Work in Progress: 7th April

Spring is here, and the visitor numbers are already well up on 2015…

Another week of daily operation. Not so bright today, but numerous people still visited the railway this week.

1. Spring flowers on the down platform, with a full train ready to depart.

2. Guard assisting today is Andy Embling checking tickets.

3. AXE’s fireman today was Julian Sinclair.

4. In the shed, more progress on Baguley diesel PILTON this week.

Two Jims work on Carriage No.7.

5. Jim "Price" tackles some woodwork repairs to the floor of the open observation compartment...

6. ... whilst Jim "Pounds" completes the overhaul of Carriage No.7 by applying black paint to the vacuum brake piping.

Rowley Moor Farm

7. Dick Gunn is also applying black paint, this time to the rail-built signal posts now being prepared in advance of the railway's extension plans.

8. Trevor Buck and Don Newnham are fitting brackets onto this signal post, earmarked for the Parracombe Down Starter Signal.

The main task today for the Thursday Gang was a fencing project at Rowley Moor Farm.

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. This fence will restrict the resident horses from grazing a recently landscaped field adjacent to the sheds and barns in use at the farm,

Chelfham Station

15. John Mack Smith has returned and is busy at Chelfham this week, laying yet more platform edging bricks along the Lynton end of the up platform.

16. North of Chelfham, an overhanging tree was cut down, and the logs stacked and tidied away. Graham Lee finishes cutting up sections of the trunk.

The railway-owned trackbed here is always kept clear and provides an attractive Sunday walk this spring for all visitors as the primroses and bluebells begin to show.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson, except for 9 - 11 taken by Mike Corner.