Work in Progress: 19th September

posted by Martyn de Young on Sat, 21/09/2013 - 14:38

Just over a week to go to the Autumn Steam Gala. Its all happening at Woody Bay today with a visiting locomotive (EMMET) in steam, the third Heritage Carriage (No.16) arriving, much early Gala preparation work with the signs brought out of storage etc.

There is also plenty of progress work happening to produce new couplings for the locos, completing the shed partition, signalling work, and of course operating the 'usual train' with AXE and the four carriage set for the many September visitors including the coach parties.

1. It rained all morning, as this view shows, with AXE approaching Woody Bay with the passenger train.

2. Outside the shed EMMET was being steam tested prior to a test run later in the day

3. A stack of point rodding in store behind the shed will soon be moved soon to another area. Brom Bromidge, Graham Bendell and John Villers load these lengths of rodding onto the bogie flat wagon

4. Good progress is being made towards extending the shed partition. This extension will accept the full length of a heritage carriage when re-painting and varnishing is required.

5. John O'Dell and Dave Evans have been measuring, cutting and fitting all the wood sections on this project.

6. A view of the extended paint shop.

7. Other work in the shed included more assembly of the restored point lever frame. This frame will be used for the future extension southwards to Parracombe and Blackmoor.

8. Graham, John and Nigel spent some of the day collecting the signs for the forthcoming Gala. Some signs were able to be re-installed ready for next weekend.

9. The stack of road signs ready for the Gala, Daves Bloomfield and Drayson look on at the activities near the shed.

10. A busy shed scene with HEDDON HALL, AXE, and EMMET.

11. Newly-rebuilt Heritage Carriage No.16 (a Brake Third) arrived from Essex this morning ...

12. ... and unloaded onto the transhipment siding ...

13. ... before Hunslet diesel HEDDON HALL hauled the new arrival into Woody Bay Station.

14. Coach No. 16 at Woody Bay

15. The very new heritage carriage is posed at Woody Bay Station

16. Safely inside the shed and over the pit, Coach No.16 is worked on by the engineers. These are the L&B style Calthrop couplings ready to be fitted to the locomotives destined to haul the Heritage Train.

17. At Woody Bay there was a chance to see Controller Philip Shelton on duty today. Philip usually volunteers on other days each week and also helps out in the shop. Philip is very much one of the L&B's unsung heroes who help open and operate the train for seven days a week during the main season.