NGRM - The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

April

Thursday 2 April 2009 Working Party

It seemed busy in the Museum this morning. Those present were - Ray Brooks; Frank Yates; Tom Place; Brian Kelland and Winston McCanna. Also present was Company electrician Steve Thorpe who was P A T testing in the museum and replacing light bulbs: he had a volunteer helping him.

Ray brewed up further supplies of conservation wax. Frank was working on the cab of Jubilee 1897, which is nearly completed, and Saturday should see it through. Tom cleaned and polished the brass royal opening plate on the platform. Brian did housekeeping in the museum halls.

Ann McCanna and Pauline Place came in to make coffee and provide biscuits.

The Company's security maintenance contractor then appeared to service the equipment in the museum, and finally we had five visitors, who had travelled from Cambridge and left a donation.

Today was the last of the regular weekly Thursday working parties for this winter.
The Saturday sessions will continue throughout the summer on the first Saturday of each month, the next one therefore being next Saturday, 4th April.

Saturday 4 April 2009 Working Party

A small contingent: Ray Brooks, Richard Evans, Winston McCanna and Don Newing. This was the first day of opening to the public, and there were 56 visitors. Work was concentrated at the Gunpowder Store, where further coats of paint were applied to the platform scales and the LNWR slate wagon. Next working party Saturday 2 May.

Stations@Stations

On Good Friday, the Talyllyn Railway ran a special train commemorating the Stations of the Cross. This event was organised by museum trustee Ian Evans assisted by various local clergy and churchgoers. The Bishop of Bangor, Andrew John, participated in the event. The congregation assembled in the museum prior to the departure of the train. The picture shows the Bishop in the museum with Ian, who is holding the Bethlehem Cross normally displayed in the Awdry Study exhibition.

May

(no events)

June

Monday 1st Formation of Friends Group

A new group, the Friends of the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, has been formed to support the work of the museum. Click on "Friends of the Museum" on the navigation menus on the left for further details.

Saturday 13 June 2009 Working Party at North Ings

In attendance Chris White and Kevin Gracey

PENELOPE defied all attempts to start with the staring handle. The dog has become worn and needs building up with weld and grinding down. It may be that the assembly into which it fits on the loco also needs attention and this would be a much bigger job as the engine would need supporting while the assembly is removed. One of the other diesels was used with Tim Hall’s help to give a tow start and eventually it got going for the first time in six months. The engine and gear box oil were checked and found to be clean and in good condition. The paintwork is now in a poor state.

INDIAN RUNNER. New D clips and springs were fitted for the engine side flaps. The new engine air filter needs a short section of 2” outside diameter thin pipe such as used on car exhausts before it can be finally fitted. Five bolts along the frame have been sawn off and need attention to at least three of them with bolt pullers. The gearbox and engine oil (separate on this loco unlike many of the class) have not been changed for very many years and should be changed.

Once PENELOPE was going INDIAN RUNNER was pulled out to keep the bearings turning but PENELOPE derailed on a sharp curve because the coupling used was too short but Tim Hall soon lifted the loco on to the tracks again with the fork lift.

PENELOPE off the track waiting to be re-railed

Wednesday 24 June 2009 Working Party at North Ings

Chris White was joined by Tom King and Dale Coton.

PENELOPE was drawn out and given a good wash and topped up with fuel and oiled ready for operating at the Railway Experience Day. After lunch the three carriages from the North Sea Camp Open Prison Railway were collected, cleaned for the same event and returned to their storage siding.

Cleaning

Oiling

The main task of the day was to test the replacement cooling system fitted to INDIAN RUNNER. The system was flushed out several times and one small leak fixed. There remain many small tasks to complete before the restoration is finished but it is very satisfactory that the major task has been completely successfully.

Filling the replacement header tank

Flushing out the cooling system

Penelope heads up hill from Fisherman's Halt

28 June - Peggy Meets Old Friends at Ashover

On Sunday 28 June, the nameplate and whistle from Ashover Light Railway Baldwin 4-6-0T "Peggy", which normally reside in a display case in the museum, were displayed at the AGM of the Ashover Light Railway Society in Derbyshire. Alongside were the nameplates of stable-mates "Joan" and "Bridget", from private collections. This is the first time these have been together for over 50 years.

The Nameplates and Whistle on Display. Photograph by Dale Coton