| The final stage of creating the most satisfactory layout leading to the Engine Shed roads is now underway.
Photos of the last exercise can be seen by CLICKING HERE. The object this time is to move a point and enable a smooth curve on the running line and an shallower curve onto the Engine Shed road. Like most things we do it has taken longer to undertake this work than previously envisaged (actually two years longer!) as other, more urgent, tasks arose! |
| 9 January 2013 Some fishplates have been undone and a short section of rail removed. |
| This is the point being moved. |
| 11 January 2013. Some serious rail removal has been undertaken. |
| 13 January 2013. Sleepers have been moved from the trackbed. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 15 January 2013, A fine body of men! Other men were also available and probably more photogenic! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 16 January 2013 (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| The point was split into three sections. The same proceedure was used as in 2010 with the point having poles placed underneath which enabled the ironwork to be dragged easily. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| It was only possible to move the point sections near to the final position using this method. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| After the Ruston loco was used to make the final pull some cutting of rails and drilling of new holes (seen here) was made. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 20 January 2013 Although some snow had interrupted work on Friday 18 January some hardy souls turned out to work! |
| The gap to be filled with plain track. |
| First section joined up. |
| Point sections moved but yet to find their final positions. |
| 22 January 2013. Much of the snow has melted and the Ruston is again in use to move another part of the point. |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| A shove over-come on lads-put your backs into it! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Keying the rails and chairs. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Another part joined up. Lots of redrilling to do especially with the siding (Engine Shed road). |
| 24 January 2013. The final section now roughly in the right place. Some help with the slewing. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| More rail cutting and hole drilling. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Still a fair way to go to get the running line back in operation but its beginning to look like a railway once again rather than a building site! |
| 30 January 2013 |
| 5 February 2013 After much site clearance a start is made on slewing track to ensure the two ends actually meet! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| It never ceases to surprise how flexible the rails are! |
| Ongoing! |
| 13 February 2013 Gap is narrowing. |
| 19 February 2013 Not missed accidentally! |
| Once the track has been tweeked to give the best curve and to get out the imperfections, the rails will be cut and fishplated. |
| Can't see the jacking and packing to be done! |
| 21 February 2013 All joined up (on 20 February). |
| Nice curve! |
| The track has been slewed way back to the Wilderness siding. |
| 22 February 2013 And now the ballast packing is to begin....then the second Shed road has to be reconnected! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 28 February 2013 |
| 2 March 2013 The ballast packing is underway! Dillon sweating away! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| John and Pete are screwing chairs to timbers. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Later on, Pete is enjoying a drilling session with the belly rail leading to the Engine Shed! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 7 March 2013 The point still has to be levelled but.... |
| ....much progress has been made with levelling the slewed track. |
| 14 March 2013 |
| Filling in between the sleepers has begun.... |
| ....but still 'STOP' and some levelling and packing of the point has to be completed. |
| 24 March 2013 The first movements over the remodelled track took place today as part of a refresher day for train crews. |
| A small amount of filling in and minor other work will be completed in time for Easter Sunday's first public running day for 2013. Hope the weather is a bit warmer! Engine Shed road still to be reconnected though! |
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