Work in Progress: 17th December

And still "The Rain it Raineth"!

This week's report is provided by Roger Bye:

There are some days where climate change is almost welcome...if only for it to be a bit drier at Woody Bay.

1. With 30 or so sleeper changes still to be carried out, Don, Kevin, Dave, Dave and Roger, supported by their trusty works train driver (and expert portable generator starter!) Graham, braved the elements and got to work. Dave and Kevin move a new sleeper into position, ready to slide it under the temporarily jacked rails. The old sleeper can be seen on the ground behind Don - definitely past its sell-by date (the sleeper not Don!)

2. With the sleeper in place, the team - later joined by Martyn Budd and Dave B - drilled (with some difficulty due to the nature of the timber) holes for the track screws. They then fastened down the plates with track screws and backfilled the ballast before moving on to the next one. Why not give up your gym membership and keep fit replacing sleepers at Woody Bay – there are plenty yet to do!

3. A slightly different view of the carriage painting which continues in the paintshop, with Jim and Bill working on the outside....

4...and Martin on the inside.

5. In the workshop,John has been machining new phosphor bronze big-end bearings, for John Heys engine, “Charlie”. The bright new bearing (in two halves) can be seen fitted in the end of the red painted connecting rod which transmits the drive from piston to the wheels.

6. Trevor has been working on the restoration of the (heavy) base plates of several token machines, prior to reassembling them for operational use.

7. Jim and Martin were constructing and painting (simultaneously - such is the Thursday gang efficiency) yet another notice board for mounting the further reproduction railway posters being produced by Jim and Roger. Notice AXE in the background bearing the Santa Special sign ready for the Saturday Santa Special trains.

8. Down at Rowley Moor Farm, Dick, Don and Trevor, with assistance from Nigel (who was recovering from the Devon Group rail trip yesterday), made good progress on the double home signal. It is only when you actually construct one of these systems that the complexity and number of components becomes evident.

9. The Woody Bay Santa’s Grotto awaits the arrival of excited children over the week leading up to Christmas.

As this is the last Thursday Gang Report of 2015, all of us wish all those of you who follow our activities week by week, a very Happy Christmas and New Year. We will be back in 2016.

Words and photos Roger Bye.