Work in Progress - Easter Weekend, 2009

To some people Easter, is a time to go to church to remember the cruxification and resurrection of Jesus. To others it is a time for eating Hot Cross Buns and Chocolate Eggs. To some it is to take a walk in the countryside, visit the seaside or enjoy the thrills of a Theme Park. It may also be a time to catch up with the decorating of that spare room or to carry out various projects in the garden.

However, to some volunteers on your railway, this Easter meant – fishplate greasing! On Easter Saturday and Sunday, Martyn Budd and five volunteers from Devon, Dorset and Kent worked their way down the track, starting from Woody Bay Station, fortunately in glorious sunshine when many other parts of Britain were covered in cloud and rain!

Photos: Peter Snashall (6-10) and Nigel Thompson

1. The fishplate greasing gang stand back to observe AXE passing with the passenger train

2. Preparing a joint for greasing 3 Greasing a rail joint down the line

4/5. John and Martyn prepare a joint...  ...for Julia with the grease gun

Most of the running line was covered, with just a short stretch approaching Killington Lane Station left for another day. Over the two days, 218 rail joints were dealt with – undoing then tightening up 872 bolts and applying the special grease to 436 fishplates, which allow the rails to expand (closing the gaps at each joint) without distorting the track during hot weather of which we are due for and hope for this summer.

6. Dave Blencoe and Julia Snashall

7. John Villiers

8. Julia and Dave

9. Julia, Dave and Martyn Budd

10. Dave, Julia, John and Martyn

Visitors flocked in to Woody Bay all weekend with some healthy figures recorded -almost 1000 visitors during the Easter period. Shop and catering staff were kept busy and a Special Easter Day Railway Treasure Hunt also helped to provide as extra attraction for the visitors. AXE with the four carriages ran well with the passengers once again enjoying the spectacular Exmoor scenery.

11. AXE near Killington Lane with the 1600 to Woody Bay on Sunday 12th April.

12. AXE passing a lineside milepost near Bridge 67

13. Visitors watching the locomotives AXE and HEDDON HALL from the new shed viewing area path

On Easter Monday, a limited amount of progress work was carried out by volunteers not directly involved with the train operations, shop and catering.

One new feature being built at Woody Bay is a 7.25" gauge garden railway designed to provide a further attraction for visitors and enthusiasts alike and is expected to be operated on special event days in due course. 

14. John Villers and Nigel Thompson after reflooring bogie wagon No. 54

15. Alistair Hall rolling the trackbed for the  garden railway under construction by the upper lawn

16. A section of the garden railway trackbed ready for tracklaying