Work in Progress: 3rd December

Lots of odd jobs this week!

After the successful working weekend spent relaying the track in the up platform at Woody Bay, today was a day of odd jobs around the railway.

1. As the up platform track is now lower some adjustments to the signal rodding mechanisms were required. ‘Electrical’ Daves - Drayson and Bloomfield - are digging around the up starter signal cable pulley base to give more clearance for the cable to run smoothly.

2. In the morning, it was dry enough for Nigel Spencer to carry on painting the railings. Behind him are the plated sleepers stored ready for relaying the down platform in January.

3. A quiet Woody Bay Station. Rain has washed clean the new ballast along the up line.

4.& 5. Santa’s Grotto and the Christmas decorations in the Marquee await next week's Santa Specials.

6. Bill Edmondson...

7. ... and Jim Pounds continue painting Carriage No.16 in the dry and warmth of the paint shop in the shed.

8. Elsewhere in the shed, Jim Price prepares to paint another sign frame made by Jim Pounds, as locomotives ISAAC and AXE rest behind.

9. At Rowley Moor Farm, Don Newnham begins to trial fit the mechanisms onto the rail built signal post. This  signal is being constructed in advance of our extending the railway.

10. Dick Gunn discusses with Don the position for the signal arm's pivot block to be attached to the post.

11. 12. & 13. Other Members of the Thursday Gang assisted with a works train down at Killington Lane tidying up the old sleepers lifted last weekend, whilst Martyn Budd unloaded the old ballast from the South African DZ wagon.

Words and photos 1-10 by Nigel Thompson. Photos 11-13 Roger Bye.