Straight Down The Middle

Oswestry station has a fairly unique layout.  In between the two platforms is a single through road which was used by trains in both directions to avoid platforms or to 'loop' waiting trains.  On heritage railways there are a few examples of centre release roads but these are terminal stations.  Brechin in Scotland dates back to BR days and Ruddington GCR(N) is of recent construction. Leicester North may well become another example.

It has long been a CHR ambition to recreate the three road layout between the platforms and with the availability of wooden sleepers and a track gang well 'run-in' the attention has turned to the centre road in Oswestry station. 

To avoid any confusion work on the extension will continue but we are waiting for confirmation of plans for the crossing behind Travis Perkins.  The connection of the two parts of the extension requires some excavation and relaying of drainage to avoid future problems at the crossing.  Once all is confirmed work will continue with the extension.

With hands and material on site it is time to continue with work at Oswestry station.  The centre road siding was previously only used for sleeper storage and was laid in lightweight mode with 2 in 3 sleepers missing.  Now that attention has turned to relaying the centre road it was time to take action.  Thanks to Noel E here are the pictures of the start of work on the centre road. 

First the keys are removed from the chairs and mechanical help arrives to dismantle the storage siding.

The CHR Line Dancing Team then spring in to action to move the rail.  The new sleepers are waiting in the foreground.

 The team move to the other rail to continue

Once the sleepers have been checked and laid at the correct spacing it is time to reposition the rails.  First a check that all is to plan and to check the correct position to lean on a crowbar.

Fishplate tickling can begin and the centre road has officially begun.

With help from the Iron Man and neat use of the bars the rail is dropped in to position.

 The keys are knocked in to place to an appreciative audience

Then it's swap sides and on to the next rail, the iron man again giving a helping hand.

With a bit of mechanical help the rail is nudged in to position and that is it, the first panel done.

Many thanks to Noel for the pictures and to all who took part at the birth of the centre road.

We now swap to pictures from Guy who took these after panel number three had gone in.  Here we are looking south towards the signal box from a point between the platform, well actually it is where the point used to be but for the moment we don't have a suitable point to lay here.  At first the single slip will give access only to the platform road.

You can see the position of the centre road, the alignment was set out by Glynn a few weeks ago.

Here we are at panel three with the space to the left for the down platform road once the renovation of the platform is complete.  The appeal for funds is still open by the way.

The final view is one from the yard access with the remains of the down platform on the right and the centre road just about to enter the gap between the platforms. 

Work will continue laying track through the station before switching back to the extension.

Many thanks to Guy and Noel for the pictures.

Until next time.