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Trackbash Weekend - Sunday Photos

posted by Martyn de Young on Wed, 25/11/2009 - 21:08

Daily photographic reports have been posted here throughout the weekend - thanks to all those who took part, and also to those who took the time to take and submit their photos for this news item. 

All of you are owed a big thank you from all the "other" Members of the L&B!

This autumn’s trackbash, with visiting members from the IOW Railway, took place over the weekend  of Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th November

During the weekend the regular volunteers at Woody Bay were joined by extra volunteers from the Dorset Support Group and the Isle of Wight Railway to carry out work realigning the trackwork at Killington Lane in preparation for next season, and future developments on the railway. 

If you are interested in joining all or just a part of future events such as this, and an opportunity to see what goes on, and what can be achieved with a little (okay - A LOT of ) energy, enthusiasm and effort,  you will be most welcome to come along and help out - whatever time, skill and effort you can offer. Just ring Martyn Budd at Woody Bay.  

Trackbash - Thursday 

Several tasks were completed today as part of the Autumn Trackbash weekend.  As well as work on the track, centered at Killington Lane, other work included constructing Santa's grotto behind Woody Bay Station, work on the rolling stock, and more fittings added to the new down starter signal.

Nigel Thompson and Tony Nicholson (photo 3) were there to record activities:

 

1. HEDDON HALL with the works train of Box Vans Nos.64 & 61, Flat No.50 and the Brake Van ready to leave for Killington Lane.

2. At Killington Lane the works train is stabled alongside the turnout to be removed.

3. Jim Price & Richard Willey undo several fishplates from track panels on the loop line in preparation for realigning the track at Killington Lane.

4. The partially regauged turnout ready to be lifted into place.

5. The digger removed the old turnout and track panels leaving gaps in the track.

6. Ready to start the levelling of the trackbed for the siding.

 

 


7. Dick Gunn continues work on the down starter signal post.

8. Pete & Julia Snashall begin building Santa's Grotto in the Marquee.

9. Coach 4 in the paint shop.

10. A temporary new livery for coach 4. 

 

 

 

11. Martyn Budd in the digger regrading the the base formation for the headshunt siding.

12. Alistair Hall assists the digger with the high-tech laser levels.

13. It was a showery day as Jim & Richard shelter inside the brake van.

14. The digger soon prepared the site for the 'new' turnout within the loop line at Killington Lane.

15. By 4pm the turnout sections had been lifted into place for tomorrow's gang to start connecting it all together.
  

Trackbash Friday

Dave Blencowe was on hand to record today's developments.  Dave says the weather was "pretty terrible", so he was only able to manage a few shots, but they give a flavour of what was achieved:  

1.Martyn Budd swings a track panel into place on the storage siding

 2-5. Ali Hall (Devon Group) with Graham Degan and Jerry Oakey (IOW) fix the new turnout blades to its sleepers

 Although not shown there were several others on site!

Trackbash - Saturday

Dave Blencowe was again able to record progress at Killington Lane, and in particular the use of the new tamping head on the digger. This makes light work of the settling and distribution of ballast, ensuring that the sleepers and rails remain in situ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also today, Jim Pounds and Dave Tooke were at work repainting Coach 4 in the new workshop and Frank Daff was also on site beavering away quietly at keeping the grounds in shape.

 

 

Trackbash - Sunday 

Despite appalling (and not untypical) weather today, the trackgang volunteers continued work on the realignment at Killington Lane. Nigel Thompson took a little time out to take some photos as work continued...
 


1. The volunteers travelled to Killington Lane by Heddon Hall and Coach 2.

 

2. Todays task was obvious: laying a new siding alongside the headshunt.

3. During a heavy downpour everyone sheltered in the brake van. Visible from left to right are Graham Degan, Nigel Thompson, Steve Castle and IOW Chairman Steve Oates.

 

Back to Woody Bay for a well-earned lunch. Over the four days Angela Horne provided excellent catering for the volunteers with soup, rolls, sandwiches, cake and tea.
 

 

 

4. Angela Horne offers up the home-made vegetable soup in the mess room.

5. L&BR Managing Director Keith Vingoe (centre) joins the local volunteers and the IOWR volunteers enjoying their lunch in the mess room.

6. L&BR Company Secretary and Magazine Editor, Tony Nicholson (taking a break from working on the next magazine), joins in the camaraderie amongst the volunteers during the lunch break and receives a hug from a speechless Julia Snashell as well!     

During the afternoon, work at Killington lane, the work progressed steadily, despite the weather...

7. The first lengths are joined and spiked up.

8. Various rails were selected to join up the siding to the transhipment dock.

9. The 'orange clad' gang huddle around out of the wind and rain whilst gauging the rails and spiking to the sleepers.

10. "Its only a siding!"; the catchphrase of the day was repeated yet again as great care was taken to keep it to gauge.

11. To return to Woody Bay with all the wagons and the carriage an unusual formation 'mixed train' was shunted together.

 

While the trackwork was being carried out at Killington Lane, the ladies of the IOWR volunteers completed fitting out ''Santa's Grotto'' in the marquee, ready for the influx of visitors of all ages for the Santa Specials during December.
 

12. Santa's grotto is almost ready ...

 

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