Work in Progress: 19th February

Trains are running, but the rain it raineth!.

It's half term week. The L&BR is open and running trains. Earlier in the week , those visitors about enjoyed reasonable weather for their ride in Carriage No.17 behind ISAAC to Killington Lane and back. But today it rained and there were fewer people braving the colder, wet conditions on Exmoor.

1. ISAAC awaits departure from Woody Bay with the one-coach half-term week train and heritage carriage No.17.

2. Guard Bob Ayres eagerly awaits visitors this morning.

3. The train in the rain at Killington Lane. (Photo Roger Bye)

4. The catering team of Judy, Irene and Elizabeth awaiting customers to the Tea Rooms. The fire looks welcoming.

5. Tony Cross was running the booking office/shop, and posing by the PECO L&BR models on display.

The rain gave all the Thursday Gang a good excuse to remain undercover and in the shed carrying out a variety of projects.

6. Dave Evans was busy rubbing down and sanding the picnic tables, currently stored in the marquee, later assisted by Martyn Budd, Jim Pounds and Pete Colley.

7. Pete Williams cleaning AXE's boiler tubes during the locomotive's planned winter maintenance and light overhaul.

8. Pete Colley and Nigel Thompson paint another coat of SR brown onto the ex MoD Box Van, which has been re-gauged and refurbished over the last few months.

9. Electricians Dave Blencowe and Dave Bloomfield continue the electrical maintenance in the shed.

10. Dave Drayson (right) with the two other Daves helping out with today's work in the shed.

11. Pete Williams was assisted by Roger Bye (right) during a clean-up of the large nuts and bolts required for AXE's dome lid.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson, except photo No. 3 by Roger Bye