Thursday Gang

The Thursday Gang were out in force and strength.  Whilst others were carrying on the usual tasks of coach restoration, site management, painting and gardening it took a strong crew, and steady hands, to mount the crossing gate to the now rigidly fixed gate post.  Keeping the gate vertical, level and lifted up took a fair bit of coordination but finally the crew declared the job a success.  Dave R took the photo from the conveniently placed steps of the signal box.

Work under the bridge continues and the likely completion date is late September.  This is due to the additional investigation work and capping of the live gas main found under the bridge.  This was not marked on any available drawings so required a solution to be identified, approved and actioned.  The gas main is now well protected but the additional work delayed the construction of the retaining walls.

Every so often we also need to run works trains and Noel took some of a recent ballast working. Here is a sequence of photos starting with the train just having passed over the level crossing on which the gate above has just been installed.

 The next view shows the train in front of the resplendent Oswestry South signal box.

Here the side-tipping Mermaid wagon has been loaded and is starting to move along the platform with the main Oswestry station building in the background, you can see just how long the platform is!

Although the signals are not yet operational there are some in place along the line, including the fixed distant to the south which is mounted up high for visibility. The view also shows the well-used path alongside the first part of the extension to Weston.

The classic view from in front of Oswestry station building shows the restored platform and signal, to the left are the remains of the down platform and the space between for the additional two tracks, these will eventually be relayed once we have enough funds in the bank, can you help?

Finally here is a short video taken in 1957 showing views along the railway, the rails are still in place in most of these locations and someday maybe we will see again an Ivatt 2-6-0 running in the country.

Thanks to all for the photos and hours put in on our project.

Until next time