Work in Progress: 19th May

Back to normal?

Our thanks to Roger Bye for this week's report.

After one of the most successful galas ever - the activity today was mostly a rerun of last week in reverse!

All the furniture and equipment used over the very busy gala weekend had to be disassembled and put back in store - the BBQ marquee canvas and frame dismantled - 30+ tables and even more chairs collected up - sign boards retrieved and the BBQs wheeled out. All this was then loaded up and transported (courtesy of a staff member's trailer and Land-Rover) to Rowley Moor Farm where it all had to be unloaded and stored ready for the September event.

Although essential for the smooth running of the galas, as this work is considered neither exciting or photogenic, here is photo of ISAAC instead.

1. ISAAC at home.

2. & 3. Eagle-eyed regular visitors to Woody Bay may have noticed that a few of the travel posters have been changed. Some of the existing double-sided posters were reversed and a new poster featuring a view of the Little Petherick Creek bridge on the Camel Trail in Cornwall erected at the Barnstaple end of the station building.

4. Nigel Spencer, looking as though he is in a cage, continues with the everlasting railing painting.

5. Dave Evans was also painting - fascia boards for the mess room/toilet block.

6. In the shop, Robert and Tony were doing a brisk trade today, before passing the passengers over to today's train crew....

7. Driver Graham Varney, Guard Bob Ayres and Fireman Andy Foster.  As he has had no further offers of acting work since his "starring" in the recent local TV feature on the railway extension, Bob is considering changing his agent!

8. Driver Graham attended to the lubrication of ISAAC with "encouragement" from Fireman Andy.

9. Graham was probably feeling the effects of several days spent cutting and welding steel bar and angle to form Southern Railway style grates for the drainage system installed when the track was relaid.

10. Meanwhile, Trevor Buck and Don Newnham were testing the fifth tablet machine they have restored.

11. John Uphill has been busy constructing a new handbrake mechanism for "Pilton" - made necessary due to the modifications to the cab height and position. The new operating shaft (seen here) has a worm gear cut at one end and a bevel gear fitted to the other.

12 This shaft will fit vertically in a support bracket, the worm drive engaging with the brake mechanism.  Another new shaft and bevel gear will connect to it horizontally through the cab rear wall where X marks the spot!

13. Other work on "Pilton" is in hand The shaft linking the engine to the transmission is being made. It is splined at the engine end and connects to the flexible coupling on the gear box.

14. ISAAC and crew just before the mist obliterates the view.

After the Gang had unloaded all the Gala equipment at Rowley Moor Farm, with the weather steadily deteriorating at Woody Bay, General Manager Martyn Budd, suggested that the gang should move the assembled rail built signals further into the barn. As moving these 1200 lb/ 550 kg assemblies required all of us - nobody was free to take any pictures!

15. After this herculean effort the only sensible follow-up activity was to head back to the station and partake of delicious tea and cake - courtesy of Judy, Irene and Madge!

Words and photos by Roger Bye