This post was accidentally posted early and in incomplete form – a slip of the finger on the touch screen tablet!  However, due to the auto-subscribe function, some readers will have received the incomplete version, so here is the full post as it was meant to appear…

Week 13 has been a problematic one – not that we heed any superstition mind you!

We’ve had two track faults at Rowley, that have required attention, then Portbury failed (leaking mud door).  Coffee Pot’s leaking tube could not be repaired so this loco has joined the ‘awaiting re-tubing’ queue which we will start to erode after the April festival.  The track repairs have impacted on the progress of the narrow gauge extension, but running through to Pockerley will be possible (the completion of the triangle will have to wait for the following week).  On the plus side, Lilla arrived and so we were able to shunt once again, and this loco will be with us right through the Great North Festival of Transport.  We have to thank the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway for making the loco available at such short notice.

Narrow Gauge/Event build up

Below: Lilla has been acting as yard pilot for shunting the narrow gauge railway (a complex operation given the very precise nature of the ‘fit’ of vehicles in sheds or sidings.  With the sun shining the chance to photograph the loco in and around the Colliery was taken, so here are a few views, just in case we don’t see fine weather for the event!

Below: An attractive spring view of Lilla whilst exploring the railway (to check the loco fitted!).  We plan to offer footplate rides along this section of the line during the Horses at War event, and in due course the parallel lane (which I hope will green up over time) will offer a nice vantage point for photography.  The overall access to the narrow gauge is to be improved, as and when we can resource this – and once we have finished laying the track of course!

Below: Saturday saw the arrival of the last two narrow gauge exhibits, the Hudswell Clarke and 20HP Simplex.  Lilla obliged as shunter, also sorting the D and F waggons.

Below: During shunting, the 40HP plus F and D waggons were posed in their temporary new surroundings.

Below: The extension, during the process of lifting, packing and ballasting.

Peterhead Prison Coach

Below: A very unusual exhibit that will be staying with us until July is this newly restored coach built for and used at Peterhead Prison in north east Scotland.  Restored at Stanegate Restorations and Replicas in Haltwhistle, it is lodging with us en route to a permanent display in the town of its origin.  Stanegate’s site says: In 1886 the Admiralty commenced building the Harbour of Refuge at Peterhead, it was decided to quarry granite at Stirling Hill, using the labour of convicts who were housed in the prison built for the purpose. The only state owned railway – at the time – was built to convey prisoners and stone. The sole surviving convict van (one of four built in 1915) is to be restored as part of the “Rocks, Rogues, Rails and Refuge” project to explore this aspect of social and transport heritage. Once completed the van, and associated displays, will become part of the Maud Railway Museum, in   Aberdeenshire.

Read more on its restoration here: http://www.stanegaterestorations.co.uk/currentprojects.html

The coach will be placed on display at Rowley Station for the duration of its stay at Beamish and contains exhibition panels as well as restored cells which can be viewed by visitors.

FR Granite Waggon

Below: This project has become more or less a single-handed effort by Matt, with the added entertainment of its desired completion being next week!  A big push saw the restoration of the ironwork completed and the new boards cut ready for fitting.  With all of the painting completed the boards were fitted then sign-written by Sarah, an unofficial member of the narrow gauge volunteer party.  Matt then rebuilt the couplings, replacing life expired sections by welding in new material.  This is because the waggon would have to pass inspection for future use on the Festiniog Railway.  On Saturday the work was completed and the waggon rolled out to be moved to the narrow gauge line, this sequence showing the recent highlights in its restoration…

Below: Sarah applies the lettering, as specified by the waggon experts at the FR.

Below: The finished waggon after Matt had rebuilt the couplings and re-fitted them this evening.

Below: A reminder of what it looked like before restoration…

Samson

Below: Samson is now only days away from completion, so the next appearance on here will be in its completed state.  Meanwhile, the engine has been prepared for its trip into space, with extensive use of foil backed insulation rather changing its appearance!  I have spent many hours in the relatively dust free environment of a painting tent to prepare the cladding, bunkers and other items for fitting – as many as ten coats of paint being applied, rubbed down and then finally lined out if required before varnishing.  Nearly there now…

Great War Steam Fair

The present exhibitor list numbers 114 WW1 or earlier exhibits attending, including visiting railway items.  This does not include those vehicles or railway items already resident on the site.  The summary, taken from the internal site instructions for staff currently reads:

• 26 road steam vehicles (traction engines, steam rollers), 13 Lorries, 27 cars, 18 motorcycles, 19 bicycles, 1 bus (non passenger carrying), 1 tractor, 2 Fire engines and an Ambulance.  The road steam engines will be based in the Station Yard and all other vehicles will be based up at the Steam Navvy Paddock or in front of the Tramway Depot.  The Friends Display will be operating over the 4 days as usual in the Steam Navvy Paddock.
• Narrow Gauge railway in the Colliery Yard, it is planned for 5 engines to be running – “Hudswell Clarke” (built in 1916), “Lilla” (built in 1891), two “Simplex” and the museum’s very own “Samson.”  A pair of War Department Light Railway (WDLR) wagons and a railway granite wagon is the rolling stock on the narrow gauge railway.  The event sees the opening of the new narrow gauge railway section that runs from the Colliery yard through to Pockerley Tram Stop.

I’ve also updated the relevant GWSF post with some additional photographs: http://46.32.240.35/beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2016/03/great-war-steam-fair/