Work in Progress: Thursday 19th December

Last one before Christmas!

With Nigel Thompson recovering from an emergency appendectomy, Roger Bye has kindly sent us a few photographs to round off the year.

It may have been the last Thursday Gang of 2019 but there was still plenty to do.  Under a threatening sky a stalwart group set about the task of replacing the posts of the fencing at the station entrance.

1. The posts, which had rotted at the base, were removed but, in the interests of economy, the rails were recovered for reuse.

2. Holes were dug and new posts erected.

3. With all posts in place a tea break was in order!

4. Although the weather was deteriorating ...

5. ... the team soldiered on and completed the fence.

Paint Shop Boys

6. Out of the weather the Paint Shop Boys – Jim, Phil, and Geoff - refitted the handles of the newly varnished coach, with Geoff getting some advice in the background from Peter of workshop fame...

7. ...who had been busy machining a new valve gear bearing for AXE...

8. ...and completing the Wainwright track cant checker!

9. Work continues on D6652, with the coupling removed by Michael, to enable access to the handbrake gear.

Dave, Dave, Roger and Don were working (mostly out of the rain!) on refurbishing Manager Martyn’s Office.

10. On the left of the picture is part of the newly-erected partition between the office and store sections of the portakabin. The desk Martyn is sitting at is an item of ex Southern Rail furniture previously stored in the Stable but now put to proper use. Today we found that the desk is labelled “Mortehoe” on the underside!

11. & 12. In recognition of all their hard work and as it is the Festive Season, a buffet was laid on by Pak and Rachel for all the Thursday Gang volunteers, who wish all our readers and supporters a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Text and photos by Roger Bye