Its been a while since I put a news roundup on the blog, and I feel I have neglected it slightly in recent weeks on account of the sheer volume of work to do.  So, here is a synopsis of some of the projects, happenings and activities underway at the moment within the Transport & Industry department…

Below: The contractors have finished work on a new barn at Foulbridge.  At present this is not part of the workshops (maybe one day…!!!) but will be the reception area for new collections as part of our forthcoming drive to increase the date span of what we have at the Museum.

Below: A glance inside the RHEC (regional heritage Engineering Centre) Engineering Shop.  The building is being insulated and panelled out in order to make a rather more conducive environment for working in.  The current focus is on the roof, after which detailing work can be completed in readiness for new power, lighting and some heating to be fitted.  Hopefully we will see this more or less completed by Christmas.  The aim is to run tours of our improved facilities during the GNFoT (Great North Festival of Transport) next April – by which time the areas should be fully functioning and full of interesting projects…

Below: An example of the work carried out by the RHEC Engineer, as Tony very quickly responed to a plead fora  means of keeping wood ddry for the bread oven in the Pit Village with this little shelter.

Below: The team are busy working on the commissioning of the visiting Coronation tram No.304.  A lot of work has centred on the trolley tower, and we are to fit 196’s old base as a temporary exchange with 304’s own.  The first view shows work on the tram inside the depot, whilst the second shows Chris Armstrong, our new engineering technician, overhauling 196’s old base (you may recall that 196 now has its original portugese base fitted, so the one shown is actually a floating spare).

Below:  A rare view of the top of Coffee Pot’s boiler, with smokebox removed.  The blastpipe, with two struts supporting it and blower pipe entering the base is clearly visible.  The smokebox itself will receive a thorough clean and full repaint as part of the winter works.

Below: A peak inside Coffee Pot’s boiler, showing the amazing powers of boiler treatment.  This is after one seasons service, with regular blow downs to remove dissolved solids.  What is clearly visible in the first photo, which is looking up from above the firebox crown, is the watermark indicating the usual parameters of water level within the boiler.  The next view shows the tubes as they enter the firebox crown, the bottom view shows a very clean foundation ring.  Again, the quality of the metal in the tubes is to monitor – vertical boilers being notorious for the effects of continuously uncovered sections of tube.  Further dismantling of the engine will be carried out as we have several mechanical jobs to attend to plus some tidying up of the paintwork to complete before the next time the engine is steamed (probably the February first weekend of the month steaming in 2013).

Below: Our new Fordson E83W – recently collected and currently being prepared for service with the Attendants team.  We will initially remove some of the signwriting, but a fuller repaint will be carried out in due course.

Elsewhere, work continues on the construction of the water tower and coaling stage for Rowley Station, various site works are progressing and preparations of a winter maintenance plan are being developed…