Work in Progress: 15th October

The sleepers await!

With Nigel Thompson off inspecting the Borders Railway - the new railway line in Scotland, Roger Bye has put together this week’s Progress Report.

1. Some of the Thursday gang survey, with some apprehension, the stack of 250 new sleepers to be shifted from the wagon.

2. However, hard work by the team had the sleepers neatly stacked in preparation for the re-laying of the track at Woody Bay station. All that is now needed is to drill holes in all of them for the rail fittings!

3. After recovering over a mid morning tea-break some of the gang continued the removal of ballast around sleepers on the main line. Some sleepers had succumbed to the onslaught of North Devon’s weather over the years and were to be replaced. Meanwhile, another group had transferred to Rowley Moor Farm (taking the mess room teapot with them!) to continue the tidying up of the site. 

4. Back at Woody Bay it was business as usual.  A steady stream of passengers enjoyed the train and chatted to staff about the railway...

5....and visited the shop run today by Tony and Gail.

6. Nigel carried on with painting the railings.ISAAC simmered in the unseasonal sunshine while the train crew relax between turns.

7. Fortified by lunch the ballast clearing gang caught the train to Killington Lane...

8....to finish off the work on sleepers. In spite of a few muttered “I’m too old for this” comments, 16 sleepers were cleared ready for replacement. Here the gang stand back as ISAAC storms up from Killington Lane with Driver Graham Varney in charge. The yellow crosses mark the sleepers that are to be replaced.

9. After a hard day’s work the team wait at Killington Lane as the train arrives from Woody Bay.

10. As the sun sinks slowly in the west, today’s fireman, Andy, climbs athletically aboard ISAAC as the last train of the day is readied for departure.

Words and photos Roger Bye.