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Latest Update:
7th May
Work in Progress: 4 August
It was back to permanent way work for the Thursday Group volunteers today. Two jobs on the track at Woody Bay were worked on today, whilst many of the visitors watched on with interest.
1. Outside the shed, a rail joint on the pit road had dropped here causing couplings to jam when locos and stock were positioned here. The gang dig out the ash and ballast to reveal the sleepers and place the jacks in.
2 & 3. The track is jacked up and levelled whilst packing commences.
4. Another joint on this line nearer the station also required attention as AXE passes on a run-round movement.
5. The gang complete the jacking and packing of this joint by the shunt signal from off the shed.
6. Martin Andrews painting primer onto a recently cleaned up bogie for the regauging of ex MoD bogie flat wagons.
7. Latest view of the now SR lettered Brake Van as Tim & John discuss further work as they complete the fitting out inside the van.
8. Graham works on the cleaned up cab of Hunslet diesel D6652 under restoration.
9. Regular Thursday Fireman, Jim Price (left) has Phil Clarke as his driver today.
2 & 3. The track is jacked up and levelled whilst packing commences.
4. Another joint on this line nearer the station also required attention as AXE passes on a run-round movement.
5. The gang complete the jacking and packing of this joint by the shunt signal from off the shed.
PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN THE SHED
6. Martin Andrews painting primer onto a recently cleaned up bogie for the regauging of ex MoD bogie flat wagons.
7. Latest view of the now SR lettered Brake Van as Tim & John discuss further work as they complete the fitting out inside the van.
8. Graham works on the cleaned up cab of Hunslet diesel D6652 under restoration.
9. Regular Thursday Fireman, Jim Price (left) has Phil Clarke as his driver today.
After lunch another track project was begun. The lighter 40lb. weight rail in the loading dock needs to be upgraded to allow a smoother ride and better alignment throughout the siding particularly for the regular 'Driver for a Fiver/Donation' and footplate experiences during the special events each year. Some 50lb. weight rails were stored in the headshunt nearby so it was decided to use these to do the first length back from the loading dock buffer stop. All the wagons including Van 23 were moved out of the way to allow access to the track at the loading dock.
10 & 11. With the 'new' rails in the centre the older lighter rails are despiked from the sleepers. Only one member of today's trackwork party (me!) was present way back in summer 2002 when the track was first laid here and remembering the enthusiasm and celebration of the day as we ran the first loco into Woody Bay Station (loading dock) since the 1930s.
12. A couple of sleepers had rotted out and were replaced in the loading dock.
13. New rails in place as spiking down commences from the buffer stop backwards.
14. The loading dock itself was a useful seat for the volunteers resting in between the strenuous trackwork here.
15. There was only time to do the one length today so the old rails were cut to butt up with the new rails (right). This view clearly shows the difference to the larger 50lb. weight rails. A temporary fishplate was later attached.
16. With the final spiking to gauge taking place, the most important tool arrives as the well earned tea break is about to be enjoyed by all in the loading dock.
17. All the Vans were then shunted back into place to enable Van 23 to continue its current role as exhibiting the photographic displays to the visitors.
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Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson.