Weekend update

A very mixed weekend up the hill at Whitrope, weather-wise. The Saturday saw pleasant Autumnal sunshine and the Sunday low cloud and steady drizzle. Still a good turn out of volunteers over the weekend saw steady progress made on a number of fronts.

Joe was up and has planted some more fence posts along the line from the platform to the level crossing. He also undertook some fairly substantial work on the drains at the bottom of the access path from the car park.

The Ruston received a bit of a touch up to her paintwork from Tom. She was also used to carry out some short driver training practice sessions. Giving her a welcome chance to stretch her legs.

Jim and Andy Lee were up on Sunday to help unload the level crossing gates and we formed a small track gang while we waited for Tony Cormack. We managed to get another panel of the run round loop gauged and bolted up, so there is less of the line now that is laid to Irish gauge!

As we stopped for some lunch Tony Cormack arrived with the level crossing gates, so with help from Joe and Paul Brennock these were unloaded. Thank you to Tony who travelled all the way to Essex (including an extensive tour of several country lanes?) to collect the gates. The society now has a full set of crossing gates and gate posts. Can I also thank Craig for leaping in on e-bay and initially purchasing them.

Tony also delivered some materials for the track relying across the level crossing, thanks to the 77021 Locomotive Group, for the rapid supply of the required items.

Just to finish by flagging up the three day works weekend of the 18^th to the 20^th when we have our last really big push of the year to get the main running line re-laid through the level crossing. It is also the AGM on the Sunday afternoon at Hermitage Village Hall

Another panel of the run-round loop gauged and bolted up.

Joe in his natural environment, happily working away on the drain next to the access path from the car park.

The level crossing gates newly arrived from Essex.

The gate posts for the crossing gates, all fairly substantial as the crew that lifted them off Tony’s lorry can testify

The recently dug out drain along the bay platform working well in the wet conditions.

Whitrope back to its normal Autumnal appearance, after a couple of weekends of pleasant sunshine.