Work in Progress: 6th September
posted by Martyn de Young
on Fri, 07/09/2012 - 11:40
At last! It's decent weather this week.
The 'Indian Summer' is here and many of us are in shorts. Not too hot though. Lots to do at Woody Bay as always and the good turnout for the Thursday Gang helped to complete a couple of important projects today.
It was also a normal operating day, with plenty of visitors enjoying their ride on the L&BR.
1. AXE approaches Woody Bay with the lunchtime train.
2. Footplate crew Fireman Jim Price and Driver Pete Williams service AXE at the coaling stage.
3. Regular Thursday Guard Bob Ayres on the platform at Woody Bay Station.
4. This week all the poster boards have been renewed with an interesting selection of traditional heritage style railway posters. Here's the three on the main board by the kitchen.
5. Tony Cross was in charge of the booking office/shop today. Tony poses by the new posters on the station's boards.
6. Platform-level view of AXE arriving at Woody Bay.
7. Hunslet diesel D6652 was stabled in the loading dock today.
8. Carrying on from last week, it was time for the Thursday Gang to erect the new marquee. The frame sections were moved from store, then wiped clean before being fitted together.
9. The first section is pulled and lifted into place.
10. Roof sections laid out ready for erection. Dave Blencowe supervised the complicated installation.
11. Taking shape as everyone - plus the dogs - watch Dave Drayson as he bolts the frame together.
12. The end section is raised into postion.
13. After lunch the first cover of the new marquee - in ENPA-approved green - is winched over the frames
14. With the roof covers in place, the next stage is to prepare and fit the window sides.
15. The camera's flash came in handy as Dave's Bloomfield and Drayson work inside.
16. At the 3pm tea and cake break, the volunteers relax in the original marquee which will be dismantled next week.
17. Almost complete: now with the window sides installed.
2
18. Another inside view. New strip lights have already been fitted.
Meanwhile, behind the carriage shed...
19. At the back of the shed, the regraded and recently relayed siding has been ballasted.
20. Martyn, Tim and Dave level off the tipped ballast along the cesses.
21. Hunslet diesel HEDDON HALL with the ballast hopper tipping more ballast into the side cesses.
22. Nigel Thompson drives HEDDON HALL right to the end of this siding during the ballasting process.
23. A view from the top of the filled in cutting (just below Martinhoe Cross bridge) of the ballasted siding.
24. The ballasting continues as Martyn Budd carefully operates the flow from the hopper.
25. The hopper is almost empty as the last of the stone is dropped either side of the siding track.
26. AXE escapes its train from Woody Bay and decides to head for Lynton!
27. AXE in the cutting on the L&BR heading north!
2065
28. AXE slows up on its extra excursion
29. AXE can't make Lynton yet! Driver Pete has to halt here. There's no track yet beyond in this cutting!
30. One day soon AXE will be able to go further north. Meanwhile, Pete and Jim turn around and head back to their train.
And finally...
31. Regular website visitors and L&B Trust members may recall last winter's trackbed clearance at Rowley Cross near Parracombe. Over one weekend, many volunteers successfully cleared trees and undergrowth from this section donated to us by Devon County Council. This is a current view of the trackbed and embankment here.
32. Together with the trackbed came the maintenance of Rowley Cross picnic area. During the year L&B volunteers look after the site with some grass mowing and path clearance. Signs and place-mat 'leaflets' help to advertise the L&B at Woody Bay to picnicking visitors.
33. Nigel rests on a bench after another lawn mowing session at Rowley Cross this evening.
Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson
Dave Blencowe - as well as supervising and working on the new marquee erection - set up his camera in a fixed position, and produced this series of views of "Work in Progress".
1. Before "the off", the site prepared and ready.
2. Laying out the frame - "Connect part A to part B..."
3. It looks bigger somehow - Is it going to fit?
4. Plenty of activity as the frame takes shape.
5. The skeleton frame in place
6. Camouflaged in ENPA-approved green!
7. From a different viewpoint, the view that visitors will see.
The 'Indian Summer' is here and many of us are in shorts. Not too hot though. Lots to do at Woody Bay as always and the good turnout for the Thursday Gang helped to complete a couple of important projects today.
It was also a normal operating day, with plenty of visitors enjoying their ride on the L&BR.
1. AXE approaches Woody Bay with the lunchtime train.
2. Footplate crew Fireman Jim Price and Driver Pete Williams service AXE at the coaling stage.
3. Regular Thursday Guard Bob Ayres on the platform at Woody Bay Station.
4. This week all the poster boards have been renewed with an interesting selection of traditional heritage style railway posters. Here's the three on the main board by the kitchen.
5. Tony Cross was in charge of the booking office/shop today. Tony poses by the new posters on the station's boards.
6. Platform-level view of AXE arriving at Woody Bay.
7. Hunslet diesel D6652 was stabled in the loading dock today.
8. Carrying on from last week, it was time for the Thursday Gang to erect the new marquee. The frame sections were moved from store, then wiped clean before being fitted together.
9. The first section is pulled and lifted into place.
10. Roof sections laid out ready for erection. Dave Blencowe supervised the complicated installation.
11. Taking shape as everyone - plus the dogs - watch Dave Drayson as he bolts the frame together.
12. The end section is raised into postion.
13. After lunch the first cover of the new marquee - in ENPA-approved green - is winched over the frames
14. With the roof covers in place, the next stage is to prepare and fit the window sides.
15. The camera's flash came in handy as Dave's Bloomfield and Drayson work inside.
16. At the 3pm tea and cake break, the volunteers relax in the original marquee which will be dismantled next week.
17. Almost complete: now with the window sides installed.
2
18. Another inside view. New strip lights have already been fitted.
Meanwhile, behind the carriage shed...
19. At the back of the shed, the regraded and recently relayed siding has been ballasted.
20. Martyn, Tim and Dave level off the tipped ballast along the cesses.
Although it may seem wasteful to use so much ballast on this siding at the rear of the shed, this track will be regularly used to store rolling stock such as the current carriage fleet when not in service after the new heritage carriages are delivered next year. The ballasted side walkways will provide an easier passage for staff access alongside.
21. Hunslet diesel HEDDON HALL with the ballast hopper tipping more ballast into the side cesses.
22. Nigel Thompson drives HEDDON HALL right to the end of this siding during the ballasting process.
23. A view from the top of the filled in cutting (just below Martinhoe Cross bridge) of the ballasted siding.
24. The ballasting continues as Martyn Budd carefully operates the flow from the hopper.
25. The hopper is almost empty as the last of the stone is dropped either side of the siding track.
An earlier news item reported the clearance of a large amount of surplus equipment from this cutting. The considerable monies gained from this has more than paid for the extra ballast used for for this track-relaying project.
26. AXE escapes its train from Woody Bay and decides to head for Lynton!
27. AXE in the cutting on the L&BR heading north!
2065 28. AXE slows up on its extra excursion
29. AXE can't make Lynton yet! Driver Pete has to halt here. There's no track yet beyond in this cutting!
30. One day soon AXE will be able to go further north. Meanwhile, Pete and Jim turn around and head back to their train.
And finally...
31. Regular website visitors and L&B Trust members may recall last winter's trackbed clearance at Rowley Cross near Parracombe. Over one weekend, many volunteers successfully cleared trees and undergrowth from this section donated to us by Devon County Council. This is a current view of the trackbed and embankment here.
32. Together with the trackbed came the maintenance of Rowley Cross picnic area. During the year L&B volunteers look after the site with some grass mowing and path clearance. Signs and place-mat 'leaflets' help to advertise the L&B at Woody Bay to picnicking visitors.
33. Nigel rests on a bench after another lawn mowing session at Rowley Cross this evening.
Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson
Dave Blencowe - as well as supervising and working on the new marquee erection - set up his camera in a fixed position, and produced this series of views of "Work in Progress".
1. Before "the off", the site prepared and ready.
2. Laying out the frame - "Connect part A to part B..."
3. It looks bigger somehow - Is it going to fit?
4. Plenty of activity as the frame takes shape.
5. The skeleton frame in place
6. Camouflaged in ENPA-approved green!
7. From a different viewpoint, the view that visitors will see.
Photos: Dave Blencowe, captions: Martyn de Young
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