We've Found the Weekly Budget

So far, the major dating evidence for our hut has come in the form of remnants of the Christmas 1878 issue of The Weekly Budget, revealed for us by paper conservator Stephen Allen,   We do in fact have what appear to be three pages of the newspaper but we decided not to go any further in exposing the contents as the paper was so fragile.

We were bound to wonder what was so interesting about the contents that somebody had stuck the paper to the hut wall.

We had a visit this week from London solicitor Edward Album.   Edward had done some astute legal work when the line was threatened with closure - resulting in BR having to re-start the closure process not once but twice!   This bought precious time and drew attention to the cause.   Edward was the recipient of the now famous letter from Michael Portillo saying that BR had been refused permission to close the line.

The Weekly Budget fragments intrigued Edward.   He took details and promised to make enquiries at the British Library - where he is a member.   The very next day he e-mailed to say that the Colindale Library in London, where the British Library's newspaper collection is held, does indeed have the Christmas 1878 double issue of the Weekly Budget!   Edward has generously agreed to go to the Colindale, see the Weekly Budget and, if possible obtain a copy.

Another discovery.

You Wait for Ages then Three Come Along at Once

Click image to enlarge

My internet appeal for a wagon has indeed paid off.   Here is the latest of three wagons that have been offered to us and, despite appearances it is really just what we wanted.   It is a private owner coal wagon, presently on the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore.   The body is in quite a state but the ironwork is all there.

Not only that, it is free to a good home.   It is just the sort of wagon that would have delivered coal to Settle coal yard, by the water tower, in Midland Railway days.

Summer Wine Gang Revealed

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Several postings on this Blog have mentioned the Last of the Summer Wine Gang at Settle's preserved signal box.   The picture would not win any awards but you get the idea.   Several of them ex railway men they convene every Saturday, come rain or shine to reminisce and put the world to rights.   That stove on the left gets some hammer.

The figure in the maroon jumper is Dr Bill (WR) Mitchell - national treasure and for many years editor of The Dalesman.   His amazing archive of Dales life - and of the Settle-Carlisle line -  is being preserved for posterity, thanks to a dedicated team of archivists and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
See http://www.wrmitchellarchive.org.uk/

Buffers moved by Old Buffers

  Spring sprung over the weekend, briefly one suspects, but long enough for some heroic track work to be done at the water tower.   In preparation for the troublesome truck's arrival we needed to move the immensely heavy buffers sideways about 6 feet and backwards seven feet.

No problem if you have a crane but tricky if man-handling old-style.  We (me and the Summer Wine Gang from the signal box) made it.

Here we are, knackered but unbowed posing in front of the moved track and  buffers.

Left to right are Robin Benzie, Mike Pryal, me, Robin Corbett and Bob Swallow.

No method statements, risk assessments or i-pads were harmed during this operation.

Click image to enlarge - but it is not recommended

Keeping the Line Open

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Some pictures from Network Rail show why the line was closed for a while during the weekend and the machinery needed to keep it open.   These pictures are in the area of Dent Station - the highest in England.

Storm force from the East and hot coffee for the snow plough driver

The weather station has recorded its strongest gust since its installation on the water tower.

57.6 mph at 1136 today, from a direction of 107 degrees.   That is storm force, more or less from the East.   For Settle, that is cold.

The railway has been closed at times over the weekend because of drifting snow.   Scheduled track works today have been shortened and snow ploughs are out again today on the line.

Pat deals with the 'contact us' messages on the Friends of the S&C website.   Yesterday she received this heart warming message from one of the heroes battling to keep the line open:

"I would just like to express my gratitude to your staff at Appleby today. Having been called at short notice to operate a snow clearing engine at Blea Moor with members of the p way staff. We were really grateful for the flask of coffee and biscuits provided as we battled to keep the line open for network rail. It restores your faith in people's kindness and left me speechless. I will be singing your praises to my bosses this week and hopefully I can repay this act of kindness!! Thanks again Willy"

(To give credit where due, the coffee will have come from the S&C Development Company's Appleby kitchen that normally services the trolleys for the S&C's the passenger trains)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

The weather station on top of the tower is earning its keep

Settle weather station

click on the link to see what it's doing right now

Whilst the actual outside temperature is only just below freezing, the apparent temperature is reading -9.1 C due to a gale force easterly wind.   If I was a brass monkey I would stay indoors.