17th July 2009

I’ve gathered a few odds and ends together from this week, hopefully which will be of interest…

Below: Two shots of Dave Young machining the trunnion for the steam mule:

Above and Below: Dave offered the following notes on this:

It is a Schaublin Swiss made horizontal milling machine with various attachements to make it a truly versatile within its capacity. I am fortunate to own it as it is quite rate and is considered to be the most desirable and seriously accurate. The manufacturers are better know for their lathes which are the ultimate machines for precision work.

Below: The track gang made its connection and the railway became one again. The lads have started the spot-resleepering of the curve as this section is on dry ground with a good foundation, not requiring the level of excavation that the cutting needed.

Below: During the trimming of the embankment the old siding was revealed at this location.

Below: The golden spike location! All of the line will look like this when completed…

Below: The back lane of Ravensworth Terrace. We are proposing a small turning circle at the far end to enable coal deliveries to made by horse and cart without the awkwardness of reversing back along the lane. It should also provide a good vantage point for visitors to watch the trains coming along the cutting, which is to the left in this view.

Below: Blacpool 31 was dressed up for Christmas last night in order to be photographed for the museum’s publicity material for this event – see main website for details of our much extended opening of the Christmas event.

Below: And finally, a couple of shots care of the Tramway’s Monthly lads (have a look at their new and rapidly developing website) showing our Sheffield 513 at work in Blackpool recently.