Work in Progress: 21st April

Back to normal?

Nigel Thompson is back on duty for this week's photo report.

After the very busy weekend with the Charter train from Paddington bringing  hundreds of visitors to Woody Bay, it is back to the usual spring pattern of visitors and jobs for the volunteers.

Rowley Moor Farm

1. Progress on another signal for the future loop at Parracombe. Dick Gunn (right) checks the alignment of a linkage to the counterweight.

2. Dick, Trevor Buck and Don Newnham discuss the next stage of this signal post construction project.

3. Don has made this wooden model of the complicated signal interlocking for the Parracombe signal frame constructed last year.

Woody Bay

4. In the shed Jim Pounds has ‘transferred’ his painting skills this week from carriages to locomotives. Jim is preparing to paint some bare edges of the new cab position of D2393 PILTON, which is still continuing its steady restoration work in the shed.

5. John Heys works on Bagnall 4-4-0T CHARLES WYTOCK cleaning up a cylinder cover ready for repainting.

6. In the paint shop Jim Price has found space to work on a couple of poster board frames.

7. ISAAC was used during the busy weekend when all four carriages were required on the train. Today ISAAC rests in the shed available for service.

8. AXE’s train crew of Grahams and Bob! (Driver Varney, Fireman Bridge and Guard Ayres).

9. Oblivious to banter of the train crew, Nigel Spencer continues painting the fencing railings along the up platform.

Killington Lane

The Thursday Track Gang were working down (up) the line finishing off the fishplate greasing programme which had now reached Killington Lane.

10. & 11. Standing back, watching as AXE passes with the train.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson, except photos 10 and 11 Roger Bye.

The previous day (Wed 20th April) had seen another monthly rail trip for the volunteers and friends. This time Looe was the destination with trains from Barnstaple to Exeter to Liskeard and the scenic branch down to Looe.

12. The group pose in front of the Looe branch train, 153373.

Lunch at the Ship Inn and a stroll around the harbour and quayside shops before trains returning to Liskeard, Plymouth and time for a pub stop at Teignmouth. Then back to Exeter and Barnstaple.

Suggestions for further trips this summer include Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Bere Feres and Gunnislake branch, and Torquay and ferry boat across to Brixham. Dates are TBA. If interested please contact me Nigel Thompson for further details…..