Work in Progress: 27 January

posted by Nigel Thompson on Thu, 27/01/2011 - 22:37

With a busy working weekend on the trackbed at Cricket Field Lane, Parracombe ahead of us, the Thursday gang today began the preparations for this essential fencing and drainage work.

1. Richard Willey strimming down the brambles on the trackbed, whilst Robin and Dave remove the remains of the old fencing here.

2.Dave Bloomfield by the scrap fencing pile and the new drainage pipes ready to be installed later.

3. After the digger had opened up the earthworks adjacent to the trackbed, the pipes and access duct were installed.

4. Later Martyn Budd started digging a trench which will allow a water run off from the field above the trackbed here at Cricket Field Lane.

5. The volunteers stand by out of the way as the digger does most of the hard work!

6. The blue drainage pipe being uncoiled ready to be dropped into the trench.

7. The pipes in the trench about to be backfilled.

8. Jim, Dave and Pete look on whilst the trench is backfilled.

9. Looking down the trench to the trackbed at Cricket Field Lane, Parracombe.

10. All filled in with the access chamber awaiting a manhole cover.

Prior to the fencing work (beginning Friday) the gang prepared the ground and route for the two fencing lines either side of the railway's border. Several overhanging branches were cut down to add to the bonfire piles ready for the expertise of volunteers from the Isle of Wight Group who will be able to dispose of more of the surplus foliage over the weekend.

Back at Woody Bay, Peter Williams, Dave Tooke, Jim Price and Dave Drayson held the fort with some useful work on the rolling stock in the shed. As Peter carried out further coach bogie overhauls, Dave T continued sanding down Coach No.1 ready for painting, whilst Jim and Dave D prepared and fitted some replacement wood panels to the Brake Van.