Northampton and Lamport

The floors are in varied condition. Some are ok, others are totally rotten! Yes, they're nice, relatively simple wagons without any challenging bits, like doors, etc. I think the brakes (vacuum cylinders) are probably going to be the most complicated bit on the majority of them.

The Project has received a great early boost, with £500 from Bloor Homes and £500 from Brixworth Parish Council. The fundraising page (see above) is open for anyone that would like to make a donation.

 

NLR Summer Gala News
The NLR Summer Gala is on over the whole of the August Bank Holiday Weekend (27th-29th).
Special guest loco - GWR Prairie No.5553!
Resident locos 'Swanscombe No.4', 31289 and 47205 all in action too.
First public appearance of the first restored Ironstone Train Project tippler wagons.
Intensive timetable with a mix of passenger and demonstration freight trains
Shed tours (Saturday only)
Demonstration freight to Boughton (Sunday only - to Pitsford Sidings on Sat and Mon)
Fun for all the family - kids rides, fete games, vintage vehicles, BBQ, ice cream van
Kids for a Quid train rides on the Saturday (ONLY)

Put the date in your diaries!

 

Has there been any progress on 3862 and Bickmarsh Hall recently?

3862s website seems to have not been updated for a long time and Bickmarsh Hall seemed to have quite an active page which had now gone very quiet?

Regards

Chris

 

I think any work generally occurs off site (restoring and machining parts, etc.), so I couldn't tell you about progress, I'm afraid.

 

Good to see the Ironstone wagons in action (on a video in the Gala section). The station at Brampton looks good and there will be a lot of new houses getting closer so the NLR looks set for a healthy future - well done.

 

I had a look around the dismantled parts of 3862 and 5967 during the weekend gala and it wasn't apparent what progress has been made. It's a long time since I last visited the railway and both look at first glance to be unrestored wheeled chassis with removed boilers. 5967's boiler has front tube plate removed. GWR Collet 4000g tender number 2598 (3862) is parked to the south of the main station and seen from the train.

 

Some (belated) photos from our Aug Bank Holiday Gala

 

Boughton Extension
Just prior to the Gala the Tipplers were used to transport earth from a large bund at Pitsford and Brampton Station (being removed to make space for a future permanent station building) to Boughton to fill in behind the platform.
It was great seeing the Tipplers being used for their intended purpose!

Elsewhere, working is progressing on the installation of the package treatment plant for the station (required as a mains sewer connection was unviable)

The first running-in board has also since been installed

 

Impressive to see working/loaded tipplers! We have thought many times about loading some of our Windcutter wagons ... but with the present cost of coal it is a none starter! Even with a high false floor .

 

A few old pallets, a layer of old plywood, some spent ballast, builder's adhesive and a spray over with black paint and you are done!

 

Ironstone Train Project

We are very excited to announce that the NLR’s Ironstone Train Project has been nominated for the coveted Steam Railway magazine award at the 2023 Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards!
This nomination is a brilliant surprise and fantastic acknowledgement of the vision and efforts of our wonderful volunteers.
The Steam Railway magazine award is the only category at the HRA Awards voted for by the public.

Please support us by voting today at: https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/read/hra-awards
Voting closes at 11:59pm on Thursday 2nd Feb 2023.

 

The Northampton and Lamport January has had quite a whirlwind January!

Bridge 13: Timbers Appeal

Back in early January, we launched an appeal to urgently raise £8,500 to purchase some essential (and very large) bridge timbers. The existing timbers had deteriorated to the point that safety could be compromised, and so the precautionary decision was taken to close part of our line until they were replaced.

We had a fantastic response and managed to hit the fundraising target in exactly 2 weeks! Contributions included: over £2,600 donated by the public via a dedicated GoFundMe page; a £4,250 grant from The Eric Stanton Northampton Trust, and 2 large private donations.

This has meant that the timbers can be ordered immediately, and the work will (hopefully) be fully complete (and the full line re-open) before our 2023 Season opening on Sun 19th March (Mother’s Day).

New Steam Loco

Immediately following on from the appeal success, we have been able to announce that Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST loco No.3193 is to make a permanent move to the Northampton and Lamport Railway!

Previously based at Bressingham Steam Museum in Norfolk, the loco made a short visit to the NLR for our Summer Gala in 2021.

3193’s arrival will give the NLR two resident working steam locos for the first time in over 20 years! Having 2 locos will take some of the strain from current resident 0-4-0ST ‘Swanscombe No.4’ and provide a back-up engine to ensure steam services are provided as advertised.

3193 will arrive sometime in February and will undergo its annual boiler exam in March, before entering service.

The loco has approximately 6 years left on its current boiler certificate and has been purchased by Northampton Steam Railway Ltd.

 

Bridge 13: Timbers Appeal

Today we took delivery of the 4 large specialist timbers purchased with funds raised during our January appeal.
Work to replace the most urgent timbers (and allow the bridge to re-open) is scheduled for early March.

 

Perhaps somebody needs to produce a batch of 1:1 scale loads like the old Airfix mineral wagon kits had - after all standard 16T mineral wagons are the same size?

 

This coming weekend is the NLR's Summer Gala

There will be 3 days of intensive action, with at least 2 locos in service each day!

Sat 26th – 2 steam locos (3193 and No.4) running passenger trains PLUS additional brake van rides (brake van rides at no extra cost).

Sun 27th & Mon 28th – 2 steam locos plus heritage diesel traction, alternating duties between passenger trains and demonstration freight trains (including the iron ore tipplers).

All 3 days – passenger trains run every hour – 10am-3pm

Buffet open throughout, serving delicious freshly prepared hot and cold food, snacks, drinks and ice lollies.
‍ Accessibility compartment for wheelchair users on each train. See the Accessibility page on our website for full details.
On-site bar
Allchin (Northampton-built) traction engine steaming
Souvenir shop
Free parking

Discount advance tickets available via our website: https://nlr.digitickets.co.uk/category/39109

 

Boughton Extension Update
On Tuesday 19th Dec we received an early Christmas present from the Secretary of State for Transport...
...confirmation that the Transport and Works Act Order for our southern extension to Boughton has been made!
Thankfully, the Order was totally unopposed, with no objections or representations at all.

This is one of the last remaining obstacles now ticked off the list before our planned 'Grand Opening' of the extension on 30th March 2024

A huge amount of work went on behind the scenes to get the Order submission ready, and we'd like to sincerely thank all our volunteers who were involved in that process.

Elsewhere, work on installing all the mechanical inter-locking to Boughton signal box has now been completed, and just awaits testing before it can be fully commissioned.
There are a few other, relatively minor, jobs to complete prior to opening the extension, but everything is on-course for March 30th!

Onwards and upwards...2024 here we come!

 

Brilliant news - such a happy little set up, quietly getting on with things under the radar.

 

Official opening of the Boughton Extension is on Sat 30th March!

In the morning there will be an official opening ceremony for invited guests only. Public trains will then start at 12pm.
Trains will depart Pitsford & Brampton on the hour, and depart Boughton on the half hour. Last return train from Pitsford will depart 3pm.
The Ironstone Train will also be running between each passenger service, with locos swapping roles throughout the day.
Visitors should please arrive to Pitsford & Brampton, as the railway has no dedicated parking at Boughton.
Full details and advance tickets will be released soon.

Sun 31st and Mon 1st will then be the annual Easter Egg Specials event.

 

Official opening of the Boughton Extension is less than 3 weeks away (Sat 30th March)!

First public train departs Pitsford & Brampton at 12pm, and then at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Last return train departs Boughton at 3:30pm.
Tickets available to buy online now at: https://nlr.digitickets.co.uk/category/53922
Tickets can also be purchased on the day.
The Ironstone Train will be running between each passenger service, with locos swapping roles throughout the day.
Visitors should please arrive to Pitsford & Brampton, as the railway has no dedicated parking at Boughton.

 

PLEASE NOTE* Unfortunately, the Ironstone Train will NOT now be running on the opening day. This is because one of our brake vans is still out of service for repairs, and will not be ready in time.
With only one brake van available, marshalling the wagons at either end to travel in alternate directions will place too much of a constraint on the passenger timetable.
However, we will instead be offering brake van rides (using the one available brake van, for a modest donation), which will operate in between each of the main passenger services. The brake van rides offer the unique opportunity to ride through Boughton loop to access the most southern end of the main platform.
The last brake van ride will depart Pitsford & Brampton at 3:15pm, but returns before the last passenger train departs Boughton.
Apologies for any disappointment.