Last Friday I was in Shildon to help Michael Davison steam his Marshall traction engine from Shildon to Tees Cottage Pumping Station in Darlington.

Below: Whilst at Shildon I saw Phil Anderson who is repainting the LMS ‘Crab’ from black to Crimson livery – a break from tramcar painting! It is seen here in the workshop.

Below: Mary Margaret out on the road and motoring well. The eight mile route was covered quickly and without fuss on a very pleasant autumn afternoon.

Below: A pause was taken at Heighington Primary School for water, where the classes were brought out to see the ‘big engine’!

Below: After arrival at Tees Cottage, the Marshall joined Mark Sutherland’s Wallis for the weekend.

Below: Meanwhile, back at Beamish, Davy Sheen has commenced stripping Lewin’s frames. The plan is to get back to a bare chassis in order to carry out some straightening and repairs to distortion at the front end. Alan Milburn is on standby to make new buffer beams and our target is a rolling chassis by next Spring, in time for the return of the repaired boiler.

Below: Davy wields a gentle touch to separate long joined together components!