Work in Progress - Thursday 5th March

AXE was in steam again today, operating driver training specials from Woody Bay and at Killington Lane. AXE worked both as a light engine and with the carriages during the day, finally returning into the down platform with the train giving a rare photo opportunity here.
 
Today there was more work in and around the new toilet/volunteers block with some painting and electrics. The track gang spent the day adjusting a short section of the new track recently laid in front of the signal cabin, including drilling a couple of fishplate bolt holes and using several shims to repack the rail joint flush together giving a smoother ride across for the locos and train.  

Photos: Dave Tooke (5/6) and Nigel Thompson

 
1. AXE comes off shed past the track gang

2. Using the rail drill

3. Fixing the joint

4. AXE arrives back at Woody Bay running into the down platform

5. Something different: Taken last weekend, these snowdrops at Cricket Field Lane are in full bloom, none the worse for the scrub clearance of the past winter. In this view, Cricket Field Lane runs across in front, our trackbed on the right, with the boundary fence of Fairview beyond.

 
6. Unusually for wild snowdrops, these are all "double" flowers. Is this perhaps another result of The Rev. Chanter scattering seeds from the train?