Work in Progress: 19th November

Sleeper Plating Gang – more than 10 years on and still in the rain!

Your roving reporter Nigel Thompson remembers well the mass sleeper plating programme back when the railway was being built. ‘Production lines’ were set up in all weathers at Woody Bay and at Killington Lane to drill sleepers and screw the rail plates on as preparation for the track laying.

With the working weekend fast approaching it was time to commence affixing the plates to the new sleepers that will be used in the relaying of the up and down lines through Woody Bay Station.

1. With the sleepers stored by the loading dock, the gang begin the plating task. Dave Robinson on the drill, and new volunteer Kevin Williams with old-hand Jim McFarlane fixing the plates.

2. We soon established a good routine and the first few plated sleepers are here laid out by the fence.

3. A close-up view of the work involved. After drilling the sleeper using a template, it is lowered to the ground. The plates are positioned and greased screws inserted before T-bars are used to screw the plates down onto the sleepers.

Lunch was declared early at midday, by which time 25 sleepers had been completed despite even heavier rain.

4, Throughout a drier afternoon good progress was made with everyone in the gang assisting with the production line.

5. The gang pose before packing up for the day. By 3 pm all were very tired - including the drill! However, the stockpile of completed sleepers now amounted to 52.

6. However, there are still many more to be done in advance of the working weekend. Approximately 200 sleepers will be needed to complete the relaying of both of the station roads. But for now the gang will have a well-deserved break and a cuppa.

An extra work party is to take place next Tuesday from 1300-1600, after the last train required by the regular Tuesday coach party. The track in the up line will then be removed, rails lifted across to the down line cess, sleepers to Killington Lane and old fixings to store.

All volunteers welcome next week Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday & Sunday.

Other work ongoing today: Jim Pounds was in the shed painting Carriage 16’s roof whilst Dave Evans cleaned up the Guards Compartment. John Heys was busy with more maintenance on his loco CHARLES WYTOCK. The electrical Daves were working on even more upgrades to the lighting in the shed, and also at Rowley Moor Farm. Also at Rowley Moor Farm, the signalling team led by Dick Gunn, were working on the restoration of a signal post.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson.