Burnley and Pendle Miniature Railway Society Burnley, Lancashire, UK.

By Bret Harrison

Welcome to our March 2026 newsletter.

We did start running on March 22nd nominally but, as yet, we have been very unlucky with the weather. We then tried to get going on the weekend of March 28/29th and again the weather let us down with awful conditions, in fact on Sunday the 29th it was so bad that we did not even get any stock out to run, the Park was deserted and there was no point.

However, we did manage to get a very troublesome turnout issue sorted which had been proving very difficult. The switch blades were not completing their traverse and were not seating home as they should. The problem was traced back to the master cylinder on the hydraulic lead. The cylinder needed cleaning as it was bunged up and still leaving pressure in the hydraulic pipe. It is now working correctly. All the remedial work was carried out in the rain, and some very wet guys ensued. It was important to get this turnout working correctly as we needed it working in order for us to operate the station as we needed to.

Our next running session on Wednesday the 1 April was also let down by the weather though we were able to operate some trains. A very disappointing start to the new season so far. We now hope the Easter weekend will be OK weatherwise though the forecast for Easter Sunday shows a storm approaching. Let’s hope that Spring starts soon, the many beautiful daffodils in the park will probably be wondering why they bothered though as you look around the Park nature is very much with us as things start to get going.

The new shed is complete now with an earth covering on the roof and a secure door fitted, it now needs a living roof applying, probably a moss basis. It was very pleasing to welcome two new young volunteers to our ranks recently, who despite the horrible weather managed to complete moving the earth for the roof before rain stopped play, welcome to them!

All our coaching stock is now ready to go and just waiting for an opportunity whilst the locomotive fleet are also ready with just a few minor bits of work to do. The work on the station turnouts has precluded finishing the odds and ends as the turnouts were a priority. The railcar needs some work carrying out before it is ready to go including a bogie needing fitting, but I guess further delays in our season getting up and running weatherwise will give us the time to complete this work.

There is always plenty to do currently for the small band who keep the railway going for example the painting of the edges at the station.

Two new signs have been finished in time for our opening. One which we hope will guide our visitors to where tickets are available and the other hung outside the club house. Both are designed around an original totem and help to give a more railway feeling to our visitors.

So, until next month keep safe and well.