Work in Progress: 1st October

posted by keith vingoe on Fri, 02/10/2015 - 16:35

BLANCHE is still here and so is the Indian Summer weather!

1. Your reporter Nigel Thompson seen here assisting Jim Pounds with some replica heritage advertising sign adjustments on the up platform railings.

2. The other Nigel (Spencer) continues his lonely vigil, cleaning and painting the station railings.

3. Jim Pounds with the new 'Venos' signs either side of the 'Jennings' sign. There are photos taken at Woody Bay Station in the 1930s that show these signs in this location.

4. A view along the up platform as visitors enjoy seeing BLANCHE in Autumn sunshine.

5. Andy Foster enjoyed his turn as one of the firemen on BLANCHE today.

6. The other fireman being Julian Sinclair.

7. Regular Thursday Guard Bob Ayres, with the step used to assist passengers entering or leaving the heritage carriages.

8. BLANCHE departs Woody Bay Station in the superb sunshine.

9. Stabled in the loading dock today is the 'DZ' bogie open wagon from South Africa, which featured in the goods train during the Gala Weekend.

More Thursday Gang jobs

10. Dave Evans painted the shelves in the concrete signal hut ...

11. ...before assisting Trevor Buck to dig out ash and spoil which had been affecting the movement of the tie bar and point rodding at this turnout by the shed.

12. Today's track gang gather their track tools at Killington Lane, whilst BLANCHE awaits departure.

13. A zoom lens shot highlights the steep gradient out of Killington Lane.

14. Under a glorious blue sky, BLANCHE storms uphill with the train.

15. How many men does it take to change a sleeper? The gang finish replacing the last few rotten sleepers in the main line. Later, another crossing sleeper was changed under a turnout at Killington Lane.

16. BLANCHE with four-carriage train approaching Woody Bay.