Spending Saturday in North Devon meant missing the Model Railway weekend, but I heard that it was incredibly successful and very well attended. Roger's comment in his Monday posting was no exaggeration: -
"Disembarking from the shuttle at Toddington it was like a commuter train arriving at its town station in the morning rush hour!"
I would be surprised if this didn't become another annual event to add to our very busy calendar.
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On entering the Works as usual via the Paintshop, there was very little sign that two days before it had been hosting a number of model railways with a large number of visitors.
As stated in my previous post, it's lovely to have the roller shutter between the Paintshop and Workshop closed again.
Now to have an explore and catch up on some of Saturday's progress.
A very welcome sight on opening the Workshop door was to find that undercoating on SK 25451 had been started. That "Express Red" undercoat is very striking!
Floor repairs in TSO 4867 are coming along very well ........
...... as are the underwindow repairs and fitting of the new internal framing where the windows have been put back in.
Moving outside, after it's successful run up and down the Railway, the Weedspraying Wagon has now been closed up until next year, with the spraying apparatus removed and carefully stored away.
I meant to get a photo of Alan's metalwork repairs at the south end of TSO 4406, which are also progressing very well.
Now on to today's activities and as Tuesdays were often called Painters Day, it was no surprise that most of the concentration ended up on SK 25451.
With the Cotswold side south half now undercoated, the centre door and north half could be vacuumed, wiped over with thinners and the line tapes applied.
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I missed Richard taping up, but later caught Stu well into undercoating the main panels.
Not everyone likes doing the windows, but Richard does, for which I am truly thankful.
David was back on the south end .......
....... as was Ian, both doing what will hopefully be the final filling and sanding before greying up.
It looks a mess but is actually coming along well. David found two minor holes under the roof edge which he treated and then filled with fibre paste.
Prior to undercoating on the Cotswold side, Stu did some final flatting on the Malvern side. We will have a final check on Thursday and then if it is all ok begin taping up.
On to progress with 4867, Keith varnished the next set of new window frame sections.
In the Woodshop Chris had made some frame side sections. When routered these will also come into the Paintshop for varnishing.
Phil is steadily building up his stock of electrical connection components so that worn ones on coach ends can be quickly replaced. Keith undercoats the latest batch of primed patresses.
As well as preparing a set of connections, Phil is also cleaning up more vestibule ceiling lights.
[Photo : Paul E] All the planks removed from the Shark Ballast Plough van by Derek have been cleaned up and undercoated by Maurice and Paul.
[ Photo : Paul E]
[Photo : Paul E] Priming and painting new wood installed by Derek.
At the end of the day, the new top coating done by Maurice and Paul.
It is a pleasure to introduce Steve who has just joined the Railway. On completing his induction course he will become a member of the Painting Team.
Finally two photos of the rapidly progressing Cotswold side of 25451.
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The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Autumn Gala
This excellent gala is always held at the end of September marking the final day of the L&BR on 29th September 1935.
We left Chalford Hill at 7 a.m., making very good time on a trouble free journey, to arrive at Killington Lane at 9.30. Gala parking is always in the field just below the halt and, also as always, the first thing on getting out of the car is looking at that glorious view with the estuary and in the far distance the Welsh coast.
We were among the first to arrive, everyone looking up the line and waiting for the first train from Woody Bay station at 10. The loco scheduled was of course "Lyn".
On arrival the first thing on the agenda was to meet Henry and his nephew Bertie. Owner John Bond tells Pam about the history of collecting dogs.
Henry is the last of a line of collecting dogs that was started by the LSWR with all the donations going to the railway orphans home. Henry's collection is split with half going to the Railway and half to Woking Homes, the successor to the original orphanage. Bertie is the collecting dog in training.
Pam always spoils our four legged visitors during our galas so she was in her element with Henry and Bertie.
The guest engines for this gala were the Telford Town Tram and the Lister Railtruck No. 11410.
When threatened with scrapping after falling out of use, the Telford Steam Railway removed both the tram and track, rebuilding the tramway on its own site. The tram was re-boilered, extensively rebuilt and returned to service. It was officially relaunched by Tim Dunn in August 2025.
The Lister Railtruck No. 11410 is a vintage R-type narrow gauge vehicle built in Dursley in 1939 and worked at Leek Road Sewerage Works in Hanley. It is a very simple, but very strong loco and had no trouble moving a truck carrying six people up the slope past the new carriage shed.
It is now based at the Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum.
As usual at galas there was a small traction engine which would be giving rides up the drive to the car park. Sadly I think there was a problem because it looked as though the fire had been removed and there was little steam and smoke from the chimney. Much later in the day the engine had gone.
The main locos running were "Sir George Newnes", the 1944 Bagnall loco brought back from South Africa, and "Lyn", the replica Baldwin loco based on the original built in 1898.
Pam's last visit to Woody Bay had been in 2022, so she was delighted to be back here again.
Walking back towards the station building we soon came across Henry and Bertie. Henry's awards are arrayed along his coat. John Bond told us that Henry would receive another award as he had collected another £1000.
"Lyn" took a turn on the goods train. Also running today were the various diesel locos, sometimes doubleheading with one of the two steam locos or tailing the train.
Henry's award ceremony took place in the marquee. We were too late to see that, but the party remained for a while.
[Photo : Pam] Her majesty and her entourage detrained opposite to where we were sitting and very kindly posed for a photograph. The Queen regularly attends the L & BR galas and other Victorian themed events at Woody Bay.
It's so easy to keep photographing "Lyn". It's a lovely engine and both Pam and I have been on her footplate. The L & B are steadily increasing their coach fleet and eventually will also have two replica Manning Wardles "Yeo" and "Exe". The replica Manning Wardle "Lyd", based on the Ffestiniog Railway has visited the L & B several times in the past. Seeing "Lyn" and "Lyd" double headed was amazing
Time for a ride on the Railtruck train.
A visit to the live steam Woody Gate 16mm Railway is always rewarding.
Something I never expected to see was a model of a Shay loco with its unusual vertical cylinders driving a long horizontal propshaft.
[Photo : Pam] We chose the penultimate train to Killington Lane to depart the gala. On exiting the halt we walked along the field away from the remaining parked cars to take some final photos.
"Lyn" heads back to Woody Bay station with "Sir George Newnes" tailing.
[Photo : Pam]
I will be spending a week in Lynmouth next May so will definitely be visiting Woody Bay. Pam and I will return for next year's gala.
