Sunday's project - replacing a broken spring. Darrin on the outside, Philip on one of the jacks, Bill and Philip eventually went underneath. (Oh for a pit that we can use). A late night that night. No chance to get out for a meal, fish and chips from town.
Jacking up the front end to take the load off the broken spring so that hanger bolts can be loosened and removed. For those who don't know Fort William, the pipes in the background, visible between the buildings, carry water down the mountain side to the hydro electric power station of the aluminium smelter. Alcan probably being the last major employer in the area.
Jacking on both sides. As you can probably see, we had only just enough packing material.
Now if you are going to break a spring - make a job of it! Even the short leaves still in the buckle were broken.
The new and the old.
Our West Coast Railway Co fireman was none other than Peter James, from the NYMR.
Darrin on the right and me on the left. Unfortunately the photo of the driver, Alec MacDonald was spoiled by camera shake. We were rattling along at the time.
Early mornig on the depot, getting ready to leave. We had decent weather all week, not always a sky so blue but further south everyone had deluges.
The loco moves off to collect the stock, seen behind. Note cocks open - a topical subject!
Queue of potential passengers waiting for last minute cancellation tickets. The train was full every day (seven coaches) and some were turned away to try the next day.
School kids, every one with a camera, snapping the piper.
This photo looks most uninteresting but represents a full evening's work, replacing both steam heat bags and couplings. Another late night!
Ready to leave Glenfinnan, heading for Mallaig. The loco and first coach are already in the section, having obtained the token and permission to proceed, then stopped, to allow the sprinter to leave in the opposite direction. Our train being too long to clear the end of the loop.
Topping the last serious climb of the day, up the Mhuidhe, on the return journey.
Darrin, who has fired form Mallaig, gets a rub down by Pete. The train has just emerged from two tunnels taken at full regulator and well down the rack. Spine tingling stuff.
The support crew:- Peter Maynard, volunteer at Southall and one time volunteer fireman on the Glos. Warks. Railway; Bill Sharp skilled machinist, and long time NELPG volunteer, and a regular at our Hopetown workshop in Darlington; Philip Lewis, NELPG Hopetown volunteer and one time fireman on the West Somerset: me; Darrin Crone, another NELPG Hopetown regular and cleaner (soon to be promoted) on the NYMR.
The subject of our affections, pleasures and frustrations. Laid up for a week. Bert Hitchin's black five 45231 is in the background ready for the start of the next week's operation.
