Unlike last year the weather recently has limited working party activities so far, as anyone who has experienced the winds across the football pitch will understand.

The 2009 running season closed with the Santa Special trains the last Sunday before Xmas. This was a popular event with 2 steam locomotives available to run the service. This was fortunate as ‘Robin’, the petrol-hydraulic locomotive normally on site had to be taken out of service having derailed 5/6 times. The suspension springs were found to be very tired (apparently they’re about 30 years old) and are being replaced by Allen Miller who is also arranging for an engine overhaul.

The Thursday gang decided to take a well earned break until March when their first job will be to extend the land drain a further 80 feet to the top of the gradient up through the cutting. This section flooded at one stage in contrast to the lower area where the water drained away quite effectively. The Sunday gang has started on the track alterations needed for access to the steaming bays which will be served by a traverser – yet to be built! The bays will be raised some 20 inches off the ground to ease access so there is plenty of construction work to do. Once some bays are operational we shall be in a much better position to invite other clubs to visit and share our facilities.

We also have to survey the track and correct any problems where it has settled under the trains run since it was completed last year. The points have to be checked for operation, adjusted as needed and greased ready for service. Two should have Driver operated controls one of which needs checking while the other has yet to be installed. Nigel Gettings is working on a water/coal carrying wagon that can be parked on the far side of the track for use in emergencies during public services and Mark Hartnell will be producing a new riding vehicle body to add to the fleet. The present riding vehicles have to be checked and lubricated and there is some general housekeeping around the site to be done before we can open on Easter Monday 5 April.

Mike

If any member with a 7 1/4” or 5” Gauge Loco would like to run his Loco at Creech when there is no public running, then he may do so on the second Tuesday evening of the month during the summer or alternatively, 'Rambo' has kindly agreed to open the track at any other time, provided that he is not otherwise committed. He can be contacted by Email through our Webmaster, or at Club Meetings or by telephone though any Committee members - telephone numbers on the inside cover of this magazine - to make arrangements.