Work in Progress: 9th July

This week sees the return of Nigel Thompson!

Although elsewhere in Devon fewer trains were running due to a rail strike - the L&BR was open and all scheduled trains operating as normal between Woody Bay and Killington Lane.

It was great summer weather and a few more odd jobs were completed at Woody Bay, Killington Lane and along the line in between.

1. It's time to repaint (with creosote substitute, creocote) the waiting shelter at Killington Lane.

2. Back from his time away, Nigel Thompson (in sunglasses) returned to assist with the creocoting.

3. AXE arrives with the train whilst Mike Corner and Don Wood paint the fencing around the ground frame.

4. Lots of wooden fencing to treat at the "down-end" of Killington Lane.

5. Today's driver - L&B Chairman Peter Miles - oiling AXE's motion prior to departure.

6. This week's Nigel Spencer picture shows him continuing the railing repainting - this time by the loading dock, with Carriage No. 16 stabled behind.

7. The Thursday Gang members watch as AXE departs after lunch.

8. The gang also tackled tidying and dressing ballast dropped lineside earlier in the year. The track gang take a break whilst AXE passes.



9. Mike Corner, Roger Bye and Don Wood are wielding shovels and forks...



10. ...but again pause to enjoy the site of AXE working hard uphill with three heritage carriages.

11. Mike Corner scraping ballast off the sleepers. A very scenic place to 'work', this part of Exmoor.



12. Mike, Roger, Dave and Don in a line completing the ballast tidying. Next time there are a few sleepers to replace as part of the ongoing maintenance programme.

Lots of other work took place including fence post replacement at Killington Lane, more work on the shower room, and maintenance to ISAAC.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson.