Work in Progress: Thursday 13th February

All ready for Half-Term reopening!

The railway reopens for the 2020 season on Sunday 16th February and there is still much to be done. Roger Bye sends us this weeks report

1. Woody Bay looks very different out-of-season. Alongside the recently resurfaced down platform, PILTON stands having shunted a rake of carriages. A works train stands in the (almost) deserted up platform.

2. The sparsely occupied car park is indicative of the relatively small Thursday Gang this week. Notwithstanding that, the work on the transhipment siding points and track continued. Here Martyn is lining up the track by eye while...

3. ...the team use a combination of jacks, traps crowbars and judiciously placed ballast to align the rails and ensure the spacing (gauge) is maintained.

4. The rails in most of our track are fixed to the sleepers by base-plates and Pandrol clips. In point assemblies these plates have to be specially made to fit each location. Here the team look on while John measures up to ensure that the next plate he makes will fit exactly.

5. The lugs to take the Pandrol clips are formed in a fly press, using a die, made by Peter, who we wish well as he recovers from surgery. The upper part of the die forces the steel into the curved lower part.

6. The base plate is marked up and clamped in place with a section of rail to ensure everything is aligned....

7. ...and the lugs are welded to the base plate. In photo No.3 these plates can be seen fitted in place in the centre of the pointwork.

8. As well as the work on the track, other off-season tasks were underway. ISAAC was being prepared for hauling trains on Sunday.

9. In the shed the removal of the engine covers revealed the usually hidden depths of diesel 6652. From left to right can be seen the diesel engine, the flywheel with the coupling to the gearbox just visible and then the torque converter and gear box. The engine will soon be fit for service once the air compressor has been refurbished and refitted.

10. The bogie from CHARLES WYTOCK is receiving attention...

11. ..and over the inspection pit, LYN awaits reassembly after successfully passing the first stage of the statutory annual boiler examination.

15. A few of the Thursday Gang collected a trailer load of timber, donated by a local resident, which will help to meet our locomotives’ incessant demand for fuel...

16. ...while our Catering Manager Pak cleans the Tea Room in preparation for meeting the need for refreshments from our visitors during half-term week!

Text and photos by Roger Bye