A Busy Day!

It’s been a busy day today.  First was a trip from near Derby to Old Dalby in Leicestershire.  Someone just entered the destination in the sat nav and followed it, to Old Station Road, which suggested a station on the former Midland line from Melton Mowbray to Nottingham, Alas, it was a tiny lane with a few cottages, my destination was 20 minutes back, I had passed close to it.  Some mothers do ‘ave ’em!  Rob of Metal World was ready for me, with the cab footsteps.  Nicely contoured welding mimics the shape of the original castings.  Their swept back shape makes for a very big back plate.  We soon had them in the back of my car, with a line round them to hold them against sudden braking, but they would still be lethal in a collision.

It was then over to Crewe, arriving at about 1pm.  Gordon Heddon, their chairman, appeared and soon recruited willing hands to help unload the steps, and put them under the loco pending a return visit to fit them and give them a lick of paint.  There was a new information board to put on the back of the locomotive so visitors see it as they enter the building.  The original idea was to put it on the buffer beam, but that is close to the wall so wouldn’t be so prominent.  Sara Povey’s framed picture of No 1777 Widgeon was added, with a sheet explaining its history and the supply of leaflets was replenished.

The information board is not too clear in the picture, so if you want to view it as a pdf use this link: https://app.box.com/s/dcoxi4q2sf4w8nrm69qc73z67hp804mk .  You will need to view just one part at a time.

It was then off to Derby to meeting with Alistair Leach of Ricardo.  A few outstanding points regarding the motion plate and frame stretcher documentation were cleared up, so we hope to order these in the coming week.

On Saturday we will be at Kidderminster SVR, and giving a talk in the Old Nursery at 3pm.  Please come if you can, but rest assured there will be a report early next week