Below: Locomotion No.1 has been in steam today, warming through ready for its working steam test later this week. Unusual to see in the Colliery these days, and facing west, here are some images of the engine this afternoon. It will continue in restricted use throughout the season, in deference to its greater age and less robust construction as compared to the other two Waggonway engines which were built with daily operation in mind. The general pattern will be to steam one of Elephant of Billy for three weeks, with Locomotion being steamed for one weekend as the other two are changed over, then repeat this over and over. There will be changes as Locomotion and Puffing Billy have a number of commitments for appearing at other venues in May/June time.

Below: Some landscaping and tidying has taken place in the vicinity of the Colliery Engine Works, enabling improved access to the shed area for period vehicles delivering wood etc. The new wood shed will be located in the centre of this scene, and once installed we will continue to add ash and soot to the ground to blacken the area convincingly. We will also remove the tyre marks from modern plant working here!

Below: During the collections movements, the long inaccessible chaldron stored in the RMS has returned to floor level. The lettered boards will be salvaged but the waggon has been replaced by two better type specimens which are in more complete and stable condition as well as being in original condition.

Below: The new storage barn, in the process of being filled with items transferred from the RMS. It seems spacious now…

Below: The new wood shed, as made at the Bowes Railway and recently delivered.