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.

The Society is awaiting action by Alnwick District Council in connection with the compulsory purchase of the cottages so that they can be demolished to provide access to a proposed additional car park for the main line station.

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.