Reconnection should take place next week

Again, most efforts have recently been concentrated upon the reconnection of the dock railway with the main line across the other side of Strand Road.  We're now extremely close to the railway lines being reconnected - the major outstanding task are the completion of the necessary upgrades to the level crossing to facilitate stock movements.  The cabinets have been constructed off the main site at our workshops - They will be transported to the works site and installed in the very near future, along with the relevant crossing equipment.

Meanwhile back at the main site, the museum has started be to be stripped! - yes, we're having some early modifications made to the cladding around the building - Originally, it was planned that a number of large picture windows would be included, but concerns over vandalism have prompted their removal from the design.  It is hoped that this work, along with the completion of the cladding work around the roof edges will be completed in the next couple of weeks, although recent weather conditions have hampered construction plans.

On the locomotive front, there has been a frenzy of activity on 'Enterprise', the Sentinel Diesel 0-4-0 which will bear the brunt of the early bitumen trains.  The loco has received a general overhaul to ensure she's capable of working the trains, and has also been cosmetically improved, and painted in our corporate livery.

MSC No.70 has also seen a great deal of work in recent days.  The loco's boiler has just passed it's hydraulic examination, and the new cladding and lagging is being fitted.  The boiler is due to be reunited with the loco's frames next week.  It is still planned that the engine will be test steamed at the beginning of February. 

A loco that will not be steaming quite as quickly is 'Shropshire', one of the on site Austerity type locomotives.  Whilst the crane is on site installing the boiler of No.70. It will be used to remove the tanks and boiler of '193' to enable it's major overhaul to continue.

Inside the shed, work has also recommenced on Hunslet 1954 'Kinsley'.  The loco was in mid-restoration whilst on site at Southport, but due to pressures of the railway's establishment at Preston, work had been halted.  Recent work on the loco has included the cleaning and refitting of the axleboxes, and the machining and installation of it's new horn guides.