Colne Valley Railway News

We started the 2015 season with a private hire of the Pullman train at the end of March. This was to celebrate a retirement.  Everything worked well and the weather was good, We've had a change of layout in the bar coach and this was the first time of use - it proved to be a popular change. Easter was good.  We have a new caterer this year and are already getting positive feedback.

 After nearly nine months, Pullman Car Aquila has emerged from the shed looking fantastic.  The mahogany in one end has been replaced and while out of action new carpet was installed - the old one had been patched so many times there was no more patches to be taken!  The chairs have also undergone a transformation being re-upholstered. Two windows had to be removed to get the chairs in and out, quite a delicate job when they came back as exterior had been finished. The name on the side finishes it all off nicely.  Well done to Syd and Ashley for their hard work on this.

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.

The model railway shed now has its walls in place, next step is finishing off the windows. Sunday 12th saw the first Pullman Sunday lunch train since the refurbishment on Aquila and 11th/12th saw a small group of volunteers attend the Essex Country Show at Barleylands.