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On Track
Newsletter for Volunteers of the
South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society
July 2004 Edition

Volunteer Vacancies
  1. The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society requires a Treasurer. This post is an appointment by the Council of Management and the holder is not required to be an elected Member of the Council. The post requires one person to be in overall control of the entire finances of the Society. If possible, the person appointed should have a financial background and provide references. Anyone wishing to volunteer for this post is asked to talk to Mike Ryan, John Sutton or any Member of Council or Society Officer.

  2. A Special Events Co-ordinator is required to organise the Teddy Bear�s Picnic, Halloween and Santa Special events. Anyone wishing to volunteer for this post is asked to talk to Ivan Ward or John Sutton.
    3.

Books Required

Wanted Urgently - Books - preferably paperbacks, in good condition, to be sold on the station platform at Kirkhaugh. Our �Holiday Reading� box is very popular with our passengers, so much that we have almost run out of books to sell! Please have a rummage through your bookshelves.

A Message from the Chairman

As from the Annual General Meeting, to be held in November 2004, as you may be aware, I finish my three years as Chairman of the Society. From this time for at least two years, you will be seeing a lot less of me. I will be writing in Tynedalesman in detail and for the Annual General Meeting report, about what we have achieved over the past three years of my Chairmanship. The Society could not have done, as much work as we have done, without your support. It has been an honour to lead such a talented company of volunteers and members, and I am grateful to all of you for allowing me that privilege.

The Outdoor Week, next year, is the tenth one and biggest yet, and will be taking place between 22nd May 2005 and 29th May 2005, we could be extending the railway. I ask as many Society members as possible to be there, please.

John Sutton

News from recent Council of Management Meetings,
held on 29th May 2004 and 17th July 2004.

  • Security

Following the burglary during Easter, the Crime Prevention Officer has outlined a series of recommendations and additional security measures are being implemented on railway properties.

  • Health and Safety Officer

Dr. Liesel Von Metz has been appointed as the Health and Safety Officer for the railway. This role will involve:-

  1. The collection and assessing of the medical self-certification forms for volunteers and advising the Council of any restrictions to be applied.

  2. The conduction of regular safety audits.

  3. Monitoring the individuals responsible for undertaking :-
  1. the annual inspection of all electricial equipment;
  2. the annual inspection of all carriages and ensuring that all works of a safety-related nature are carried out on coaching stock are recorded and signed-off;
  3. the six-monthly inspection of all ladders, steps and all lifting gear;
  4. that all work on locomotives has been recorded;
  5. that all boilers and pressure vessels have been inspected under a separate scheme;
  6. that all new works on signals has been recorded
  7. that a list of persons approved as competent to operate plant and machinery has been made and kept up-to-date.
  • 2005 Timetable

It was decided that the 2005 timetable would include:-

  1. Special events which will include the Teddy Bears� Picnic, Halloween and Santa Specials.
  2. A celebration of the return to service of steam locomotive Thomas Edmondson in 2005.
  3. At least an extra mid-week day in June and September 2005 - 8 days in all.
  4. The use of a steam locomotive on passenger trains on Saturdays during the month of July 2005. (Subject to availability).
  5. At least one extra day of Santa Specials in 2005.
  6. Also that no training of volunteers would be arranged during special events.
  7. It was agreed that the 2005 timetable and information leaflet should include a membership form and that the back page of the leaflet would be re-designed, moving the advert for the Model Railway Centre to another page.
  • Council of Management - Officer moves and other matters

Mr. Mike Le Marie has been appointed to the Council of Management under the provisions of Article 45. Mr. Le Marie will stand for election at the November 2004 Annual General Meeting.

Mr. Mike Ryan will resign as Treasurer with effect from 31st March 2005. The Council of Management wish to express their thanks to Mr. Ryan for all of his hard work and in particular making the Society accounts understandable.

Messrs. Mike Ryan, John Sutton and Ivan Ward are not standing for election or re-election as Ordinary Members of the Council at the November 2004 Annual General Meeting.

Dr. Liesel Von Metz has been confirmed as the compiler of Tynedalesman.

A special meeting of the Council will be held in September to discuss Operator Training, the Rule Book and appointments of Persons in Charge. Any observations should be sent to Mr. Jim Harper for possible inclusion in the draft of the revised edition of the Rule Book.

It was agreed that the Railway will appoint a Traction Inspector for the purpose of:-

  1. Driving under test and on proving trials, with or without passengers, all new or rebuilt locomotives. He will train the examiners on such locomotives when released for traffic.
  2. Driving any fleet locomotive in traffic, with or without passengers, for the purpose of recovery, testing for fault diagnosis and repair, and proving trials.

The Traction Inspector will be the Head of Engineering, or such person nominated by him for the approval of the Council of Management. The Traction Inspector will hold a valid passenger driving (steam) ticket.

The Society has agreed to accept responsibility for the toilets at Alston Station until 31st March 2007, when Eden District Council�s contract with TFE expires, after which the situation will be reviewed.

An application is to be made to DEFRA (Cumbria) for finance for the upgrading of the railway footpath from the middle of Gilderdale Viaduct to Alston, the re-instatement of the platform at Gilderdale and the provision of two picnic areas at Gilderdale and near the three-quarter mile post.

It was agreed, in principle, subject to clarification of the details, to accept the offer made by the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway to provide the labour for regauging and rebuilding the Society�s Jacker Packer and to return it to Alston ready for use. In return, the LBNGR will be able to use it for two months of each year for five years free of charge. Two Society members have offered to provide the money for the required parts.

Repairs to the Mess Room at Alston will be commence in September 2004.

  • Treasurer�s Report (from Mike Ryan)

The total passenger figures for the first 58 days of the 2004 operating season are down by 4% when compared to those for the same number of days in 2003. The 2004 total is 8,378 compared to 8,753 for last year, 2003. The very changeable summer weather has not helped, and the number of rival attractions continues to increase. However, the railway must press on. A change in the weather to a prolonged fine and sunny period could improve the position considerably.

As at 19th July 2004, sales in the Alston Station shop have increased by 3%. The Slaggyford Extension Appeal Fund has raised �16,700 so far, the actual balance being �15,400.

  • Commercial Report (from Ivan Ward)

Ivan stated that he would like to thank all of the members and non-members who rallied round and helped to keep the railway shop at Alston Station, open during the difficult period after Easter. He very much appreciated their support at what was for him a very trying time.

Ivan also announced that a new shop manager had been appointed, this is John Wilks. John had recently retired from his former post as curator at Darlington Railway Museum, and his expertise gained over many years in museum services of the various authorities in the North East is already proving to be very useful. Ivan welcomed John to the railway.

  • Future Council of Management Meetings

During 2004, meetings of the Council of Management will be held on 28th August, 9th October and 27th November. If any Society members have any matters that they wish to be raised, please either inform the Secretary, or Assistant Secretary or any member of the Council of Management, in writing if possible, so that it can be in the hands of the Secretary at least ten days before the meeting and made an item on the Agenda.

Please remember that the Council of Management discuss the medium to long-term strategies of the railway, whilst the day to day matters, such as planning and ordering of materials for general maintenance and works already agreed are the responsibilities of the appropriate Head of Department or the relevant Forum.

Forums will meet on the following dates - Forum 1 (Infrastructure) on 4th September and 20th November. Forum 2 (Operating) on 25th September. Forum 3 (Engineering) on 26th September.
SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Tel. 01434 381696.���Talking timetable tel. 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.

E-mail addresses - click on links below:-
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Liesel Metz

Mission Statement for the South Tynedale Railway:-
�To provide satisfaction for our customers and volunteers by operating a friendly, safe and efficient narrow-gauge railway. �

This page has been created by Daniel McIntyre for the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society.
For information about him, please see Daniel McIntyre�s Home Page .

This page was last updated on 17th August 2004 by Daniel McIntyre.
� Daniel McIntyre and South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2004.

This page was compiled using HTML version 4.0 and �Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004� editing software.

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