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 !