KEITH AND DUFFTOWN RAILWAY
LOCO SHED APPEAL
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As those who have visited the railway will be aware, we lack a loco shed at Dufftown for the repair and maintenance of our rolling stock. The railway now needs to take action and do something about this. It is therefore proposed to remove the modern shed currently situated at Drummuir and re-erect it at Dufftown Station in order to be nearer to our workshops. As well as relocating the shed, it would be the intention to put down two tracks thereby creating a two-road facility, and to add doors. Other improvements might also be possible within the budget.
A shed at this location will provide both the stock and those working on it with much needed cover and protection from the elements. Our station at Dufftown can be very pleasant on a lovely warm summer day, however the story can be very different out of season and when the snow is falling! Working conditions were impossible for many months during our winter maintenance programme and we would like to avoid this
As is usually the case, pulling together the plan is the easy part, however finding the money to achieve it somewhat harder and therefore we are launching an appeal to raise funds to achieve our objective. We have secured a number of quotations for the work involved and estimates for the project are in the region of £25,000. A staged development will be carried out, with the moving of the shed preceding the laying of the tracks, the erection of doors, and any other works. Donations both large and small are sought and any monies collected will be specifically directed to this project, which will have its own bank account, and will be protected against use for any other purpose.
Supporters giving £1000 or more will gain Life Membership of the railway.
So please dig deep and help us in raising the money to see the shed relocated
SHED PROGRESS
APRIL 2011
Having accumulated sufficient funds in the appeal, the first stage of this project, the dismantling of the shed has been undertaken.
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A contracting firm, RIM Construction of Kemnay, was hired to dismantle the shed and the 1st photo shows the cladding removed from the shed and the contractors using a large crane and high level access platforms to begin the dismantling of the framework. The 2nd photo shows the crane removing one of the last beams of the framework.
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Here we have the shed dismantled and loaded onto two wagons of our works train ready for the journey by rail to Dufftown. Final photo shows the cleared site, compare with the top photo On this page for the before and after.
September 2011
While funds are accumulated in the appeal, a new site for the shed at Dufftown has been decided upon. The new site is at the north end of Dufftown station close to the end of KDRA rails. Work has now begun on clearing the selected site.
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These two photos show the road / rail digger being used to start clearance of the site. The digger is working on removing vegetation and top soil where the second track in the shed will be laid. The track in the foreground, where the Class 140 used to sit, will also be enclosed by the shed.
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All our rolling stock in the platform had to be moved out into the yard to enable our Grampus wagons to be brought to the site to collect the spoil. These photos show the Class 140 leaving the platform at Dufftown. This is probably the furthest they have travelled since arriving at Dufftown. The 140 looks as though it is travelling under its own power but this is an illusion created by the camera angle. The 140 was part of a consist that also included one of our grey vans and the Mk2f catering coach hauled by our current service Class 108 DMU.
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Once the Grampus wagons were moved to the shed site, the Class 140 was moved back into the platform. The 1st photo is taken from alongside the 140 and shows the site with the Grampus wagons positioned near the end of our existing track. 2nd photo is the opposite view and shows the Grampus wagons loaded with spoil with the 140 in the background. The posts and red tape mark the site for the shed.
October / November 2011
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The first photo shows our English Electric Shunter resplendent in its yellow J & B Rare Scotch Whisky livery taking our two loaded Grampus wagons away from the shed site. Second photograph shows work continuing at the shed site with both the mini digger and the road rail digger involved.
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These 3 photos show the state of the new site for the shed on 22/10/2011. 1st photo is taken from the end of the platform at Dufftown, 2nd just off the end of the platform. Last photo shows a reverse view looking back towards Dufftown Station.
Progress Report 18/11/2011
Target:- £25,000.00
Collected:- £16, 491.18
After a successful season, with increases in passenger numbers and charters, the board of KDRA transferred £3,000 to the Shed Appeal Fund on 5th November 2011. The Appeal Fund stood at £16,491.18 as at 18/11/2011. This is an increase of about £4,000 since the total was last reported on 18/10/2011. Thank you to all who have contributed. We are now almost three-quarters of the way to our target and all contributions large or small are most welcome.
Donations
If you would like to make a donation to the KDRA Loco Shed Appeal this can be done as follows:
By Crossed Cheque / Postal Order (payable to KDRA) .Send to: Loco Shed Appeal, KDRA, Dufftown Station, Dufftown, Banffshire, AB55 4BA
Payment by Card
Please send the following details:
Amount you wish to donate
Card Type Mastercard/Visa/Visa Debit/Mastercard Debit (as appropriate)
Card No (16 digits).
Expiry Date (mm/yy) Issue No (if available) Valid from (mm/yy)
Security Code (last 3 digits on signature strip at the back of the card)
Cardholders Name (as it appears on the card)
Address (including Postcode)
Please send the above details to: Loco Shed Appeal, KDRA, Dufftown Station, Dufftown, Banffshire, AB55 4BA
Payment may also be made through the BACS to:
Bank of Scotland, Elgin. Sort Code: 80 06 66.
Account: Keith and Dufftown Railway Association. Account Number: 01486418.
Ref: Loco Shed Appeal
Your support in helping us to achieve this important objective is greatly appreciated.
© 2007, the Keith & Dufftown Railway Association
