Work in Progress: 12th July

It's Coming Home...

After the England football team's excellent progress upon reaching as far as the World Cup semi-finals, the L&BR Thursday Gang continue to progress too - both at Woody Bay and further down the trackbed's proposed extension plans with the fencing project.

1. Our own "Gareth Southgate" manager - a similarly waist-coated L&BR Finance Director and Trustee - Ian Cowling is today's rostered guard, assisted by Jim Price (left).

2. The Guard's duties include controlling the lever frame - moving the points and signals. Ian has a go...

3. ... and Jim also assists at times.

4. AXE is today's locomotive, with Graham Bridge (fireman) and Doug Mills (driver).

5. AXE returns to Woody Bay with the three-carriage train...

6. ... well photographed as always by the visitors.

7. Lunch break for the train crew in the marquee.

8. Catering was busy too all day.

9. LYN rests in the shed prior to the scheduled boiler pressure valve adjustments this week...

10. ...whilst engineer Dave Hallett cleans up more of ISAAC's cab fittings and controls...

11. ...prior to refitting into the newly-overhauled locomotive.

12. Paint Shop Boys Jim and Barrie continue their brake van progress.

More stock-proof fencing was erected along the railway land boundary:

13. The fearsome device in the foreground is the (heavy) post "basher in"! Anne Belsey (with the white hard hat) joined the Thursday Gang today, having very recently moved to North Devon.
Dave Peach (fourth from the camera) was back in action today after recovering from surgery.

14. A view of the trackbed at Rowley Farm, looking towards Woody Bay, with both sides securely fenced.

Words and pictures: Nigel Thompson (1-12) and Roger Bye (13-14).