Aln Valley Railway

Longhoughton Goods Yard - BS, DMS, KSW, TS, KM, The weather forecast proved to be almost right! We had a few people on site today (lets try to keep it up!). Dave made a start to fit the new starter ring, it went on OK but we decided to clean it up with a wire brush before securely fitting it. So the ring has now been fitted but it has been suggested that we replace the bolts. The starter motor has also been refitted. The side footplates have been removed to enable the frames to be cleaned up ? there is still a lot of foundry sand about! Kay, Tom and Kenny went up to Abberwick to try to plan how to load the two van bodies. After they returned Kay, Tom, Kenny and Baz had a look at the crane and continued trying to free up the slewing mechanism. 1Z50- the ECS off a charter to Alnmouth passed northbound with a EWS 90 at the head of the pride of the nation set, and later 5Z47 the ECS Royal Scotsman set passed southbound with a WCRC 47 & 31 at the head.

Rain stopped play - As the rain seemed to be set in for the day we decided it was not worth getting too wet. The newly acquired S1 rail chairs were unloaded from the trailer and stacked in the stockpile. We tested the gas burner kit loaned by Gordon. A vote was taken and it was decided to take a run up to Wooler to have a look at the spare Ruston starter ring, and get a rough idea of how much track material is there. It transpired the starter was a GEC Traction version of the Ruston part - it still had the dispatch note attached, and Mick kindly drilled out the mounting holes and cut the ring in two for us. This will need to be cleaned up a bit and then will be fitted to the 48DS. We also collected the large porters barrow - does anyone have an idea where the small one is- at Bondgate museum perhaps, the stone guards off the 48DS, and some track fixings AS chair screws, ferrules, Pandrol clips, etc. These items have now been delivered to LGY.

The ECML was operating normally today. Baz and Dave removed the starter ring from the Ruston 48DS ready for it to be repaired somehow. Also removed the electrics which are to be rewired, and made a start on striping the brake system to free it off. The ECS from 1Z60 passed with 67029 at the head; the driver giving a nice blast on the horns.

There was a work party at two locations. This was attended by BS, DMS, KSW. We started off at station cottages, with Kay, Baz and Dave tidying up here and installing a new door in one of the cottages. It appeared the ECML was closed again, though the location of the worksite was unknown. After dinner Baz and Dave went over to Longhoughton, with Kay staying at the cottages. As Tom mentioned the rail from Alnwick is now at Longhoughton, fortunately in a position which does not block access. Dave made a start on cleaning up the flywheel and starter ring on the Ruston 48DS. Baz made a start on trying to remove the lay shaft on the crane but this is proving difficult so will be left till we have appropriate equipment and a slightly larger workforce! William arrived with a friend to drop off the reconditioned starter - which will be refitted soon. We also wound the brakes off the 48DS as these are seized in places and will need to be freed off. Most of the remaining parts from Penicuik have been removed from the ticket cabin and will be delivered to Micks soon.

There was a work party at Longhoughton Goods Yard. This was attended by DMS, TS. Again the ECML was affected by an engineering possession, worksite just north of Morpeth, so no trains passing the yard. Tom and Dave tided up the site, making sure there were no loose items lying about. They also put up a different banner, and continued measuring up the site. They packed up just after 1:30 in order to get to Morpeth to see Duchess of Sutherland with The Hadrian special.