Work in progress: 26th January

posted by Martyn de Young on Fri, 27/01/2012 - 22:34

Not as many volunteers about today - perhaps several saving themselves for this weekends hectic working weekend at Chelfham. However at Woody Bay several tasks were completed today. In the shed; Pete Williams and Eddie Mills carried out some maintenance work on steam locomotives SID and AXE respectively. Graham Varney was constructing a ballast carrying wagon for the 7.25" miniature railway. Jim Price, Martin Andrews and John O'Dell continued some minor carriage repairs as well as some floor boards repairs within the station building's bookshop room (original railway's Ladies Room). Not forgetting Dave Blencowe and Dave Tooke who processed a few internet sales amongst the everyday administrative duties on site.

Outside Nigel Thompson and Dave Bloomfield worked with Martyn Budd to install another flood relief drain alongside the transhipment siding. A works train was required to drop fresh ballast around and on top of the pipe within the trench dug earlier by Martyn in the excavator.

1. HEDDON HALL with the works train near Killington Lane.

2. The excavator in action at Killington Lane loading ballast into the ballast hopper wagon.

3. Bags of chippings (left) were also loaded by excavator from the supply at Killington Lane.

4. Back at Woody Bay HEDDON HALL with the ballast hopper prior to dropping stone into the trench with the new drainpipe alongside the transhipment siding.

(Apologies for the few pictures this week but it is was difficult for your reporter to drive the works train, shunt the required wagons in order, assist with the loading and dropping of chippings and ballast, operate the ballast wagon, and a few other duties, as well as trying to take a variety of pictures of everyone at work!)

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson