Worklist:
Practice setting up.
Check for loose wiring.
Fit speaker for signal bell.
Review fascia board 'sample'.
Review and fit the new fiddleyard display unit.
Review coal lorry work.
General titivation.
Running session using the new 'Movement Schedule'.
There was an expectant air about the workshop, it being the penultimate work-session before the show. Following last weeks practice dismantling, it was a practice set-up this week. Before the boards were bolted together, they were individually clamped upright on the trestles for a final check that all wiring was secure. On the platform board, Stephen fitted and wired the speaker for the bell signal and replaced a dodgy wiring connector, just in case. With the layout complete, Stephen presented his progress on the fascia board, the Scale/gauge panel. Laminated 5mm foamboard with Wilkinson self adhesive black vinyl and printed designs. All were happy for Stephen to continue.
A few minor issues arose during setting up, but they were solved by more labelling. Generally, all went well. Geoff had been busy with the framework for a display case for the fiddleyard and its final fitting took place. The perspex front had not yet arrived, but the frame, with shelves and routed track slots looked superb. A small, round platform had been incorporated to support the ends of cassettes, whilst being rotated.
Geoff had also been busy weathering the coal lorry and making more sacks of coal. The coal yard is fast becoming one of the main features of the layout; a busy and colourful area as would the real thing, on the fictitious line.
All of the lights and electrical features were tested and general titivation was undertaken. In this case, a long overlooked red thread was blackened with a magic marker.
Mid-afternoon, the stock came out and running to Geoff's 'Movement Schedule' took place. Rather than a specific running schedule, Geoff had produced a list of possible movements, allowing the operator and fiddleyard manager to use their own initiative. Chaos or interesting variety? We'll find out next week!
Cottesmore Light Railway:
Virtually a shell company now after financial collapse after the second world war. 51% of the shares are now held by Worton Court Estates and Worton Court Minerals. It still owns the line between Burley and Langham Halt which has the interchange siding with British Railways, London Midland Region, and Cottesmore West. This route is regularly used by mineral trains and estate trains. Beyond Cottesmore West the track is still in place through Greetham, Stretton and Clipsham but the traffic to various quarries en-route has recently decreased. The track beyond to Landsdowne Green and Stoke Goldington has been lifted.
Worton Court Minerals Ltd
This provides the majority of traffic through Worton Court to Burley and Langham Halt. The majority shareholder is still the Worton Court Estate. It shares railway engineering and maintenance with the estate, but provides its own rolling stock and staff.
Worton Court Estate Ltd
This operates the Worton Court Estate Railway and provides the minority estate traffic through Worton Court and Burley and Langham Halt. It undertakes all the maintenance of track and infrastructure necessary for the mineral and estate traffic. The main inward traffic is coal and estate supplies, whilst the dwindling outward traffic is agricultural produce.
Worton Court Estate Railway Supporters Group
The supporters group (of volunteers) has come to an agreement with the Worton Court Estate with the hope of eventually operating a passenger service between Burley and Langham Halt, Cottesmore West and Worton Court. It has long term plans to re-open the section to Greetham, Stretton and Clipsham, now that quarry traffic there has virtually ceased. It has acquired the use of the disused locomotive shed and sidings at Cottesmore West and has moved an extensive collection of rolling stock there, much of which is non-serviceable. It has recently upgraded the track over the short section between Cottesmore West and Worton Court and has just been given permission to operate a passenger service under a Light Railway Order.
The opening for the passenger service is at Easter in 1963, making it one of the pioneer narrow gauge preservation groups to operate a railway in England. The scene depicted is a trial service day immediately before the official opening. On this trial day mineral, estate and passenger trains are all running, but the passenger trains are only open to members of the supporters group.
