No. 149 October 2002
Keeping working members informed

Another record-breaking Season!

Summer Operations
Now that the daily operations are over for another year it is a good time to take stock and review the Summer.

From a revenue perspective, the Summer 2002 was very good and quite a bit busier than last year. A number of the things that we undertook this year were particularly pleasing with some parts of the operation bearing fruit and justifying our perseverance.

To single a few things out, the Strawberry Specials yielded a decent profit this year, the Vintage Trains on Sunday and DMU on Saturday helped to provide a more frequent service on busy Summer weekends and the experiment to run the L&Y Saloon with the main Mk I train provided much interest amongst our passengers.

But the real success story as far as the Executive Committee and I are concerned was, once again, the excellent commitment made by our volunteers in running the service.

We managed to run every advertised service in a very busy peak season and, although things were tight, sufficient staff were on duty for every rostered operating position. It wasn't always plain sailing, as those responsible for rostering will confirm, but we all pulled together and made 2002 our most successful season ever.

Bearing in mind that our railway costs, on average, Ł1000 per day before we start thinking about developments like the new shed, it is of paramount importance that we are commercially successful - the operation of trains provides the basis for that commercial success.

So, as we mover towards the quieter Autumn and Winter service, although Santa Trains do provide welcome income in the leaner months, we can look back on a successful and profitable Summer.

Pat yourselves on the back and take with you the thanks of myself and the Executive Committee for a job well done. Your contribution really counts to make our railway the success it is, and will be in the future with your help!

Yours sincerely
David Barlow

Holywell Day
The day was a big success and Bob Bonsall would like to thank all who took part. The halt is looking very much better and, when finished, will look really smart. Work continues and the team hope to have more than half the platform complete by the time of the Santa trains.

Wartime Weekend
The Wartime Weekend was another big success. Dave and Kate would like to thank all who gave their help and contributed to the weekend, especially Wendy Anderson, Chris Ridd, Dave Oughtibridge, Stuart and Matthew Bell, Andy Lister, Wendy Mitchell and Bryan Maltby. The weekend turned out to be the best yet! Ł150 surplus from the dance has been put into the shed fund. Dave and Kate will be having a meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss this year's and next year's 1940's Weekend. If anyone is interested in becoming more involved in the organising please contact them as they do need more help.

Harvest of Steam
The weekend was a success, with everything running smoothly and four engines in steam. The only slight hitch was the failure of the Fowler diesel, which had to be replaced by D2203 for shunting.

Annie, Cranford, Monckton and 68005 were the locos in use and all performed well on the Mark I, Vintage and Goods trains.

Wendy Anderson did a marvellous job as the organiser.

Santa Season
The Santa trains will soon be upon us. Volunteers are always needed and welcome, especially Santas. Please consider joining in, even just for a day.

Members' Bonfire
A bonfire party for the members is to be held on Saturday 2nd November, lighting-up time at 19:00. Some food and drink will be available; bring your own fireworks - a few big ones rather than lots of little ones, and plenty of sparklers!

Bolton Abbey News
The station forecourt is looking a lot smarter, and Andy Lister and his team are now working on reconstructing a porters' lodge from Hellifield station at the end of the platform. This is a rare Midland Railway timber building.

Embsay News
The weigh house at Embsay has been shortlisted for an award, so hopefully, the railway will have another plaque to put up soon.

Diesel and Plant News
Work on maintaining the Railway's diesels continues. The Ruston has been repainted and painting of the Hudswell is in progress; the Barclay and the 04 will be the next locos to be painted. the Robel track machine is to be overhauled for the P-Way Dept.

The backlog of general maintenance is getting much smaller; Tony Wright says that progress would be faster if he had more workers - interested?

S&T News
The signal box at Bolton Abbey was open to visitors for the first time during the Harvest of Steam weekend. It is looking very smart now, and the power frame is complete.

Carriage & Wagon News
Mike Froud and Mike Owen have been working hard at Bolton Abbey. No 9 coach is nearly finished, as is one of the DMU units (two of the DMU units are going to Wensleydale soon). Another BR 'vanwide' van has arrived on site.

People
Steve Clunas has started driver training for Arriva Trains. He will be spending the next six months in the classroom at York. We wish him well.

Dave Hebden has model railway locos for sale. He has a selection of Lima, Dapol and Mainline locos; contact him.

The subject of model railways reminds me that the shop at Embsay is having a clearance sale of Bachmann locos at 30% off and die-cast models at 50% off.

Model Railway Bachmann Survey
This survey was organised by Simon Gott at the shop at Embsay; members, shop customers and mail-order customers took part. The results have now been put together and sent to Bachmann.

Unsurprisingly, LMS stock was favoured, but GWR and LNER were also popular. The overwhelming favourite was 2-6-0 Ivatt 2F, well over third of you chose this loco (c. 40%). Of the other LMS models, the Stanier coaches were also very popular (c. 30%), as was 2-4-2T L&Y 2P and 4-6-0 Highland Jones Goods. The 4-4-0 Compound 4P and 0-4-4T Johnson 1P attracted considerable interest, as did LNWR loco 0-6-2T Webb and Stanier 2-6-4T 4P.

Of GWR stock, the autocoach was most popular and the Cambrian Dukedog, B set coach, 0-4-2T 14xx and 42xx 2-8-0T were also very popular.

Among LNER models, there was a close contest - the K3 was the bare winner. The 0-6-0 J11 EC Pom-pom and 0-6-0T GER J70 (Toby the Tram Engine) were also popular.

There was another close contest with SR models - the 4-4-0 LSWR T9 was the most popular by one vote; the 4-4-2T Adams Radial and 0-4-4T LSWR M7 also very popular.

The Class 20 was the most popular BR model, over a quarter of you chose this loco, despite Lima model.

Other BR diesels and DMUs were popular - the Classes 101,107, 150, 153, 56, 58 all attracted a fair few votes.

Mark II coaches were also popular - possibly building on the success of Mark Is??

Touch wood and whistle that Bachmann will produce some of the above.

Thank you to all who took part.

Addition to Embsay station staff
Simon Gott says that we have acquired a new station cat. 'Sooty' has been visiting us regularly and is friendly - a little too friendly for some people as this latest working member likes to inspect the premises thoroughly. John Breare has regularly thrown Sooty out of the shop and he/she takes every opportunity to look inside other buildings. Could I warn other station staff to ensure they do not imprison Sooty in the cabmen's shelter, the bric-a-brac shop or Platform 2 waiting room when locking up at night, especially now we aren't running every day.

Wanted
Colin Davies says that the loco crews urgently need rags for cleaning etc. no bras or knickers, please, as some loco crew members may be tempted to try them on!

200 Club
Don't forget to renew your subscriptions. Write to Alan Turner.

Editor: Lesley J Bird
ljbirdyork@yahoo.com

To contact the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, e-mail
enquiries@embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

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