Sunshine and Success! - Weekly Progress Report

The Easter Weekend was a great success and we were blessed with some of the hottest days of 2015, making it even more pleasant. Greenbat and Manrider 103 handled the services to Middleton up the mainline and re-launched Peggy operated on the smaller branch line down into Steeplehouse Quarry.

The Motive Power Department has also had great successes over the weekend, the first being the trial and successful return to working order of ZM32, which has had an oil change in readiness for the summer operating season. Attentions then turned to Manrider 104, which has languished in the Carriage and Wagon Shed all winter, finally breaking away to have its pre-season examination in readiness for operations. It passed successfully and was taken out on a test run coupled with ZM32 as this is its designated partner.

The major success was with Hibberd 4008, the locomotive has had various successes and stoppers with regard to its brake rigging in the last couple of weeks, but finally the brake rigging was fitted and trialled, adjusted and then trialled again. Late on Monday the locomotive left the workshops at Steeplehouse on a solo run up the line, the first time it has moved under its own power in preservation, a major achievement for the team!

A successful weekend all round!

Manrider 104 on the traverser during the exam

Hibberd 4008 passes the service train at Lawson's Loop

The Hibberd 4008 team after the run was complete

Hibberd 4008 on the traverser at the end of the day

ZM32 and the service train pass at Lawson's Loop





Clocking On! - Weekly Progress Report

The clocks have gone forward, the tell tale sign that Easter isn't very far away! In fact its just next week, will you be joining us?

Last Thursday concentrations turned to the continuation of the re-painting of Greenbat, as the paintwork after major overhaul hasn't faired so well, currently the locomotive sports a grey primer livery, and will do until after Easter where the top coat of green can be applied. Other attentions were on the new compressor wagon, which will provide air to our Manrider stock and air tools for permanent way, the vehicle has had the air compressor fitted to the chassis with fittings currently on order ready to turn the vehicle into a useful edition to the fleet, then finally a body will be constructed for the wagon.

Sunday saw a rather wash out day as the clocks went forward ironically to British Summertime. The Motive Power Team carried out remedial shunting movements in preparation for Easter, first releasing Manrider 104 and Manrider 103 which will both most likely called into service at some point in the coming weeks, after re-shuffling our wagon stock currently re-siding in the Carriage and Wagon Shed. In the afternoon as the weather cleared the opportunity was grasped to take Greenbat and Manrider 103 out on test before next weekend and we are safe to say that tests proved successful.

The Passenger Department also dealt with the transport of the display stands needed for the merchandise over the Easter Weekend, these will be put together next weekend and re-stocked ready.

The days are counting down very quickly now into the last week!

Peter in Porter Lane Tunnel after shunting is completed

Manrider 102 after its re-paint

Greenbat and the Manrider at Lawson's Loop

Greenbat part way through its re-paint



Going Loco! - Weekly Progress Report

Last week saw operational locomotives being put back into service ready for the season which starts in just over a week's time.

The Motive Power Department have been under the gun for the last month busily trying to return Greenbat back into service, rigorously testing ZM32 to make sure it is perfect for the operational season, getting L16 Peggy and Peter checked over. Alongside this Lizzie has had its brakes returned and completely restored back to operational services with tests undertaken. Hibberd 4008 is slowly having the brake rigging fitted, adjusted and tried, hopefully this will be in service in the not so distant future.

More preparations for Easter will continue this weekend and into next week!

ZM32 having its chain tensions adjusted

Lizzie having its front brakes attached

Greenbat being trialled

Hibberd 4008 on the edge!



Back on Tracks!! - Weekly Progress Report

Apologies for the lack of progress reports over the last couple of weeks we have been very busy! Although news has been flowing slowly work definitely hasn't, with much to report in the Motive Power Department section and Rolling Stock Section.

In the Motive Power Department we have seen the rise of one locomotive from the depths, with two more following in close pursuit. "HORWICH" ZM32 threw a major challenge at us at Christmas just after the Santa Specials whereby Forward or Reverse drive wasn't able to be selected, deeming the locomotive out of service with an unknown return to service date. Within the first couple of weeks the problem was sourced and over the last couple of months a solution as to how the problem was to be dealt with was weighed up, finally last week after many different new parts being manufactured the locomotive moved under its own power for the first time. Battery electric locomotive "GREENBAT" had its running gear returned as well last week which had been away in Chesterfield at Dorlec for motor cleaning, now back on its wheels all that remains to get the locomotive wired back up again and the battery box returned to the locomotive. The last locomotive which has come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of weeks is Hibberd 4008 "ULLR", which currently is awaiting its new brake rigging to be manufactured, this all be and well should be fitted next weekend and the locomotive run on its own for the first time in 42 years. Bumbling along in the background is Lister Hybrid "LIZZIE" which is currently having its brake rigging and blocks seen to, new ones recently cast with only the hanger bars awaiting manufacture before it can all go back together and form one of the operational fleet again.

In the rolling stock corner one of the large 16 seat passenger carrying vehicles "MANRIDER 103" had its examination ready for the running season, "MANRIDER 104" remains to have its done at a later date. Another vehicle taking great strides at the moment is the compressor wagon, this vehicle will provide an independent air brake system for our larger man riders and for works trains. Another of our smaller passenger carrying vehicles "MANRIDER 102" has had a significant amount of new metal welded in and a full repaint done ready for Easter.

With Easter fast approaching the countdown is on!

"HORWICH" ZM32 on the traverser at Steeplehouse

Hibberd 4008 stands in the sunshine.

The compressor wagon in construction.

GREENBAT's motor back in the loco.



Weekly Progress Report - Back On Tracks!

Another great day's progress up at Steeple Grange with many different teams on site undertaking various tasks around the railway.

In the Motive Power Department work continued on Hibberd 4008, first removing the fuel pump for transport to Key Diesels at Burton Upon Trent for refurbishment, then it was hauled outside and onto the traverser for the brake rigging to be marked up ready for altering, finally ending up fitting a fuel filter to the newly installed tank and then a general tidy up of parts.

In the Rolling Stock Department Manrider 102 receives remedial work removing and replacing corroded tubing sections before its cosmetic restoration starts. Another piece of stock that was shunted out today is the MetroBug in order for its modification to start.

The Permanent Way Team tackled the line into the container at the back of the Engine Shed, moving the track across in order to allow some of our wider items of rolling stock and locomotives to be stored in there.

To continue with another week of progress at Steeple Grange.

Brake Rigging on Hibberd 4008

Fixing the track back down in the container

Hibberd 4008 in the sun

MetroBug is transported to Steeplehouse.



Weekly Progress Report - Covered Up

An overview of last week's progress!

Permanent Way were in action last Thursday doing the tedious but vital job of clearing the line of leaves which accumulate and make the track conditions treacherous. Thursday also saw the picking up of Greenbat's motor for transport to Dorlec in Chesterfield who will refurbish the motor ready for the 2015 operational season.

Sunday saw the Motive Power Department back in action on Hibberd 4008, manufacturing more parts for the cab, this time to cover up the Gearbox which protrudes into the cabin area and also measuring up the brake rigging ready for turning down from 2 foot gauge to 18 inch gauge. Greenbat was also having work completed on it this time the re-installation of the compressor which was removed for maintenance whilst the motor and gearboxes were out of the way at Dorlec. ZM32 received an overview by a potential lead to getting back on the mend as well.

 

Hibberd 4008's original brake rigging

All up in the air!



Weekly Progress Report - Going Loco!

At this point in the year work on our main parts of the railway (the track and motive power) picks up quite a pace and with Greenbat in pieces ready for the major part the rolling chassis going away for refurbishment at Dorlec Ltd in Chesterfield next week sparked other works on the locomotive to be undertaken.

In other news, work on Hibberd 4008 can also be reported as the cab's wooden interior starts to be manufactured and installed, alongside work on the engine in the shape of a new larger fuel tank which will allow for a much longer endurance needed at Steeple Grange.

Excellent progress in only the start of what will surely be a challenging year!

Rolling Chassis on Greenbat outside in the open

Hibberd 4008 in the back of the workshop at Steeplehouse

Starting on the Gearbox Cover on Hibberd 4008



End of Season & Santa Specials 2014 !

     The weekend dawned cold and frosty and in sparkling sunshine the Santa Express propelled even more happy visitors up to the Grotto to see Father Christmas than last year. The Sunday was not quite as sunny but just as many people came to see him. Many were SGLR regulars but more were first time visitors to our Christmas activities. Suffice to say we should have even more repeat trade next time and the proceeds of it all are going to be greatly needed in the near future.


Santa Special Train returning to collect next group of visitors.

 

tidying up afterwards
 



 

 

preparing for the weekend

 

The final week at the railway saw the usual group of volunteers sorting and drying out the equipment before storage for next year and the removal of the rear screen ready for the engine house to assume it's role as workshop in the new year.