Steeple Grange Light Railway News Feed: Weekly Progress Report - 14/04/14

There we have it, Easter all done and dusted!

Thursday saw the final test for the new loop, this was a test with a double manrider train made up of ZM32 and Manrider's 104 and 103, it was passed off with flying colours, after being tested to its absolute limits! The double manrider train was then bound for Steeplehouse, where after a quick wash and clean out, was re-shuffled and Manrider's swopped over ready for departure back to the Carriage and Wagon Shed. Thursday also meant the last day for the major work and the minor jobs to be done before the weekend, one on the list was to re-install "dukes platform", the small platform at Sandy Lane where the guard alights to flag the train across the road, a larger platform has been designed and build, this should be a lot more rugged and survive the season.

Ready to depart after a re-shuffle

Testing in the loop

The Easter Weekend started on Easter Saturday, with Greenbat operating with Manrider 103 on the mainline and Peter on the branchline, the day was fine and passenger numbers were steady. Easter Sunday was rather a fight with the weather forecasts, but, none the less, a start in the torrential rain saw ZM32 prepared for traffic, on collection of Manrider 103, the train made its way to the loop where training on how to use it properly was undertaken. After training was given, the train made its way to Steeplehouse where passengers awaited eagerly for the ride up the 1 in 27! The weather forecast turned out to be very wrong, as the sun blazed down, the passenger numbers continued steadyily. As volunteer numbers were in abundance, it was time to errect the marquee out the rear of the engine house which would allow for vehicles to be worked on outside in all conditions. Hibberd 4008 in no time was parked up under it wo allow for remidial work to be carried out on the starter motor which would hopefully turn the engine over without the need of hand cranking the engine.

The Easter Sunday Service

Easter Monday was much better than either of the days beforehand, blessed with a good forecast and scorching temperatures of 17 degrees! The first two train operation was to be tested out as passenger numbers were on the increase. Early on in the morning the vegetation clearance team were laid up in the loop carrying out strimming duties at Sandy Lane to improve site lines. The afternoon saw work carried out on Hibberd 4008 regarding the body panels, the majority on the cab, which would allow it to be placed on and painted, the chassis was also rubbed down and given a coat of protective red oxide. However, ZM32 reared its ugly head on us at the end of today, as the call was given for a stationary train in Killers Dale, unfortunately the service was dead in the water with the locomotive suddenly only firing on 1 cylinder, giving for little power, certainly not enough to push the Manrider up the 1 in 27. ZM32 was brought to Steeplehouse and took out of service, after much investigation and tinkering, the verdict, a blocked diesel filter not allowing fuel to be delivered from the fuel tank to the rest of the engine. After this was finally sorted, it was clocking on 5:00, this locomotive was in need of a test, therefore a banking trip was in order and the loco was tasked with propelling Greenbat and Manrider 103 up to Dark Lane, which after an unblocked fuel pipe, it undertook flawlessly.