Work in Progress: 31st October

No Halloween fancy-dress in evidence amongst the staff and volunteers today as the railway continues to attract many more visitors over the School Half Term holiday week.

1. AXE hauls the train into Woody Bay Station.

2. AXE's regular Thursday Fireman for much of the season this year has been Andy Foster.

3. Visitors enjoy autumn steam with AXE at Woody Bay.

4. SID was also in steam today, as the locomotive (still for sale) was undergoing an annual boiler test for re-certification by the boiler inspector.

5. SID passed the boiler test and was able to take a short run up to the head shunt siding during a major rearrangement of the rolling stock currently in the shed.

6. SID returns past the station en-route to the shed.

7. Later, SID was stabled in the shed to cool down and await the next steaming.

8. All the diesels were in use today, including Hunslet D6652 top-and-tailing with AXE on the passenger train.
 

9. For the volunteers, the afternoon task was to continue cleaning and painting the railings leading up to the shed viewing area.

10. Grey primer was quickly painted onto the sections before the rain appeared.

11. By finish time, primer had been applied to all of the sections. Weather permitting, next week they will be  undercoated, then top-coated in SR Green to match the other station fencing.

Today I was grateful to receive some really positive feedback and a thanks for these weekly reports by a visiting Trust member from Essex. It is very satisfying to learn that these reports are read locally, nationally and even across the world and that many L&B supporters keep in touch with the operations and progress at Woody Bay and other sites along the Railway. Thanks also to my deputies, Dave Bloomfield and Graham Bendell, for standing in for me during my travels away.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson