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Latest News: Archive
June 2003
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Latest News: Archive
June 2003
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By Owen Stratford.
We require more sleepers to be delivered to Whinburgh and these will come from panels at Kimberley that were dismantled in order to get rails for Yaxham Road. We set off to the site to remove the chairs and prepare the sleepers for collection.
Meanwhile Trevor was digging out 5 sleepers in the platform at Kimberley Park, after which we moved down to join him and change them. These were cosmetically poor only but we want the station to look the best for its reopening.
We spent Sunday at Kimberley 'up distant' again stacking sleepers in preparation for collection. Whilst in the area we also took the opportunity to change two sleepers. This keeps this section in tip top condition with no rotten sleepers.
A fantastic turnout of ten volunteers enabled us to dig out the remaining 50 sleepers at Toller's Lane. We finished by early afternoon and this enabled us to backfill some of the sleepers that were previously changed.
Vegetation was the target of Sunday's efforts. We set out to clear the regrowth off of the banks south of Westfield Lane in Dereham. A brush cutter was used to cut grass, brambles and twiggy trees. The cut material was raked up and burnt along with other combustibles that were lying around near the bridge. This reduces the fire hazard for when we get steam, and will encourage grass and wild flowers to grow on the cutting sides.
With the urgent need for siding space due to the station building works being brought forward, the PW dept set about adding another 4 panels to the yard. After the return of the last service train, the space was immediately used with a two and a half hour shunt in order to both clear the station area and leave vehicles accessible.
Another hot day loomed and the team attended to changing a few sleepers in Dereham. Meanwhile the points at Dereham were given a routine PW service, with bolts being run off, oiled and replaced, along with a through inspection of all components.
By Graham Moates and Eileen Oliver.
Work continues at Kimberley Park in preparation for the re-opening of the station. The northern slope of the platform has been reduced to make it less steep and the new brickwork has been constructed by Steve over the past two Wednesdays. Roy and the mid-week gang have been busy erecting posts for the new picket fence. With the edging slabs now all level and grouted into position, Tony and Graham have cleaned the slabs to start painting the statutory white line.
Today saw the a repeat of our specially-arranged members' tours on the morning of the Annual General Meeting. This year's tours highlighted the achievements that have been made by volunteers and station owners both around Dereham Station and along the line. Additionally, three new crossing keepers received training and were passed out: a warm welcome to Mike, Chris and Paul.
This was one of the year's peak times, with everybody at the station helping out with the Classic Transport Day. A display of over 100 vehicles had been put together by Eileen and this, together with the good weather, attracted a high turnout of visitors. The buffet was particularly busy.
There were two group visits over the weekend, guided by our volunteers. On Saturday, over seventy passengers from the Green Express Railtours charter train disembarked at Wymondham mainline station and were escorted to the MNR station to travel to Dereham. On Sunday, we also provided guided tours behind the scenes for Watford and District Industrial History Society who joined us in the afternoon after visiting Roots of Norfolk in the morning.