Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

Forecast was for heavy rain today but it held off. Three jobs - the ongoing replacement of pads on the concrete sleepers, repairs to some ballast retaining sleepers at Iron Bridge and (as we had the Hiab) collection of logs from the work at Podmore Mill. Mince pies kept us going along with some cutting repartee.

 

Not sure if Sheff will agree that his CVR thread includes MCR track.
Work on reinstating the loop at Ipstones has been progressing well over the last month or so and once ballasted should be ready for the steam gala in a months time.
The original loop was lifted many years ago so the old track bed had to be cleared before track laying could commence. This is now almost complete and the pictures below show what has been achieved this week.

 

Ipstones forms part of CVR services so no reasons why not. Keep up the good work guys. We got the Ground Frame completed last weekend, so once you guys have finished there just the South point to go in. will be sprung at first but will have an FPL installed once the platform is restored.

 

Last run up to Ipstones before the loop is commissioned. N7 69621 working quite hard, but with a bit of assistance from the back, approaching Bradnop on Jan 25.

 

It is with great sadness that the CVR has been informed that the last remaining signalman from Leek Brook Junction has died.

Eddie Hambleton, aged 88 years, suffered a heart attack on 13th January and died as a result. Eddie had visited the CVR in recent times, including only last year to inspect the renovation work at 'his' signalbox which has recently been restored courtesy of the Heritage Lottery. The CVR had intended to invite him to reopen the box this coming Easter when the platform renovation is expected to be complete as well, but that was not to be.

Our condolences go out to his friends and family.

 

Nice light load LDA music on that clip. The fireboxes on the steam engines will have to work a lot harder if they do not have such assistance in the future. I wonder if the the higher level of thermal cyclic loading solo working will impose on fireboxes will result in a higher wear and shorter life thus outweighing in the longer term any short term diesel fuel saving the railway will see.

Brian

 

The N7 is limited to 4x Coaches up Cauldon no matter what. In the summer we run with 5/6 coaches so if she's used she will more than likely still have a 33 to help.

 

I've tried my best to compile a Youtube Playlist of the journey from Froghall to Ipstones. Not all locations feature but hopefully it's of interest;

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdJG_U1l3qvDgioyVXKhPIyIfVphc8oFB

 

Nice work Jon, but do you mean Cauldon, not Consall?

 

Kinda, Ipstones seeing as that's where we'll be running to for foreseeable future!

 

Pete Bowers and I have thoughts on doing a DVD of the whole journey including all of Wadebridge from the footplate plus Pete's lineside and journeys on trains. Not going to be out for the gala but perhaps after Easter.

To your playlist you could add


Can't get the youtube link to display - try a search in Youtube for
LBJ to Bridge 5

 

Yeah, we've had a similar discussion though I suggested using either the S160 or TKH as that a home based engine and will be marketable all year round.
Wait and see how things progress.

 

TKH 2871 has arrived on the railway.
Overhaul of 2944 continues, with work on the pipework and the cab currently being the focus of attention.
6046 was having a battery box fitted to power the cab lights that are being fitted. Hoping to have her air pump back next week.
RMB E1878 has been stripped and shotblasted as part of its restoration.
CK M16155 was having some minor faults fixed now the gala has passed and we are back to running 4-coach sets.
One of the BSKs is having a leak in the roof repaired as well which was discovered during the Steam Gala
Brightside has also seen some work undertaken on her engine overhaul too.

 

A poignant moment for CVR, TKH 2944 moved for the first time under her own steam last night (her first movements since 2000)

Video at (should be set for public viewing)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TKH-2944-and-2871-support-group/571723202859477?fref=ts

 

Photographs from yesterdays Education day with 6046 (With air-pump at last) now online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157643015844394/

 

Anyone else see the Standard Tank heading to Stoke on the Webcams earlier...?

 

Today saw the first mainline test runs of CVR's Polish Tkh 0-6-0 2944 “Hotspur”, less than a year after restoration began ......

https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net...949_236785129843642_4196386330035446356_n.jpg

 

Seems someone isn't too happy with the CVR, so much so they've hacked their Twitter account and changed the address, as well as posting links to Trip Advisor. I've emailed the railway so hopefully it'll get sorted soon.

 

Sadly whoever's done it seems to have changed the access passwords, so at present we can't access the account to remove all the postings.
It has been reported to Twitter, but until further notice please ignore the Twitter Account.