No flies on this loco!

It may look like Pam had decked John at the Ricks By Rail Museum...

Nut all was well as I just happened to catch John crawling out from under one of the locos as Pam and Pete were passing whilst my camera was out!

Whilst my camera was out I also caught up with the Southern brake van restoration where the two air tanks have been painted smartening things up.

However, the woodwork is not so smart with further cleaning and prodding revealing a fair amount of rot which will need dealing with and new timbers added. 

Steam loco Barrington is slowly coming on with its cosmetic restoration.

Whilst I am aware that insects are attracted to wet paint I thought that the addition of the electronic insect disposal system might be taking things to extremes! A real case of no flies on this loco! However, it appears that this was in the workshop for repair and will be reinstated in the cage once working again!

Loco 1931 is still awaiting the return of its boiler which is away for repairs including additional items found that need dealing with but were not spotted earlier. Always the case but hopefully by mid year it will be back together and steaming away down the track.

My contribution was to steam around the grass areas with Morris Mower. Amazing how quick the grass has grown when its has not been that wet or warm!

Just as we packed up for the say a sudden wind and rain storm hit the site and here Pam is battling to get to her car and shelter. Certainly no flies in that storm!

And for me? Reunited with that point lever!

 With the Easter weekend out of the way the Rocks By rail Museum can look back with some pride in having had a great attendance from visitors and providing a fantastic first show in 2026,

There were brake van rides...

Locomotives running...

Shunting in the quarry...

Excavators digging and cabs to explore...

Bacon cobs and drinks to eat at  the cafe...

A Weighbridge Office that was officially opened...

And for me? Reunited with that point lever! And it must get stiffer each year or I am getting weaker!

But I did manage a ride in the cab of the passenger train!

I was shattered by the end of Monday but it was a great day!

However, both, in their own ways, are very satisfying to do!

If you are reading this on Easter Monday then I am at or have just returned from the Rocks By Rail Museum following a day of shunting so I will be well and truly shattered! Hence I am writing this post in advance so I can just have some dinner and stretch out on the sofa and probably fall asleep! 

I did prepare for my first full scale shunting of 2026 by doing some small scale shunting on my USA Switching Layout. The problem is whilst the small scale shunting allows me to sit in a chair and relax, the full size shunting means dealing with three link couplings, pinned brakes and climbing on and off things! However, both, in their own ways, are very satisfying to do! More on that tomorrow hopefully!

You cant get me I'm part of the union!

More track packing and jacking at the Rocks By Rail Museum as we get ready for the grand opening of the 2026 season on Easter Sunday.

It is a long and labour intensive job with jacks used to left the rail and sleeper until level using sighting boards and then ballast is rammed under using Kangos!

Pam was giving the Plant Room a last coat of paint.

The new Admission Price Board is up in the cafe with a very modest £2 increase just for the Quarry Operating Days.

The locomotives are being tuned up!

And tested with the brake van.

The Weighbridge Office is ready to be opened on Easter Monday with Bill of Quantity ready to answer questions!

The office has some great artefacts from the 1950s such as this clocking in clock.

And this notice board with phone numbers for emergencies!

And even a union membership card! Brings to mind that hot for the Strawbs in the 70s - You cant get me I'm part of the union!

My contribution to getting ready? Well it was out for a session with Morris Mower and Sammy Strimmer who now seem to travel together on my wanderings around the site!

Hopefully it will be a good weekend as long as the weather holds!

That took some doing with Sammy Strimmer and Morris Mower!

Another day at the Rocks By rail Museum where it is always good to be at but when it is sunny weather it is even better! Only a week and a bit to opening and Richard is busy jacking and packing track.

Pam and Pete are busy painting the Weighbridge Office where Bill has a rare venture out - that mannequin does look realistic from a distance!

The inside is also getting a coat of paint.

Andy has brought in the colour aspects for the colour light signals.

As I am not skilled in these particular projects I went back to my vegetation al destruction with some work on the grass and embankment to the side of the entrance track.

Before.....

and after....

That took some doing with Sammy Strimmer and Morris Mower!

Welcome to the 2026 grass cutting season!

Lots of sunshine and warm temperatures encouraged outdoor activity at the Rocks By rail Museum today and with the first public event of the year just over two weeks away there are things outside that do need doing!

First off, despite all the work to install drainage and relay the track last year in the platform road the track does need some further jacking and packing to level it. This is not unexpected as it will settle with time and use - just far less then when what was under the ballast was wet clay! There are volunteers who are expert in such matters such as Richard and John so I left it to them!

David has also been doing further work on the weighbridge office which is really look the part now.

And the inside is also looking good with Weighbridge Bill at his desk...

Looking out on the track weighbridge simulated here with some steel chequer plate.

Pete and Pam have also been busy sprucing up the electrical switching building with a coat of paint. Just the surround to the roof to finish but already looking far better than before.

For me? Well I got the first of the advertising banners out on the main gate.....

...and did a whole host of  grass cutting! 

Welcome to the 2026 grass cutting season!

Braided metal core covered in plastic - makes it sound like an ice cream!

Another day at the Rocks By Rail Museum and not long to the first public events of the year which is why Trevor was painting the bench seat on the platform. Talk about sitting down on the job!

No sitting down for me as I was out with Sammy Strimmer back in the Bone Yard.

And this time I was trying out a new strimmer cord - one with a braided metal core covered in plastic - makes it sound like an ice cream!

It is the silver coloured coil in the picture above whilst the normal nylon cord is the orange tangle! Having tried the metal wire out it does what it says in as much as it goes through thicker vegetation then the nylon cord and lasts a bit longer. As you can see in the photo below, it does wear out - not even metal is beyond the strength of the Bone Yard vegetation!

As usual Treasure Junk Hunt uncovered a few things lost for years such as another blue plastic barrel! 

#

This yet to be fully revealed pile of bricks!

As well as this assorted pile of concrete fence posts, and concrete and wooden sleepers.

By the end of the day there was a fair amount cleared which means less to do next time and hopefully with the new strimmer cord it might be quicker too!