Sunday 23 November 2014

Weekly Progress Report - Shunt the Road Jack!

Another week swiftly passes us by, with much more work done, mostly related to Santa Specials!

The Motive Power Department tasked themselves with shunting the Carriage and Wagon Shed in preparation for Santa Specials, moving lesser used vehicles to the rear and the Santa Wagons and Carraiges to the front in readiness for the weekend - Don't forget! A paintbrush was also deployed on Hibberd 4008 in the regions of the gearbox.

The Permanent Way Department also was in action, checking and packing the branch line before Santa, and also at the top end of our line near Sandy Lane Crossing, moving a very generous load of spoil for the embankment, also laying another panel to allow filling further along our trackbed.

Never a dull moment here at Steeple Grange!

Shunting in Dark Lane Quarry

Hibberd 4008's freshly painted gearbox


Saturday 22 November 2014

Santa Specials 2014 - No Need to Book and Only a Fiver Each!

Once again we see ourselves at Christmas time with our Santa Specials, as usual there is no need to book, just turn up and you will be issued with a boarding card.

Ticket Prices - Adult - £5
                      - Child - £5
                      - Family (2+3) - £20

Hope to see you there!!



Sunday 16 November 2014

Weekly Progress Report - Motion amongst the ranks!

Apologies for the lack of reports over the summer, our IT department has been struggling some what! Here's a round up of what has been happening since the end of our running season a couple of weeks ago.

In the Motive Power Department the big news story is that after 12 months of hard restoration Hibberd 4008 took its first steps under its own power up the steeply graded 1 in 27 incline to Middleton, now the team turns to stopping the locomotive - a huge success for the team! Recently back in service L16 PEGGY has seen regular action along with PETER on Permanent Way Jobs.

In the Permanent Way Department much has been happening. The rear point onto the mainline at Steeplehouse has had work carried out on it to remove a large dip in the middle of the pointwork making it uncomfortable for passengers, this has now been fixed and is much smoother. Recently they have turned their attention to the branch line platform at Steeplehouse, extending it by a further locomotive length.

Until next week, where we continue with endeavours to prepare for Santa!

 
Permanent Way Department at Steeplehouse

Hibberd 4008 Test Train