November - December report

November and December have been a very busy time at Woody Bay Station. We have had a volunteer work weekend, two named storms and lots of bad weather to deal and clear up from, and prep and the operation of a busy Santa trains over the Christmas period.

All of this means we haven't had a lot of time to mention some of the other projects ongoing at the same time not always seen or obvious.

First of all we have received a New carriage bogie built by the Ffestiniog Railway to the same design as the previous ones. This is a Trust funded project and an investment in keeping our vintage carriages in running order.

We have to remove bogies for examination and various jobs on all five of our carriages. Due to not having a spare bogie the carriage stays under the lifting gantry until the bogie work is completed.This work is always in the winter shut down period. Many of the bogies need jobs like painting for example as are suffering in the Exmoor air.

A New bogie will start a new system of Bogie swaps meaning it can take place all year and have a bogie to work on for our staff and volunteers all year.

Next after reviewing our current running railway track we have purchased some new 50lbs rail , 12 lengths will be laid out after New Year and start a replacement programme. This is for the current railway as much of the rail was secondhand when installed and now needs replacing. Any rail taken out is then down graded for use in sidings.

Purchase of this rail was from the Trusts ' 100 club'

The '100 club' is an excellent way to support the railway and as well as the rail this year the fund helped with purchase of our track Tamper last year.

Why not support it today!

Other tasks included work on site buildings. The stable has received new doors all made on site and look very smart. This is only one example of such work taking place.

More soon on the goods brake van work, van 23, winter maintenance etc.

New Year Services to run and start of Rail 200 with a Noon whistle up on Jan 1st.

Happy New Year everyone!