Steam arrival at Shildon

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, we had a week in Wales and this week has gone into meltdown - there will be a much larger update soon! However, I couldn't let today pass. We have over the next two weeks two Peppercorn designed locos visiting at Shildon and the first arrived today, NELPG's K1 No. 62005, known as "Lord of the Isles". It was due at 14.28, and an hour beforehand, Richard Pearson and I went to Shildon signal box to discuss the move on to our site. With the signaller's permission, I took this picture to share with you of the manual box, which controls the line to Heighington and Bishop Auckland. Please note, although it is an interesting and historic box, it is still operational, and casual visits are not permitted. Not far off time, 62005 and coach running as 5Z68 (the train reporting number), passed Richard & I at our ground frame and we reversed the train onto our site. Again, this photo was taken on Network Rail land with full PTS certification.

We then worked the engine into our sidings where it dropped the support coach and then moved over the pit for servicing, before stabling on the apron outside the museum building.

Inside the museum, NELPG's other loco on site, J72 69023 is being lined out, alongside Furness 20 whose boiler has been repainted and varnished this week.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the A1 "Tornado" is due to arrive in the late afternoon - I hope to include pictures during the evening some time.