News Archive - 2007's news from the line.

2007 saw one of the railway's most successful years ever, with a great attendance at all of our major events. Several much needed developments also started during 2007, namely the restoration of part of Brechin Station's 1848 wing into a Station Master's flat, and restoration of the bottom floor took a great leap forward with funding being secured for new windows and doors. Funding was also allocated for the extension of our platform at Brechin, which will allow us to run longer trains and offer more seats to our passengers at busy events. Much of this funding was secured by volunteer Tommy Henderson, who along with everyone else who helped the railway during 2007, deserves a big thank you!

Another great milestone for the railway during 2007 was the purchase of steam locomotive No. 2107 'Harlaxton' from our good friends at the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group (ARPG). This will help secure the future of our operations as a steam railway, and will compliment the privately owned steam locomotives also resident at the railway. The purchase will also allow the ARPG to invest in their site.

The continued operation and aims of the railway depends entirely on our volunteers, so thank you to everyone who has helped us during 2007, and welcome to anyone who wants to help us carry on our important work during 2008.

Lets hope 2008 is another bumper year for OUR railway!

-10 December 2007-

Santa Specials - first weekend a success…

Santa made his first visit to the railway last Sunday, sparing some time from his busy schedule for the 4 return trips. Despite the poor weather there was a good turnout, with most passengers remaining onboard when the train was stopped at Bridge of Dun.

As usual the trains were top and tailed with diesel traction at the Bridge of Dun end and Steam at the Brechin end. No. 2107 ‘Harlaxton’ provided the steam haulage and heating for the 5 coach train, with diesel locomotive No. 27024 ably assisting. Be sure and catch Santa at one of his other 4 visits to the railway this year! 

Platform Extension started… 

Work on the extension of Platform 1 at Brechin is now under way; this will allow an increased train length of up to eight coaches. It is events such as Santa and Thomas when this extension is really required. The area to the right of the extension will be panel fenced when work has been completed.

Track work wagon restoration underway…

The first new section of wooden decking has been installed in wagon No. KDB900105; a special low deck wagon used by the PWay Gang (Track work team).

David Crabb used a newly acquired tent to cover the wagon while work took place. This allowed the frames to be shot blasted and needle gunned before priming and the application of a specialist metal-protecting paint system. The new wooden deck was then fitted to complete the first of six sections. Another couple of days of work should see the next section installed.

First picture of Brechin shed concrete floor progress...

14 Month track engineering plan agreed…

After an autumn which mainly focused on overhauling the railway’s twelve ton rail crane, track work starts again this December (2007). Permanent Way (PWay) repairs are vital to the continued running of our services. These take place on many days throughout the year, especially during the closed season.

On the 15th & 16th December, the team plan to tackle some spot sleepering (replacing rotten or damaged sleepers on the line).

Starting on the 24th December, the group plans to work at Bridge for the best part of two weeks installing extra siding space to cater for the railway’s vast amount of stored rolling stock.

The New Year will see major work beginning at Bridge of Dun. The aims are to renew the two main points to the west of the station, as well as re-align the curve approaching the station. A new ground frame to control the points will be installed while the work is underway.

Over the summer there are plans for a regular inspection and minor maintenance
program, as well as one weekend of spot sleepering a month.

September 2008 to Christmas will hopefully see 300ft of straight track
overhauled with new sleepers and ballast. Christmas 2008 will see the focus of
work move to Brechin where the team have a point and a portion of straight
track to renew.

 Please remember: This is YOUR railway; the long term aims of the organisation rely entirely on our volunteers. If you would like to become a member, or a working volunteer, please visit Join the Team.

-27 November 2007-

Crane overhaul update...

Following completion of its mechanical overhaul, the railway's 12 ton rail
crane was back in action last Sunday, for the first time since Easter.
Unfortunately body painting works have not been completed as a result of the
poor summer weather experienced earlier this year. Further painting has been
suspended until the warmer, (drier?) weather returns in 2008. Even so, the
completed yellow jib brightened up a cold November day in Brechin station.

The railway's 12 tonne rail crane was in use last Sunday to help get Brechin Station cleared in readiness for the extension of Platform 1. The crane has been fitted with a new engine and the jib has been repainted.

Thanks to Dougal Watson for the update.

Brechin platform extension preparation...

With the imminent start of platform extension works at Brechin, a section of the
former North Eastern Farmers siding adjacent to the main running line was
lifted. To allow  access for the contractor's plant from the car park a large
number of 'temporarily' stored 60 foot long rails were loaded onto one of the
railway's many flat wagons for onward transportation and more permanent storage
at Bridge of Dun.

The opportunity was also taken to remove a number of spare wagon chassis from Brechin to sidings Bridge of Dun as part of the general tidying up program at Brechin station.

The preparation work underway in Brechin station yard. 

Thanks to Dougal Watson for the update.

News from Bridge of Dun...

Diesel loco volunteers were busy on Saturday constructing new concrete ramps at the entrance to their shed. This will allow easier access for the various heavy and outlandish 'useful' things, which they are frequently to be found dragging in! Previously, items had to be 'bumped up' the large steps which formerly existed - a time consuming and labour intensive activity.

Thanks to Jed Scott for the update.

-24 November 2007- 

Lots of work has taken place on current projects during the last few months. Hopefully over the next few weeks they can be reported on the site as reports are written. 

- 22 June 2007 -

"The Basin Rambler" bus service...

The free bus service linking the railway with the House of Dun, Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre and Montrose Air Station heritage centre will be running on the 22nd, 29th July and 5th, 12th August. The bus is operated by the Angus Transport Group, a vintage vehicle group based in Montrose. A timetable for the service, as well as further details, can be found here. (external link)

TicketWeb sales...

Tickets for our Day Out With Thomas events can now be purchased online through TicketWeb. The aim is to allow more flexibility for our customers allowing them to pay by credit card as well as cheque. A link to the railway's TicketWeb page is here.

Crane news...

The overhaul of our 12T rail crane is progressing at Bridge of Dun. The jib is currently being painted in undercoat after being cleaned back to bare metal and primed. A new flexible coupling to interface with the engine and generator has arrived.  The new engine, bought from Perkins, is to be installed over the next couple of weeks.

Brechin Station work...

The platform columns and doors have received a new coat of paint. The coat of green and cream has been gradually applied over the past few months, making the station look a lot smarter for the summer season.

Funding update...

Scammell Scarab Update...

The BRPS's Scammell has been progressing quite quickly over the past month or so. All of the chassis components have been cleaned up and painted with a coat of red oxide. Some of the chassis has required patch welding due to areas of corrosion. This work has been completed and is awaiting finishing before being painted into a coat of chassis black. The top of the cab has been painted in cream gloss. The engine and drive train, as well as a some other areas, are still awaiting attention.

The Scammell cab after some much needed TLC. The 'bonnet' is receiving some attention behind the cab.



Some of the chassis components that have been cleaned and painted.

Thanks to Graeme Muir for the update and pictures.

- 08 June 2007 -

Steam news...

Barclay No. 1863

Barclay 1863 in Platform 1 at Brechin. The driver is completing the oiling tasks before the passengers arrive for the first train of the day. Sunday 3rd June.

She was out this weekend on a driver experience day on Saturday as well as normal June services on the Sunday. She worked faultlessly on both days. The results of the winters work are clear to see – the steaming is now excellent with the new blastpipe cap and all the smokebox holes sealed up. The new drawbars springs have gone a long way to eliminating the shuggling motion she used to impart to the first coach. She will be out on every weekend in June.

Barclay No. 2107 ‘Harlaxton’

She was out on the service trains in late May (see picture below - 31 May update) and the problem of the warm driving axlebox has returned. This is an odd fault – the axlebox gets quite warm, but never hot; and only in the summer – it runs stone cold in the winter. We have decided to jack her up and have a look at it and to this end we made a start on stripping down her motion for lifting last week. We expect to have the inspection finished well before her next scheduled runs in early July.

Pecketts No.'s 1376, 1889 and 2153

No news to report here recently – all the effort has gone into the two working locos.

Thanks to Steve Pegg from the steam shed for the update.

First day of June services...

Barclay 1863 worked the passenger turns during the day, whereas Class 37 no. 37097 "Old Fettercairn" took care of the empty coaching stock movements. A few pictures of the day are below.

The two locomotives used during the day were Barclay 1863 and 37097 "Old Fettercairn". This Barclay is in platform 1 about to work a service to Bridge of Dun.

The Barclay in platform 2 at Bridge of Dun, having ran around its train. There is a reasonable amount of passengers considering it's only the beginning of the season.

I wonder if the train staff will look as cheery at the end of the season! Ticket inspector Sam Hamilton; Guard Andy McPhee and new volunteer John Ruddy pose for a photograph.

School's day...

Every year the railway gives local schools and nurseries the chance to bring their children for a ride on the train. This year the school's day was held on Friday 8th June and saw more than 600 children do the 8-mile round trip of the line. Two seven-coach trains were run during the day to accommodate the large number of children in attendance.

Crane pictures...

The pictures of the overhaul of our 12T crane, which were promised last week, can be seen here (external link)

Thanks to Dougal Watson for providing the crane photos.

- 31 May 2007 -

First steam day of the 2007 season...

The bank holiday weather didn't stop passengers turning out for the first day of the season. 2107 "Harlaxton" worked all passenger trains on Sunday 27th May, with the empty coaching stock (ECS) movements done by 27024. A couple of pictures of the day are below.

A few interested passengers look on as 2107 "Harlaxton" is coupled up to the first train of the season.

27024 sitting at the buffer stops as the steam hauled train departs for Bridge of Dun. 

Cubs centenary special...

The Angus cub scouts chartered a train on Saturday 26th May to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scouting movement. A special headboard was constructed by the cub group for the event, which was attended by around 300 children. The cub scouts left Brechin station at 10.30am for a fun filled afternoon at Bridge of Dun. A great time was had by all...

A few of the cub scouts and train crew. The headboard was specially made for the event. The local press seems to have got the best shot!

The train ready to depart for Bridge of Dun at 10.30am. Class 27 no. 27024 was used for the charter.

Crane work... 

- 25 May 2007 -

Website notes...

Dougal Watson, one of our regular volunteers, has set up an excellent railway fotopic site. This is updated regularly with work from around the railway. Named Caledonian Railway Unofficial, it can be viewed here. Well worth adding to your favourites!

Bridge work...

Balwyllo bridge near Bridge of Dun has recently received a makeover. The bridge has had a full clean and paint, and the abutments have seen extensive pointing work. New height warning signs were purchased from RBLI and fitted to the Bridge, finishing it off nicely!

Balwyllo bridge in the sun on 25/05/2007. The new signs having just been fitted.

Naming Ceremony...

The highlight of this year's diesel gala was undoubtedly the naming ceremony which took place on the Saturday at 2pm. Our class 37, number 37097 was named "Old Fettercairn"  by David Doig, the manager of Fettercairn distillery. The locomotive was named in recognition of a donation kindly given by the distillery towards repairs to the class 37's engine. Steve Moir, chairman of our Diesel Group presented Mr Doig with a framed print of the locomotive and visitors were invited to have a dram of whiskey to toast the locomotive.

Some of the volunteers and owners around the now named 37.

37097 "Old Fettercairn" looking brilliant at the buffer stops in Brechin Station.

Shunter repairs...

Another step forward in the repair of our Ruston 48DS has been the removal of the transmission from the the loco. Ian and Duncan, a couple of our midweek volunteers, have taken on the project of returning the locomotive to working order.  Graham Volkes spent several weeks dismantling the transmission ready for the lift, which also required the removal of the cab roof. Hopefully the wee Ruston will soon be working hard again. Pictures of this can be found here (external link).

WLEP (Wagon Life Extension Programme)... (!)

As part of the refurbishment of Flatrol EAB No.KDB900105, one of the ends has been needle gunned to remove all of the scale and then primed. The deck of the wagon has been removed for replacement. New wood has been purchased for the new deck and will be fitted as time permits.

The original chain pockets, which would have been used to store the chains for securing the load when the wagon was unloaded, have been removed due to extensive corrosion. These will be replaced by new sections of deck, installed using the same method as the rest of the deck, this requires four new steel cross members to be fabricated and installed.

22nd of February 2007

At present we are in the middle of our most ambitious trackwork programme to date. On the 14 January 2007 we lifted 21 of the 32 foot long track panels for refurbishment from the Windyedge straight. This event marks the culmination of many years work with the elimination of the final batch of “Caley” chairs from the running line. These track panels are being replaced by panels with the superior AS1 type chair, fastened with screws rather than the four pins of the Caley system. The section of line has long been subject to speed restrictions and its removal is a major step forward for the railway.  It also marks the point where we have now re-laid over a mile of track on the mainline with new sleepers, or one quarter of the branch.

The same system as previous has been used again, with the panels being lifted onto wagons for refurbishment at Bridge of Dun. Here 294 sleepers are to being changed and the chairs replaced. As of 11 February we have changed 196 sleepers.

The rail crane in action lifting the final Caley chairs (painted white)

The same sleeper is seen being removed at Bridge of Dun, where we intend to preserve it as an example of the kind of track materials we inherited.

Click here for 2006 news