Wirksworth Away Day

Bellerophon is currently on her travels again at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at Wirksworth and I had a couple of days there this last weekend, one as a paying visitor and one with Bellerophon.
It was an interesting operation as they currently have no way of running round trains at Idridghay, the current limit of passenger operation so trains were propelled by Bellerophon the 3.5 miles from Wirksworth with an ex-LMS inspection saloon leading and alternating was a 2 car Metropolitan Cammell DMU in BR blue. The return from Idridghay was a steady pull all the way back at an average of roughly 1 in 225 which Bellerophon took in her stride, even on the Sunday when the two coach train was strengthened to three using a DMU driving trailer. Meanwhile the newly restored Barclay No.3 was merrily clumping its way up the incline to Ravenstor every 25 minutes or so propelling a Bubble Car and this was interspersed with the ex-test car IRIS taking over when the Barclay needed water.
Belle is going to need a couple of remedial repairs and a boiler inspection when she returns to Foxfield which is going to be tight with the Victorian Weekend in the offing at the end of August but hopefully there will be no new surprises so she should be back in action at Foxfield then.

Hot on the Heels....

The highly successful Summer Steam Gala has just happened, and for those who missed out we had 6 locos trundling about all weekend with the addition of Whiston for a trip on both Saturday and Sunday and Dubs managed to potter up and down the loop at Caverswall Road on the Sunday (albeit missing drain cocks and other minor items, like a chain and hook!). Plenty of photos and videos to be found around and about but here is a link to the first part of PMV's video and an online gallery from the gala here.

Following on from this the information below has been posted on one of the online railway forums:

"Hot on the heels of the Summer Gala, we have our Autumn gala to get going.

So as this is a new event it must have NEW attractions and as the summer gala has winning formula we feel the need to offer something different at the Autumn event.

So this is your chance to get involved and help us to plan and run a gala.

Everyone who contributes will be entered into a PRIZE draw in mid October with the winner receiving a weekend gala pass!

So to start it of, we plan to operate up to 5/6 steam engines, offer full line freights throughout, offer brake van rides, driver for a fiver, evening photo shoots, shunting demos at all parts of the line including Dilhorne Park. Banking and double heading of different combinations over the weekend.

So that's to start it, let's here your thoughts...

By the way no visiting engine THIS year (unless it free and the low loader is sponsored...)

Rich

Co-event organiser"

Watch out for more news as it happens!

4 go mad in Somerset!

Following Bellerophon's recent triumph in Somerset I have been sent the following photos from Richard Barnett, one of the famous 4, well ok not so famous, and that does include me, Matt, Rich and Belle! Anyway, here are the photos with Belle and the turntable in two and Belle with your's truly following the return to Minehead from the evening run to Blue Anchor.

Whilst Bellerophon was mainly restricted to pottering round Minehead yard and the evening trips to Blue Anchor and back, the triumphs were the moves to and from Bishops Lydeard in company with Pamela... err I mean Thomas from the Mid Hants Railway. The trip to Minehead was done on 1/4 of a tank of water, not bad for 19 miles, ok it was light engine with Thomas. However, the return trip, whilst in the company of Thomas again was not without incident. By the time they got to Williton Thomas was struggling for steam whilst Belle was sizzling nicely. As they got stuck into the bank from Williton to Crowcombe, 4 miles of 1 in 150 and steeper, it was obvious that Thomas really wasn't enjoying the coal and after a mile or so Thomas' driver indicated to Matt (who was driving) that enough was enough and shut off. Bellerophon proceeded to push Thomas over the remaining 2 miles to Crowcombe without any trouble and when the ensemble reached Bishops Lydeard the driver of Thomas commented that Bellerophon had opened a few eyes over the weekend.

There has been suggestions of a return visit at some time in the not so distant future, watch this space!

Dont' forget that the Gala is on over the 17th and 18th July and looks like being a good one once again!

Idle Hands

In an idle moment at work, not that I have very many of those, I put 'Bellerophon' into google to see what I could find and this photo blog came up. Always nice to see comments like these and particularly as the blog has quite a few comments follwing it too. Nice to hear of a satisfied visitor raving over us. See we can do things well!

Awaydays

Bellerophon has landed at the West Somerset but unfortunately was too high to fit under the restricted bridges between Taunton and Minehead so had to be unloaded at Bishops Lydeard. Earlier this evening she steamed, in conjunction with the Thomas from the Mid Hants Railway, from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead without any problems. Going to be a bit of a let down for her to be just pottering round the yard at Minhead for the Thomas weekend, although there are rumours she might be let out to Blue Anchor in the evenings. We'll see, I'm off to Minehead tomorrow to have a play and maybe cadge a ride on something bigger (don't tell Bellerophon, wouldn't want her getting jealous!)

Bagnall, Bellerophon and Miniature

I took the camera with me this weekend and managaed to get a few photos around Caverswall Road Station, so lacking the enthusiam to write too much today (due mainly to the heat poaching my brain!) this is going to be mainly a photo update!

The first few photos show Bagnall 2842 being readied for its first steaming as a complete locomotive.







The cab showing the virgin steam stand, pressure gauge and vacuum gauge.









Andy Civil looking contemplative, presumably thinking of his much reduced bank balance!





Bellerophon is off on her travels this year, here she is loaded ready to go the West Somerset Railway for their forthcoming Thomas weekend.





Finally a look at the miniature railway's extension being readied for the Miniature Mayhem weekend in August. The first shot shows the new run round loop being installed and the second one shows work progressing on the earthworks for the even longer extension to form a balloon loop at the far end of the field

How many blades?

This is but a brief update of progress at the Colliery.

The photographs taken by Roy Forshaw this Sunday show the ongoing installation of a reclaimed 3way point from what was Foxfield Wood sidings. The intention is to give access to a small yard for storing the collection of mineral wagons on the opposite side of the running line from the headsticks. There are regular working parties at the colliery and plenty of jobs still to do if we are ever to achieve the aim of regular trains on Foxfield Bank. If you are interested in helping out then please contact Alan Jones or Trevor Barnett via Caverswall Road Station.