Some wonderful pictures of my favourite weekend of the year. Thanks to Katie Richards and Bob Edwardes for the photos.
Activities on the quayside:
People:
L Shed contained Bob’s excellent M Shed model with working trains and cranes, displays about the docks, The Friends were selling cake, and of course Hook-A-Duck was very popular.
Ned also came by with his cute steamboat.
This weekend is the time when we get all the interesting bits and bobs that you don’t usually get to see out on the wharf and bring a 1950s working quayside back to life!
Whats on:
Cargo loading
M Shed in Miniature (OO gauge model railway with working cranes)
Hook-a-duck (win a prize) and model boats
Bristol lorry on display
Steam locomotive on quayside and doing shunting
Docks and docker history
Boat trips on John King (tugboat)
Crane rides
Capstan demonstrations
Actors from Show of Strength Theatre Company interacting and explaining
Cake
Bob’s model railway will also be shown alongside his models of the DD2s formerly on Wapping Wharf.
Today we were preparing the last few bits and pieces.
With the long siding out of use due to trackwork, most of the stock is trapped, so the CONFLAT from the passenger train has been un-passengered by removing the tub, and it will be pressed into use on the quay along with the newly-restored MOGO.
Meanwhile much R&D has gone into making ‘hook-a-duck’ challenging and rewarding (without all the ducks getting stuck).
Come on down this weekend!
The small open passenger wagon, based on a ‘Conflat’, is currently outside the workshop for some maintenance.
The advantage of basing this vehicle on a container wagon is that the whole passenger ‘tub’ can be lifted off, making access easier. Another flat wagon has been brought up to accommodate the tub. It’s handy having huge cranes about the place!
The buffers have been removed from the Conflat, fresh timber added, and refitted.
The MOGO is currently housed in the engine shed while work continues on the roof. The van is pictured outside in the company of ‘Kilmersdon’.
