It has been stiflingly hot these last few days, but the Museum has been busy and the car parks full – all good as we have ambitious plans for the future as are documented on this blog!

Below: In the Colliery Darren and Mark are busy relaying the siding to the rear of Francis Street. This is to give rail access to the rear of the ice rink, enabling railway vehicles to be employed as period storage in this area – more of this to feature in due course.

Below: Meanwhile I have been ferreting out bits of Lewin, the ashpan being seen here. It is repairable (though whether it dates to the 1970s restoration or earlier, to life at Seaham I cannot be certain, though my feeling is that it is a Seaham article). This has been measured so that David Potter can add it to the large collection of drawings that record this locomotive.

Below: A couple of close up pics of the tracklaying in progress. Whilst not a main running line, it will also be a useful additional siding for operations at the Colliery and, once the ‘main line’ is completed, offers two separate lines to run in parallel operation for coal train demonstrations etc.