A belated happy New Year to all our readers as we head into a fresh year. Who knows what it will bring?
There wasn’t much let up in the pace of work at Preston over the Christmas period with working parties continuing to take place on their usual days of the week; Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The first photo shows the completed concreting under the east end shed doors which was laid just before Christmas. There is still plenty more to do in the east half of the shed, but the more immediate task has since been to continue the installation of the kitchen in the new mess room. As John Dixon is both our head of concreting and chief plumber, it is a case of one job at a time. 
We then need to dig a channel outside the mess room to allow a pipe to be laid to a nearby drain manhole. Once this is achieved, new tarmac can be laid there as part of the overall plan to create a new playground.
Inside the shed, work has continued on the repairs and painting of the RSR’s TPO vehicle. 
John David and Howard Fletcher are seen here examining a corroded and ill fitting door whilst, below, Ade is seen demonstrating his method of fixing the problem – with a hammer! 
Tim has continued with the filling and sanding, Paul with the renewal of rotted woodwork, and Fred and Roger have continued to clean and paint the headstocks and bogies.
Ade has spent the rest of his time moving on the project to restore Caliban including more sanding and painting .
Alan Ogden made a welcome re-appearance from Devon to refurbish Fluff‘s fuse box.
Keith has continued to assemble more steelwork on Wootton Hall‘s tender frames as can be seen from this view of the rear of the chassis. Some more components for the locomotive, which have become available recently, have been purchased, including these two rear valve head cover castings which cost £60 each.
Plus there are four castings which will make up two steam heat valves. 
The smaller items cost £60 each whilst the larger casting cost £180 each.
Sponsorship of any of these items would be very greatly appreciated.
Finally, Live Steam played their last gig of 2017 at the Engine Inn at Cark-in-Cartmel. Both Alan and Tim were suffering for the excesses of singing on the Santa Special Trains at Preston but just about managed to sing without too much coughing and spluttering!