Friday 30 April 2010

Burning Hank - Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f1LCimMdhY

This is the music video that was made a few weeks back at Kirkstall Abbey, including some shots of the railway. Look out for me and Druid.

Sunday 25 April 2010

Rainy April day

Today's engine was Atlas, and then it started raining so it was replaced with Druid. On the final trip it was top and tailed with the Lister.
Druid out in the rain about to depart from Bridge Road.
Rain stopped play on a number of outdoor tasks. Vulcan was having some attention to it's electric lights (small cover removed in front of cab side), but this had to stop when it started raining. Here the yard recieves a good drenching.
These tram rails are going for scrap, but first we had to get the concrete off them. This was done with repeated blows from a sledge hammer, and some chiseling with the pneumatic chiesel.






Monday 19 April 2010

Today's loco was Atlas, and it ran well, pulling quite a few full trains.

I took this photo whilst repairing the fence, which some nice person had pulled apart. I also picked up some litter from the lineside, mowed the grass and greased the points.

Some good progress has been made on the O&K's gearbox sump. I think it is mostly complete now, with just the various holes to drill out and painting to complete.



The little Ruston has had some attention to it's engine. It now runs with clear exhaust and seems to have more power available.


Another trailer load of scrap metal has been gathered as well, including the old worn out wheelsets from the Muir Hill







Monday 12 April 2010

Scrap train

I keep mentioning in posts that we have been collecting scrap together to sell, But I have never managed to include a photo of them. Volunteer Justin Bretherick sent me these photos he took while collecting scrap together.

The Lister is the motive power, with the crane wagon and a flat wagon.

I don't even know what this is, but its scrap now!


A wagon load of scrap to be weighed in, to raise funds for other projects.






Sunday 11 April 2010

ALR to be in a music video

Before we started running today, I had some fun helping in the making of a music video for a band called Burning Hank, their myspace page can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/burninghank Basicly what was happening is I had to drive a train towards a girl tied to the track, then the band were to save her, and tie the villian to the front of the train. The director chose Druid to use, it being quite big and looks very 'train-like'. When i arrived some of the none-train scenes were being filmed:

Me, Druid, and Simon, who was playing the Villian and was tied to the front of Druid. Yes they gave me a hat to wear.

Some filming with the train static:

The first few passenger trips were run with Druid, but it was such a nice sunny day it was getting rather too warm for me in the cab, the loco was also feeling the heat, the radiator fan having to run to cool it down. (Usually Druid can run all day without the fan coming on.)
Then I switched to using Atlas, which ran very well and its open cab is a welcome feature in nice weather.
The bottom of the gearbox sump has also been welded onto the rest of it, It needs a lot more welding before it'll be oil tight, but now this part is on there is no more compnents to go on the new gearbox sump, only holes to cut out of it.



Monday 5 April 2010

Easter bank holiday Monday

Today's engine was Odin, and passenger numbers picked up throughout the afternoon, with quite a few full trains.

There was a lot of work done along the lineside, cutting back trees that were getting a bit close to the train. This has further cleared the view around the top corner, which is much better for drivers seeing around the corner.
Also, work has progressed with the new O&K gearbox sump, the edge now being bolted down to the original part and the lid being fettled ready for welding together.



Sunday 4 April 2010

James....

...by his own request!

Gogo tractor videos

Gogo Tractor Triumph!

Today's locomotive was Druid, which ran well all day and took quite a lot of passengers due to the fine weather.

During the day, more scrap has been gathered for weighing in. a fallen tree has been cleared, opening up the visibility around the top corner (see pic below). Some fuel filters have been fitted to the Gogo tractor, which have made it able to run constantly and reliably for the first time ever. After it had been running for a while, it went on the front of the passenger train for a round trip, carrying only volunteers, and was definately the highlight of the day, as seen in the following pictures.

The gogo tractor, in 3rd gear, storming round the newly cleared top curve after the bridge. This photo was impossible before due to there being a fallen tree in this space.

Once we got to the top, since the Gogo tractor was still running well and we had no passengers, we ran it around and coupled it on the other end of the train to haul it back.

When we tried this before, this is about as far as the loco got before it cut out due to dirt in the fuel line. This time it made it all the way, and looked very nice in the late afternoon sun in the process.

This was the consist for the journey back. The gogo tractor has 3 forward gears but only one reverse, so it was painfully slow. The loco then shunted away back into its position at the back of the shed.
We are all very pleased with how well it has run today and I can confidently say it will be working for the next diesel gala in October.