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Latest News: Archive
November 2006
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Latest News: Archive
November 2006
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By Owen Stratford and Paul Mobbs.
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Craning rails into position 4th November 2006. Photo: Owen Stratford |
We spent today completing the northern point to the pit siding. The final two rails were cut to length, aligned and fishplated. All of the chairs were keyed up and then the sleepers drilled before screwing them down. We also used the crane again to start installing the rails from the pit to the point. The first pair on the pit were installed and keyed up, with the next pair of 60ft rails installed and fishplated. Finally the two shorter closure rails were installed ready to be cut to length on Sunday. The crane was also used for a spot of housekeeping, with off-cuts and spare rails removed from the immediate point area and stacked up clear of the work site. The crane was also used to assemble some parts of the water crane on the north end of the station.
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The pit, complete with rails. 5th November 2006. Photo: Owen Stratford |
Once more in Dereham, we attended to the last of the outstanding rails in order to complete part one of the pit siding installation. The final two rails onto the back of the pit point were cut to length and drilled. All of the sleepers on the pit siding were positioned correctly and keyed up with the last fishplates installed. We then installed the final two rails onto the pit to take the track over the full length. With this all completed, we also finished off the drilling and gauging of the crossing on the southern point ready for lifting and packing on the following week. Phase one will see the track arrangement as it is now (2 points and the pit siding) commissioned along with the pit itself before we move on to reconnect the main siding.
With the ironwork for the two points in Dereham largely complete and the pit siding assembled and connected, we started work on lifting and packing the track to level. This was achieved in the old-fashioned way, using sighting boards to lift the track to a constant gradient between two known high points. There is a target board, which is black at the top and white below a certain level which is fixed to the far high point. Next a sighting board is fitted at the other high point. This is a board with a slot in it at the same height to look through. Finally the intermediate board is placed above each jack as the track is lifted, and as you look from the sighing board to the target board, when the track is at the correct height, the white of the target board is totally obscured. The sleepers are then packed with ballast. Once one rail is lifted and packed to the correct level, then the opposite one is lifted using the cross level to establish the correct cant. We completed one turnout and most of the siding to the pit.
Today's task was to complete the outstanding packing of around 30ft of siding and then the remaining half of the second turnout. This was achieved by lunchtime. We then carried out final checks to confirm gauge, level and twist before running a loco over the track to bed everything down. 31 538 carried out the honours whilst the crane was sent up to Norwich road to complete the assembly of the water crane. Finally the loco was run over the pit, with everything performing well. Having achieved this, we moved on to the task of connecting the long siding back onto the southern point. The two rails were cut, drilled and installed. The track was tweaked into approximate line and everything joined up ready for packing. Meanwhile the two point lever boxes were fitted to the switches and connected ready for final adjustment and testing.
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31 538 is the first loco to use the pit. 18th November 2006. Photos: Owen Stratford |
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Today's work concentrated on the completion of the siding to enable full hand-back to the operating department. Although the siding had been connected on the previous week, there remained the task of lifting it to level and packing the sleepers. This was achieved despite the efforts of the weather to dampen everybody!
By Leslie Dale, Owen Stratford and Terry Mann.
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Installing a signal 19th November 2006. Photo: Owen Stratford |
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Installing Horace's Engine 27th November 2006. Photo: Terry Mann |
Part of the grant money for the restoration of Dereham station has provision for the erection of a signal at the north end of platform 2. This is the down starter and will be to signal moves to the north over Norwich and Neatherd Road. As we had completed the majority of the work on the yard, we took a break (!) to erect the signal today. The hole had been started by an excavator. We dug the hole down a further 1 metre in order to get it to the correct depth. This was not much fun as the ground here comprises very wet sticky clay that is full of flints. Having done this we rounded up a few kind folks who helped us to lift it and plant it down the hole. Then began the task for several hours of back-filling the excavation whilst keeping the pole vertical, using the clay that was even more reluctant to go back down the hole! Having completed this and replaced the ballast shoulder, we lifted the staging and hoop up to the top of the post and fitted these.
Good news on the Horace re-assembly front: the generator was installed on Monday 20th November and the 4.5 litre diesel engine has just been fitted today. All the mountings have been secured and the generator and engine coupled up. The next move will be to install fuel tank, fuel system, radiator and exhaust and then, dare I suggest, we have a test run of the power plant!
Having recently found a water crane suitable for use in Dereham, our dedicated team of volunteers set about assembling it on the north end of Platform 2. Originally, Dereham Station contained three water cranes for the steam engines to refill, and the new crane is mounted in its original location.
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Installing the Water Crane 11th and 26th November 2006. Photos: Leslie Dale |
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By Richard Cullen and Gary Hall.
The County School Area Group met today. A small group of 3 showed up and we continued strimming and burning off cuttings. The boundary fence is emerging and appears to still be standing so far. All of the posts are leaning and seem to have a fair amount of rot at ground level.
Work has continued on the GER coach body. All windows are now glazed and work has moved inside where the smoking compartment half-partition has been replaced, the floors cleaned and stained ready for varnishing, and a start made on replacing the seating. The large compartment has not been forgotten, and this is being given a coat of undercoat, with the intention of being able to open this area to the public ready for Easter next year. The station building has been cleaned and prepared for decoration for the 2006 Christmas event. There are still some tickets available at Dereham for those who'd like to experience this traditional evening event.