Holywell Day
On Thursday 5th September, a team will be engaged in the replacement of the platform edging, remedial work to the shelter and general improvements. The bigger the team the more work can be done, so if you go along you will be welcome.

Wartime Weekend
The weekend of 21st - 22nd September should be another successful event; we need plenty of staff to make it go well - and remember not to wear orange gear etc on the platform!

The dance is being held this year in Addingham Memorial Hall, 7.30-11.30pm. Tickets are £7 and include live band, food and entertainment. They are being sold on a first-come-first-served basis - no reservations. Buses will be providing transport from the railway.

BA News
A lot of work is going into improving the environment of the station. Andy Lister has tidied up the garden front with lawn edging and pillars, and laid flags round the front and side of the building and placed a telephone box in the forecourt - which may have a telephone in it eventually! He is currently working on a chain-link fence to cut off the forecourt from the car park. Neil Hubbs is working on fencing to separate the platform form the car park, which will be a big improvement. The traffic island has progressed well, the walls being finished, apart from coping, and the planting up has been started.

Embsay News
The gardens are looking good thanks to the efforts of Dave and Anne Oughtibridge. As at BA, the plants improve the overall effect of the station.

The weigh house at Embsay has been entered for a HRA award and so has been spruced up for the occasion.

DRAB Construction have been working on station refurbishment. They have been painting the footbridge and platform edging and the removing the 'garden' on the station chimney. New benches have been provided for Embsay station.

Diesel and Plant News
The Railway has acquired a new diesel loco. The Fowler Class 420, No 3, was donated by BOCM Selby. Built in 1946, the 137hp loco is as original and, although working, is intended as a museum exhibit.

Work on maintaining the Railway's diesels continues. The new shed, which now has doors, enables more work to be done under cover, and the department is clearing the backlog of such work. Ruston 887 has been painted and the team are working No36. Other cosmetic work is being done on the 04 and Barclay No1. The Hudswell has had its floorboards renewed. Meanwhile, work on the Class 14 has been halted to enable this other work to be completed, as there is a shortage of volunteers (hint, hint).

S&T News
Work is progressing on the east ground frame point motor, cabling and relays. The points are currently manually operated using the crank and key kept in the signal box. If you're working the points remember that lever No 14 must be reversed during, and entries made in the register before and after, a movement.

Work on BA signal box has been suspended for the time being as there is a shortage of people in the department (hint, hint).

P-Way News
The stone blower donated by GTRM (West Coast) is now working and ten joints have been packed. A washout at Priors Lane is to be fixed soon; there is currently a 5mph temporary speed restriction.

Paul and Brian have been working on cleaning of drains and rebuilding of catch pits between Priors Lane and Stoneacre.

Part of Priors Lane yard has been levelled in order to receive sleepers from Healey Mills. 792 of them will be arriving in September. This is the last consignment of materials to arrive from the Leeds Station renewal.

Carriage & Wagon News
The team has been painting No.7 coach and achieved what Pete Barry described as the fastest strip-down of paintwork in the Railway's history; at one point five grinders were working! The work was much helped by two new workers - Tiny and Shorty (a.k.a Peter and Richard Gibb). Two other new members, Chris Ingham and John Downes, bring the department's strength up to ten regulars. The new shed has helped a lot to get the work done.

Stately Trains
The L&Y Directors' Saloon is now being used on service trains and is proving popular with visitors, as are the strawberry teas. After five years' running, they had their best season yet, with 250 people catered for over four Saturdays. The Yorkshire Post article gave useful publicity.

Maintenance work is to be done on the L&Y Saloon and the GNoSR coach, including re-pinning of brakes and the fixing of a flat tyre (yes, trains do get them!).

Restoration work is progressing well on the 1894 ECJS dining car, which may be ready for next year. Work will continue at Harrogate on the 1911 GER Directors' Saloon No.63 over the autumn and winter.

Loco Department News
The motive power situation is very good at the moment, with Mog, Annie, Cranford, and now Monckton in service. Monckton started back in operation with a visit to Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire. It looks and sounds particularly good when double-heading with Mog. It's a most impressive sight to see two Austerities working together. Cranford is to be repainted soon, and will be relined as will be Monckton.

Work will start soon on completing restoration work on No.8 - the new 'Thomas' and Beatrice.

People
Dave Sanderson and Alan Turner have been passed out as firemen. Drivers Dave Hebden and Dave Lovatt were well pleased with their first solo performances.

William Lister has been passed out as signalman for Embsay box.

Well done to you all.

Sad news - Barney, the Oughtibridge's dog has died aged 15½. His ashes have been sprinkled at Holywell.

Lost
Pete Burke has lost a bunch of about half a dozen keys on a chain.

Wanted
Colin Davies says that the loco crews urgently need rags for cleaning etc. no bras or knickers, please, as some loco crew members may be tempted to try them on!

200 Club
Don't forget to renew your subscriptions. Write to Alan Turner.

Editor: Lesley J Bird
ljbirdyork@yahoo.com