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Latest News: Archive
June 2002
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Latest News: Archive
June 2002
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As of Sunday 16th June, the MNR will be improving its services to Yaxham and Thuxton Stations. These stations are being upgraded from request stops to full stops during the summer running period. As other stations along the line become operational, these too will become full stops rather than request stops. The MNR is committed to constantly upgrading its service to the local community and we believe that this is another step along this road.
By Paul Mobbs, Roy Malyon and Ernie Woolley.
The Hilti ballast hammers came out again in the morning to lift and pack the track panels which connect onto the crossing at Norwich Road. This was necessary to get the levels right in preparation to replace the tarmac surface across the crossing. As there was a good turnout of volunteers this work was completed by lunchtime so there was time to head off down the yard and bring up sufficient sleepers and rails and put together another track panel on the end to the siding.
This time the P-way gang was able to replace approx 800 ferrules on the track at Danemoor. This work is coming along nicely but there is plenty more to do before we can lift the speed restriction.
It was time to do the final preparation for the laying in of the rest of the siding at Dereham, as the crane was booked for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It was necessary to do the final marking out of the proposed alignment and preparing the buffer stop at Green's Road crossing to be moved to fit onto the end of the new siding.
A bit of quiet day really, but it was important that the bolster, flatrol and tench wagons were extracted from behind the dogfish wagons, as they would be needed to move rails during the forthcoming week. The rails needed to be taken down the yard otherwise they would be in the way as we lay the siding. The shunting move was undertaken by the class 31 loco 31 538, being the first time it's moved under its own power in preservation.
On Monday June 10th we began to build the siding and by Wednesday night a great deal was achieved. 17 panels were laid (340 yards), a buffer stop removed from the ground and positioned and the whole yard was reorganised. The reorganisation of the yard took much of the time and sorting and turning 60 foot track panels is not easy even with a crawler crane! Trevor Brackpool masterminded the operation and with a crawler crane (from RJ Crane Hire) working hard for 30 hours, tonnes of point work, rail, sleepers, telegraph poles, a container, two railcar engines and bogies were moved. The track panels were sorted and restacked to make them accessible and the whole yard is much tidier. Spare rail has been laid out neatly and already the value of this work can be seen.
There is obviously much work to do to make the siding usable but anyone inspecting the changes in the yard in three days cannot fail to be impressed. Steve Tweed sprayed the undergrowth in the section of yard not covered by Avondale twice this year and the 3 days' task would have been even more challenging without his back-breaking efforts; an unsung hero!
It was time to start preparing for replacement of the road surface at Norwich Road crossing. When the crossing is closed, the MNR will take the opportunity to replace the track under the road with bullhead check chairs, as was completed at Thuxton. We started to sort out the rails that will be used as the check rails so that they can be brought down to the crossing before heading off to the Memorial hall for the AGM. Meanwhile, the loco boys got up a sweat shovelling fresh ballast from where it had been delivered during the week onto the loading ramp just outside the signal box.
Another 600 ferrules were replaced, which means the P-Way Supervisor was able to halve the length of the speed restriction through this section.
With delivery during the week of some of the track components, the P-Way gang could start preparing to build up the two track panels which are to be used to replace those under Norwich Road level crossing when the road surface is renewed. Sleepers were moved up into position and a template was made by Ian Nugent so that we could mark and drill the holes for chair screws for the check chairs. The opportunity was then taken to get some more creosote into them as they are due to spend the next twenty-five years buried in the structure of the road.
Although it was hoped to get down to Danemoor to replace more ferrules, it was felt that we needed to move up the rails necessary to replace those at Norwich Road crossing. Also, it was back out with the brushes and the creosote to give the sleepers another soak.
For various reasons the PW dept was reduced to a complement of two today, so no large projects could be undertaken.
It was unilaterally decided to build a footway across the running line by the signal box, the purpose being to create a safe route for the signalman to return to the station. It will, however, also be incredibly useful in transporting plant and tools across the line, which for some three years up to now, have had to be manhandled over the rails.
As so often happens, an apparently simple job took most of the day: it is vital that these crossings are fixed correctly. It was most gratifying and surprising to note the interest shown in this job by various members of the management team!
By Richard Cullen.
On Thursday 13th June, Steve was re-spraying the track bed at North Elmham (north of the level crossing) and had to re-fill with water at County school. While he was there, he took the opportunity to spray in the County School car park where the grass has started to grow, the track bed north of the level crossing to the tanker, the bay platform track bed and track bed south to the farmers crossing.
After the sterling efforts by the mid-week volunteers to clear the vegetation from the track at County School, Richard has slackened off the fishplate bolts on the newly-exposed track, allowing for expansion and contraction of the rails.
As part of a combined movement of stock, today County School station saw the arrival of a ventilated box van and the departure of long-term resident, Esso tank wagon number 2408. The tank wagon is off to provide short-term water storage facilities for steam locomotives, while the box van will provide a much-needed storage facility.