Work in Progress: 9th August

posted by Nigel Thompson on Sun, 12/08/2012 - 11:59

At the London 2012 Olympics, Team GB has inspired many after the successful winning of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at so many different sports. This feel-good factor has even reached the L&B this year, with reports of higher passenger figures, increased sales, a rise in volunteering hours recorded and further initial steps towards the extension being made by the Exmoor Enterprise team.

Meanwhile it was a normal operating day at Woody Bay. At last some good hot and sunny weather today enabled the summer visitors to choose between the beach or some of the established attractions of North Devon and Exmoor. Many came to Woody Bay to enjoy their train ride - helping to boost the numbers travelling this month.

For the Thursday Group volunteers, a variety of tasks were on offer:

Wagon restoration work in the shed.
Gardening and groundworks with replanting tubs and grass mowing.
Cementing the base of the newly installed and repainted telephone box.
Moving surplus railway equipment to Chelfham for storage.
Maintenance and adjustments to the signalling systems.
Clearing the cutting behind the shed, preparing the siding for stock storage.

1. The temporary track panels on this siding are dismantled and removed by the gang.

2. The cutting has been cleared completely of stored equipment and the undergrowth on the sides has been cut back.

3. The excavator has been working in the cutting, helping to lift the short rails out of the way as well as moving rotten sleepers to the bonfire.

4. At the 'Lynton end' of the cutting, a bonfire clears the cut-down branches, scrap wood and rotten sleepers.

5. Looking down onto the cutting behind the shed.

6. The excavator stands in the cutting. The next stage will involve the excavator regrading the trackbed formation to allow a new level siding to be laid to be used for various rolling stock storage next year - particularly after the heritage carriages enter service.

7. At the other end of the shed, steam locomotives SID (left) and AXE stand side by side.

8. SID and AXE again. Privately owned by some L&B Trustees, Maffei 0-4-0WT 'SID' is up for sale. With the L&B requiring larger locomotives from next year, SID's owners have advertised their locomotive (in working order) recently in the railway magazines.

9. Enjoying their afternoon tea break were the Guards - Ian Cowling (left) and Bob Ayres.

10. The restored telephone box was lifted into place this week. Andy Foster and John Villers begin cementing the floor base inside the box.

11. Mixing cement for the base of the telephone box. Thanks again to Devon based L&B Trust member, Richard Jones who donated the telephone box. Planning permission was obtained for it to be sited here behind the original Gents.

During this year in the shed various Thursday Group and other volunteers have scraped off the old paintwork and repainted the box in traditional Post Office Royal Mail Red livery. A telephone will later be fitted for public use as the signal for mobile phones remains very patchy in the area.

12. The new bushes and shrubs replanted in the tubs and new telephone box help to brighten up the entrance to Woody Bay Station platform.

13. Dorset based regular volunteer John Villers with the newly installed telephone box. John was able to attend today's work party even after several days volunteering as a Gamesmaker at the Olympic sailing events at Weymouth.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson