JANUARY and FEBRUARY
Much of the work undertaken (despite plenty of rain) took place over the two months, so we are presenting the various works as a combination of the two months.
Window-cleaning Gallery on front of box
Last year we reported on the rotten timbers found during our yearly safety check (first photo below) and the following two pictures show their replacement. The following Wednesday afternoon the windows were at last cleaned!
LMS Ground Discs
The triple LMS Ground Discs signal, moved to the lawn last year, has now been connected to the LNWR Ground Frame:
LNWR Signal
With the post almost complete, the metalwork is being cleaned up and repainted.
1. 2. 3. 4.
1 and 2. The two spectacles (These hold the coloured glasses in front of the signal lamp).
3. The lengthy ladder is also being tackled.
4. The post almost ready.
Midland Railway 1890s Signal
This signal, one of our earliest restorations, is the one worked from the spare lever 32 in the box and is electrically lit. In January we noted the lamp had lost some of its brightness. An investigation showed problems with the bulb-holder and with the lamphousing. Remedial work has been done, and the signal is now well -illuminated
Another New Signal
We have recently acquired on long-term loan a ground disc from Chesterton Junction. It has gone to the North end of the site where it is worked from the Midland Railway ground frame.
Passing Trains
We've not been so busy that we've not been watching the trains go past. First photo is of a brand-new South-Western electrical unit (third-rail equipped only) being towed off for acceptance testing. The other is of a single-unit based track survey train at work.
Open Afternoons: On Sunday 14th January, we saw some 86 visitors come to the box - this number is second only to the 151 who came in January 2020. Sunday 11th of February produced about 120 visitors and the Wednesday half-term opening on the 21st gave us another 100+.
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