Work in Progress - 29th April

Nigel Thompson was, as usual, at Woody Bay on Thursday, braving the "bracing" weather conditins.  He writes:

Sorry no photos this week due to very poor weather conditions at Woody Bay today.
 
Earlier during the week Martyn Budd with the 'Tuesday gang' ran a weedkilling train down the line using diesel HEDDON HALL and the weedkilling tank and apparatus on ex MOD flat No.52. The 'Wednesday gang' also assisted Martyn in a variety of jobs including completing the grouting of the new tiled floor in the original Gents toilets at the side of the station building. These toilets have been opened up again to the Gents providing an alternative to the main toilet block.
 
On Thursday preparations for the Spring Gala continued. In the car park several stored turnout panels and some sleepers were tidied up and moved out of the way. The mini-digger lifted the turnouts onto the bank behind the car park. The sleepers were also lifted and placed on Bogie flat wagon No.28321 prior to a works train later to run down the line for unloading at Killington Lane.
 
Inside the stock shed Jim Pounds and Dave Tooke continued painting further top coats on composite (First & Third class) Coach No.3 which is nearing completion of a refurbishment and repainting. Dave Blencowe was busy with electrical work in the shed and the station building. Dick Gunn and Richard Burgess installed a cable and ducting to illuminate the down starter and shed shunt signal. All signals now have their lighting commisionned. As the heavy mist descended in the afternoon, Nigel Thompson driving HEDDON HALL light engine after a works train movement was grateful for these lights to spot the down home signal on the approach to Woody Bay.
 
Meanwhile a steady stream of visitors did brave the elements today. AXE was the loco with Robin Edwards and Jim Price, with Richard Drewer as guard.