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Latest News: Archive
January 2007
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Latest News: Archive
January 2007
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By Owen Stratford, Trevor Brackpool and Paul Mobbs.
We started the new year working on the sleeper replacement program for the year. We had already dug out most of the sleepers in the summer along with the delivery of the new sleepers and so we could move straight onto changing them once we had arrived on site. We took the works train from Dereham and started work on the Wymondham end of the cutting at Crownthorpe. The weather was awful and it tipped it down with rain. Despite this, we still managed to change 36.
We returned to Crownthorpe again to continue changing sleepers. A further 44 were replaced with the weather being much better. This has taken us to the half way mark for the replacement program.
It was out with the ballast forks and get digging this weekend! Certainly one of the best ways to keep warm on a cold winter's day although I must say Sunday was a really nice. The digging was necessary as we needed to remove what is best termed a ski ramp effect from the north end of the existing track in platform 1. Normally P-way Engineers organise things so that track is lifted by packing ballast under the sleepers to bring the track to the correct level but we were faced with digging out under the concrete sleepers to drop the sleepers back down so the existing track will connect up with the new track we are installing. Just for good measure we also spent time placing in seven new point timbers which were delivered during the week, moving three 60ft rails on site and removing components from scrap points to use on this project which of course are all well rusted in place and don't give up without a fight. Oh, we also moved up two wing rails from down in the yard just for good measure. What's a wing rail? Pop in next weekend and I'll explain.
In Dereham, after the installation of the yard points, we decided that we were not happy with the alignment of the stock rails on the two new points. There is a joggle on the stock rails in front of the switch blades. We started the day by setting to the four stock rails with a Jim-Crow. The joggles were bent to a better alignment and this should reduce rail wear over time. Having completed this we then loaded up the Flatrol with the next batch of sleepers to go down the line, after the wagon was shunted over adjacent to the pile.
After lunch we moved up to Norwich Road Level Crossing. Tim, Barry and Owen fitted the next batch of parts to the Down Starter, comprising of the down rods and associated parts and then both of the ladders. Trevor, Paul and the rest of the crew started to align, drill and screw down the switch blades of the Goods Shed point. The next set of rails were also barred over closer to the running line, so that they can be picked up with the crane.
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20th January 2007. Photo: Owen Stratford |
Once more back at Crownthorpe, the Permanent Way team made steady progress with the resleepering, completing the remaining 39 sleepers that were previously delivered to site. We also enjoyed the civilisation of a fish and chip dinner after delivery from Wymondham once the train crew had come back from running round. The group worked on a number of fronts and whilst the resleepering was going on, the remainder of the sleepers were dug out ready for changing next week.
With the assistance of the rail crane we were able to move up the three rails into their respective positions as part of the new point. Before this we had to clean up the rails by removing years of accumulated muck and encrusted rust from the webs of the rails which could prevent the rails from seating correctly in the chairs. After lunch it was out with the wire brushes again to start the task of cleaning some of the chairs, again to remove rust and years of muck. We also replaced the old ferrules, so that the rails fit snugly when installed.
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21st January 2007. Photo: Paul Mobbs |
The first task was to fishplate the three rails to the rail end of the switches. When this was complete we got the wire brushes out again to finish off preparing the chairs ready for placing under the rails. After checking the overall dimensions a small adjustment was made to the spacing of the point timbers between the switches and the common crossing to give equal spacing. The remainder of the chairs were then slipped under their respective rails and new ferrules fitted. Overall a good weekend's work, thanks to the small band of volunteers who helped, with what is not exactly the most exciting work (scraping and cleaning) but I think we all got a good deal of job satisfaction and a sense of achievement as it's really starting to look like a point now.
As most of the volunteers were on sleeper replacement duties, three of us busied ourselves with sorting out some second-hand sleepers that will form the sides of the new coal bunker. As with most things it was not as straightforward as one would hope as we had to remove the Great Western pattern bullhead chairs which are held secure by two bolts instead of the more familiar three chair screws. Yes, you've guessed it: they were all rusted solid so it was back to the good old brute force to remove them. Then for good measure after lunch we set about stripping down and cleaning a hand point mechanism for use on the new point at Norwich Rd which was then treated to a fresh coat of paint.
The p-way team returned to Crownthorpe to change the remaining 27 sleepers. As we had plenty of time left over, we also made a start on filling the ballast back in.
As we are awaiting a component (one of the common crossing chairs) we set about sorting out what sleepers we had available on site to enable us to reconstruct the loading siding. The pile of second-hand sleepers at the back of the platform waiting room were untangled and laid out neatly adjacent to where they are to be installed to form the length of track which serves as an loading and offloading siding for visiting rolling stock and locomotives. The old point timbers that we removed a couple of weeks ago were transported down the yard, and a dozen more second-hand sleepers were selected and brought back to Norwich Rd to make up the necessary number to build the loading siding. We also manhandled the two check rails into position and swapped out four AS-1 chairs for joint chairs. All in all another busy weekend: thanks to all who helped as sleepers complete with chairs aren't the lightest of things.
By Gary Hall, Richard Cullen and Matt Goodrum.
Over several days this week, two volunteers (Eileen and Geoffrey) have refurbished the interior of the large saloon of the GER coach body at County School. The walls have been given a repaint in cream gloss, and the floor has been repaired, sanded and stained ready for varnishing.
The County School Area Group met today starting at 8 am. By 11 our number had soared to 6. The coppice wood has taken top priority to bring it back to a manageable level. The majority of this has been accomplished between County School level crossing and the farmer's crossing. We have also started to strim the opposite bank. This has proved to be considerably more difficult than originally thought, yet good progress has been made in this area.
By Terry Mann.
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15th January 2007. Photo: Terry Mann |
Steady progress has been made on Horace over these last few weeks with the fuel tank, radiator and exhaust system being installed. The brake operating rods have been freed off and assembled but now need modifications to allow all the adjusters and mechanism to operate satisfactorily. Those of you visiting the Goods Yard will notice some major bits of ironmongery (safety frame and radiator guard) have been bolted to the front of the 'A' Frame which makes it look almost complete again.