Daily Archives: March 13, 2011

In all the excitement of taking money today I forgot to mention the excitement yesterday.

Although not a running day I went and opened the building for the S&T crew, they are changing the signalling for trains entering the Fletton Loop.

Here are two of the crack team of three having a break from the strain of work.

  Please note that Keith on the left is drinking from a flask cup.

  I am sure this is to avoid having to part with money into Arkwright’s till. But fear not we have now worked out a scale of charges for the corkage charge on food and drink items bought from home for consumption at the station. Though he did redeem himself later on when he purchased something

This signal work has meant that a new diagram has been drawn for the signalling at Orton Mere. Here is a picture of the second of the intrepid duo pictured above clutching it before it was mounted into the signal box again.

  It is as you can see a work of art and will no doubt at some stage in the future become a collectors item amongst that rare breed of collector that wants to add to their collection of large frames filled with glass!

  If you click on either of the images you will see a larger version, I am sure that knowledge will make your day and your cursor will fly to the left at great speed!!

Note also in the background of the second image you can see the third member of the gang of three in a strange position facing the signal box, rumour has it he was looking for a penny he dropped but this at the time of writing can’t be proved.

Now joking apart the S&T crew are like the Civils I featured a few blog entries ago some of the often un-noticed volunteers on the railway who turn out often in all weathers to do work and maintenance that is essential to the safe running of the railway.

This being the case it was no problem to open up so they could sit down for lunch in the cold and also use the staff toilet, especially as it now has a lock on it that needs to have 50p inserted to open it, not only I should add to open it to go in but also on the other side to get out again! I forecast this will be a nice little money earner for the railway. I love the concept that we give working members free tea but charge them to get rid of it!

Today stared off as looking to be another dreary dismal and slightly damp day, but turned out to be not too bad at all in the end.

Drizzle disappeared and we were left with a bit of sunshine and quite mild conditions.

We saw humans as well with a fair number of visitors to the station and they came bearing gifts, well actually bearing money!

We had one of those rare days where the shop took more than we took in tickets. We had the community payback lads nearby and they took a fancy to the giant wrapped cookies which we ran out of by the close of play.

Nice people as well with not one daft question all day, and miracle of miracles ALL the trains were on time, I can’t remember when we last had a 100% record in a single day for train timings. Normally we even manage to run a single train late!

Nigel and Sally popped in so nice to have a natter with them which we will no doubt continue when they help on the Saturday of the mixed gala. Jerry paid a visit with his daughters as well and they spent money, he is training them well! Again a nice but short natter with him.

What really pleased me though was the fact that Brian doing another day with me actually saw customers. He looked a happy chappie when he departed.

Stock was distributed to the other two stations as as well with our normal efficiency which was nice.

All in all a darn nice productive day.