Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

Combined Flugel

17th January 2008

On my way down to the station I came across Pete Soundy arranging wiring harness to provide electric light to this one of our set of everyday carriages. This will be great for night running, of which we are getting more.

Having made my way to the station, I was offered a cabride by the driver of the day, Joe Pickering. You have to admit, that's a very serious whistle cord he has there! This is the cab of 'E03'. An all electric service today.

As there is a locomotive at each end of the train, (until we get the loops made) we return in the cab of 'Ec7'. The tide is  on the way out I'd guess.

Then you can have it from the outside looking in, as it were. The 'Ec's had a very distinctive looking end arrangement. The handrail and step plate are mounted on the bogie ends and move around accordingly!

A holiday maker gets her picture taken and I sneaked in a shot for myself. I must say, the cab plates certainly finish off the look!

One of those shots you get with candid pictures. Joe is obviously trying to get his message across to Frank Frayle, back to camera. (who you will remember from the first day we had the electrics down to the far end.) L to R. Sir Colin, Frank, Joe, Bert Coombes and Pete Soundy.

'F13' with cowcatcher. A decided improvement. There's one at the rear also.


 
'A222' sporting new window sills and painted window frames.


 
No Mirthful Max here today, but you sure can see where he's been. The ceiling paint is really coming off now.

There's a night run special happening tonight and the carriages are shunted back up the valley line and with 'W192' at the head, will make a dramatic run up to the station at the appointed time.