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Latest News: Archive
November 2003
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Latest News: Archive
November 2003
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Photo: Alan Cooper |
The dedication of the newly-restored Class 101 took place last Saturday. The unit now bears the nameplate "Matthew Smith 1974-2002", after the well-known DMU enthusiast who died last year at the age of 27. Following a buffet lunch for the visitors and speeches from Mr Smith and Pete Clay, the naming ceremony was performed by Helen McDermott from Anglia TV. The photo shows Trust Chairman, Steve Cushion, with Helen and Matthew's family.
By Owen Stratford.
The opportunity presented itself to grease the fishplates between Swanton Road gates and Dereham station. The work was planned so that as we arrived at Norwich Road, it was time for the 11:00 departure of the hauled set so we were able to complete the greasing through main platform as well. We rounded off the day with greasing plates in the yard and through some of the pointwork.
Having arrived by works train at bridge 1676, the p-way gang set about fishplate greasing. As there is no booked Saturday service to cause interruptions, they were able to get as far south as Cavick LC.
A small P-Way work party set about trimming back the vegetation near the summit at Danemoor.
It was the final push southwards from Cavick LC to the MNR boundary with the national network at Wymondham South Junction to finish off fishplate greasing today. Also the opportunity was taken to use the works train to pick up redundant materials at various locations in the southern section as we headed back to Dereham.
The team headed off to the section between Toller's Lane and the Trout Farm to clear back vegetation.
As it was raining heavily all weekend, nobody felt like going out into the cold.
Despite the wet weather, the P-Way gang were able to jack and pack the sleepers between Garvestone and Kimberley Park using the works train. This is essential work to improve ride quality and prevent the joints from dipping.
We spent the day at the Trout Farm burning up all of the debris that had been cut down. Whilst there we also trimmed up some overhanging branches.
By Derrick Plyer.
The Block Shelf in Dereham Central was given its first coat of gloss paint today and was transformed from a battle-scarred and butchered plank of timber into a usable piece of box furniture. It will now be left to mature (like a good cheese!) while the paint hardens. It is quite a heavy beast and might suffer a little in the final manoeuvring when it is shifted upstairs. When it reaches its appointed place above the lever frame and is secured on its supporting brackets, it will be lightly sanded and given a second gloss coat. It still bears a few historical gouges and a couple of key apertures but that's all part of its past and quite acceptable. It will be great to see it carry its first instrument in its current re-incarnation.
3 members turned out to-day and busied themselves on top-coating the green external timbers - the final coat! Good progress was made and culminated with only the rear of the box to be completed. The backs of the stair treads were also treated with Timber Black and then further stripping of the brackets for the Register Desk were undertaken.