March 4th saw the locomotives unusually all in steam at once and all outside the stock shed together whilst they awaited the visit of the insurance company boiler inspector. Contractors are working on the stock shed roof, which has suffered from the acid effects of smoke over the years causing the retaining nails to rot away leaving the roof in danger of blowing off in a gale. So rather than choke the contractors with smoke the fleet was towed out into the open for the test.

Meanwhile, at Chinnor, J94 68011 ‘Errol Lonsdale’ has passed its annual exam as it staying on hire to the C & PR Rly for at least the first half of their season. Another hire arrangement agreed within the last few days is of the Worcester Loco Society Pannier Tank 5786, which will be visiting the West Somerset Railway for their Spring Gala at the end of March. This will be the first visit away from Buckfastleigh since its relocation in 1993 following the disbanding of Bulmers Cider Centre.

The loco roster for March and April will be published shortly.

4785 was acquired from BR several years ago and has been in store ever since. But now, with on train dining becoming ever more popular it has been decided to progress the repair. Over the years the carriage has begun to show signs of all the usual Mark 1 rust problems – under the windows and at the gutter ends, along the waist etc etc. SDR fitter Dave Watkin, who is a dab hand with a mig welder has got ‘stuck in’ and most of the rot has now been cut off. The interior is in pretty good condition considering with  most of the varnished wood panelling being in good condition. The main requirement will be for a set of tables which will most likely end up having to be made from scratch.

The second opens were designed with only 48 seats compared with the Tourist Second Opens with 64 seats. As a result the table sizes are much more suited to dining, in fact, one of the purposes for which these carriages were built was to run as seating for diners in conjunction with kitchen cars.