Working Week

The working week has now concluded. It was pleasing to see so many volunteers turn up in spite of the weather. However it is December so being able to work at all is a blessing.

The main focus of the work was the spot resleepering on the line north of Weston towards Oswestry.

Andy G was on hand with his camera at the end of the week to catch the latest progress and movements.

A recent arrival at Weston is the MK1 TSO coach which has been brought down to the station for gauging trials. This will allow any adjustments to be made and ensure that there are the correct clearances to the platform. In the first picture the two coaches are in the bay platform.

Meanwhile the spot resleepering continues. In some places it was decided to change all the sleepers in a panel, the excavator makes short work of digging out the old ballast and life expired sleepers. Their replacements have been moved close to where needed and can be seen in the bottom of the picture.

In this view you can see the relaid rails being connected back to the already completed section. Knowing just how much to lean on the spanner is a skill learned over many hundreds of fishplate bolts.

As the rails are inserted back in the chairs the next panel is unclipped. Here the keys are being knocked out of the chairs.

With the team well out of the way, actually partaking in the tea drinking training, the works train is brought slowly forwards.

The movement of the coach from Oswestry took place in misty conditions.

The train is seen running over the recently upgraded track, heading towards Weston.

Lóoking north we can see the completed section heading towards the poplar tree. This tree is also visible on the photos from the cattle creep. The poplar tree is very roughly half way between the cattle creep and Weston station.

At the end of the week a special celebratory, socially distanced, fish and chip lunch was held in the recently arrived TSO coach. A fitting reward for a fine effort.

Many thanks to all who volunteered during the week and to Andy G for the pictures.

Until next time.