11/06/2026
Our volunteers have been hard at work completing some long term upgrades on our water tower at Woody Bay over the last few months.
The current water tower was constructed in 2018, and features a 1,250L tank on a substantial steel framework, clad in brick. Initially, the tank was clad in standard 8x4 sheets of plywood with some basic edging to give a reasonable appearance, but after 7 years this was starting to show it's age, having only ever been intended as a temporary measure.
With the old cladding gone, the opportunity was taken to thoroughly clean the internals of the tank which were in a poor condition after exposure to sunlight after a period of time without a roof on, and internal parts such as the float valve were serviced. An overflow system was also added to the tank for the first time.
The outlets have been replumbed after putting up a significant fight and covering the team in 1,250L of water on more than one occasion of working underneath them, along with new lockable, spring loaded operating handles manufactured and installed.
After repairs to the brickwork, a new frame constructed using surplus / scrap wood was erected around the tank, before insulation was added all around the tank. New lightweight plastic cladding was then finally installed onto the frame. The cladding looks extremely smart, and requires nothing more than a basic clean for ongoing maintenance. A simple bitumen sheet roof, running to a gutter and feeding our garden next to the tower finished the external work on the tower, just in time for autumn last year.
Our team have since been hard at work replumbing and improving the feeds below the tank, and adding a false floor to protect the fragile parts of the plumbing. Most importantly, a water softener has been installed to significantly improve the feed water going into the tank, and therefore into the steam locomotive boiler. Trials are ongoing and will take some time, but we hope the softened water will allow the intervals between boiler washouts on the steam locomotive to be extended, as well as helping the long term health of the boiler.
Further improvements completed include automatic lighting inside the tower, electrical outlets inside and out, and thermostatically controlled space heating to remove the need to drain and refill the tank in cold weather.
A very smart water tower now results, one that will last long into the future with very little maintenance required. Another impressive behind the scenes achievement from volunteers, crucial to keeping the railway operating efficiently.
