A very pleasant autumn day
So today was a very pleasant day weather wise. Fortunately I was able to spend the day outside doing practical jobs, and getting to put Bertha to good use.
For those that know me personally, they will know that I frequently volunteer at weekends at the Mid Norfolk Railway in Dereham. Today, was no exception.
With no trains running today as the railway is the process of transforming itself for the Polar Express. Consequently, today was a good day to spend some time helping with the restoration efforts rather than acting as on train guard.
I’ll soon be back on board in a week or so. The dress rehersal takes the first passengers to the North Pole next Friday
Mobile Workshop
Today, Bertha got to be a multi purpose vehicle, and not really as a motorhome. For a change, it was a short day for Bertaha today. Helping take tools to Dereham yard, and then acting as mobile workshop & personal welfare unit.
For those that have used communal facilities in a ‘yard’ before, it will come as no surprise to hear that they are not the best. However, nothing beats having your own kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Apart from providing clean toilet and kettle facilities, Big B also doubled up as a mobile workshop. One of her big benefits is the chunky leisure battery. This, combined with the numerous 240v plugs means she can easily double up as mobile workshop.
More than just a charging station
Asides from providing battery charging facilities for power tools, the counter was also repurposed as a workbench. As you can see the counter provided a perfect size space for the chop saw. With having to cut a number of pieces of timber to size to act as window framing, it was a pleasure to have a workspace that was not exposed to the elements. Asides from this it was also level and dry. Making life much easier than trying to set the saw up on uneven ground
For those that are sufficiently curious, you can read more on my volunteering adventures from time to time on my personal blog rjc82.co.uk and the website for the loco group c50la.org.uk
The C50LA are a group of private individuals involved in the restoration of a former BR Class 50 locomotive. 50019 Ramillies has been based at Dereham on The Mid Norfolk Railway since 1998. For many years a regular in traffic and popular locomotive. She has now been out of traffic for 12 years now undergoing restoration and rebuild, which has included amongst other jobs, a full rebuild of both cabs which were very rotten. Hopefully 2026 will see the old girl started up again with a view to return to traffic. I’d much rather be driving Bertha to Dereham to act as a guard on a service she is hauling, as much fun as the practical side of restoration may be.