Work In Progress: 2nd January 2014

 The Thursday Gang started the New Year at Woody Bay in a shifty fashion!

We were shifting Santa’s Grotto to the shed, shifting Santa’s Grotto materials into the station loft, shifting station benches, shifting picnic tables and shifting folding tables and chairs to ensure all was stored safely and protected from the inevitable shifting Woody Bay weather!

The recent heavy rain in the area, (which despite the media hysteria at the moment is to us just normal!), did focus us on storm water drains and we cleared these around the station building to minimise the risk of flooding.  This required shifting mud and gravel.

We also shifted piles of logs resulting from the recent tree work necessary due to storm damage to some of the trees opposite the station building.

1. Dave Evans, Jack Balchin and Dave Bloomfield load logs from tree work. Various S&T work was carried out at Woody Bay and Killington Lane. In the shed, more was done to ensure that the locos were adequately protected during their winter lay-up.

2. John Heys finishes cleaning out AXE's smokebox

3. John Uphill cleans out ISAAC's smokebox. A good deal of stock, material and engine shifting was required to rearrange the shed to facilitate the anticipated winter programme of repair, renovation and modification. Some movements were under loco power and others under man-power! Locos AXE, PILTON and ISAAC all had an airing before going into hibernation!

4. PILTON looms over Martyn Budd and son Ollie, Rob Pym and Dave Bloomfield

5. John Uphill and Graham Varney move AXE. Note that the duct across the platform giving access to S&T equipment is open

6. Martyn Budd and Graham move ISAAC, with PILTON in the background

7. A winter view with the new and old coaches together - a sign of progress!

8. Perhaps this photo encapsulates the move into the New Year - the old and the new.  

All of us in the Thursday Gang wish you a Happy New Year.

Words and Pictures by Roger Bye (Nigel Thompson was unwell and couldn't make it to Woody Bay on Thursday. We wish him a speedy recovery)