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Latest News: Archive
August 2004
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Latest News: Archive
August 2004
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Matt Goodrum strimming at Crownthorpe. The strimmer was bought using some of the proceeds from the sponsored walk in the spring. 1st August 2004. Photo: Trevor Brackpool |
By Owen Stratford and Barney Stratford.
For the last time, we went to Crownthorpe to tidy up the areas that were cleared earlier in the year, where there has been significant regrowth.
We were out at Thuxton, at the location of the down distant signal. This is an area to be targeted in this year's vegetation programme, but due to the proximity of the trees we decided to carry out some preliminary work. It was a blisteringly hot day and so we took things at a steady pace, completing the cutting of that which was strictly necessary.
On our return to Dereham, Matt Goodrum trimmed the encroaching brambles behind platform 4.
Today we carried on with the common theme of the recent working parties. We took out all of the strimmers and mower to Thuxton and proceeded to cut the lineside grass and weeds. The area tackled was around 300m in length running from the north end of Thuxton towards Garvestone. This has been mowed for the last few years and is now becoming rather more respectable, and each time the work becomes easier. All of the cuttings were raked up and piled to dry out in preparation for burning.
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The team clearing vegetation near Thuxton. Left to Right: Owen Stratford, Barney Stratford, Roland Hummerston, Harry Long, Arnold Brackpool, Phil Strong and Barry Brackpool. 7th August 2004. Photo: Matt Goodrum |
We were back out at Thuxton carrying on trimming back branches that were too close to the trains. The remaining offending trees were trimmed back by mid-morning and we then made a start on working properly along the bank sides. We took down several large and entangled Blackthorn trees and burnt up the pile of cuttings by Thuxton down distant signal.
The area between Rash's Green and Yaxham Road has now been mowed, so Harry and Barney went out to rake up the mowings and burn them. By removing the debris, we provide an environment in which the wild flowers can thrive. Already, the number of species in this area is increasing rapidly.
We spent Saturday attending to infilling the ballast of the sleepers in the Swanton Road area of Dereham. Because of the contaminated nature of this ballast, we had to sieve much of it, thus removing the remnants of the undergrowth (soil, weeds etc) that has built up whilst the line was derelict. There is also a historical shortage of ballast in the northern section and so the ballast was redistributed making full cribs and empty ones for new ballast to be put in later.
By Owen Stratford.
We spent Sunday at Dereham working towards commissioning the two up starters on the ends of platforms 3 and 4. The cranks on the bases of the posts were installed, after a lot of effort freeing up seized components - an occupational hazard of using second hand equipment. We also prepared the double crank to be placed in the run to the box and fixed this to a concrete base. Finally one of the wire runs was installed under the track, before time got the better of us! Meanwhile inside the signal box, the levers that will eventually be connected to signals received a coat of red paint.
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Left photo: Paul Eldridge, Barry Brackpool and Pete Eldridge at work installing the wire run to the signals. In the background, 31 538 undergoes repairs. Right photo: Trevor Brackpool carefully paints the signal levers. 15th August 2004. Photos: Matt Goodrum |
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Sunday was spent in the yard at Dereham working on signalling. Barry and Owen installed a crank stool and completed the wire runs across from the signals at the south end of the station platforms. Trevor rubbed down the base of the signals and applied a coat of black bitumastic paint.
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The new brake coach stabled in Dereham. 16th August 2004. Photo: James Steward |
By James Steward.
Work continues on the bodywork of 5255. The window frames have now been primed and filled, ready for the first undercoat. Remaining work on the platform side includes rubbing down the gutters and giving the doors a coat of paint. The new arrival - the brake coach - has seen a testing of the lighting circuits. In the immediate future it will be cleaned throughout and electronically tested.