Work in Progress: 27th August

While the General Manager is away...

General Manager Martyn Budd was away on holiday 'overseas' this week, so just a few tasks were identified for the Thursday Gang to do today - Martyn was no doubt enjoying his break on the Isle of Wight!

Meanwhile, the changeable weather encouraged yet more visitors to Woody Bay today. Pete Williams, John Uphill and Richard Bullock were ISAAC's footplate crew, with Bob Ayres as Guard. Tony Cross, Gail Ward and Dave Tooke were in the booking office, shop, and upstairs admin.

The Tea-Rooms have also experienced record numbers this year. Our thanks to Catering Manager Judy Williams and her loyal team for their hard work at Woody Bay, and also for the many extra hours undertaken away from the station with stock purchasing, food preparation and the baking of all those delicious cakes. Not all the work happens at Woody Bay.

1. Orange men and the orange wagon. The 'DZ' bogie flat/open that arrived last week from South Africa still needed its sides and ends put back on. The gang surround the wagon and discuss the methods of fitting.



2. The sections are laid out and bolts collected from the stores, whilst two luxury coaches deposit many eager travellers at Woody Bay Station.



3. Lots of shuffling of side panels to find out which one goes where.



4. Progress! That's an end on now.



5. ISAAC passes with the gang still working on the wagon.



6. Someone had to lie down under the wagon to fix the awkward bolts - guess who?



7. Nigel Spencer continued his splendid one-man effort painting the platform fence railings. Anyone else keen to join him?

8. Almost complete. The DZ wagon is now a bogie open. There will be adjustments to the hand and vacuum braking systems, and some repainting before the vehicle enters traffic.

9. Last seen lying down, Roger Bye now helps out in the shed with the repaint of SR liveried bogie open No.28320.



10. Martin Steel was also busy painting an end with SR brown top coat, whilst...



11. ... Jim Pounds was painting the sides of this wagon.

12. The new ballast hopper and the DZ bogie open together in the headshunt.

13. Recently refurbished Brake Van No.56042 also stabled on the headshunt.

14. ISAAC with an afternoon train about to pass Hunslet Diesel HEDDON HALL by the headshunt.

Text and photos by Nigel Thompson