Work in Progress: 7th July

Odd Job Day!

Nigel Thompson has sent us this week's report.

Many tourists about - coaches come and go. Our visitors of all ages and ability really enjoyed their Lynton & Barnstaple Railway experience today.

1. An unusually quiet platform scene. Guard Bob Ayres has checked the tickets and doors ready for another departure.

2. At the front, ISAAC’s driver Pete Williams whistles and starts the train away. Fireman Dave Carter has ensured a good amount of steam for the boiler.

3.  ISAAC and train departs and passes some interested onlookers.

4. In the morning, Nigel Spencer was still busy with the repainting of the platform gates whilst …

5. … your reporter Nigel Thompson completed a tidy up inside the stable. This original building allows visitors to view some photographic displays and have a go on our interactive computer to learn more about the railway.

6. The scaffolding around the side of mess room and toilet block is now gone. Dave Evans continues his project to repair and repaint the wooden eaves on the front.

7. During the week, carpenter Jim Price has fabricated a wooden box stand for the tablet machines. Jim poses with his first replica box alongside an original one.

8. In the shed Jim Pounds works on PILTON. He is now almost ready to paint the front of our large Drewry diesel locomotive.

9. An early task for the track gang was to go down the line with a works train and collect the old rotted sleepers recently replaced. Followed by some tidying work at Rowley Moor Farm.

10. After lunch, it was time to continue the sleeper replacement programme. Here the crew stand back as a train passes by.

11. Digging out the ballast around the life-expired sleepers (marked with a yellow X inside a circle) enabling an easier sleeper swap next Thursday.

Words and photos 1- 8 Nigel Thompson. Pictures 9 - 11 by Mike Corner.