Steaming Infrastructure

Lots of projects are being worked on providing new products but a few vital updates to the infrastructure that allows us to steam. Part of this system is a large storage tank of water that supplies the boiler during the day. It was temporarily put in a few years ago and was required to be at a set height, being achieved with the use of wooden pallets. After a couple of winters being soaked in water they had started to disintegrate and the tank was heading down towards the ground.

The solution was to use some of the newly delivered concrete blocks to form some piers and replace the tank back on top... and here it is complete! Doubtful that this will ever rot or sink!

Digitising

Adrian and Christine are busy programming all the books in the shop into our new electronic point of sale system. This was purchased via a grant made available by the Arts Council. It is hoped that not only will it help with keeping an eye on accurate visitor numbers, stock control etc it will also be able to help us claim much more gift aid from the government.

Painting and polishing!

Any one would think we just build extensions and play with railways with the news coming out of the trust recently. Far from it, volunteers are busy doing lots of work elsewhere as well!

The 15hp steam turbine (one of two) has seen a coat of ford blue and all the brass and copper elements skilfully polished with Brasso until everything gleamed! Why not come and see us at our next steaming... Check the website for dates. www.wzlet.org

Concrete concrete and yet more concrete

Today saw 10m3 of concrete poured into a reinforced 50m2 base. Hopefully the rain stays away for tonight until the surface has cured. It is now hoped to start building the walls up to wall plate height. This project is truly flying along, many thanks must be given to our dedicated team of volunteers who have put hours of work into getting things this far.

WZLR plans featured in The Railway Magazine

The April edition of Railway Magazine features a small article on the planned future of the Westonzoyland Light Railway! Hopefully we can act on all the items featured and upgrade the line to carry passengers in the future!

WZLR Sleepers

As we are planning on pouring the concrete floor slab this coming Friday it was thought best to have some new moulds ready for casting sleepers in case some concrete was left over.

The original mould was made to fit some smaller rail. It was decided to make a new set of moulds that fit the profile of the largest rail to be used on the system, and any rail smaller can be shimmed with steel plates to the correct gauge.

One mould finished, which incorporates two sleepers. A jig was also created for the welding of the M12 threaded bar to the 12mm rebar. This then gets pushed in the pre drilled holes in the mould and the concrete poured in.

If time can be found another pair will be made before Friday to make the most of any waste!

WZLR Box Van

Well things have moved on since the completion of the overall chassis. All the pipe work for the air brakes has been completed and tested. The timbers for the base have been bolted on and the frame work and initial stainless steel panels have been cut and erected. The project is awaiting the availability of some aluminium angle to finish the corners. All the panels will be bolted with m6 coach bolts to give a rivet detail.

2/3 of the vehicle will form a secure box van for tool storage and will have a side door and door from the other 1/3 which will be a veranda for carrying the guard! This will feature the emergency air brake release valve and the hand brake for parking.

It is hoped to complete the van by Steam on the Levels in May and get it transported over. However watch this space!