(Extracts from Newsletter to Members, March 2001) Our A.G.M. on the last Saturday of February is usually followed on the Sunday by a work party so that those travelling some distance can use the time effectively and make a contribution to the Group effort as well as those who find themselves within easier distances. It also builds on the Group ethic nutured at the A.G.M. the previous day. One of the tasks for the day was the inspection of 33063's traction motors. Two members volunteered to get intimate with our operational Crompton, so, after the loco was duly shutdown and precautions taken, they disappeared beneath the loco for about an hour, providing a unique experience in loco maintainance terms, for one of the volunteers. Apart from the accumulation of dirt, there appeared to be no obvious defects. She was reststarted and performed some manouvers to keep things moving. A healthy locomotive is one which operates frequently. Pictured (above and below) at Shepherdswell on 25th February, 33063 warms up as she sits on the line that once provided the mainline connection for the coal trains on the branch, but is now out of use. (Photos B.Thomas). |
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| We were blessed with bright, February sunshine during the work party on 25th of that month. The weather had contrived nearly all Winter to keep work down to a minimum and had caused some damp problems on the locomotive. |
 The majority of members got involved in the unloding of a vehicle referred to at the railway as the 'elephant van'. Some items were scrapped due to damage or severe deterioration in store but most of the items were tranferred into a smaller van. The said 'elephant van' was moved later to Eythorne and grounded in order for the Railway to develop facilities there. Our shunting loco, 427, received minor attention but was in need of refueling in readyness for the coming season (427 providing one half of the top'n tail on the service trains). The Group treasurer is pictured 'taking 5' during the refueling of 427. The manual process of having to lift and hold the plastic jerrycan (of which there were several) over the tank filler had no bearing on the frequent 5's that were taken, of course! (photo B.Thomas) |