Of missing parts

10th December 2017

Here we are again. This week's blog is sponsored by the makers of.... Hmm, why haven't I thought of that before?

Of brakes, spiders and drains

4th June 2017

Now, before I forget, the first 'official' trailer for 'Murder on the Orient Express' is now out on you-tube.

Of shunters recesses and mission creep

27th December 2015

I am writing this having just returned from Christmas spent at our daughter's house in Darlington, and as we went there on Christmas Eve, there has in truth been not all that much put in to the collection during the week.

Of Exodus

31 May 15

I picked the title this week and wondered whether to start off with a  “hell fire and brimstone” sermon. You know the sort of thing, you can find it on obscure satellite and cable channels, with some smartly-suited guy sat behind a desk, pronouncing how Man has lost his way and only by following the word of the Lord (or his interpretation of it) in the 'good book' (pick title of yours or his choices) can we redeem ourselves and gain ever-lasting salvation. (And there's a thought, we all know what is meant by the “good book”, but what would we understand to be meant by a  “bad book”?) But then sermons aren't really my style.  Meandering reminiscences, technical dissertations, maybe, but sermonising on Weekend Rails? Hardly.

Of batteries and kerb crawling

19th October 2014

So as I was saying, I was hoping to set up a further meeting with the intended cladding contractor to try to get to the bottom of how the sheeting should fit. In the end, this took place Thursday morning as I had been waiting for completion of a  fuel pump overhaul for a customer and it was wanted back PDQ.

Of rods and channels

10th August 2014

“Last week's Weekend Rails was rubbish”, declared one of my regular readers in a spirit of constructive criticism. And I am not sure that he will be much more satisfied by this week's edition.

Of one Teddy short of a picnic

27th July 2014

So, as we left things last week “Grace” was sat outside at Rowsley and 14901 was ready to head off for a week's holiday in sunny Bury. So first thing Monday it was down to see the swap over. Andrew had the day off, and ran a few errands to Matlock sorting out a replacement fan belt for the winch engine, meanwhile a ramp was assembled,  and with all sorted Grace was rolled down and whisked away by Charlie,  and I brought 14 901 over and on to the bottom of the ramp. The 14 was loaded and headed north up the A6 with Andrew in pursuit to see it off and through an FTR.

Of Grace and favours

20th July 2014

These weeks are anything but normal, though come to think of it, I don't know what is “normal” at the Briddon Country Pile. On Monday Steph and I headed back to darkest Norfolk to return our grandson from his long weekend with us, and although there was muttered talk of “doing some work at the shed after you get back” there wasn't really much chance of it.

Of a locomotive exchange

14th July 2013

Of course, when I said that next Friday's plans were set in stone, what I should have said was that they were set in er - Blu-tak - and might be slightly ply-able.

Of air, locks and engines

23rd September 2012

This has been one of those weeks where it has gone way beyond the "Weekend" of the title. On Monday I went off to collect "Pluto's" fuel pump from our tame fuel pump expert. Later in the day I got a call from the shotblasters to say that "Libby's" casing parts were ready, so I hired a pick-up for Thursday. On Tuesday I popped in to the fabricators to collect the 'power bulge' that will go over the exhauster on D2128. Finally on Friday I touched base with a company who have the tackle to press the louvres in the doors for the said 03 - they don't seem to think it much of a problem and will get back to me shortly. Given that in between I have received back Steph's Micra after 8 days in the bodyshop for a job that was only supposed to take two and you may well wonder whether I have managed much (profitable) work this week and you're not the only one.