We have managed a few visit's to Butterley to learn how to run our various loco's , "Stephanie" being the only ever present, with one or other of the 3 steamers joining her.
"Stephanie" has run almost problem free, the only issue has been the gas filler valve, which we removed and cleaned and now all seem's well again, she pulls a train well and at a nice speed.
"Willi" , since the earlier problems with a blocked gas jet, she has run perfectly on her outings , the flywheel grub screw needing to be tightened being the only thing.
"Peter Sam", first attempts with the radio control has failed and we have had to run her manually,, but again she runs great, more practice I feel.
"Lady Carol", still a flighty bird ! , runs a treat, but can be very hard to get right on the regulator, she either wont move, or she takes off like a rocket.
After burning my finger's on the original regulator, which is a knurled wheel, she was handed over to Matt Acton of Berry Hill works fame, for a replacement regulator and refitting with radio control.
Battery loco's "Andrew" , "Cyril", "Paul" and no 22 , have all also been out and around Butterley.
We have also had the chance to visit Long Eaton and Andrew Mitchell's portable layout " Westfield light railway" 3 times, and had a really enjoyable time and hopefully made some new friends.
At each meeting we have attended there has been around 15 member's present , so there is always something running at all times
A big thank you to Andrew for allowing us to visit and run on his railway and we are really looking forward to returning next winter.
In february a 4 wheel railtruck was purchased from the now sadly closed Stalybridge & Mossley district railway company , this being the third purchase from this now defunct company.
She is named "Grasshopper" and has become no 45 on the EVLR books.
Although a runner, she requires a new bonnet and radiator before she can enter service and will be a useful addition to the maintenance dept fleet.
12 march
We spent the day running at Butterley , "Stephanie" , "Lady Margaret" , "Cyril" and "Grasshopper" , plus the first time we had ever run a passenger train with the 3 coaches I purchased last year.
It was quite a busy day regarding people looking at the layout. as it was a "Thomas" weekend, so there were lots of children there and thankfully Tony was there running his battery "Thomas" on the top line for over 5 hours.
"Cyril" was ran around quite a bit, and easily managed to pull 2 coachs until the battery tired.
"Stephanie" and "Lady Margaret" ran with the 3 coaches and also with a added van and the beer tanker.
I need to do a bit of checking regarding the gas used, as for the first time we used the cheap camping butane, and neither engine seemed to like it, taking longer to raise steam, being less controlable than normal and far less running time when in steam.
Both engines were also harder to light, with a flame behind the smokebox door [opening door on both loco's] , that was hard to get back down to the burner itself, and "Stephanie" ended the day with paint burnt off the door, as they are only single thickness on a Edrig.
"Grasshopper", still needing a bonnet, was run round after the public had left and she ran great, very steady and wobbling along as she ran.
"Stephanie" has run almost problem free, the only issue has been the gas filler valve, which we removed and cleaned and now all seem's well again, she pulls a train well and at a nice speed.
"Willi" , since the earlier problems with a blocked gas jet, she has run perfectly on her outings , the flywheel grub screw needing to be tightened being the only thing.
"Peter Sam", first attempts with the radio control has failed and we have had to run her manually,, but again she runs great, more practice I feel.
"Lady Carol", still a flighty bird ! , runs a treat, but can be very hard to get right on the regulator, she either wont move, or she takes off like a rocket.
After burning my finger's on the original regulator, which is a knurled wheel, she was handed over to Matt Acton of Berry Hill works fame, for a replacement regulator and refitting with radio control.
Battery loco's "Andrew" , "Cyril", "Paul" and no 22 , have all also been out and around Butterley.
We have also had the chance to visit Long Eaton and Andrew Mitchell's portable layout " Westfield light railway" 3 times, and had a really enjoyable time and hopefully made some new friends.
At each meeting we have attended there has been around 15 member's present , so there is always something running at all times
A big thank you to Andrew for allowing us to visit and run on his railway and we are really looking forward to returning next winter.
In february a 4 wheel railtruck was purchased from the now sadly closed Stalybridge & Mossley district railway company , this being the third purchase from this now defunct company.
She is named "Grasshopper" and has become no 45 on the EVLR books.
Although a runner, she requires a new bonnet and radiator before she can enter service and will be a useful addition to the maintenance dept fleet.
12 march
We spent the day running at Butterley , "Stephanie" , "Lady Margaret" , "Cyril" and "Grasshopper" , plus the first time we had ever run a passenger train with the 3 coaches I purchased last year.
It was quite a busy day regarding people looking at the layout. as it was a "Thomas" weekend, so there were lots of children there and thankfully Tony was there running his battery "Thomas" on the top line for over 5 hours.
"Cyril" was ran around quite a bit, and easily managed to pull 2 coachs until the battery tired.
"Stephanie" and "Lady Margaret" ran with the 3 coaches and also with a added van and the beer tanker.
I need to do a bit of checking regarding the gas used, as for the first time we used the cheap camping butane, and neither engine seemed to like it, taking longer to raise steam, being less controlable than normal and far less running time when in steam.
Both engines were also harder to light, with a flame behind the smokebox door [opening door on both loco's] , that was hard to get back down to the burner itself, and "Stephanie" ended the day with paint burnt off the door, as they are only single thickness on a Edrig.
"Grasshopper", still needing a bonnet, was run round after the public had left and she ran great, very steady and wobbling along as she ran.