Work in Progress: 12th November

Someone has been busy marking rotting sleepers with yellow paint again!

1. The first job today was to replace a crossing timber sleeper under the points at the main crossover turnouts. Dave Robinson bangs out the old sleeper.

2. Next, it's time to dig out underneath to make space for the new larger sleeper to be slid in.

3. With the new sleeper in, the next job is to drill holes in the hardwood Jarrah sleeper...

4. ... then use a T-bar to screw down the rail plates.



5. Dave R. in action again, now with the Kango Hammer "tamping" the ballast under the new sleeper.

6. & 7. The track gang wander down the line to spot the yellow markings and dig out ballast from around to make the job easier to replace the sleepers next week.

8. A works train was run down (up?) to Killington Lane with the track gang travelling in the brake van. The gang now work uphill digging out around the sleepers marked with yellow paint.

9. The track gang of six today – Dave Evans, Roger Bye, Mike Corner, Dave Robinson, reporter Nigel Thompson and Don Wood.

10. Today's project for the signalling team was to assemble a rail-built signal-post. Dick Gunn (right) is supervising this job as the old rails (formally from the Barnstaple-Ilfracombe railway) are lined up to form the post.

11. The spacers are fitted by Don Newnham and Roger Bye – Dick Gunn still supervising!

12. The spacers hold the parallel rails together. Supervisor Dick checks that all is agreeable with General Manager Martyn Budd.

13. In the shed ‘Electrical Daves’ (Bloomfield and Drayson) are upgrading several of the wall-mounted strip lights.



14. Jim Pounds (working on his own today) progresses with preparation of the paintwork on Carriage No.16.

15. A busy scene in the shed with all steam locomotives present. Engineering Director John Heys in the middle of ISAAC, AXE and CHARLES WYTOCK.

16. And finally... Pete Williams was busy refurbishing one of the bogies recently purchased from South Africa.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson.