Work in Progress: 17th October

We are still open in October with plenty to do!

This week's report comes from Roger Bye.

There is always a wide range of work required to keep the railway operating but perhaps the most important is... the maintenance of the sewage system!

1. Following on from work over the last two weeks Steve, Dave and Nick made an early start on re-aligning the sewage system pipework which had been blocking up - Ugh!

2. When all was deemed satisfactory the excavation was back-filled under Steve's supervision!

3. Nearby, Graham was busy replacing the timber deck of one of the flat wagons.

4. By the shed, ISAAC was being prepared for duty by today's footplate crew, Graham, Clive and Martyn.

5. Some early visitors watching ISAAC running round to couple-up for the first train of the day.

In the paint shop; 6. Phil was touching up paintwork. 7. Jim was sealing joints and 8. Dave and John were assessing what was needed regarding the door locks.....

9. ... and Geoff was really stuck into some fettling in the 1st Class non-smoker- not looking for lost 20p coins as he claimed!

10. Outside, Nigel was operational again, assessing the condition of the paintwork of the down-platform railings.

11. Behind the shed a major clear up was underway. After loading items for scrapping into the DZ wagon, the gang then transferred them to a road trailer for conveyance to a location offsite, where it all had to be unloaded again!

12. Visitors who arrived early today enjoyed autumnal sunshine. 13. Some even took a close interest in the workings of a steam loco.

14. However, the puddles on the platform as ISAAC waits to depart with an afternoon train are evidence of the heavy showers that arrived after lunch.

The construction of signals is an area of work that doesn't often feature in the weekly reports. Don and Dick have been working hard, with help from others, to build the signals which will be essential to operate the extended line.

15. Here a number of completed rail-built-signals can be seen - some single and some double.

16. & 17. Mechanical implementation of digital logic! This lever frame has been beautifully restored and is now awaiting the machining of components for the intricate mechanical interlocking system, part of which can be seen here.

Recently, attention has been directed to the restoration of a lattice signal post. The sides of the post have sustained damage and both the lattice strips and angled corners will need to be re-profiled before re-assembly.

These are constructed of angle iron and steel strip riveted in a zigzag pattern. To add to the geometrical complication the posts are also tapered!

18. Dick sets to dismantling. The rivets have to be ground down and the components separated with judicious use of hammer and cold chisels.

19. This photo shows one side of the lattice structure removed from the other three....

20. ....whilst this photo shows the two lattice sides removed from the post. Plenty of work ahead for the signal team!

And finally:

21. An unusual locomotive line up under an increasingly grey sky.  On the left is HEDDON HALL, in the middle CHARLES WYTOCK, currently out of commission pending maintenance work,  with PILTON just visible behind and on the right ISAAC returning with a late afternoon train.

Words and photos Roger Bye.