THRELKELD CARRIES ON EXTENDING UNDER LOCKDOWN
Easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions enabled Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum to continue building its quarter-mile extension. The museum deployed its Bagnall 0-4-0ST Works No. 2135 Sir Tom and one of its vintage excavators to shift approximately 1,800 tons of material for the horseshoe curve which currently marks the end of Threlkeld’s running line. Sir Tom’s steaming on June 3 also enabled the museum to assess how the railway could operate as and when restrictions are eased further, although lockdown has forced Threlkeld to cancel its annual steam gala, scheduled for the last weekend of July, but it is planned to return next year. The dry spell at the end of May also provided a window for a start on repainting its coaching stock, with four being completed over three weeks. The remaining two carriages were expected to be painted by the end of June.