Work in Progress - 1st April

With the start of the Easter holidays and the prospect of a busy season of visitors expected - many of whom will be sampling the catering at Woody Bay, final preparations were well underway.

Photos: Nigel Thompson

The Thursday group today were tasked with the seasonal erection of the marquee adjacent to the station building.

1. Final adjustments before the marquee is raised to its full height.

2. Securing the cross sections of the frame.

3. All finished - the tables await their Easter customers.

Whilst this work was going on, a steady stream of visitors were arriving.

4. AXE (right) arrives at Woody Bay with the passenger train passing HEDDON HALL (left) during a shunt move and stored Simplex TITCH (centre).

5. Coach 2 has been refurbished this winter and entered traffic this week.

6. Driver today was Robin Edwards with Richard Drewer as guard......

7. ...and Jim Price as fireman.

8. The down starter signal is now finished with the painted finial (constructed by Dick Gunn) in place.

Coal is needed to keep the service running

9. With the digger now returned to Woody Bay, Martyn Budd loads SR bogie open 28320 with locomotive coal.

10. The digger makes an easy job of loading the coal.

11. HEDDON HALL with the coal train during loading in the car park.

The photographs from the March working weekend are now<HERE>