Northiam station building was the main focus of our endeavours. We take up the story from the last quarter's web report with the tool shed and adjacent front elevation stripped back to bare metal

At long last paint is going back on the walls and work is progressing on the wooden windows and doors. These were often 'sharp intake of breath' tasks as the rot in some of them meant more than a patch up job.

Work progresses to the highest points as well as the lowest. How much filler was required here Alan?

The arrival of a loco is always a cheering moment - an excuse to take a break and enjoy the railway - the reason we all joined the gang in the first place.

On this particular day, it also marked the arrival of the General manager to present an award to Ron - our very hardworking and skilled member. Where would we be without Ron we often wonder!

Wow, the scene of action has moved to the entrance area of the station building. Still lots of scraping ahead but real progress has been made.

The gang recuperate one hot afternoon outside Northiam station buffet with a nice cuppa - thanks to the kind station staff.

The tool shed wall and end elevation is all but complete. Just the rainwater pipes to reinstall and a lot of paint scrapings to brush away now the roof and gutters have been cleared.

Richard reaches parts no-one else has reached, so far, as work commences on the platform side of the station building.

However, much work remains to be done to the station front as new sash windows, which Alan has just removed, have to be replaced - a specialist job. Humph, on the step ladder attends to the door frames.

Meanwhile the bosses are deep in thought. Ron jabs his screwdriver into the putty-like station awning supports. Will we be fitting new ones we wonder?

Up by the Northiam signal box, the fencing posts are in an advanced state of wobble due to rot, so the posts have to be excavated and replaced.

Same as previous description

The privet hedge has progressively died back and so the picket fence, which has been twice extended in recent months, is completed back to the existing platform fence.

Nearly there! Richard receives his induction as a true Gang member as he liberally applies a good coat of tar paint to the now complete Northiam garden fence. No Tuesday Gang escapes the 'joys' of tar paint which has a nasty habit of getting everywhere. (I bet this bit of privet doesn't die off because we are ahead of ourselves!)

Progress on the front has reached the point where roof areas can be given some attention on this dull, cold December Tuesday.

But just in case you thought the job was nearly done, Robin gets his hot air gun working removing the flaky and not so flaky paint on the west end elevation of the station building. Still the blast of warm air is welcome! Cheer up Robin, it'll soon be Christmas.

Other jobs are not neglected around Northiam. Here the concrete block platform retaining wall needs attention. Ron chips out a collapsed block and subsequently replaces it.

The bonus of being a Gang member is to get behind the scenes and see rail operations as we work on the various railway sites - here the motive power depot at Rolvenden.

Well, that rounds it up for another quarter as night draws in early and we make our way home on yet another enjoyable Tuesday.

The line around Northiam.