Photo by Giles Favell

This years Great Dorset Steam Fair was every bit as fascinating (and hard work) as last year!
Based on the success of last year, we decided to increase the length of track, and lay it to a different arrangement than before. This meant a last minute fabrication of more track panels - however, the only rail we had was some of the original 3lb per foot stuff that had been taken up from Pulborough during the re-laying program. This was welded into 13 foot panels, using 20" long sleepers of 30mm x 5mm flat bar, and slung onto one of the trailers.

Arriving at Tarrant Hinton (on the Saturday before the opening Wednesday) we agreed with Pete Craddock the track layout and made a start.

Better than doing it by hand!
Photo by Roy Harwood

We got the JCB on Sunday afternoon, and got him to dig out the station, which he did to within 3" of level with no assistance at all, whilst his mate in a 6 tonne dumper took the spoil downhill to form the bottom embankments.... This was even more important this year, as due to the new track plan, we were now negotiating a 1 in 12 bank! (I know, I measured it with a laser level...).

6 tonnes of the stuff
Photo by Roy Harwood

Fairly soon, the track was down, 6 tonnes of ballast arrived and was duly distributed, and we got down to building the station, with its fences, gates and an operating signal. We thought it looked quite pretty this year. All in all, it took three days to get the railway ready for the Fair.

1 in 12 gradient - the brakes had to work!
Photo by Roy Harwood

Some of the accompanying photos give some clue as to the gradient. What we didn't know, was whether ALICE would be able to cope with these conditions - afterall, she is quite a small engine, and to make matters worse, we had two sharp curves - one at the very foot of the gradient, and one two thirds of the way up.
Steaming up ALICE for the first time was a little exciting - we were really dying to know if she would make it up the hill with a fully laden coach - and wondering what on earth we would do if she wouldn't! After a few false starts, she finally made it to the top. However, we found that she needed at least 120lbs 'on the clock' - any less, and she would come to a halt on the top curve - a very good reason for going for a high working boiler pressure (150psi in ALICE's case). Sadly, the Hymek just didn't have the adhesion to get up with a load - being a very light engine. Aidan though, never one to admit defeat, filled the Hymeks cab with stone sets which did the trick - even though it left nowhere for the driver to sit.....

There can't be many occasions when you see and hear a 10 1/4" loco climbing with her regulator wide open - but at this railway ALICE did it day in and day out - quite an experience. We had many friends and partners in crime come and play, and most of them left with a broad grin on their faces!

This has to be the steepest adhesion worked railway (at the time) in the British Isles.

a well earned rest for all

Photo by Roy Harwood

This family came every single day
Photo by Roy Harwood

Katie driving the Hymek
Photo by Roy Harwood

Aidan gets a play
Photo by Roy Harwood

Pete Craddock, the team leader gets a drive
Photo by Giles Favell

All packed up and ready to go home
Photo by Giles Favell