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Work in Progress: 8th March

posted by Martyn de Young on Sat, 10/03/2012 - 13:38
With General Manager Martyn Budd away today on the IOW, Graham Varney and Nigel Thompson led the small group of volunteers tasked with some essential trackwork down the line in preparation for when passenger trains begin running again later this month.



1.HEDDON HALL with todays works train by the sleeper stacks near Bridge 67. 


2. Martyn had identified a few sleepers that needed replacing. John Heys looks on by the first replaced sleeper with the rotten one already removed alongside.
 

3. Superb sunny weather today as the works train looks good in the Exmoor landscape.
 

4. Another new sleeper is replaced in the shadow of the beech trees.
 

5. Last weeks 'hump' removal work was connected up and almost completed by the gangs working Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A few extra sleepers needed installing to complete the task. Track gauges are used to check the 600mm gauge.
 

6. The ballast is tidied up and repacked around the sleepers on the relaid section.
 

7. Distant view of the Thursday gang replacing a sleeper.
 

8. Another view of HEDDON HALL with the works train and the superb Exmoor scenery looking across to Holdstone Down.
 

9. Dave and John screw down another sleeper.
 

10. John Heys, Dave Drayson and Dave Bloomfield pause for a moment as they check the trackwork.
 

11. Travelling back in the Brake Van for lunch at Woody Bay.
 

12. After lunch a sleeper on the first section, originally laid in summer 2002,  by the headshunt, was also changed.
 

13. Looking directly down onto the new sleeper as the rail plate is secured.
 


14. Other work underway today included Jim Price painting another top coat white onto the former parlour (tea room) window frame.
 
 

15. Dick Gunn poses (without orange overalls for a change!) by his refurbished and also repainted down starter signal post.

Words & pictures by Nigel Thompson
 

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