Cheers to More Rail Ale Success Latest HLF Update and Photographs
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THE BARROW HILL ENGINE SHED SOCIETY MAGAZINE Summer 2017 Price £2.50 Issue 54 Latest HLF update and photographs See page 6 Cheers to more Rail Ale success See page 14 MORE photos and stories INSIDE... A birthday present for a Peckett see page 30 Naturewatch returns See page 37 OpeningOpening Shot...Shot... A view of the interior of the cafe as the electrics go in. Photo: Glynn Wilton Above: The new cafe is taking shape. Below: A familiar sight - but next to a new entrance. Photos: Alexa Stott CONTENTS Chairman’s Notes 4 Heritage Lottery Fund Update 6 Roundhouse News 10 - Water Tower Refurbishment - New Barrow Hill Facilities Available For Hire - DRS, Colas and GBRf Activities - HNRC Track Replacement Project - Class 33 Maintenance Roundhouse Events 14 - Rail Ale 2017 - Archaeology Weekend - September Relaunch - Autumn & Christmas Events - Social Evenings 2017 Dave Darwin Remembers 24 Historical Corner 26 Steam Locomotive Department Notes 30 Volunteers’ Report 32 From the Collections Team 33 Money Matters 34 Membership Secretary’s report 36 Naturewatch 37 And Finally... 38 Who needs a caption when the photo says it all! Photo: Alexa Stott FRONT COVER: Pupils from Springwell Community College set up a From the Manager The celebrations will continue with official public opening the week scene ready for their film about the Roundhouse. the performances of the specially after. The team here is looking Photo: Grace Escott Tebbutt commissioned “Down the Line” play on forward to showing you round. Welcome to the penultimate the evenings of Thursday 21st, Friday 22nd In 1997 I oversaw the first refurbishment newsletter of 2017. and Saturday 23rd September and the of the Roundhouse after preventing its HAVE YOU GOT A MEMORY For me this is certainly one of the most steam gala on Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd demolition and its entrance into preservation. OF BARROW HILL IN important introductions I’ve ever written for and Sunday 24th September. All starring the Now twenty years on I have the honour one of our newsletters. world famous locos the National Railway STEAM OR DIESEL DAYS? of overseeing its second and more Museum’s Flying Scotsman and Tornado. Do you have photographs of The Heritage Lottery Fund supported comprehensive refurbishment which will see the depot which we could use in improvements are nearly complete and a What a great event this is set to be - its future secured for many more years. future issues of the Newsletter? whole new chapter in the history of the please pass the word around and make Please get in touch with Alexa Stott I’m very proud of everything we have all Roundhouse beckons. plans to attend yourself. by post: Barrow Hill Roundhouse, achieved. A big thank you to everyone who Campbell Drive, Barrow Hill, This new chapter will begin with the Grand But, before all this, we would like has contributed to its success and here’s to Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 2PR. Reopening Gala on Thursday 21st September to invite all BHESS members to the next twenty years! Or email: [email protected] when the Chairman of the Heritage Lottery a preview day on Sunday 17th Mervyn Allcock Fund, Sir Peter Luff, will officially reopen the September from 10.00am to 2.00pm. General Manager Roundhouse and our new entrance building. This will be an opportunity to see September 2017 design print web signs the completed works prior to the 2 3 CHAIRMAN’S NOTES On your behalf, I feel great internal brick and steel work in the roof pride in the way that in the way and the external pointing of the brick work. that Barrow Hill Roundhouse is developing and progressing based This pointing work continues to a very on the work of volunteers, staff high standard with a volunteer work and the Heritage Lottery Fund. force that includes substantial support from Chesterfield College students. What “Those who drink from the well must never the visitors were unable to see was the forget those who dug the well.” excellent progress with developing the new entrance and the structural steel I’ve no idea who first penned these words work going up. but this saying I believe means everything about recognising the hard work, years As we develop our Teaching & Learning of dedication and pretty tough times that A romantic view of the car park at Rail Ale! role as a museum we contributed to the the people in the history of saving the Photo: Nigel Atkinson Festival of Archaeology on Saturday 22nd Roundhouse had to go through so that we and Sunday 23rd July 2017, supporting all can enjoy the fruits of their labour. They learnt about the people who lived in I am delighted to confirm that the HLF Barrow Hill village archaeology. People Barrow Hill and the terraced houses that project is on schedule and we are on came and learnt about the local history For the general public, “Rail Ale 2017” in can no longer be seen. There was also an target for the Grand Reopening, the and archaeology of Barrow Hill. May was the first opportunity to see the opportunity to see ground penetrating highlight of which will be the visit of two building as it was progressing. We received radar being used and investigate what lies icons of steam – A3 60103 Flying Scotsman Children had a go in our sandpit dig and lots of complimentary comments on the beneath the ground. and A1 60163 Tornado. explored the finds from nearby Staveley appearance of the building and visitors were Hall. impressed by the painting/coating of the Also under the Teaching & Learning The four day celebration is taking place initiative we are renovating a “learning from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th Barrow Hill sunset at Rail Ale. coach” including rewiring and removing of September 2017. Photo: Nigel Atkinson rotten parts. For Members of Barrow Hill Engine Shed As part of the Heritage Lottery Society and volunteers there is a special funding we need to generate opportunity to see the Roundhouse, have matched funding and to do this a run through and help practice the launch we would like to encourage any event on 17th September before officially supportive business to become a opening the doors to the general public for Roundhouse Top Link sponsor. a truly special steam gala with visitors able to see for the first time the comprehensive We continue to attract sponsors but sympathetic HLF-funded restoration. and our latest Top Linkers are Mark and Rona Davies from Ringwood Mark Robinson Hall Hotel. We thank them. If Chairman you are intrigued please visit our website for details and the benefits. 4 5 HLF UPDATE PROJECT MANAGER UPDATE In the Roundhouse, the roof steels have all been treated and painted and the walls have also received a coat of paint. The new entrance building is complete and the glazed walls and roof show off upgraded with a new lighting system to the original brick window and arches enhance the exhibitions that will soon just as well as we’d planned. At the adorn the walls. time of writing the kitchen equipment is being fitted. After a final clear up the In the Foreman’s office the three windows new furniture will arrive in time for the have been restored back to their original September relaunch. The blue brick floor Midland Railway style. This area will form of the old eating area has now been re-laid the start of the new visitor interpretation on top of an underfloor heating system. trail around the site. The new exhibitions This will be much warmer on the feet for are nearly complete and will tell the Some handy DIY guides “just in case” The old eating area with its re-laid blue our visitors than the old overhead gas fascinating story of the site as well as the HLF building team run out of ideas! brick floor and new lighting system. powered heating system! Of course our including fun interactives for children. In Photo: Alexa Stott Photo: Alexa Stott coal fires will also be burning again when addition, the new ‘learning coach’ is getting with its new flooring and will soon have As well as the new toilets in the entrance winter arrives. This area has also been ready to host school trips and family days a polish with some lighting and audio extension, the existing Roundhouse toilets equipment for fun activities. have also had a full refurbishment. The new extension is taking shape - the original building can clearly be seen through the glass. In addition to all of this, we have had some Photo: Glynn Wilton volunteers and members of the public join us on our free heritage training days, where they have been trained to repoint the walls of the Roundhouse, joining students from Chesterfield College in learning this fantastic new skill. The refurbishment of the engineering workshop as part of the HLF project has also been completed. It was undertaken by Jon Pridmore and is going to be a very useful asset to the site. On behalf of Barrow Hill Roundhouse Jon will be hosting external workshop training courses as well as training our own volunteers. Newly overhauled windows. Glynn Wilton, Project Manager Photo: Alexa Stott 6 7 HLF UPDATE continued... LEARNING & ACCESS OFFICER fireboxes ready for children to undertake UPDATE the fireman’s challenge. They’ll be painted and ready to go by October. So far, we The relaunch in September will see the have several bookings for schools to school and family learning programme come and experience the Roundhouse. really getting underway. The site will be In September, Brimington Brownies will open to pre-booked school visits during be paying us a visit as our first guests to the week and the normal open weekends experience the new learning programme will resume with more activities for on site.