Work in Progress: 18 August

Unsettled weather during August has kept many visitors off the beach and enjoying the inland tourist attractions and the L & B R at Woody Bay has benefited from this recently.  So our thanks must go to all the staff/volunteers who have kept the railway running each day without problems - train crews, booking office, catering and engineering as well as those mostly unseen and unknown working behind the scenes.

The main task of the 'outdoor' volunteers today was to complete the re-railing of the loading dock siding, whilst in the shed others continued the painting etc of the projects underway there.

1. One rail is brought to site in the loading dock siding and measured for cutting.




2. Just this short closure rail length needs to be connected up today.



 3. The other rail needed to be collected from the storage site at Killington Lane. A works train movement with HEDDON HALL and bogie flat No.28321 was hastily organised so as not to delay the passenger train with AXE.



4. The volunteers and works train wait to return to Woody Bay whilst AXE arrives with the 12:15 service.
 

5. In the paint shop section of the shed, Jim Pounds was spraying the body sections of Hunslet Diesel D6652 with green paint   .



6. Len Howse painting inside the ex MoD Brake Van No.56042



7. Don Brereton also paints inside the Brake Van.



8. Cleaned up and repainted bogie ready for its regauged wheelsets and brake gear (destined for an ex MoD bogie flat wagon).



9. Hunslet Diesel D6652 cleaned and repainted frames await the refitting of cab and bodywork.
 

10. The tea and cakes in the marquee await the arrival of the Brend Tours Coach Parties expected after lunch.



11. AXE returns to Woody Bay with the full train of the coach party participants.
 

12. After lunch the new rails in the loading dock are connected up.



13. Banging in the spikes on the last length whilst AXE arrives again.



14. Richard and John dig out and adjust the position of a sleeper at a rail joint on the siding.



15. Nigel and John place in and pack a new sleeper in the loading dock siding to complete the re-railing project. The lighter 40lb. rail has been replaced with heavier 45lb. rail with smoother joints which will help with the special event days Driver for-a-Donation and Footplate Experience locomotive trips up and down this siding.

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Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson