Work in Progress: 15th August

posted by Roger Bye on Sun, 18/08/2019 - 00:25

Still busy!

This weeks report comes from Roger Bye

Changeable weather again this week - so still seeing significant passenger numbers every day.

1. The first train of the day headed by LYN in the care of Dave and Graham waits at Woody Bay...

2. ...before setting off under a cloudy but rain free sky.

3. There was a new arrival in the shed - Carriage No.5...

4. ...with first and

5. third class accommodation.

6. An end view reveals a lack of couplings!

7. In the workshop John was machining them to ensure that the square section would fit correctly through...

8. ...the coupling spring.

9. Peter was machining the end plates which have a slightly curved faces to allow the coupling to articulate around bends.

10. In a less often featured part of the track bed, the spring and summer growth of vegetation had been cut back by Nick, visiting regular volunteers Julian and Lindsay, Steve, and Dave and others. Locomotive CHARLES WYTOCK awaits.

11. Further vegetation that was shading the solar panels on the shed roof was also cut back. Steve is here in supervisory mode while Dave cuts and Dave clears. There was some discussion of the comparative ecological benefits of the enhanced solar panel performance versus the removal of vegetation!

12. The shed gutters were cleaned out just in case it rains and the solar panels are again fully exposed to the blazing North Devon sun!

13. Down beyond Bridge 67, Keith, Anne and Jonathan renovated one of the farm crossing gates.

14. A glance across the track at the other gate shows the work required. The concrete posts had to be re-set vertically, the leaner posts had to be correctly fitted, the wire had to be re-tensioned and the gate rehung.