Work in Progress: 19th December

The Santa Specials are in full swing. Today extra trains were run for the children, parents, and teachers from Combe Martin Primary School. Santa was about, there was entertainment, carol singing and a very festive atmosphere at Woody Bay.

For the Thursday Gang, just a couple of tasks were required. These included installing another indicator disc signal at Killington Lane, and moving top-soil and turf to build up the bank behind the extended platform.

1. At Killington Lane a couple of sleepers needed replacing with longer 'standard gauge' length sleepers for the disc signal base to sit on.

2. The disc signal being adjusted into position. This is a point indicator signal which has been cabled to the lever frame which will show to the train crew the position of the points during the run-round. With the new position of the lever frame here closer to the platform end, the need has arisen for this signal rather than relying on hand signals from the guard to the footplate crew.

3. Later the gang was able to spread out the top soil and turf behind the extended platform. The earth was brought in using builders merchants bags, lifted onto the platform by the excavator on the well wagon.

4. The heritage carriages at Woody Bay whilst a wintry shower deposits some light snow and sleet.

5. Back in the mess room some tea and cake was left over for the Thursday Gang's afternoon break.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to wish all L&BR members, supporters and readers of these weekly news items a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2014.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson

[Footnote:  

The L&B web team would very much like to thank Nigel (and his occasional stand-ins) for his sterling efforts in - as well as taking a full part in the Thursday Gang activities -  providing these updates, which we know are so eagerly awaited by many L&B members and supporters, and which allow us to provide regular updates which are the envy of many other railway websites.  

Thanks to all of you, and Season's greeting to everyone! Keith and Martyn]