The festive season is upon us, and by the looks of it, too much turkey, cake, too many wailing grandchildren and a visiting mother in law may have influenced the numbers today - we were nine on site, more than usual. What fun we had, all dressed in our Santa hats. Four Santa specials passed our way, hauled by 2807 and 5542. We waved and waved.

The festive brick layers salute the Santa specials.

We have been so lucky with the weather, I can think of only a single day where there was persistent rain over the last several months. Today was forecast drizzly, but none came. We were able to continue unhindered until the light began to fail. Well, completely unhindered no, because with these *@#! Santa specials there is an obligation to cease working and wave to the children, every time the train rolls in or steams out. Cuts into brick laying time, does that. But the children seem to love it, they wave back frantically.

 Waving to the train makes people happy, some deliriously so.

Once the train was in and at a standstill, we could get on with the job. Here is Bob putting down the first row of blues on the newly opened 170m section. Way to go, Bob! Next week, a layer of concrete here, up against this newly laid row. The blocks are already in a row, waiting to be tipped in when the concrete has gone off.

Heck, here comes another one! Stand up and wave, lads. In the foreground is JC laying a row of corbelling bricks at 140m, while John S and Pete D back him up.

Up at the northern end of the coal face were Peter Q on reds at the 160m section, and Bob on his hands and knees laying that all important first row on the new 170m section. Paul was compo-man and raced up and down the site with barrows and shovels full of mortar.

''What's the matter with him then?''   ''He's all crushed, they just told him he was too old to sit on Santa's knee....''

In the afternoon a a senior Elf came and asked if we would help by making the new L/C a bit safer for crossing passengers (for a day before the contractors come back). Would we place some ballast in the gaps? Well, we would if we could, but those damned trains keep getting in the way.

Our daily overview shot is in a festive light today, with 5542 ready to leave under a Sodium-Sulphur lamp. By this time, the gang is pointing up the day's work, while a number of us bring down another pallet of bricks from above - 18 to go, 19 last week.

As the lads start to cover up their work at the end of the day, 5542 leaves one last time, wrapped in its own steam. Quite atmospheric really.

Score for the day:
One row of corbelling, 140m section (two to go)
150m section: ready for corbelling
Two rows of blues on the 160m section,
One row of blues on the 170m section.

Backing up in reds by Tony, Peter Q, Peter D and John S.

The next work session will take place on Wednesday 31st Dec - New Year's eve. We can't do next Monday, but I might post something to mark the day. And that'll be it for 2014. We have broken the back of the job, just a short spurt of brick laying to go to the end (and then the back filling, lamp post fitting, slabbing etc)

We wish all our readers a Merry Christmas, and thank you for your interest and support. It really helps to motivate us !