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Latest News: Archive
March 2006
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Latest News: Archive
March 2006
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By Owen Stratford, Trevor Brackpool and Matt Goodrum.
We were back in Whinburgh Cutting today to carry on with the removal of scrubby regrowth. Having completed the work between the two bridges, we moved onto the Yaxham end of the cutting. In this area we have used stump treatments in the past and so speedy progress was made cutting mostly Elder which had sprung up. There was a thicker patch where the electricity board had used contractors to clear under the power lines. They had not used anything to remove the stumps and so progress slowed. We were all warmed by a lovely fire, but it was still a cold day.
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Digging out sleepers to the north of Swanton Road. 5th March 2006. Photo: Matt Goodrum |
Today was the first meeting of the new Northern Section Group. We were joined by our friends from CAST.IRON and also from the Bramley Line at Wisbech. Both groups have fledgling projects in a similar state what we were in several years ago, and so we were teaching them how to go about re-sleepering. This helps them to avoid the pitfalls that we encountered whilst learning, and we are also extremely grateful for the extra assistance. Effort was centred on digging out sleepers for replacement and after a few weeks of digging out, we will be looking to change them.
It had been raining over night and the forecast was up in the air so we decided to not work, due to the fact that the banks would be all slippery and everything wet. It improved later so Arnold and Trevor went and cleared up some of the cut scrub in Toftwood cutting.
The p-way team returned to the north end of Whinburgh Cutting today. With a brush-cutter, chainsaw and a good-sized gang, we finished the clearance of this end of the cutting. We also had two roaring bonfires to keep us warm. With the diesel gala in full swing and the run-round in use, we had the novelty of trains with a loco on only one end. It was quite noticeable that 31 538's engine has a healthy purr to it and a very clean exhaust after its overhaul.
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Recovering pointwork from Cambridge. 25th March 2006. Photo: Matt Goodrum |
We inherited a great deal of junk in the Goods Shed in Dereham, and are running out of space, so we went in armed with a wheelbarrow, and threw away some of the rubbish. Inside the shed is a platform that was used in times past to transfer freight from trains to waiting horse-drawn carts. This area was tidied up.
The PW team were off site today recovering trackwork from the Cambridge area. We had been looking for a 1:7 turnout for several years now to complete the access into the goods shed at Dereham from the north end along with enabling the run round loop to be completed. This requires a fairly sharp point in order to get around the waiting room on the north end of platform one. We finally found one in a disused yard and were able to acquire it. We had previously been to site to strip it and then went today armed with a Hi-ab lorry which we loaded the point on to. This was then returned to Dereham and unloaded.
By Roy Malyon.
Four members continued to clear the embankment at Crownthorpe. The material that was cut a few weeks ago on the north side of the embankment was collected up and burnt. This environmental work should encourage grass and wild flowers to establish during the summer months and these will help to keep the bank stable.
Three volunteers continued clearance of vegetation in the ditch near the seven and three-quarter milepost, north of Garvestone. This major project will give many benefits: today's task brought the reward of a spectacular view across the open countryside for the first time. Environmentally, once the cut vegetation has been burnt, grasses and wild flowers will flourish: previously there had been large scrub and brambles with nothing beneath. As well as improving visibility for the public footpath crossing the track and improving the drainage (since vegetation is being cleared from within the ditch and its edges), it will mean that replacing the boundary fence will be possible. This is an important part of the project as the adjacent field edge has recently become a permissive footpath.
By Richard Cullen and Gary Hall.
Work has continued on the refurbishment of door F from the GER coach, which is being rebuilt away from the site. The stripping of the ceiling of the large compartment has also been completed, ready for priming and painting.
Grounds work has been progressing, with more of the Victory allotment being prepared for planting. Other general site works have also been taking place, in readiness for Easter.
The first refurbished door has been completed and fitted to the GER coach body. This door was been completely stripped to its component pieces, fully rebuilt and painted off site before being re-hung. It has also been painted in the GER maroon livery which will replace the non-authentic red paint 1380 wears at the moment.
A six-foot tall framed map of the line between North Elmham and Broom Green has been kindly donated for display at the station and can now be seen in the Ladies' Waiting Room.
We had only 5 workers who showed up to continue the cutting by bridge 1706. Although just a small party was available, we got a fire lit and all the cuttings of the day were burned off. Certainly, we all got a good night's sleep afterwards. I for one definitely felt it the next day.