Work in Progress: 15th May

At last summers here! Bright and sunny weather as the Railway welcomed many visitors to Woody Bay Station all day.

After the successful Vintage Weekend the first job for everyone was to return the signs, fence panels and tents to storage ready for our next Gala in September.

Although the weekend went very well, it is the normal operations that boost the steady stream of visitors which have increased the growth in passenger figures already recorded this year.

1. More carpentry jobs for Jim Price and Dave Evans. New decorative caps are fixed onto the visitor information sign.


2. An upgrade for the entrance signs is underway. New holes for removable posts are dug out and concreted in.

3. ISAAC with the train in glorious sunshine arriving back at Woody Bay.

4. Our stone walling contractor, Nick, has been progressing the stone wall bank of the headshunt.

5. Nick at work! The finished section of the retaining wall at the end of the siding looks good.

6. Back at the entrance Martin Williams and Roger Bye (watched by Jim Pounds) dig out more post holes.

7. PILTON was on a test run, passing Nick (in hat), Jim, Martyn and Graham.

8. Jim McFarlane (left) and Graham Bendell (right) help to move the stones across the running line.

9. PILTON had another test run -this time hauling ISAAC and the whole train uphill from Killington Lane.

10. Dave and Jim apply a coat of varnish to the wooden bench seats.

11. Locomotives PILTON and CHARLES WYTOCK on display outside the shed today.

12. Nearly finished, the entrance sign facing toward Lynton - a lower sign 'TEA ROOMS OPEN' will be added later.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson