Work in Progress: 11th June

A fine but cool day!

With Nigel Thompson away, possibly until August, Roger Bye and Graham Bendell will be sharing the responsibility of producing the Thursday Gang Report. Today it is Graham's turn.

Several tasks were lined up for the Thursday Gang and, with a good turnout of volunteers, all were achieved.

Tasks included collecting old sleepers from Killington Lane, clearing the drainage channels (in anticipation of forecast storms), sign washing, signalling work, shower tiling, raised bed building, fence painting and sign erecting. Apologies if I have missed any.

1. Dick Gunn and Trevor Buck completed the construction of the platform for the shunt signal. Only a final coat of grey paint is needed to finish this job.

2. Mike Corner and John Villers (and the photographer) cleared out the drainage channels around the station in anticipation of the expected storms.

3. With three carriages in use today - No.16 takes a break in the yard.

4. Nigel Spencer - still painting!

5. Malcolm Tonge, a member from Yorkshire, takes a day out of his holiday at Moorlands to help out. He washed all of the station signs and also cleaned the milk churns.

6. Axe arrives with first train of the day, loaded with Shearings’ passengers.

7. General Manager Martyn Budd and Roger Bye dig a hole prior to erecting a post to carry a new item.

8. Driver, Pete Williams and fireman, Graham Bridgeman deliver smiles to order!

9. A FIVE STAR ESTABLSHMENT! Congratulations to Judy Williams and her catering team for maintaining the Food Standards Agency 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating. This is evidence of a well run establishment and is a credit to the Railway. This rating is something a lot of people (self included) look for when deciding where to eat.

10. Jim Price erected a new sign to advertise footplate rides enabling the current A frame to be retired.

11. Richard and Dave Evans cut and fix the tiles in the new shower.

12. The new item! Not the most glamorous bin we have, but a very important one. Being a dog friendly railway, it is sure to be well used.

13. How many men does it take to ...

The last job of the day was to construct a raised bed for the new vegetable garden. Well-rotted manure from Rowley Moor Farm will be used to fill it up and the vegetables grown here will be used in the kitchen. Contrary to appearances, everybody was gainfully employed moving the pieces of this jig-saw puzzle until a fit was achieved (varying sleeper lengths made this more difficult than it looks).

And finally

14.The box intended for cigarette butts has squatters!

15. The barrier makes a convenient perch before...

16. ...the blue tit disappears through the slot intended for cigarette ends.

Let’s hope they successfully rear their brood. The birds don’t seem unduly phased by the activity around them - waiting for a lull before they fly in with yet more insects to feed their young.

The small tasks carried out today make all the difference to the visitor experience. Clean signs, clear drains, freshly painted fences, etc all contribute to the impressions which our visitors form of the railway.

It was good to see members Malcolm (from Guisley) and Les (from Leighton Buzzard) using a day of their holidays to join in. I hoped they enjoyed their day with the Thursday Gang.

Photos and Text Graham Bendell