Work in Progress: 25th August

While the boss is away, …

This week sees the return of Nigel Thompson to reporting duties.

General Manager Martyn Budd is away enjoying his usual ‘holiday’, driving locos on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, leaving just a few jobs for the Thursday gang to progress. Changeable weather has once again continued to keep the visitor numbers up this month. The railway is flourishing.

1. The crew relaxes. ISAAC, today’s locomotive almost ready to depart from Woody Bay.

2. Woody Bay Station was busy all day with visitors (and their dogs!)

3. Resplendent in SR porters uniform, Trust member and volunteer visiting from Birmingham, Michael Ordway is on hand and ready to deal with any luggage or goods.

4. In the paint-shop Jim Pounds has now painted more of the South African Railways Y Hopper wagon recently delivered to the railway.

5. Outside the shed is bogie open No. 28320. Now used to store loco ash (left side) and wood for fire lighting (right side).

6. Alistair Hall was on site today working on the miniature railway. Alistair is using the old loco ash to build up levels underneath the tracks around the recently completed turntable.

7. & 8. Two fine views as ISAAC with a morning train, climbs up from Killington Lane out of the mist and drizzle.

9. Distant view of the track gang working on the line changing another sleeper.

10. After lunch the Thursday ‘track  gang’ became a ‘carriage and wagon gang’ to begin assembling the sides of the latest DZ open wagon to arrive from South Africa.

11. The heavy steel sides are held into position whilst …

12. … pins are hammered home to secure them.

13. Time to pose for the camera as the wagon takes shape.

14. Finally, another view of ISAAC, this time emerging from the mist alongside the headshunt retaining wall.

Words and photos: Nigel Thompson.