Keith and Dufftown Railway on the internet
In addition to the following News page on this web site you can also keep up with the KDR on YOUTUBE, FLICKR and TWITTER. Use the following links:
YOUTUBE – for latest videos from the KDR
FLICKR – for photos past and present from the KDR
FLICKR Groups – for more photos past and present from the KDR
TWITTER – for the latest tweets from the KDR
NEWS
Spring 2013 Bulletin
EASTER OPENING
The railway opened for the season on Good Friday 29th March. As part of the opening weekend there was an Easter egg Hunt for the children. The hunt takes place on the train and the 1st two photos show some of the items the children had to find. The 3rd photo is the guard with a basket of Easter Eggs and pencils for the hunt.
The photos above show the young and not so young engaged in the hunt.
At the end of the hunt the children have earned their Easter Eggs.
NEW IMAGE
During the close season our volunteers have been very busy. New signs and fresh paint for Dufftown station are just some of the products of their labours.
DRIVER EXPERIENCE
Our Driver Experience on our shunter locos, between 13:00 & 14:00 on Sundays, continue to be popular with all ages. For your chance to drive these powerful locos come along any Sunday between 13:00 & 14:00 during the operating season.
THE WEE MAC
This loco was taken into the shed, early in the year to be given a new livery. The first News Bulletin of the year showed the first steps of the work, those below show its conclusion.
Left photo shows the loco in the shed with its final coat of green applied. Right photo shows loco alongside the platform awaiting final touches.
Left photo shows the other side of the loco note the yellow lining to wheels and running plate. Right photo shows the loco in the loop complete with black chevrons on front buffer plate. Note the red and white lights on the nose of the loco and see an added detail in a later photos.
Left photo shows the loco in the yard complete with its name “The Wee Mac”. The name has been retained in grateful acknowledgement of the donation of the loco to the railway by the MacAllan Distiiery. Right photo shows the black chevrons on rear buffer plate and the weed spraying equipment mounted on the loco ready for action.
These photos show the final embellishment to the loco’s new colour scheme, the addition of a shed plate “Keith and Dufftown Railway 61D Dufftown Shed” on the nose of the loco immediately below the lights.
REFURBISHING DMUs
At the end of last year our operating DMU was composed of DMBS 53628 in green livery and DTLC 56224 in Rail Blue. Both cars were in need of a new coat of paint and in the case of the DMBS car engine refurbishment was also needed. Accordingly each car was moved into the shed where work could be done away from the worst rigours of winter. The DMBS was the first into the shed and the next photos show work progressing.
These photos show DMBS 53628 inside the shed with the paintwork being rubbed down, filled and primed. Work on the engines is also ongoing.
These photos show the refurbished DMBS in the platform at Dufftown, though some work remained to be done on finishing touches to the body. The DMBS was moved from the shed to the platform by The Wee Mac which had also been undergoing refurbishment in the shed.
These photos show the speed whiskers on the cab end, the BR decal on the coach side, note also the “Dufftown” destination blind.
Next in the shed was DTLC 56224, these photos show the car, in Rail Blue, being rubbed down and filled.
The left and right photos show DTLC cab front in top coat green. The middle photo is interesting as it shows the cab front in top coat green, the next section in undercoat green and the end section still in Rail Blue.
Left photo shows the cab front in unadorned green, while the next 2 photos show the addition of speed whiskers. Note also the “Keith” destination blind.
Spirit of Speyside entered service at the start of the season as shown in the photographs above. To complete its transformation the following are still to be done: yellow lining below the windows and the name “Spirit of Speyside” on the front of both cabs.
PROJECT PRIORITIES
At a Board meeting it was agreed that the following were the priority projects:
Short Term – To complete the loco shed by laying the floor installing a second track within the shed and completing the run round loop at Dufftown.
Medium Term – To provide or reinstate 4 railway halts. These halts are still under discussion with all interested parties so no further details can be provided at this stage.
Long Term – To re-establish a rail connection at Keith Junction Station.
TRACK APPEAL
An appeal was launched in 2010 to move the modern shed then located at Drummuir to Dufftown. The shed was re-erected at Dufftown May 2012 and most of the work is now complete, indeed the shed has already proved its worth by enabling us to repaint and overhaul some stock. Installing the floor and laying a second track into the shed plus laying the run round loop at Dufftown are now the priorities.
Progress Report
Target:- £25,000
Collected:- £27,424 as at 26/4/2013
A very large and heart felt thank you to all who have contributed to the appeal. The appeal is now closed but any donations received for the shed will now be directed to the Track Appeal.
The Track Appeal has been set up to raise funds for the second track into the engine shed and the run round loop at Dufftown. The appeal takes the form of purchasing a sleeper, for £10, for the second track and run round loop. The names of those purchasing a sleeper are recorded on a chart at Dufftown Station. To date (26/04/2013) 262 sleepers have been bought leaving 138 sleepers still to be sponsored.
For details of the above use Appeals link to the left or click this link: Appeals
DMU CHANGES
The operational DMU for this season is composed of Driver Motor Brake Standard (DMBS 53628), left photo above, completely refurbished and Driver Trailer Car (DTLC 56224), shown in right photo above. DTLC 56224, which entered service in Rail Blue livery, has been refurbished and repainted in BR Green. Note both cars require yellow lining just below the windows and the addition of the name “Spirit of Speyside” on the cab front.
Driver Trailer Car (DTLC 56491) and our two Driver Motor Standard cars (DMS 51568 + 52053) will each be moved into the shed for refurbishment and thorough mechanical overhaul in due course.
This will allow us more flexibility, having 2 cars in service and 3 on standby / maintenance.
BUFFER STOP
The Buffer Stop opened at the start of the season on Friday 29th March 2013 serving tea, coffee, soup, sandwiches, cakes and scones. We enjoy serving booked parties, those using our trains or just popping in while passing. All are welcome to enjoy our good food at good prices.
Please note the Buffer Stop is entirely staffed by volunteers and its operation is dependent on sufficient volunteers being available to operate it. More volunteers are always welcome see our Volunteers page using Volunteers link to the left or click this link: Volunteers
TUESDAY WORK PARTY
The Tuesday Work Party at Dufftown station has tended to concentrated on “light work” i.e. smaller tasks that tend to appear further down the list of priorities e.g. painting and keeping the environment tidy etc. However, of late they have been involved in more major work such as the refurbishment of our DMUs and The Wee Mac. We can find work suited to everyone’s ability. Works trains and training runs on our DMU also take place.
This is another reason why people should not trespass on the line at any time. We do not just run scheduled services as published in our timetable but works trains on any day of the week and at any time of the day. Many people assume that if there are no scheduled services on a day then there will be no trains but this is very wide of the mark. We can and do run works trains, training runs and line inspections on any day of the week and potentially at any time of the day. Please do not trespass on the line at any time.
Anyone interested in taking part in this group is asked to contact Alistair Coull on 01542 831295. There is always work for any pair of willing hands. Come along, learn something new or share your skills with others!
© 2007, the Keith & Dufftown Railway Association
