This weekend I worked the Sunday of the SDR Rales and Ales event, which by all accounts has been as busy as last year, so thank you to all who attended and imbibed!
There was a good variety of motive power running, with 2 panniers, the Collett goods, the 20 and the bubble car all running with lots of movement i and out o the station. Weather has been a bit changeable but this didn't stop people on the Saturday and more indoor space was available than in past years. Today has been very wet, so i
Worked as a porter at Staverton yesterday, with a good range of different traffic going on I did m best to get a few pictures. Some are a little out of focus but I was trying to work and photograph at the same time.
The official pictures and information should be here
There were 3 steam engines in action, 5526, 3205 and 1369. Also running was the class 25 D7612 and the Gloucester "bubble car" 55000.
5523 with an up service train in a rare patch of sunlight,
Break Van Specials, unfortu
For all the latest SDR news and superb pictures-Please click Here!I finally managed to get a few hours at Staverton today, hoping to see the Dukedog in action before this weekends Cambrian gala.
It was almost a shame to work as the sun shone down but I got out the paintbrush again to finish the shed door. I didn't bother to photograph that as there were historic works afoot.
For the first time in at least 40 years the crossing gates at Staverton are being replaced. The new ones were made last
My apologies to all on the SDR for my absence this month as I have been moving house.
Mention must be made of the huge effort put in by all the volunteers to keep the Santa Specials running despite the apalling conditions recently.
I would also like to wish Merry Christmas to all my fellow preservationists and enthusiasts!
I am returning to duty as soon as my place defrosts a bit. In the meantime I thought I'd put up a picture from the beginning of the season last year, 5526 simmering away
It has been a busy final opperating session of the season, with excellent weather. I had the usual maintainance work to do, but was determined to photograph some of the other volunteers opperating the station. During the lunch break I also was allowed to visit Bishops Bridge signal box (thank you gentelmen of the Signalling dept!) and got some nice pics of the interior and the locking room. As volunteers the end of dialy trains last weekend marks the start of the main working season for repairs
Another busy week for me on the SDR! As you can see the weather was glorious and painting was in full swing. I have decided to only put the stuff I’ve been doing on the blog and the pictures of day to day operations will go on the preservation forum.
The weather boards are taking a lot longer than I thought and so far I have repaired this;
And finally got topcoat on this;
The lads have taken full advantage of a dry week and primer was going on the finished outside planking.
I thought it was about time I did some work on the real railway and through friends was directed to the South Devon Railway Association. The website is here:SDRA and the "fan" site is here: SDRonline
I am currently working at Staverton Station with the excellent gentlemen of the Staverton Preservation Group and they put me to work on general maintainance duties. There are a huge range of jobs available, including PW and Singnalling as well as engine and stock maintainance, all through the Assoc
