Saturday 1st saw progress at both stations, with Steve E working at Ongar, plastering and filling holes in the Porter’s Room (Volunteer Rest Room), and Norman working on the plumbing of the original “Butler” sink. Meanwhile Bill and Chris worked up at North Weald, setting out insulated track joints for the signalling system which will help detect where the trains are.
Sunday saw a good turn out for the track team, and the team managed to complete a number of important tasks, including installing the insulated joints, finish installing a few fishplates at North Weald, while the rest of the team re-spaced sleepers, replacing rotten ones, as well as ensuring the spacing is correct and the rail fixings are correctly in place.Meanwhile new volunteer Ben worked inside the Brake Van (the wet weather preventing any wood work outside), scraping and sanding down the ceiling, ready for repainting. The inside will be returned to original BR colours.Bank Holiday Monday 3rd saw Alan, Chris, Stephen, Will and new volunteer Tom working up at North Weald, with Gary & Jamie from Pway assisting. This time they concentrated on the newly installed points, servicing and attending to NW13 (main to loop at the Ongar end), as well as preparing the clamp lock parts ready for installing (and hopefully in time operating) NW5a and NW9a which will be at the Epping end of the station (see plan on Signals page).
Update by Simon Hanney, General Manager