Every working weekend planned over the Winter break sees me on night shift. So as I missed the working weekend I contacted Roger & Bobby and volunteered to go to Bala on Wednesday 30 January.

Also there was David Marchant, Rob, Adrian, Rod and Roy. We were lucky with the weather. It was dry but cool all day. After the usual cup of tea we set to work. The task was changing sleepers in the platform road at Llanuwchllyn station. Bobby joined us whilst Roger entertained the boiler inspector.

So well had we performed that we set to changing those Roger had marked on the run round loop.

It was only as the last two were spiked that the clouds and spots of rain appeared. By then we were too tired to care. In all we had changed 41 sleepers. Before we stopped for the end of the day we collected all the “duds” and stacked them neatly at the bonfire site at the bottom of the yard. An excellent days work.

It helped being at the station and not having to go down the line as this gave extra time for the job, and meant we were handy for tea! You can never have too many cups of tea.

Dave ( in orange) Bobby, Rod, Rob and Adrian. Roy was hiding behind me! - copyright Bob Greenhalgh

The Working Weekend

Saturday saw Chris Scott, Hugh Jones, Bob Newton, Rob Cant with Roger & Bobby. They changed 31 sleepers!

Sunday saw Wendy and Martin Levy instead of Rob Cant plus Chris, Hugh and Bob with much bushwacking taking place in the Bryn Tirion area.

Winter Maintenance

Over the Winter the coaches have had maintenance with open coach 10 getting new wheels. The boiler inspector has examined the loco’s and so far so good. The in steam inspection will be done at a later date.