Thompson Park Miniature Railway, Burnley, Lancashire UK

Narrative by Bret Harrison, Track Maintenance and photos by Bret and Richard Walker, Society Chairman’

Welcome to our July 2024 newsletter.  Again, lots to report but July has been dominated by busy running days, especially when we run on Wednesdays when school holidays occur. Wednesdays are our normal maintenance days and at this time of year running takes priority and we have to fit maintenance in as we can.

July did not start well as when we went to get Union Pacific 6659 out of bed an ominous pool of gunge under the loco proved to be a badly cracked engine cylinder block. 6659 and our other UP 6602 are the mainstay basis of our motive power and both are very reliable but at age 29 and still with her original Honda engine 6659 has earned the right to be poorly for once I guess. Nothing for it but to purchase a new engine. The replacement engine was basically the same, but the passage of time meant that certain adaptments were needed to fit the new engine in the locomotive,

6659 is 29 years old as I said, and we have had her for18 years. She was acquired from a railway in Ayia Napa in Cyprus and shipped over here in a container which incidentally also contained Sarah, a member’s steam locomotive which lives on the railway and regularly runs.  The loco guys got 6659 back into service on July 21st so well done to them however a settling in hiccup led to the drive belt from the engine to the transmission developing a split and needing a replacement. Not a big job and she will be as good as new soon. I am told that she will be going for a repaint in our close season but into what livery?  intriguing? any guesses? It will be a surprise, but I can assure you it will be North American!!!

We have built a new garden near to the sheds where the inner and outer loops nearly converge. It is very new and immature but already looks nice. 

The other gardens are in their first year and looking well, we are very pleased with them even though we must water them regularly which adds to our activities since summer decided to arrive.

 We continue to make slow progress with the signal post we are building though again little time is available with summer running. We have completed the main post and some of the top sections of the signal, but all the different bits need assembling yet. Some of these bits have been primer painted but we still have a fair way to go with it.

We finally got the petrol powered strimmer going and running evenly, now all we need is someone to operate it. It is very effective. Encroaching grass is a problem all over the railway.

One of our driver rides on coaches which are necessary for small locos has been fitted with a compressor and airbrake equipment to provide train braking. This will be useful when visiting locomotives which are vacuum braked will be able to haul trains using the remote brake valve control which can be temporarily attached to the vac, loco. All our coaching stock and locomotives are fitted with air brakes.

 We had several steam locomotives visit the railway on Sat 27th and a steam only service was working for the day. We trust the visiting owners enjoyed their day.

In July our chairman filmed a hyperlapse video of the station with his drone. A hyperlapse video is where 20 minutes of video with the drone in a fixed position is compressed into 20 seconds and gives the appearance of everything moving fast. Since posting the video on our Facebook page and the 7 ¼ Facebook page it has had 1450 plays

I think that concludes my newsletter, let’s hope the sunshine continues.