After a break to allow the 2009 Santa Specials to operate, trackwork continues. The current stage will connect both Shed Roads to the running line for the first time and a final stage will be undertaken in Winter 2011. Work undertaken in 2009 can be seen by CLICKING HERE or CLICKING HERE and using the Back button to return to this page.

5 January 2010. An existing point has to be moved. For easier handling it has been dismantled into three sections. (Picture courtesy Brian Haigh)

One section has been placed on the running line and will be slid along the running line. (Picture courtesy Brian Haigh)

A section of the running line has been removed in readiness. (Picture courtesy Brian Haigh)

12 January 2010. A hiatus in activities for a week or so was caused by snowfall. These views show the snow after several days of daytime temperatures above freezing, allowing a partial thaw.

17 January 2010. Snow and ice all gone!! The first section of the point is slid into position using the Ruston as power for the final distance with oiled scaffolding poles to keep the sleepers above ballast level. This unusual method actually worked extremely well!

Meanwhile in the Engine Shed, John and Bill were at one end of an electric cable being....

....pulled through by Dave at the other end!!

19 January 2010. Joining up the second portion of the point. (Picture courtesy Brian Haigh)

The final section is towed into its final position. Needless to say some bar work to slew the panel was needed to avoid demolishing the gate post! (Picture courtesy Brian Haigh)

With the point in position a small length of rail is required to make the final connection.

24 January 2010. The final connection has been made and rail drilling for fishplates is under way.

A new (to us) bit of kit.

Hopefully the holes have been drilled in the correct place!

Line complete apart from packing, some more hole drilling and ballasting. The next part is to install a further point immediately on top of the turnout and then link to both the Shed road and the runround loop.

The track inside the Shed has also progressed with half about to be concreted.

02 February 2010. Point completed.

Sorting out parts for the next point.

09 February 2010. The first concrete.

More sorting of point parts!.

23 February 2010. Concrete delivery method - into the waiting dumper.

Dumper being unloaded.

All parts for the point now found! Timbers also now being sorted and installation to begin imminently. If you are able to help with the substantial costs (e' at £5000 overall) Yeovil Railway Centre would love to hear from you!

16 March 2010. The Shed concreting has moved on to this stage. Another few loads of Ready mixed will be had but then it will be necessary to use the Company's mixer to produce small batches to concrete in between the rails and follow the contour of the sleepers. This will give some room to slide under locomotives etc if a visit to the pit is not required.

7 April 2010. Rail and frog connected but not screwed down as yet.

7 April 2010. The brakevan is next in line for a coat of paint.

18 April 2010. The blade and frog have now been connected.

Gauging under way. The fun with second hand rail is that almost inevitably there is a bend in it from its previous position!

The runround is now re-connected (but not packed and check rails to be made).

Onwards towards the Shed soon.

25 May 2010. Unloading concrete sleepers with spacers.

27 May 2010. Looking from the Shed - on the last stretch. Put the flat bottom rail on, fishplate it up and then put the curve in!

6 June 2010. Ivan, Brian, James and Phil pass the time of day.

08 June 2010. Nearly there!

08 June 2010. All concrete sleepers in place. A couple of rails to cut, check rails to make, general jacking and packing and lots of ballast.

16 June 2010. All rails now cut and in position. Track has been curved into its final position.

Still some more work to do though.

20 June 2010. Creating a check rail. The might seen here was insufficient so the JCB was called into action (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh).

One installed and one to go! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh))

23 June 2010 Venturing onto the re-connected loop line. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius).

(Photo courtesy John Cornelius).

First move along the newly re-laid Shed Road. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius).

(Photo courtesy John Cornelius).

The conflat has been moved from its 'trapped' position at the end of the formerly truncated loop onto the platform road and the brakevans have replaced it.

General view of the completed layout.

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