Those Magnificent (CHR) Machines

Those of you that have dug out, lifted and pulled around bits of permanent-way will know how heavy each bit is.  The P.Way team have been mechanising over the years so I thought it would be an idea to show the machines that will help us on the way to Weston, these have been purchased by Kevin and members of the P.Way team and some have been converted to multiple roles, we do like to get value for money from everything!

So time to take a bow.

First is the multi purpose mover, tractor and dumper.  By changing the front end this moves between a dumper and mini crane. 

The rear end is also useful as various trailers can be attached as well as applying 'grunt' when needed to move something.

Next on the role of honour is the self propelled excavator.  This also has multiple roles but is principally a back saver, as digging by hand all of the ballast to Weston would have been a killer.  We  have most of the ballast on site as it was supporting the track, however over the years the ballast has become contaminated with earth.

To remove the earth from the contaminated ballast requires it to be screened.  Having done the first half mile more or less by hand a more mechanised means was needed.  As detailed before, here we are at Mark IV or is it now Mk. IVa, Mk. IVb or Mk. V? 

Here is the dirty end which is fed by the excavator from piles moved by the dump truck (can you see how it all fits together now?)  The conveyor belt lifts the mixture up to the screening head.

The screening head is a series of oscillating meshes which direct the larger stones in one direction and the earth in another.  Here you can see in the foreground the ballast and behind the soil.  Once separated the reclaimed ballast is used for track laying and the earth is used as required along the line.

 

Thanks to Guy for the pictures and to Kevin and the rest of the team that purchased and maintain these machines.

Until next time.