Friday 20th May.
At 9.30am, I joined the P.Way team at Witt Rd and after the prescribed number of cups of tea we put the world to rights before going to Northiam.
We waited (and waited) for the Crane to arrive and when it eventually did, we lifted out the 58ft check-rail at the Bodiam end of the station, turned it and lifted it over signal wire on the south side of the track.
After drilling a new hole (ahem twice) for a new block, we installed the new check rail and started replacing the blocks and panlocks. A few dollops of grease (sorry if anything went on the running rail!) and we were finished.
I left at 3pm and went to Tenterden for a meeting with Graham Sivyer, who taught me how to use the "Blog". Then I had another meeting and finally got home at 6.30pm.
I work about 20 hours week for The K&ESR. You know, the Chairman's job didn't seem so tiring, when I sat at the side of the table, instead of the head......
Saturday 21st was Board day. 8.30am start at Tenterden for preliminary stuff (after 2 hours at work).
The meeting started at 10.00am and finished the at 12.50pm.
After it finished I chatted with various Volunteers and Paid Staff. They all seemed happy with the Gala and Forties events, and I must congratulate everyone involved in putting on such a good show. Liz Reid and Graham Sivyer did a wonderful job in pulling together the Forties Weekend.
Q. Which other railway has ever had the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. - Not just a fly by, but a DISPLAY?
A. No one, it was a first and we knocked the competition into a cocked hat.
One thing that is clear. Despite its success (yet again) we need more Volunteers to assist the organising and running of the Gala. Please help out those who shoulder this responsibility every year. Just a few hours can provide some relief for the usual crew, who do such a good job.
If you can help out, please contact me.
My photographs are taken from the collection of Jo Roesen, who has been a P.Way Volunteer since the year dot. My thanks to him for giving me his permission to use them.
If you want to see how the Railway edged westwards from a P.Way perspective, join Lobbychat and you can see them all. They are remarkable and will bring back many memories to those of you who were here in "the good old days".
Lobbychat can be found at www.lobbychat.co.uk
