebox, so Peter arranged with Station Road Steam for them to remedy the problem. This required the loco to be stripped down to the basic boiler which Kevin and Thomas did, then it was loaded into Peter’s car for the trip up to Lincolnshire, where Peter and Jennifer took the opportunity to have a few days visiting Friends in the area. The loco is now back at the EVFR where the boiler metal thickness has been checked, by Brian B and Keith, in various places to ensure there was no thinning of the boiler, and the internal inspection done that is also part of the  10 year inspection with the cladding removed.

 

 

Prospero ready for its Lincolnshire trip

 

We had our annual meeting on Saturday 22nd to agree the coming year’s subs and tea money etc and are pleased that we can keep them the same as we are doing Ok on the finance side and we don’t anticipate any major work that will drain the EVFR coffers in the coming year! It also gives us a chance to talk over things related to the railway so everyone is up to date.

Last Wednesday (19th), we moved the steam locos up to the top workshop once they were drained and they are now snuggled down for the winter under several layers of cosy duvets!

The next tasks  will be the taking in of the station fencing, seats, signals and bringing the gnomes in so they can slumber in the (relative) warmth of the sheds over the winter months.

We hope to run some trains aver the Christmas and New Year period , but it does depend on the weather being kind…take care

Kind regards

The EVFR Boys and Girls

Hi Everyone

We hope you are managing to enjoy this wonderful Sunshine that we have been experiencing recently, very welcome but a bit too warm at times, and we do need some rain to dampen things down a bit! but musn’t complain, this is England !!!!

Not too much to report, althougn we have been getting on with those jobs that always need seeing too, like tweaking the track to make sure all is OK which includes some re sleepering to replace some rotting timber ones, re aligning and levelling here and there.

Hercules now has a smart ‘tender/driving trailer nicely painted and lined, with water storage, coal box ,battery and electric pump all installed.

Progress on the Tram loco by Thomas and Kevin has progressed really well with the loco having been sucessfully tested around the circuit, a good runner with plenty of power…

                                                   The Tram being tested with Richard in  charge

We recently were pleased to welcome members of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society who spent an enjoyable afternoon exploring our railway. We ran ‘Prospero’, ‘Isabel’, ‘Chieftain’, The ‘Tram’, and The ‘Shay’, on a very happy and enjoyable afternoon. As some of our visitors belong to the Branch Line Society too, we had  request to traverse  as many of our tracks as possible, which we were  happy to do, with Thomas driving the Tram and a single coach onto the workshop track, the turntable track, a shed road and the Laurel sidings crossover.  We were really pleased to be able to show off our railway to railway aficionados ! (think that’s how it is spelt /???)

 

 

 

 

 

We also set out the line of the proposed loco  refuge loop with points and track that came from the Parklands railway , to see how it fitted in, and it looks good, so when we have some spare time and energy….watch this space !!!!

Other things that we have been doing apart from many discussions about many things !, including taking the gnomes out, fitting the Laurel Sidings and Chestnut Junction signs , cleaning and clearing the signal heads of spiders !

Enjoy the Summer, happy training, and take care

Best wishes from the EVFR Boys and girls

 

                                                                            Locos ready to go! 

Hi Everyone

So at last we have some lovely sunshine to herald the arrival of Spring, the daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses are out and the trees and hedges are starting to come to life after their Winter slumber .We have not been slumbering though, and have been quite busy since our last post. We have installed the extra sidings down at the carriage shed using the plastic sleepered track and points that came from the Parklands Railway, now sadly no more, which is a useful addition that we are very pleased with.

 

We are pleased that young Thomas has achieved his Bronze Award under the Seven and A Quarter Society’s Proficiency Scheme. 

There has been much discussion regarding a proposal to install a layby loop between the station and the carriage sidings to allow locos to pull off the main line to replenish water, coal and steam etc, and our knowledgeable electrical and computer ‘experts’ Peter, Kevin and Keith have come up with a workable signalling scheme for controlling entry and exit to and from the loop….watch this space!

All the station fencing, and seats have been cleaned down and repainted/stained and are now back in position.

We have also started to carry out the annual maintenance of our stock with the Shay going well, and ‘Isabel,’ ‘Bronwyn’, ‘Prospero’ and ‘Hercules’ all checked over. It is hoped to steam up ‘Hercules’ and ‘Bronwyn’ this weekend. Then we will check the coaches and ‘Viceroy’ , ‘Chieftain’ , and the 08…….

 

                                                                    Brian B checking  ‘Hercules’

On Saturday 22nd, we had a gathering of friends to commemorate the sad passing recently of two of the ALR members, Ray King and Dave Brackenbury (Brackers). Ray didn’t want a crematorium service but wanted his ashes to be cast out at sea, and so it has been arranged for the local inshore lifeboat at  Sea Palling to do this. He also wanted there to be a ‘party’  for his friends to say goodbye and that is what we did on Saturday. There were some 20 people there and although it was a bit sad, it was a pleasant occasion with cakes and nibbles to enjoy whilst remembering  memories of Ray and Dave, who both made great contributions to the sucess of the ALR.

 

‘                                                         Chieftain having a run with a train in the wet !!!

Shame the weather turned damp so not many train rides were had !! Hey ho this is England !