NetworkRailvolunteerscarryout essentiarl epairsat WicksteedPark
WICKSTEECDharitableTrust, ownersofWicksteedPark,near Kettering,hasfoundeda new companycalledWicksteed TradingLtdto takeoverrunning the parkand its attractions.
Thisfollowsthe previous operatingcompanyWicksteed ParkLtd havingfallen into administrationwhile the park wasclosedamidthe Covid-19 lockdown.
Around20 volunteersfrom NetworkRailansweredthe trust's callfor helpto preparethe railway for a resumptionof operating, with the group undertaking essentiatlrackrepairand maintenancework in late-July.
Thiseffort wasorganisedby Ben Darling,NetworkRaildistribution and plantsectionmanagerfor the EastMidlandsroute,who livesin Kettering.
Theattractionsincludea 2ft-gaugerailway,whichforms a lengthycircuitaroundthe groundsand a lake.
Sinceopeningin 1931its motivepowerhasbeen steam-outlinedieselsa, lthough from 2005-2011annualSteam in the Parkweekendsf,eaturing visitingsteamlocomotives, significantlyraisedthe enthusiast profileof the line.
■ 1863 MountaineerLocomotiveLtd to financethe wheelsand axlesfor replicaFfestiniog RailwayGeorgeEngland 0-4-0TTMountaineerhas achievedits target,and the requiredsteelhasbeen ordered.
■ RAVENGLA&SSEskdale Railway'snew 14-seaFt irst Classobservationcarriage enteredservicewhenthe line reopenedon July30. It wasconstructeda year agoat FfestiniogRailway's BostonLodgeworks,and iseffectivelya 1Sin-gauge versionof the newluxury observationcarsGlaslynand Gwyrfai,introducedon the Ffestiniog&WelshHighland Railwayin recentyearsT. he FfestiniogRailwayhasstarted constructionof what will be a seriesof new standard ThirdClass alooncarriages for R&ERb,eingbuilt under an ESIFEuropean-funded carriagedevelopment project.
■ FFESTINIORGailway HeritageGroupis providing up to £9,000towards productionof new slate wagonwheelsfor the fleet of wagonsbeingrestoredby the WagonTracksteam.The cashwill providenew'curly spokew' heelsetsto enable four wagonsto returnto the demonstrationgravitytrain, wheelsetsfor granitewagons beingrestoredat Beamish, anda pairof cruciform spokedwheelsfor a second replicainside-bearingslate wagon.Thewheelswill be producedat BostonLodge.