October 2007
July 2007
August 2006
April 2006
August 2005
January 2005
Like the Phoenix rising from the fire, The Hidden Railway News appears again.
The 2006 season has started with much to report, the construction of the new sidings is almost complete. Now we have two sets of points and at last the run around loop, with a centre siding road to be built this Spring. The future need for more sidings has been included in the plan with the inclusion of a spur that could finally run up to the back of 83B, where carriages might be built. We also welcome three more valuable new volunteers, Steve Reid, Grahame Browne & John McCarthy from EDF Energy.
However, the Major Breaking News is that the part sectioned boiler of ex. RAR Vulcan Foundry 18” gauge locomotive MARS Works No. 1160 built 1885 will be coming to WARGM, nearer her original home at Chatham Fortifications, although she spent most of her working life at Longmoor Military Railway. This boiler was on display at the Museum of Army Transport at Beverley, Yorkshire until 2004, then kept stored at Shildon. Ownership has been transferred from Talyllyn Narrow Gauge Railway Museum to WARGM Co. and the boiler will be restored and displayed in the large artefacts section of the Mills museum. This is a further expansion of our future 18” gauge railway history centre.
March saw the arrival of 2’ 6” rolling stock from the system at RNAD Trecwn in Pembrokeshire, Wales. This delivery comprised four Box Vans 5 ton capacity built by Cravens Wagon & Coach Works of Leeds, thought to be circa 1940’s and two Flat Wagons of similar make and construction. The Box vans will form the nucleus of the Passenger stock and were acquired with funds kindly donated by both Railway Volunteers and members of the WARGM board.
The steady supply of rail and sleepers has always dictated our track laying efforts. Now by luck scouring the railway press we have obtained sufficient nearly new 35lb. flat bottom rail (20 tonnes) and 680 concrete sleepers to track lay as far as Hoppit Road (Beaulieu Drive) at the bottom end of the site. This deal includes two complete sets of points; this material came originally from the 2’ 6” system at
Shoeburyness in Essex.
The task ahead is a real challenge, but as usual the will and energy of the Railway Group will be undaunted, however the time is right to ask all interested railway enthusiasts out there, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER? We normally work Wednesday’s, Thursday’s & Saturday’s. Please come and visit the Mills Industrial Railway and see what we have achieved to date.
RJP
WARGM Railway
