Work in Progress: 28th August

posted by Martyn de Young on Sat, 30/08/2014 - 00:02

Busy days, record figures ...

With changeable weather over the past two weeks, visitors have found quality all-weather attractions to enjoy during their holidays. At Woody Bay the passenger numbers recorded are well up on previous years, with the three heritage carriages being filled to capacity on many trains. In fact last Thursday it was so busy that as they could not fit into the packed carriages, several visitors had to wait for the next train. The total of passengers carried was 540 - a record using the heritage carriages and for a non-Gala day!

1. ISAAC with the heritage carriages at Woody Bay.

2. ISAAC and AXE have between them worked all the trains this summer, and have been well received by visitors as well as operating staff and volunteers. The view from the platform as ISAAC arrives.

3. ISAAC ready to depart from Woody Bay with an afternoon service.

4. During each run-round at Woody Bay, ISAAC is re-supplied with coal and water by the shed, and is often viewed from the path by visitors.

5. Visitors observe ISAAC from the end of the platform. Baguley Diesel PILTON is stabled in the loading dock.

6. Although General Manager, Martyn Budd and several of the volunteers have been on holiday over the past few weeks, many others with specific projects have been able to progress their work. Dave Bloomfield has been fitting out the cab electrics for PILTON.

7. Jim Pounds has been preparing the bodywork in advance of the repainting of Hunslet diesel HEDDON HALL.

8. Trevor Buck uses a needle gun to clear rust from a spare section of iron railings. This panel, when painted, will be used for a new fence by the running line and the gate leading to Moorlands.

9. Mike Corner and Martin Williams have been digging holes for the posts to support this the new fence.

10. Another odd job for the Thursday Gang was track maintenance outside the shed. Dave Evans and Dave Bloomfield dug ash away from a rail joint, tightened the fishplate bolts and re-spiked the rail to gauge.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson