The season finale!

Over for another year! The last public event of the year happened today and whilst we all thought that it might not be the finish we wanted due to Storm Ashley lashing the Country with rain and gales it actually went remarkably well with a good number of guests coming to visit. It must have been good as two even became members and asked about volunteering! 

As usual brake van rides were available all day.

For me however, it was not the luxury of riding in a relatively cosy diesel engine cab or brake van. The reality was walking up and down the quarry sidings shunting wagons which I actually enjoy a lot! Something therapeutic in sorting wagons and locos! Today was also different from other times in that I had assistance from loyal blog reader Mrs. B. who on numerous occasions put me to shame but we wont dwell on that!

Point switching was no issue to her!

Directing the locos was no problem either!

Nor was coupling!

The day was also different with as Mr. D was out on his maiden operating session. 

Trevor, who had the privilege of driving, did say it drove very smoothly but the controls were the other way round to the Sentinel locos that he had been driving for the last 5 or 6 years. Well, there were no issues so he must have got used to them.

Interestingly, the operating consul (I keep wanting to call it a dashboard as would be in a car) does have a speedometer which registers speed in either direction which of course it needs to as the loco can go in either direction at the same speed. It just looks odd when you are used to a speedometer in the dashboard of a car.

This the Sentinel loco that hauled wagons up to the quarry to be exchanged with the ones that were being shunted.

Withy both locos, eight wagons and a brake van things can get messy if you don't have a Mrs. B around to keep you on the right track!

The face shovel is a brute of a machine and much respect to Martin who operates it - you really do need to know what you are doing!

Even though some of us got wet at lunchtime, Pam here 

getting a bit wetter than most as she was looking after the crossing by the platform so could not leave to shelter, we all enjoyed the season finale and I think our guests did too given the positive comments I heard. That may be the end of the season for the Museum but work carries on over the Winter as we prepare to reopen next Easter. That may seem a long time but I suspect the time will wizz by!