Work in Progress: 2nd October

The clear up begins - LYD in action

Our thanks once again to Graham Bendell for this weeks report:

It was only at lunchtime that I realised Nigel was not on site (off holidaying on the Settle and Carlisle) so I thought I had better do something. Unfortunately the morning’s activities went unrecorded.

Today was mostly spent clearing up after the Gala.

The barbecues equipment and gazebo were packed away, the signs gathered together and stowed for next year.  The lighting-up wood replenished with a delivery of broken pallets - quickly reduced to firewood by Graham Varney.

A defective air pump from the sewage plant was investigated and the the Station seat from Fremington worked on. While this was going on LYD was hauling well loaded trains.

1. The two Dave’s – Blencowe and Bloomfield - investigate a troublesome air pump.

2. Loading signs to be taken to storage at Rowley Moor Farm, Mike Corner and Jim McFarlane conceal their identities!

3. With LYD operating today’s trains, ISAAC and AXE take a rest.

4. A so far unrestored RNAD van was shunted into the paint shop to dry out in preparation for repairs and repainting.

5. More firewood to replenish stocks after the Gala when 4 locomotives were in steam.

6. Martin Williams, Les Squance and Jim Isherwood worked on 71/4” track.

7. Jim McFarlane tips more wood into the bins.

8. You can’t have too much of this – LYD in dappled sunlight, comes into the platform with the 13.45 from Killington Lane.

9. A view of LYD’s cab.

10. Today’s guard Bob Ayres affixes the tail lamp and then operates the lever frame so that LYD can run-round.

11. CHARLES WYTOCK back in the shed after playing its part in the Autumn Gala.

12. Jim Pounds and Jim Price attach a “Fremington” sign to the ex Fremington Station seat.  This seat was donated to the L&B earlier this year, together with sufficient funds for its restoration by Mr. David Mock on behalf of the family of Harold Mock, the last station master of Fremington Station.  A small commemorative plaque will be fixed to seat in the near future.

13. LYD again – no apologies for this!

14. Graham Varney with a partially repainted Heddon Hall shunt AXE and ISAAC into the shed.

15. The L&B Trust has members all over the World: Walter Ide from Connecticut who came over for the gala, chats to our “resident” town crier Roy whilst waiting for the second of two Shearings coaches to arrive.

A busy, but very pleasant sunny and mild day, surely one of the last before the autumn and winter really set in. The presence of LYD certainly adds a great deal to an already vibrant railway.  When the Railway purchased Woody Bay Station some 19 years ago now, back in 1995; few of us seriously thought that we would ever see a train set of several L&B carriages hauled by a Manning Wardle tank engine approaching the platform. It really is awake!

Words and pictures by Graham Bendell