Ron and Alan get to grips with a rotten post discovered when a loco driver leant on the fence whilst filling up his locomotive with water. The fence is secure again!

A few yards to the left John is painting yet more slats from the platform seating project. We have been working on this for a couple of years whenever time on other projects has allowed. Our scaffolding tower makes a very useful slats drying rack.

The next stage involves finding a complete set of parts and bolting them all together. Alan and Matt work on this “simple” task! It’s funny how bolt holes and thicknesses are never correct at this stage: “fettling is required.

Whilst other members continue to work on seat components Alan and Tom have almost assembled one seat

As one task nears an end ( Matthew painting another seat) A new one starts. Two Gang members are checking out a “new” scaffolding tower we had acquired for the painting of Witt Rd signal box.

A completed seat is moved back into its proper situation - the platform

And finally, the Gang do a mass “Sit On” of all the newly restored seats: thank goodness that job is completed! Smile Gang!

Another little in-between task is tackled by Mark. Notices advertising the Hoppers weekend are completed before placing around railway sites to advertise to the general public.

A message read something like, “The gate has fallen off. Please mend it!” Actually it was the gatepost that was completely rotten and Dave and Richard work on its repair.

A gift of surplus /damaged scaffolding planks has to be moved from Northiam to Rolvenden works for loco lighting. We oblige by loading them onto appropriate service trains.

What do we do when it rains? Here is one answer: Norm and Matthew improve our base building by fitting out the kitchen area better. We await for the next truly wet day to give it a lick of paint.

The sun is out at last so we return to our rain-delayed assignments. Tenterden Station yard needed attention. We arrive with all the kit. Unfortunately our barrow has a puncture.

Dave, Matt and Alan helping on the gang repairing the Tenterden yard surface

David fixes the fence at the end of the same yard.

... and now he’s over the other side of the tracks laying brickwork for the Signalling Dept.

Having moved all our gear back to base after completing the works around Wittersham Rd station, we now reverse the process as we begin to repair and re-paint Wittersham signal box. The first lot of scaffolding arrives.

Larger bits of equipment have to come by train. Norm waits for the next train to move long scaffolding planks etc.

With three different design of towers to be used, we set about producing sets of tailor-made scaffolding planks to fit the exact width of each tower.

Whilst Tom dons a safety helmet for working under a tower, John works outside the tower on preparation of the woodwork for primer/undercoating.

Having done some dummy runs on the erection of the three towers in their best positions, we get on with the real task. The gutters are removed and the wood surface prepared for painting. Rotten areas are repaired or replaced.

With blue skies overhead, the final trains of the running season, puff pass us. Hopefully when they resume in the spring, the signal box will match the rest of the station in looking smart and well-cared for.

No trains are scheduled for this Tuesday so we get to grips with track-side work that requires a tower in this position

The fascias are repainted in preparation for the re-fixing of the gutters once the roof slates have been attended to.

Down below, another crew prepare the lower part of the box for painting. Rotten areas of wood have been found and new boards are being prepared for fitting into place.