Colne Valley Railway News

Peppa and George paid a return visit to the Colne Valley Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend of 4th & 5th May.  We were lucky with the weather and they were able to stay out on the platform meeting and greeting their fans, young and old.

Now our band of 'Eccentrics' (Loco Restoration Team) have finished WD190 and taken delivery of more workshop space they have started the restoration of 1950 built 0-6-0ST Jupiter.  The wheels have been removed, these will have to go away to have work carried out but it is hoped a lot of it can be done on site.

Thomas has made his first visit of the year.  We had two very busy weekends and lots of excited children.  Thomas and Daisy the Diesel ran on the main line and Mavis gave rides in Toad on our demonstration line.  It was 'All Change' this year as the trains ran continuously, Sir Topham Hatt was very pleased with Thomas and his crew for working so hard on some very warm days. Thomas was also visiting the garden railway with James and Percy All in all it's been a very busy couple of weeks with school visits and a private coach tour inbetween the Thomas weekends.  Thomas leaves today but will be back in September

All available diesels in our fleet should be in action at our Diesel Gala on Sunday 17th March. We hope to have running  class 121 Bubble car W55033, Class 141 Pacer 141108 - which has now had its engine problems fixed and hopefully will be seen in action more this year. 03s D2041 and D2184 will be topping and tailing on the passenger coaches whilst 31255 and 08683 will top and tail on the freight train where you can ride in the brake van or the tube wagon. Gates open at 10:30, first train 11:30 with a proposed 10 minute service.  

Pullman carriage Aquila went into the shed after Christmas to undergo replacement of carriage end.  The other end was done in 2010 with the help of a grant, this time round we have no funding help.  The work is expected to take around 8 months, but it all depends on what is uncovered. The end has been removed, it now waits to have measurements taken for all the new wood.

Easter Sunday and Monday we attended the Medway Festival of Steam and Transport at the Historic Chatham Dockyard. CVR based Victory was making a guest appearance at the docks where she had spent her working life. Both days Victory and Ajax top and tailed a freight train. Sunday was a busy day but unfortunately the constant drizzle all day Monday kept exhibitors and visitor numbers low.