Work in Progress: 11 August

posted by Nigel Thompson on Thu, 18/08/2011 - 01:03

A wet and drizzly day at Woody Bay. A few members of the Thursday volunteers wisely remained in the dry, working on the various projects in the shed, but outside there was the main permanent way task of re-railing the track in the loading dock- the first panel underneath Van 23 was re-railed last week with the heavier 50lb. weight ex MoD rail.

1. Alex Colborn and Dave Drayson pause after removal of the spikes from the old rails pushed aside.

2. The vans of the works train provide some shelter from the rain as Stephen Orchard and Dave Bloomfield work on the rail joint at the loading dock turnout.

3. Latest view of the new Brake Van with the lettering of SR No.56042 printed on by Jim Pounds last weekend.

4. After lunch the new rails are gauged and spiked whilst the excavator provides weight on the rails to allow accurate slewing during the spiking process.

5. Martyn Budd digs out the ballast off a few sleeper ends to allow the slewing of this curved loadind dock siding.

6. More gauging as the next panel is laid towards Van 23.

7. AXE's footplate crew today was Andy Foster (fireman) and Peter Williams (driver).

8. AXE departs with the 15:45 whilst the gang tidy up after the re-railing. The final closure rails should be laid next Thursday.

9. A rail level view looking back towards the works train vans. When completed this project will have continued the rail upgrade of the track at Woody Bay Station. Although the siding usually hosts Van 23 and the Works train vans, during special events the loading dock-headshunt siding provides footplate experience (Driver-for-a-Donation trips.

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Words and Pictures by Nigel Thompson