A look at the backhead of No.69's boiler. Washout plug and mudhole doors are blocked with oil soaked rags to prevent water ingress.  Cleaning of the washout plug hole threads has begun around the backhead and throatplate. Here, Cameron is cleaning out the washout plug hole threads with a pipe cleaner attached to a drill. A close-up inspection of the threads shows little damage or wear, for security a tap may be passed through. A thin layer of oil has been applied to act as a barrier to the elements whilst a plan for the removal of the regulator valve and regulator rod is formul ..read more

Matt buffering 401 up to 03078... ...so it can be hauled out of the shed... ...and stabled outside ready for the first 'Cab It' event of the year. Aaran lighting his fire. Steve oiling up. Chad and Callum cleaning 03078 whilst Cameron continues painting the Conflat. 08915 propelling wagons out of Middle Engine Lane loop. Josh ready to welcome passengers for the 10:30 departure. The first train of the day after arriving at Percy Main. A big crowd gathers to watch the locomotive run round. Steve driving back to Middle Engine Lane, with Aaran also keeping an eye on ..read more

Tom lighting the fire as 401 is dragged out of the running shed... ...and onto the pit road... ...to steam up. Cameron continues painting the Conflat chassis. Josh polishing door handles on the carriages. 401 shunting the brake vans around the yard... Ready to go with the first train of 2024! Today's guard, Matt, shows 401's crew a green flag. Passengers alighting at Percy Main. Tom on the regulator. Meanwhile, Callum and Chad apply a protective coat of oil to 69's boiler... ...and help Cameron in painting the Conflat. 401 running round the train at Pe ..read more

NTSRA volunteers have been busy today cleaning and tidying the museum ready for re-opening to the public on Good Friday...  Peter deep cleaning the tea room. Joe, Cameron and Jack deep cleaning NTSRA's brake van, which will be in use for brake van rides next month.  Much better! Michael D, Cameron and Michael W cleaning the museum. Michael D laying out picnic benches. Having a wash and brush up in front of the museum entrance. Chad has refitted 401's dome cover ..read more

Cameron and Michael D have taken a short works train to Percy Main today to collect the logs left behind by a contractor who has been tending to the trees around Percy Main station ..read more

Today, NTSRA volunteers have been joined by Whitley Bay Community Clean Team to do a litter pick and tidy up in and around Percy Main... Gathering rubbish from the lineside north of Wallsend Road bridge. Wallsend Road curve after a thorough litter pick. (L-R) Volunteers Chad, Davey, Paul and Omar. Michael D tackling vegetation in Percy Main loop. Meanwhile, Omar is lawn mowing. Whitley Bay Community Clean Team litter picking underneath the Metro bridge. 08915 with the works train in Percy Main platform. Chad with the lawn mower. Aaran sweeping up the salmon wagon ..read more

The clean up, preparation and priming of more locomotive frame components has been the focus of several volunteers this week. A handful of the group working on 69 have been needle gunning, wire wheeling and priming the driver's side running board angle. As well as this, the ever so important technique required for painting a locomotive has been taught to volunteers with the driver's side front wheel getting its first coat of primer. Jack needle gunning what is the inside faces of the angle to remove any loose - and hard to remove - rust. The second stage of metal prep - Jack begins to wi ..read more

 Photos from today's work by Michael W, Michael D, James and Cameron to lay the foundations for the education lodge and construct the first butterfly mound in stage two of the Woodland Walk. The land on which the education lodge will stand is marked out ready to be excavated. Michael W changing the bucket on the mini digger... ...and begins digging. Loading up the dumper... ...which Michael D delivers to James and Cameron... ...to build the first butterfly mound. Ready for the membrane... ...which James lays out. Michael W loading the dumper with material ..read more

The driver's side buffer has been wire wheeled and is ready to be primed with red oxide. Similarly, the two front buffer housings have received a coat of red oxide on their main body. Elsewhere, the internal face of the rear buffer beam has been fully primed with areas of severe pitting scheduled to be welded. Finally, some attention has been paid to the driving wheel set, with primer having been applied to the driver's side wheel. The fireman's side is yet to be wire wheeled, then primed in the coming weeks. Driver's side front buffer shortly after wire wheeling. Another view to show th ..read more

Cameron has produced a roller banner to promote the restoration of NCB No.69 ..read more