Work in Progress: 24 November

posted by Martyn de Young on Sat, 26/11/2011 - 20:44

This week four members of the Surrey Group have worked hard at Woody Bay on their allocated project. An ex-MoD bogie flat wagon recently regauged from 2'6" was in need of frame refurbishment, repainting and new floor planks fitted. Phil, Peter, Nick & Richard spent their 'holiday' in North Devon derusting and painting the frames, then treating and fixing the cut planks into place. On their fifth day on site the project was completed and after subsequent numbering and lettering this bogie flat will enter service for the carriage of rails and other large items up and down the line as required.

1. Surrey Group members Nick Brown, Richard Bullock, Peter Jones and Phil Rawstron pose by 'their' wagon project in the shed.

2. Later the bogie flat wagon was shunted out alongside the Down Starter signal - another project that the Surrey Group members had worked on in recent years.

3. Nick, Peter, Richard and Phil by the bogie flat wagon before the final top-coat painting begins.

4. Nick and Phil paint the frames a top coat of black.

5. Richard Bullock with his certificate for moving the planks around the most times during the week, as during the restoration and repainting the plank fixing required several rehearsals before their final fixings.

6. More progress on the restoration of Hunslet Diesel D6652 this week as some of the cab controls are fitted back in place.

7. The new ash pit takes shape as concrete blocks and a drain hole are cemented in place. More layers of blocks will be installed soon with the rails fixed onto a couple of longitudinal hardwood sleepers to complete the job.

8. Dick Gunn paints red oxide primer onto the top of the rail-built posts of the up starter signal, currently being restored.

9. The main work today for the Thursday Group was to erect a marquee alongside the station for use as Santa's Grotto during the forthcoming Santa Specials in December. The gang join up and lay out the frames first.

10. The roof canopy is pulled onto the marquee frame. This recently acquired marquee will also be used again next summer as part of the tea rooms at Woody Bay.

11. Inside the marquee, the lighting is installed.

12. The plywood frames of Santa's Grotto are erected inside the marquee. Pete Snashall discusses with Julia how the Christmas decorations will be fixed onto and around the marquee and Grotto itself.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson.