The R&ER Magazine Number 223 December 2016 The Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society The R&ER Magazine No.223 Editorial December 2016 Keith Herbert Anyone holding their breath over the last decade or two for a new museum, Published quarterly by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway construction of which hinges on the transfer of a tiny strip of land from Network Preservation Society Limited Rail to the R&ER, can exhale at last; the transfer has been completed and building Member of the Heritage Railway Association may begin. This Phase II of the museum project will increase the footprint Editorial Team: Keith Herbert, Di Chase, Bill Seddon, Opinions expressed by contributors and beyond what was achieved in Phase I, creating more covered space for the Mark Harrington, John Taylor in editorial comment do not necessarily housing and displaying of historic or interesting locomotives and rolling stock. Editorial Designer: Julie Hutchinson reflect the collective views of the Society. Project manager David Rounce shares the news in his regular feature on page 16. The R&ER Magazine is always pleased to receive correspondence, photographs and articles for possible PRESS DEADLINE: Material for inclusion Elsewhere in this issue, we have updates on Katie and the Train From Spain, inclusion. Most nowadays arrive via our e-mail address, in the next issue of the Magazine must work on which is coming on apace now. River Esk, too, moves ever nearer to but postal contributions remain welcome. Please reach the editors not later than completion, as Nigel Day reveals on page 14. Problems out on the track owing to include a name and contact address with any prints. Thursday 19th January at noon. Scanning facilities are available. Please send material earlier if possible. extremes of weather have been overcome by David Moseley and team, and there are lots of events in the planning for 2017 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Society website: http://www.rerps.co.uk River Mite and the inauguration of No.8457 – the opportunity to choose a name for which has arrived (details on page 19). On the volunteering front, some ten Council Chairman: Sam Dixon, 17 Woodlands, Great Corby, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 8LX. guards have been passed out this season, with more still in training (putting us Email: [email protected] roughly on par with the twelve passed out last year), and words of encouragement Hon. Secretary: Mungo Stacy, 34 Mayfield Road, Manchester M16 8EU. to would-be volunteers are offered in this edition by, among others, Sales Officer Email: [email protected] Terry Williams, who is making strides in that area, with new lines available for Hon. Financial Secretary: David Lees, 31 Water Street, Ribchester, Preston, Lancashire PR3 3YJ. the discerning customer! We also welcome Assistant General Manager Martin Email: [email protected] Cookman, who presents the News from Ravenglass in a very thorough update to Hon. Membership Secretary: Sarah Bennett, 2 Stanley Villas, Drigg Road, Seascale, CA20 1NW. the readership. Email: [email protected] (1-1299 and 2500-3999) There is also an increasingly rare update on workshop activities – a Christmas Assistant Membership Secretary: Jim Wilcock, ‘Porthlow’, Neston Road, Ness, Neston CH64 4AZ. treat for readers – and a strong reminder of our continuing struggle for motive Email: [email protected] (1300-2499) power in the Traffic News. Although it has not run trouble-free,Typhoon has Sales Officer: Terry Williams, 88 Bluestone Road, Moston, Manchester M40 9HY. provided invaluable support to the Ratty this season, the third member of the Email: [email protected] Romney fleet to do so in the last four years. Its Romney stablemate,Green Magazine Distributor: Cumbria Mailing Services Ltd. Penrith, CA11 9FQ. Goddess, suffered damage in an horrific collision with a tractor on an occupation Heywood House Bookings: Mary Harding. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01229 717080. crossing over the summer, and will spend quite some time out of traffic. As members of this great narrow gauge fraternity we must be thankful that nobody Volunteers: Peter Mills. Email: [email protected] was seriously injured, and offer our very best wishes to all at the RH&DR as a General Manager: Trevor Stockton, R&ER Co. Ltd. Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW. Tel: 01229 717171. mark of gratitude for the help they have given to the R&ER when perhaps we Editor: Keith Herbert, 7 Dalegarth Cottages, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria CA19 1TF have not always been easy to accommodate. Email: [email protected] All of this helps to illustrate and underline once again the importance to us of having another working steam locomotive or few of our own. The Train Train From Spain Appeal website: TRAIN FROM SPAIN.ORG From Spain Appeal and the River Mite Maintenance Fund remain very much Donations: Andy Cruickshank, 11 Townfield Close, Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SL open for business, and for anyone who feels strongly enough about it I am Email: [email protected] sure the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Association’s Special Projects Fund would also welcome support to maintain the locomotives it has been our Front Cover: River Mite passes through Little Cutting during a wintry-looking privilege to operate. April 2015. Photo: Christopher Glover 2 3 News from Ravenglass Due to losing the Irt from traffic, the railway management team met and a Martin Cookman decision was taken to request hiring in a Romney loco to strengthen the fleet for the summer season. Typhoon arrived at the end of July, has worked two months, travelled 1,730 miles and been invaluable. We cannot thank the team Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. at the RH&DR enough for coming to the rescue and helping us make it through Although generally we have had a period of good operating days, unfortunately another season. the summer season never seemed really to get going for us. Operationally, the Extreme weather conditions (not our friend Typhoon!) hit the railway on the railway with its team has performed well; personnel have stayed buoyant and 22nd August causing us to lose an operating day. A severe storm caused a torrent enthusiastic which is a credit to them in the face of lower than expected visitor of water to come off the fell in the Mill Wood area, blocking the storm drain numbers. culvert and placing debris over the line. In the area of Hollin How we had a tarn Most advertised services have been fulfilled, but some steam-hauled trains break its bank and knock a dry stone wall over, washing it on to the railway line. have had to be replaced by diesel due to motive power constraints, following An unprecedented situation which took a lot of clearing up, it’s a credit to all unforeseen damage to locomotives in service. We are now taking the opportunity involved that we only lost the one day. through October and November to repair the fleet and have everything ready Northern Rock was withdrawn from traffic duties on 15th September with what for the usual busy Santa Season. appeared to be worn rear truck suspension. It has undergone repairs in the In July River Irt suffered a trailing truck spring failure in traffic, causing a workshop, returning to traffic on 23rd October, following testing the previous day. considerable amount of repair work to be undertaken just as we hit the high On 19th September River Mite struck a boulder in the centre of the line at the 3 summer service. The locomotive was repaired, tested and passed fit for traffic mile post area. This caused the front truck of the loco to derail and numerous on 25th August and entered traffic again on the 28th August. parts of the loco’s brake gear to be broken. No-one was hurt and the train came to a safe stand; an evacuation was carried out, followed by repairs and recovery. This meant the railway was operational again three hours later with the cancellation of only a few trains. We had been instructed to carry out an internal investigation, so we took the decision to ask Green Dragon Rail to undertake this for us. Due to the current workload, we felt it unrealistic for the team at Ravenglass to conduct and prepare this report, along with concentrating on repair works. River Mite is awaiting workshop time for repair. During the summer season Synolda was in steam on Tuesdays, giving rides along the engineers’ siding. This was designed to promote the museum project, and was very popular. The museum team also attended Eskdale Show on Saturday 24th September, taking Synolda on a trailer (thanks to Stan Wilson). Although a static exhibit, Synolda attracted a good deal of attention and raised awareness of the museum project, as well as the Train From Spain and the railway in general, and roughly £30 in donations were taken. The show’s organisers have expressed interest in our attendance next year, and we are hoping to take Katie or Quarryman. Around Ravenglass external wood repairs have taken place prior to the painting of both camping coaches. Scaffolding has been erected around the old BR signal box with a view to repairs and painting commencing over the winter period. On the permanent way David has been working hard in preparation for the winter repair programme. We are expecting to take delivery of sleepers and th On 24 August Typhoon drops down towards Hollin How bridge. fittings soon, so if you were unable to join us for the November Track Week Photo: Ian Pilkington please consider helping during January.