Work in Progress - 6th May

[Election Day] The regulars of the Thursday Gang today continued further preparations for the Spring Gala. During the lunch and tea breaks a wide range of topical political views was discussed reflecting the tremendous diversity of interests, and circumstances that the regular volunteers hold within the L & B. However although we could have continued the debate all day, General Manager Martyn Budd was keen for us all 'to continue the good work' as well as the train crew enjoying another quite busy day even for early May.
 
In the morning the gang installed a temporary fence around the Garden Railway (which will be in action this weekend with Stuart Well's YEO steam locomotive.) and tidied various parts of the site visible near the stock shed. After the 'political lunch' we were tasked with some permanent way work on the headshunt siding.
 
For the Spring Gala visitors will be offered the chance to be a "Diesel driver for a Fiver". HEDDON HALL will be able to shuttle backwards and forwards from the loading dock to the headshunt siding. Visitors (carefully supervised by L&B staff) will have the chance to drive the loco on this short stretch of track not interfering with the passenger (and demonstration freight) operations with steam locos AXE & SID.

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1. Jacking and packing on the headshunt siding.

2. As the sea mist descends SID departs Woody Bay with an afternoon service past the p.w. gang working on the headshunt.

3. After completing the packing of a few low spots, HEDDON HALL was given a test run over the line.

4. Further shunting took place to form wagons up for the demonstration freight train. HEDDON HALL with a siding full of almost every works train wagon during the shunt.

5. A long works train on the headshunt siding.

6. SID departs with the last train of the day past HEDDON HALL and the wagons.