Work in Progress: 29th December

posted by Nigel Thompson on Sat, 31/12/2011 - 21:50

Unfortunately no photographs this week as the wet and windy weather kept all the Thursday Gang inside the shed and the station, working on various projects as well as several odd jobs that have been waiting.

Miniature Railway project leader Alistair Hall was busy fabricating a turntable by cutting, welding and grinding various channel galvanised steel sections. This turntable is expected to be installed next year, just by the water tank, to allow track access for storing rolling stock under the tank. There was also a delivery of engineering bricks (surplus from a local source) which will be laid after a suitable hole is dug. Time and materials permitting it is hoped that more progress will be made next year on this extra attraction at Woody Bay. In the meantime we are always on the look out for extra help from anyone interested in supporting the miniature railway (7.25" gauge) by way of loaning working traction and rolling stock, operating the railway on selected days or just helping to maintain and build the planned track extensions. Contact Martyn Budd at the station 01598 763487.

Signalling engineer Dick Gunn was also on site keeping dry in the shed with some more signal refurbishment. Dick has almost finished the repaint of the up starter and has now turned his attention to the down home. This signal post was first erected by Paul Gower and his team back in 2002. It is anticipated that this signal will be much photographed when LYD is next in Devon storming up the bank into Woody Bay Station whilst hauling the L&B's heritage carriages recreating views of the past. Today, Dick was cleaning up and repainting the lens bracket and post top of the signal. A clean up and repaint of the post is planned when we have some better weather.

The other Thursday gang members dismantled the 'Santa's Grotto' panels ready to be stored away in the shed, and also stacked up the Christmas decorations for storage in the loft ready for Christmas 2012 . This year's Santa's went very well, helped partly by milder weather which allowed visitors to get to Woody Bay without hindrance caused last year by snow and ice on the roads.

Also today a major tidy-up in the shed and clearing out a few accumulated bins of rubbish was taking place.

Diesel D6652 continues to progress as the re-wiring programme is now underway. It is expected that this locomotive will be available for traffic early in 2012, allowing the engineers to carry out maintenance and repairs to HEDDON HALL.

A Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2012 from Nigel Thompson