Work in Progress: 24th & 26th November

The Thursday Gang is now the Tuesday Gang as well!

With Nigel away, Roger Bye has kindly compiled this report covering the preparation work for the track replacement at Woody Bay taking place this weekend .

On Tuesday afternoon some of the Thursday gang attended Woody Bay - not because of getting the day wrong as a result of collective senior moments - but to start the preparatory work in advance of the track replacement program taking place this weekend. The weather was classic Woody Bay Wetness! Such dedication!

Tuesday 24th November

1. After the last train of the day had run, the gang moved into action, under the supervision of our revered General Manager. Martyn and Roger unbolted the fish plates whilst Dave, Dave, Don, Trevor and Jim removed the track screws.

2. Now free of the sleepers and each other, all available manpower combined to lift the rail lengths which were then stored temporarily in the adjacent track pending reuse...

3....leaving a rail-less row of sleepers.

4. Next the base plates were lifted...

5...and then the sleepers were freed from the ballast and loaded on to the well wagon... the effort required increasing as the pile grew higher...and the gang got more tired!

6. The works train then transported the raised sleepers and the gang Killington Lane where the sleepers were offloaded to await sorting for scrapping or recycling. Note Trevor trying to decide whether his hands are wetter in his gloves or out of them! A very wet gang headed homewards after a suitably restoring cup of tea!

Thursday 26th November

7. In improved weather despite the forecast - the AXE hauled works train was positioned to continue the work carried out on Wednesday by Martyn and Co.who had removed much of the surplus ballast and had started levelling and compacting the ballast base. The electric cables to the signals - disconnected by Dave - are lying on the platform to avoid any damage from the excavator.

8. This picture shows the three key stages in preparing the track bed. Alistair Hall used laser levelling equipment (mounted on the tripod and pole) to identify unevenness in the track bed. Martyn then either excavated or filled areas before spreading the ballast evenly and level. Graham then used a plate compactor (whacker!) to compact the ballast.

9. At the Lynton end of the platform, Rob (from the NW) , Roger and later James (from the SE) excavated the ballast from around the points to facilitate their alignment with the track when it is re-installed.

10. While all this activity was going on....

11...another group of (cheerful!) Thursday Gang members, assisted by Julian and Lindsay Palmer continued the job begun last week, namely plating the sleepers,

12. With brilliant team work, Dave, Don, Julian, Kevin, Jim and Lindsay succeeded in increasing the stock of ready-to-lay sleepers.

13. By the time the mist rolled in, a total of 110 sleepers were ready with 440 holes drilled and screws fitted, enough for the replacement programme this weekend.

14. Meanwhile Jim Pounds, assisted by long-term L&B Trust Member and part of the team behind LYD, Bill Edmondson was continuing with the coach painting.

Words and other photos by Roger Bye.

Elsewhere, "Down on the Farm"...in their “workshop” facility at Rowley Moor ...

15. & 16. .....Dick, Trevor and Don were busy working on the restoration of a signal post, originally located on the Ilfracombe line.

Words Roger Bye - photos Don Newnham