Aln Valley Railway

Longhoughton Goods Yard - DS, BS, TS, DT and SY, continuation of general tasks as required, A reasonable day mainly sunny. All attention focused on the new arrival; the Operations Department’s tractor – trying to get her started was a bit of a pain until it was realised the pull stop works in reverse on these engines (i.e. pull to start)! Once we had the engine going it took a bit more head scratching to work out the hydraulics, but once we had had everything working Baz was happily moving the soil fill around…

Longhoughton Goods Yard - DS, TS, KSW, DT and SY, continuation of general tasks as required, Today started with a few showers but the sun soon got out. Dave and Scott removed some more of the brake rigging on the 48DS, and began cleaning up parts previously removed. TS, KSW and DT had a site meeting to discus plans for improving the layout of the yard. Tom later made a start on sorting rubbish out of the soil fill

Longhoughton Goods Yard - DMS, continuation of rolling stock restoration - especially focussing on removal of the brake rigging on the Ruston 48DS, Subdued sunshine with a few showers today. removed some more of the brake rigging on the 48DS for overhaul.

Longhoughton Goods Yard - DMS, continuing the restoration of stock, esp the 48DS, Gorgeous sunshine today again. Little bit more wiring done, and removed some more of the brake rigging on the 48DS for overhaul. The brake rigging is (temporarily) back on the HPA so the hand brake is operable again and is currently padlocked ON.

Longhoughton Goods Yard - DMS, general, Gorgeous sunshine today. I got a bit more wiring done, and removed some of the brake rigging on the 48DS. I also put the overhauled brake rigging back onto the HPA though there is still a little bit of work before the hand brake is operable again. During the day the following passed: 66621 6S26 Seaham-Oxwellmains (cement); 66250 6H13 11:47 Mossend - Drax PS (HAA coal); 43013+43014 1Z22 12:41 Edinburgh - Newcastle via Glasgow (NMT HST); 66089 6M85 Bathgate - Washwood Heath (empty Cartics); 67016+HST 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Aberdeen (ECS from Newcastle); 67022 0Z16 15:17 Edinburgh - Newcastle (light engine).

Longhoughton Goods Yard - BS, DMS, KSW, MM, continuation of general tasks as required, Shifted rail and sleepers around in order to reform roads in a suitable position for unloading future transfers. 1Z19; the New Measurement Train with 43014 leading & 43062 trailing passed heading north at approx 12:50. Thunderbird 67003 then went north and gave a blast and then later passed going South with the stock of 1E09 09.00 GLC-KGX formed of 82213+BN13+91111 approx 13.25. It transpired there were major problems on the ECML.

Longhoughton Goods Yard - BS, DMS, TS, GH, continuation of general tasks as required, First job was unload bits and pieces for the 48DS. We then set about freeing up some more bits on the Jones, and also making plans for fitting the new wiring to the 48DS. After dinner Baz decided to tidy the tool store again, and fit some temporary shelving - please do your bit to keep the stores tidy please. A passing EWS freight gave a hello blast today.

the trackbed - BS, DMS, IC, DT, GH and BC, control of vegitation; extending crane siding; moving fill material; rubbing down small Ruston; rubbing down rail crane; dismantling Jones crane, We had a look at several of the manholes on the viaduct and discovered that these are part of the drainage system.