Well its been a very busy past few month's down at DMR hence why the website is lacking updates.
First of all I would like to wish our reader's a Merry Christmas from the team at DMR, This years santa specials have been a huge success and we would like to thank all those who have supported the event. If you havent yet seen santa at his grotto there is still time to come down and see him ( please see the special events page for Details ).
Loco Status
Unfortuanly little progress has been made on the clayton and it is hoped that work will re-commence on the loco after the new year. Lady p's chimney has been fitted and painted all the loco requires now is a Boiler examination/test's and the loco will be back in use.
Signal Box
The DMR now has its very own signal box!! located near the eastern side of Riverside Halt, The signal box controls 1 set of points and 4 signal's. the signals are electronically controlled by switches on a track plan of the lower loop built and wired up by Stuart Cameron. The signals have been in use this Month and have proved to be very succesful in controlling the trains and will be a great addition to the railway for years to come.
Track work
During the cold months it is sometimes difficult to carry out essential maintanence on the track. Next year will see the sleeper replacment contine along with some sections of track raising up due to the constant trains passing over.
Online gallery
The DMR now has its own Fotopic gallery. However this has just been started and only a small amount of albums will be uploaded at current, Its hoped that we can get more collections created as soon as possible. A link can be found here: http://dragonminiaturerailway.fotopic.net
Well its time for another update of the happenings down at Dooley lane.
Loco's and Stock
The " Clayton " is Progressing very well indeed, The front panel's have been placed and welded on, The buffer beam's have been placed on and painted and the cab is being fitted with controls and a ammeter and are being wired up to the battery, The loco is our first petrol hydraulic to feautre a ammeter. Unfortuanly there is still more work to do on this new loco before it is allowed to run. Lady p's small overhaul is nearly complete. New wheel's have been put on the pony truck and painted and the smokebox has been painted aswell, All that is left to do on this loco is a new chimney to be fitted and steam test's and the loco will be back in action.
Website
After receving some feedback on the photo's page I have decided to transfer the photo's to a online gallery. This will allow people to find pictures in Albums and will reduce the loading time for images. This will be changed as soon as possible and may result in the photo's page being taken offline for a while. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Well it has been a long time since a update to the site has been made, alot has happend down at the railway over the year's and its time to get the site back up to date and people in the know of whats happening down at the railway.
Extension
If you have recently visited the railway you have probably noticed a new section of track after you come up from Riverside Halt, The new track will have a variety of new roles: one of which will be having santa trains using the extension in December, The grotto being a permant building and can act as a second tunnel or extra coach shed and a new locomotive pit ( boarded up when passanger trains are running over the line ) to make life easier for staff carrying out any maintence/refurbishment project's. Pictures to follow!
Loco's and Stock
Our Class 17 " Clayton " is coming along nicley and is now mechnically working with engine and hydrostat in place and fully linked up, it has even ran round a couple of times with driver's getting the feel of how the new loco responds and performs and so far no problem's have been found. The loco is progressing on nicley although there's still abit of work to do before it pull's its first train. Lady P is now out of use for a small overhaul whilst new rear wheels are fitted, new brake blocks and a new chimney its hoped that it can come back into revenue earning service as soon as possible, Princess will be used as the main steam loco.
Signal's
The Railway now has 3 new signal's on the line. The first one is at the main station, Station staff now have the role of train dispatch and can set either 1 or both ( 2 trains out on the loop at same time ) to green, if one train is out on the loop the signals cant be set to green until the token has been placed back onto the stand which will then allow the signal to be changed to green. The second signal is at Riverside Halt and is always set to green, this signal also has " Feather " lights so when the train is to pass through the loop these will iluminate to indicate to the driver that there going through the loop. The third and final signal is on the approach back to the main station this consist's of a orange aspect and 2 feather's to let the driver know which platfrom they are to arrive into.
Track Work
Some sections of the track have been relayed to ease off sharp corners for loco's and rolling stock. The main new layout is at the turntable area with 2 sidings rather than 1 so we can now store more loco's, carriges if required. The second section of track to be relaid is the Loop at Riverside Halt to elimante the double bend trains faced when leaving the station. More Track work has been carried out down the back section of the line after the tunnel to re - raise the track, and the track is going under a new sleeper replacement program carried out on none operating day's.
Website
The website now has a new contact address and has more DMR staff working it so question's/prompts can be awnsered more easily and faster. The Contact Details will be updated.
Well, it's a while since my last report, and plenty has happened since. The third covered coach has been completed and is now in service - I MUST get some photos over Christmas. Brian has now started on a pair of carriages similar to the sitins, for use with Jack.
Once the coaches have been completed, Princess will be taken out of service after Christmas for a much-needed mechanical overhaul. Experiments have recently been made on Princess's grate to try and get her to hold steam better, but the increased burning temperature of the fuel has meant that grates are burned a lot quicker. Lady Pauline will take over main steam duties during the Spring. Before this happens, though, Lady Pauline requires some work on her regulator to allow more steam to pass through.
The original Tinkerbell celebrates her 40th birthday next May at the Moors Valley Railway, and we have been invited to take one (or both) of our Tinkerbell's. We shall wee what happens.
The Western (D1015) has been giving little trouble aside from continuing its habit of destroying air compressors and flattening batteries. Recently though it seems to have settled down. A new battery has been sourced and she is now back on top form. Daivd is seeing use with the colder weather, though her limited hauling capacity is not an advantage, and she is only used where it is quiet.
Hallowe'en Specials (a new event this year) was a great success, with a second spooky tunnel down at Riverside Halt, and many different scary things all round the railway. See here for a video taken: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_4G0-_YyNYQ
Santa Specials will start towards the end of November. See the Special Events page for basic info: more info (dates) will be added soon (I promise). Goliath will be steamed a couple of times during hte Christmas holidays, as will Lady P.