Work in Progress: 11th April

Slightly later than usual here is the Work in Progress report for Thursday 11th April

There has been much news to report lately what with with the journey of the Heritage Carriages No.s 7 & 17 - shortly to be followed by BAGULEY No. 2393. Then of course there is the build-up to the Gala next month when the FR's new-build L&B style loco LYD arrives to steal the limelight. Until then it is 'the lull before the storm' with the emphasis firmly on operating the railway for our visitors to enjoy whilst undertaking the few odd jobs available to the Thursday gang of volunteers at Woody Bay.

1. Still here on loan from the Ffestiniog Railway, Hunslet 0-4-0ST LILLA has operated the passenger train throughout the Easter Holidays break. Passenger numbers have been healthy with many visitors coming to enjoy a ride on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

2. L&B Surrey Group member David Pritchard was LILLA's driver today.

3. The 'Thursday Group' of volunteers today assisted with the installation of some old rail built fence posts to form a boundary between the miniature railway and the driveway.  The miniature railway will be used quite extensively during the gala and will feature a 7¹/₄ version of LYN - keeping the passengers safe (especially the children) is an important consideration as part of the planning and construction of this extra attraction at Woody Bay.

There was some other un-recorded work undertaken today which included moving some restored signalling items away from within the shed, a tidy up of stored track fixings, and the cleaning and painting of some of the poster boards at Woody Bay Station.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson