SINGLE LINES
■ WEST Lancashire Light Railway’s (WLLR) September 24 Working engines event (which focuses on diesel, petrol and electric locomotives) featured 13 of the WLLR’s collection of over 20 locos in this category in action hauling freight trains up and down the main line between normal passenger services, which were worked by Hunslet 0-4-0ST Irish Mail.
■ THE Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s ex-Bowaters paper railway bogie dropside ballast wagon No. 610 returned to Llanfair on October 19 following refurbishment by Alan Keef Ltd, which had previously refurbished the similar exBowaters wagon No. 631.
No. 631 is vacuum fitted while No. 610 is through piped.
■ THE private Richmond Light Railway in Kent is developing a signalling and control system upgrade at its Richmond station. This includes installation of electric point motors in the station and engine shed area, new approach signals, a replacement signal setup for the branch line and construction of a signalbox to house a refurbished lever frame and the electric control system.
■ THIS winter’s Ffestiniog Railway work programme includes replacement of the 40-year-old water tank at Harbour station, with a likefor-like tank to be made by Caernarfon-based contractor Brunswick Ironworks.
■ Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway commenced reconstruction of the sleeper-built platform at Sittingbourne Viaduct station in late October. The rebuilding will both raise and lengthen the platform.
■ Glyn Valley Tramway Trust’s ex-RNAD box van, converted to the appearance of a Glyn Valley Tramway (GVT) van some time ago, returned to Chirk on November 1 following regauging from 2ft 6in to 2ft 3ins; the gauge now adopted for the revival of a section of the GVT at Chirk station.
■ The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway had to restrict services to the section between Llanfair Caereinion and Sylfaen on November 2 following a motor vehicle accident prior to the start of the day's services. A car left the A458 road on the Welshpool side of Sylfaen summit, crashed across the field, railway and down the hill into woodland. The track and lineside fencing required repairs before services could resume.