Another bright cold morning here in Tywyn for the last working party of the year. Allan Black, David Broadbent, Andy Sheffield, Max Birchenough, Charles Benedetto and John Olsen were on hand to complete some of the jobs started last week.
David and John laid down a ramp to allow the Eaton Railway tipper wagon to be moved off its cast rail in preparation for work to tidy away the new extension lead. Andy used the oscillating saw to cut a channel in the woodwork and chiselled out a piece so that the cable could be run through the slot. David cut a length of thin ply to then hold the cable in position. Allan prepared a post for the display text of the triangular FR mile marker and attached it to the back of the display area. Charles modified an existing backing panel for the display text and then attached it and the perspex text holder to the new post. Max gave the glazing of the platform entrance door and the vertical rising door a good clean inside and out ready for the Christmas running period.
In between other jobs the team manoeuvred the Birkby Brickworks tub out and turned it about 180o so that the protruding chain vee is now less likely to cause a visitor a mischief. Just before break time the Eaton Railway tipper was rolled back onto its rail and secured with chocks to prevent any movement of the vehicle or the tipper body.
A general tidy up of the tools was made before we adjourned to the cafe for our festive nibbles, mulled wine and chat. We were joined by Keith Theobald, Mike Green and Luke Ryan as we tucked into Victoria sponge cake, stollen, mince pies, cup cakes and slices of John’s Swiss Toblerone Rack Railway.
Replete we returned to the museum to dress the FR mile marker display with slate chippings and run Henry around the ground floor while checking that all the tools were safely stowed away.
We wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Photos by Allan Black.