RocksbyRail volunteers relay running line during lockdown
ROCKSbyRail: TheLiving Ironstone Museumhas liftedandrelaidmuchof its main running line despitetheCovid- 19 lockdown
At the end of last season, the decision wasmade to liftmore than half of the main line at the venue formerly known as the Rutland Railway Museum and relay it.
When the track was first laid around 40 years ago, a lack of resources meant therewas no real sub- base, and any repairs or realignment would have been short- term fixes only.
Agenerous donation of more than 200 tons of ballast meant the work could be completed to a far higher standard than would otherwise have been possible.
A target date of the first weekend of April was set, but the exceptionally wet weather over the winter slowed work down substantially. Around 170 yards of new drainage was installed to help todry out the worksite, which contributed to the delays.
When the lockdown was imposed the museum was closed to the public, with most volunteers deciding it was safer for them to stay away – but a skeleton crew continued. The work was not suspended, but continued at amuch slower pace.
There have beenonly four or five people on the Cottesmore site at any one time, and with 19 acres to work in, social distancing has not been an issue. By June, more than half the track had been laid, with a new completion target date pencilled in for July 15.
Other work carried out over the winter has included general maintenance onBarclay 0- 4- 0STs No. 1931 of 1928 and No. 2088 of 1940 Sir Thomas Royden to prepare them for what remains of the summer season.
Motivepower update
Furthermore, the overhaul of Fowler
0- 4- 0DHNo. 4220007 of 1960Ketton
No. 1 hasreachedthe pointwhereit is mechanically complete, butpaintinghas stalledat theprimingstage.
Theoverhaul is the pet project oftwo volunteers, both under 16, aspartof theirDuke ofEdinburghAwardScheme, with theirworkhavingbeensupervised byEric Bussey, oneof the site’s longest servingmembers.
Both youngsters arekeentorestart theirwork, andsee their efforts rewarded whenKettonNo. 1 returnstoserviceon theQuarryTrains.
Privately owned Peckett 0- 4- 0ST No. 1759 of 1928 Elizabeth is reaching the end of a long overhaul, which may be completed this year, but will likely be ready for 2021.
It originally worked at the Mountsorrel granite quarries and has been at the museum since 1978.
Limited works trains have been in use over the winter and spring periods, handled by Rolls Royce Sentinel 0- 4- 0DH No. 10204 of 1965 Jean or the Industrial Diesel& Railway Preservation Group’s Yorkshire Engine Company 0- 6- 0DE No. 1382 ( No. 2872 of 1965), which arrivedon site inMay 2019 after a full restoration.
No. 1382 spentmost of its working life at ColsterworthMines, and when it closed moved to the Scunthorpe Steelworks’Normanby ParkWorks site until that was closed in the 1990s.
The type, producedbyYEC between 1956- 65, was nicknamed the‘ Half Janus’because it had half the power and body of the manufacturer’s Janus type, which has twobonnets, and the‘ Half Janus’one. In turn, the Janus type took its name from the two- faced god Janus.
Reopening preparations
Themuseum’s passenger stock, which is comprisedofbrake vans, hasbeen repainted, withtheoperationalhoppers andironore tipplers having also beenserviced.
In preparation for a potential reopening, the trustees and management have beenworking on a traffic flowsystemto ease any bottlenecks and pinch points to comply with social distancing measures, and to aid the flowof visitors to the 18- acre site, most of which is outdoors.