Chairman: From the Chairman
I must start this report with very positive feedback from the 2001 Santa
Season. Quite simply, it was a resounding success!
Congratulations to the team who planned, operated and 'santa-d' their way to a
really first-rate season. The quality of what we offered to our visitors was
good and can be built on for future years. The revenue from the operation
exceeded our expectations and there was high morale amongst our volunteers.
Well done everybody, you have a lot to be proud of.
The steam locomotive situation was slightly worrying just prior to the start
of the Santas. Cranford had a boiler problem for which the inspector required
a repair before the locomotive could be used and 68005 was our only other
available locomotive. Some excellent work by the Locomotive Department saw
Cranford in traffic and they deserve thanks for their efforts.
We had the Class 20 diesel rostered for the third locomotive during December
but some very cold weather precluded the use of this machine for quite a large
part of the month due to the lack of ability to steam heat trains. During 2002,
we will be looking at the question of pre-heating stock in the coldest part of
the year. So, we entered 2002 on a high with our most successful Santa season
behind us.
I wrote last time about the new Shed for Embsay and how the cladding had been
completed. We now have three tracks into the building and it has come into
use over the winter period. The new Shed, together with the Matterson lifting
jacks, has significantly improved our repair capability and I hope that 2002
will feature some of the outputs from this enhanced capability.
The excellent Santa season has permitted plans to be made for fitting doors to
the building and new (old) lighting is being acquired. We expect the main doors
in place after Easter, personnel doors / emergency exits soon after and,
I hope, lighting later in the year.
Having an improved Shed has led us to appoint a new Fire Officer for the
Railway. Peter Barry will undertake this role with immediate effect and is
already expected to make his presence felt around the place. Peter will deal
with fire prevention, monitor for fire hazards, make recommendations to the
Executive Committee, oversee fire fighting equipment and generally be a thorn
in the side of those who do not think and act fire safety. Good luck, Peter!
There has been an air of optimism around the railway this winter and I hope
that it is here to stay. Sundays, in particular, have seen a good volunteer
turnout with many projects benefiting from keen and motivated teams.
Which brings me (seamlessly) to my next subject: volunteer recruitment and
retention. If we are to sustain our current level of operations and take
advantage of any enhancements we must retain those volunteers we currently
have and recruit more. That is a fact. But how?
Matthew Bell has been appointed Volunteer Recruitment Officer and his job is
to make every effort to attract new volunteers to the team and to place these
new additions into their area of choice. Matthew has made a very good start,
assissted by his many friends, family and supporters, and a number of very
welcome new faces have been seen around the railway. Matthew has a number of
methods at his disposal, including a poster campaign, a web page, and, of
course, snapping up any visitors who show an interest in joining our team.
Carry on the good work, Matthew.
Once the new volunteers are 'on board' they must be made to feel welcome and,
hopefully, have their aspirations met. Their Department Manager can do a great
deal with this, but more attention is required to this delicate area. What
about career progression: how does a volunteer progress to Trainee Fireman,
Trainee Guard, whatever? What happens if a manager hasn't the time to mentor a
new volunteer tot he level required? This set a number of people thinking and
they soon realised that the matter does not stop at new volunteers, but can be
important across all our volunteer staff.
One of our more recent recruits, Bryan Maltby, had been thinking along these
lines, having introduced a few friends as new members and observing how they
got on. Bryan had a number of ideas and suggestions and, not surprisingly,
soon got the job as well!
Bryan has been appointed Volunteer Development Officer with a remit to look
after all volunteers and to ensure, where possible, that they are happy with
us, that their aspirations are met as far as we can do so.
Matthew and Bryan will work closely together and I wish them both well in
their roles.
Having discussed volunteer recruitment and retention, I suppose that I might
as well finish with a commercial. Any member who wishes to try out our new
volunteer officers and see how well they perform their tasks, please get in
touch with Matthew, c/o Embsay Station or by post to Bolton Abbey Station.
You will be welcome and I hope that your time spent with us as a volunteer gives
you great satisfaction, particularly from knowing that you are part of a team
running an excellent little railway.
Dave Barlow
Chairman
Departmental Report: Loco Report
Wow, we have a new shed! OK, it is not finished, it has no lights or doors,
but we now have four engines up in the air at once. This minor miracle is also
due to the railway's newly overhauled Matterson jacks. In the good old bad old
days it used to take a day of frought nervy effort to lift a loco off its
wheels. Thanks go to PCT Ltd. for overhauling the jacks at cost and providing
operator training and to Brian Ablett for setting it up in the first instance.
On one memorable occasion, our worst fears came true and we dropped No. 22 from
a great height into the pit. Now all is safe, the Mattersons are four electric
screw jack towers, which are manouvered into position at each corner of the
vehicle to be lifted. Then at the touch of a button all four rise together, and
hey ho and up she rises! Since Christmas 68005 has been lifted to change three
springs, Cranford is also undergoing a more prolonged spring change, with all
six being overhauled. The new Thomas (formerly No. 8) is up in the air so that
the rear wheels can have new crank pins fitted. Finally Revenge and Beatrice
are also in the new shed to enable their respective overhauls to make better
progress.
This might all seem to be a lot of work going on at once, and it is, too much
in fact, especially when in the old shed we have Monckton and Primrose. However,
not all engines are being worked on by the same people. Let me do a breakdown of
who is doing what and when.
Monckton No.1 The main department project. Boiler is now in the
frames and has been clad. The tank should go on in a couple of weeks. This engine
will definitely steam before this summer.
Primrose No.2 She has had the boiler removed; the frames
are to go into store until the boiler has been fitted with a new firebox. The
old box has been removed and is now with Israel Newton for a replacement to be
made. Most of the work on this engine will be by contract, as described in the
last issue.
Thomas Lifted to enable Bryn Engineering to complete the
mechanical overhaul. The other uncompleted work on this long-term project
includes fitting a fire grate, completing the blastpipe and fitting the cylinder
lubrication. These are all department jobs. Like No.1 this engine will be complete
by this summer.
Revenge This engine is being worked upon by its owners.
Unfortunately since the Marrows junior and senior are our main contractors,
they are diverted to other tasks at present. However, I am confident that once
they can get back to it, this set of frames will be re-wheeled this summer.
Beatrice John Beesley's baby has just come into the new
shed from the cold. Like the Marrows, he hopes to re-wheel this summer. The
boiler is to have its stays fitted by the same contractor as Primrose. This
engine is far more complete that it appears. I will stick my neck out and
say she could be finished by 2003, who knows.
Cranford No.2 Lifted at present for winter maintenance,
will be back for Easter.
68005 The Mog has now had all six springs changed, and this has
restored its ride height. In traffic.
Annie No.9 Still going strong but her ten yearly ticket
has just expired. However, subject to a successful inspection, she should get
an extension until the autumn. She will then be subject to a fast track
overhaul, with the intention of having her back in the fold by mid 2003.
Ann - The sentinel. Yes, she is a working loco, but being
so small and finicky she is really just a museum exhibit. Look out for her at the
gala.
John Furness
Asst. Loco Department Manager
Beatrice slowly pulls into Skibeden Loop having double headed a train
from Embsay with what was then No. 7 (Wheldale). I think the date was 1984.
Photo: Steven Oakden.
