Summer round up

We have been incredibly busy here since April, but to simplify things I’ve been updating all the work on Facebook, where a detailed diary is being kept. To subscribe please visit www.facebook.com/Railholiday and add us to your likes. The page can also be viewed without a Facebook account.

In summary, the GWR dining coach is now in position, after six weeks of shifting sideways a few feet a day, and then a very complicated process of lowering it onto the new track. A pit has been dug for the next two carriages, to make access easier for the disabled coach, and the view better from the other coaches. A chassis has been constructed for our Taff Valley Railway coach, which will be delivered early next week, and the landscaping is taking shape very satisfactorily.

News Round-up

There’s been an awful lot of activity on the new site in the last couple of months. A few weeks ago we moved another carriage onto site, this time one of the smaller LSWR brake third coaches, and we’re now in the process of shimmying The Dining Coach sideways into it’s final position. Steady but sure work.

We’ve also been hard at work on landscaping the site, planting a huge foray of bulbs, shrubs and plants that should delight for years to come.

The fantastic Port Eliot house in St. Germans has it’s new website up and running: www.porteliot.co.uk.  It’s definitely a must-see for guests staying in the carriages between March and late June.

Winter Wonderland

Over Christmas and New Year work continued on the new site in St. Germans. In early December we took delivery of chassis’ and wheels which some of the carriages will rest on:

The chassis and wheels are lifted into place.

 

In the New Year, Dave, Lizzy and Nic travelled to Buckfastleigh in Devon to prepare one of the new carriages. Over two days they dismantled an existing wooden structure around the carriage  (donning space-suits due to asbestos) and prepared the carriage roof. Once the carriage and the new site are both ready the carriage will head to St. Germans.

The railholiday "spacemen" get to work on the asbestos-riddled roof.

The last of the wood is dismantled.

Covering the carriage roof.

There’s still plenty more to do so stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

We hope you all had an enjoyable festive season. We’ve been receiving some great shots from guests to go in our Guest Gallery. Thank you to those of you who have sent or uploaded photos. If you haven’t had time to send your photos yet and would still like to, don’t worry it’s not too late. Email, post or upload them to our facebook page and you’ll go into the draw to win a Railholiday t-shirt!

Stuck in the mud

Thursday – the first set of three loads of wheels arrived, but the lorry got completely stuck, so after an hours shifting, digging, winching, laying sleepers, rubber matting and stone the lorry finally shifted and vowed not to retun until we’ve had several weeks of dry weather. Oh dear – still one set of bogies and three wheel sets to go. Back to the drawing board!

Stuck in the Mud!

Stuck in the mud!

News Round-Up!

The cold is definitely biting in Cornwall and as such the inevitable rumours of snowfall have begun. We’re fully into the winter season now with a good few bookings, though it’s certainly not too late to treat yourselves to a last minute getaway before Christmas. Work on the new site is continuing, despite the cold, and we’ll bring you a full update very soon. Stay warm everyone!

And the beat goes on…

A few more pics showing the latest work on the new site:

Welding together rails that the new carriages willl sit on.

The new track taking shape.

Curved to perfection.

Putting a winter jacket on the Dining Car.

The work continues…

The finished surface.

The sleeper wall will add a finishing touch.

Recap!

A quick recap of all the recent happenings here at Railholiday.

The last few weeks and months have seen a lot of changes on the new site at St. Germans. The Royal Coach was moved to a temporary position to allow drainage and other pipe works to be laid. This week it was moved back so work could begin on its permanent home. This will require digging down and leveling the area, and laying sleepers and rails for it to sit on.

We’ve built brand new walls from old railway sleepers and are steadily clearing the bank to plant spring bulbs.