Today, and for the first time since 1936, Van 23 moved on its own wheels on the L&B.

Only a short trip, moved temporarily from the loading dock to the head shunt whilst new telephone cables were trenched under the siding, but interesting to see it in a new position after all this time.

Dave Took was there to record the event:

 

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Nigel Thompson also recorded this, and some of the other activities which took place:

After the ‘historical’ shunt around involving clearing the loading dock of all wagons especially Van 23, work began to dig a trench to house the telephone cable as it runs from the station to the mess room and office. General Manager Martyn Budd (working as usual today despite it being his birthday -alas no cake on offer!), positioned the digger in the loading dock to dig a trench between the track and up platform.

 
3. Van 23 stabled in the headshunt siding.

4. Digging the trench in the loading dock.

5. Back filling and tidying up the spoil on the track in the loading dock siding.

6. Martyn Budd levels off the spoil and ballast at the side of the siding.

7. The trench with cable installed by the toilet block.

 

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Later the digger was repositioned to dig another trench behind the up platform which will house a drainage pipe to help drain better the disabled parking area of the goods yard. After periods of rainfall much of the gravel dust of the surface of this parking area is washed onto the platform giving a dirty appearance.
The volunteers took turns with the wheelbarrow to remove the dug spoil across to the woodland.
 

8. Richard Willey with the wheelbarrow load from the loading dock corner.

9. Richard Drewer then took over for a go………

10. …and then Nigel Thompson took over.

11. Robin Edwards prepared the ground for  the new drainage pipe.
 

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Inside the stock shed other Thursday gang members continued with progress on woodwork repairs to Coach No.2 (Jim Price), filling, sanding and painting (Stuart Wells and Dave Tooke) and not forgetting further electrical work in the work shop by Dave Blencowe.