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

5 Stars

We always knew that with the Thursday Gang and other distinguished customers that 'Buffers' on Oswestry station was special.  Now it is official, a recently arrived 5 star rating as recognition.  No further excuses now for not joining in!  Well done to Jenny and the Buffers team and go and sample their cakes.

On the ground there has been further progress by the contractors.  There have been further supplies of materials, crushed stone for the sub base

 and extra stones for filling the gabions

 as well as extra reinforcement for the concrete pours.

Not forgetting the test cubes to make sure that everything is to specification.  Test cubes are then subjected to extreme loads under a press to confirm their strength.  After that these are disposed of, they do make excellent bases for garden sheds, so I am told.

 The work continues around the bridge with the stabilisation of the re-profiled sides.

Meanwhile under the bridge the inspection and rectification work to the steel and brickwork continues.

The last of Guy's pictures shows an obstacle on the line.  "You can't park that there, they'll be a train along soon."

With the Bank Holiday it is a short working week.

Until next time

100 Not Out

It's not the score from the latest test match but On The Weston Front has arrived at the grand old age of 100 blog posts.  It's taken just under a year which means an average of around two posts per week, though there have been some lean periods where external events have meant posts have been spaced much further apart.

I hope that you have enjoyed the journey so far and will continue to look in to see progress on our project.

None of this would have been possible without the support of fellow CHR members who continue to give up their time to volunteer working on the railway.  Special thanks must be given to the roving reporters who provide the photographs and details of the work.

What will the next 100 posts bring?

Well we all hope that the progress that has been made so far will continue and we reach our goal of rails to Weston.  Though this blog looks mainly at the push to Weston there is much going on at other sites, in particular Llynclys where the dedicated crew continue with the restoration of rolling stock and the operation of the services to Penygarreg Lane.

I hope to carry on with the blog posts from wherever in the world I happen to be, posts have been made from many strange places and at strange hours, many thousands of miles away from Oswestry but always with my heart and mind concentrated on events back in the top left hand corner of Shropshire.

The CHR project will continue to flourish, our progress is only limited by funding and man hours so please see if you can help.

• You could join the CHR organisation and receive the journal amongst other benefits.  The latest one has just been published containing more details on the project and background information.

• Why not join in as a working volunteer?  CHR working days and times are a mixture, from those who have time during the week, to weekend work and then those who can only spare and odd hour or two in the evening.  We are all volunteers and there is work for all levels of ability or speciality from the dirty side to paperwork.

• You can make donations to CHR on line using the link in the top right of the page.

• Or come along and take a ride or attend a special event.  Come and see how we are progressing and how much more there is to do.

• Spread the word about CHR and the project, share the posts or links to your contacts.

We look forward to hearing from or seeing you.

Thank you for reading this and the continued support.

See you in the second century

Thursday Gang (South)

With work split between two main sites it fell to Colin to take the pictures of work going on south of Gasworks Bridge.  Attention was concentrated on the sleeper pile recently made accessible by the further movement south of the screener. With the screener on a roll the number of (elephant) mole hills are increasing.  Still a long way to go though.  A new working table has been created so that the sleepers stored by the side of the embankment can be worked on.  Here is the set up with the completed sleepers stacked further away from the camera.  There was the usual mixture of sleepers with most be suitable for reuse, though with the easier to process style of chair.

Dave, Colin and the rest of the team continued throughout the day until rain stopped play.  The completed sleepers ready for use were stacked between the ballast heaps. 

 Though there was a stop for lunch and the sleeper pile makes an ideal open air restaurant.

Thanks to everyone who turned up and to Colin for the pictures.

Until next time.

They Seek Them Here, They Seek Them There..

The Thursday Gang were back in action and were distributed liberally around the site with many different jobs tackled. Andy had fun trying to catch the various groups at work but did find a major surprise.

Firstly Nick is getting to grips with the tool store and giving some much needed protection to the outside.

 Noel was using the needle gun on Cyril but was in for a bit of a shock....

John has opened the cage door and found a Chairman living inside... That's what is known as commitment.

Rob was continuing with the running repairs to Cyril and we think he may have been in there all week.

As for the other jobs done I can do no better than to use Andy's words and say Thank You to all who turned up.

"This week the Thursday crew tackled many different jobs the main job being the refurbishment of sleepers behind Travis Perkins which is essential preparation work for extending the track to the Cattle Creep. Dave Roll lead a team of willing volunteers working on these sleepers until ran stopped play late in the afternoon. Other work undertaken was a trip to get 80 gallons of diesel and bottles of oxygen and argon along with a boiler pressure tester, Chippy John continued with work on the coach, Noel was using the needle gun removing old paint from Cyril while John and Rob worked on the engine, Nick painted part of the tool shed wagon, Steve painted the railings on the north end of the Oswestry platform, Glynn marked the levels for laying the ballast for the middle road at Oswestry station and many other jobs."

Many thanks to Andy G for the words and pictures.

Until next time

North and South

Just a few pictures of what is at the end of the current works under Gasworks Bridge.  In the first picture, looking north, we have the end of the current line beyond the fence, where the material ready for tracklaying back to the bridge is piled up and ready.

To the south of the bridge we have the mostly completed section with material stored ready for removal or work on the finishing items.  The access road runs along what will be the trackbed so it will be compacted before the ballast is laid.

Here is a view along the line looking north towards the bridge with the contractors cabins on the right, these will be removed once work is complete.  

 Along this stretch the drains are already in place and situated well below track level.

Guy was again the roving cameraman, thanks!

Until next time

Piling it in

Work on the Shrewsbury Road bridge continues, whilst the excavation goes on there has also been an opportunity to inspect and maintain the steelwork of the bridge.  The scaffolding gives access to those points that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

At the foot of the columns the steel reinforcement has been installed and bolted back through to the concrete.

The last view shows the completed installation and also gives an idea of the amount that the trackbed has been lowered.

Thanks again to Guy N for the pictures

Until next time.

A Retainer for the Bank

Thanks again to Guy here are some views of the work along the side of the bank to the north of the bridge to retain the cutting sides.

Starting from the bridge and looking south we can see the empty cages or gabions on the left waiting to be filled with stone. 

The filled cages are then positioned to create a retaining wall to support the earth which has been back filled and compacted behind the interlocked cages.  The membrane is to stop earth being washed in to the stones by rainwater.

 Here is a closer view of the filled gabions.

The first part of the wall has been completed and work is progressing rapidly along the foot of the bank.

Here is the section still being worked on with the pile of clean stone awaiting loading to the gabions.

 Further along the ground has been prepared and a foundation with anti-vegetation membrane is installed.

The next view shows the section being worked on with the bank cut away and the first of the gabions in place.  The process is quite rapid and should be completed soon.

To the south of the bridge everything is ready.  As this is used as the access road to the working area the final ballasting will only be done when the other works have been completed.

A final date for completion is being discussed.  Once this section is ready the track can return and the push to Weston continue.

Until next time

The Cap Fits

Guy took a walk along the site over the weekend and has provided photographs of recent progress around the sewer.

Since the previous photographs additional form work has appeared and already some extra parts of the slab have been cast.  This is to create a complete cover over the sewer.  Here is the form work ready to receive the concrete.

 Before the concrete is poured there are still a few points to complete and gaps to fill.  In this view you can see the thickness of the slab.

 Here is the slab on the previously completed footings.

 The other end of the slab also has extra form work installed.

 With the whole slab assmbly waiting for the next concrete pour.

Work has carried on alongside on the drainage system and here is the view looking South with Gasworks Bridge in the distance.

The drain can be seen on the right, feeding in to an inspection chamber, once completed all this work we be below track level and no longer visible.

As you can see work is progressing well but there will be a slight delay as extra work was needed on a gas main which was discovered during the excavation.  Meanwhile the P.Way gang have been limbering up and flexing their muscles ready for tracklaying.

Until next time

Remembrance Event

The 11th November 2018 will be the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World war.  The Great War saw many people lose their lives and many Cambrian Railways employees were involved in the battles.  53 paid the ultimate price and never returned to work on the railway.  By the time of the Second World War the Cambrian Railways had been absorbed in the Grouping of 1922 and formed part of the Great Western Railway.  Many Oswestry residents left to fight in the Second World War and never returned.

Saturday 18th August 2018 CHR held a remembrance event for the Cambrian employees and Oswestry residents who fought and died in both world wars.  The open air service was held on the station platform at Oswestry in the presence of relatives and guests.  Let us never forget what we owe to these people.  Dave R took the following pictures during the day, many thanks.

During the day the first instalment of the grant from Oswestry Town Council was received by CHR Chairman Rob Williams, many thanks to the council for making this money available.  Here Councillor Sandy Best hands over the cheque to Rob.

The platform housed a display of military vehicles and trains were operated down to the current railhead.

Many thanks to all who supported and attended this event.

There is a report in the latest edition of the Border Counties Advertiser and on their website, I have not inserted a link as the page has multiple trackers which take your personal data for advertising purposes.  If you want to view the article you can search on line. I recommend using an ad. blocker or other protections.

Until next time.

The View From Above

After a week off taking in the mountain air it's time to catch up with events in Oswestry.  Thanks to Glynn two N's and CHR here are a couple of views from 'on high' of progress on the excavation.  These were taken from the footpath either side of the Shrewsbury Road bridge.

First is a view looking North towards the station with the cycle path on the right.  Here you can see the diamond shaped concrete cap over the sewer being prepared for the pour, the reinforcement is in place, just the mix to be poured in to the waiting form.  Also visible are the first gabions (wire mesh cages filled with stones) which are in place to support the re-graded cutting sides.  In the centre there will be the single track of the railway to Weston.  Also Glynn notes that the sighting boards have been removed so no further work will be done on the levels, we have arrived!

In the view looking South we can see the route almost complete.  The drains run under the clear ballast on the right and the concrete retaining wall can be seen on the left.  The day of track laying is getting closer.

The weekend saw the special Remembrance Service for the Cambrian Railways employees who fought and died in the First World War.  A further post will follow.  

Whilst on holiday I also caught up with work on the Valsesia Railway Museum based in Varallo, Italy.  The latest project has been to restore and re-hang the engine shed doors.  Here they are propped in place whilst the mortar around the hinges cures.  These are very heavy and double skinned, you can see the wood that has been replaced on the inside face.

The view from outside shows how much of the outer door has been replaced.  Just in front of the engine shed lies the small turntable which is still operational.  There are also the two original water cranes still fed from the water tower from 30m deep bore hole.

The line is still operational and sees steam specials on a monthly basis.

Until next time

Summer Holidays

I will be taking a break for a week and may not have internet access which allows me to update the blog.

Normal service will be resumed on my return.

In the meantime this weekend there will be a working party on the cattle creep and behind Travis Perkins.

Happy holidays!

Cambrian At War Event

A quick reminder of the special event at Oswestry on the 18th August.  There will be a special commemoration at 12:00.

To honour all of the WW1 victims who were Cambrian Railways employees there has been a long running exhibition on Oswestry station detailing the lives of the 53 railwaymen who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Cambrian WW1 Exhibition

During the event the train will be running and there are the usual open day facilities and food available on the station.

Whilst passing by you can also catch the 2019 Cambrian Heritage Railways calendar, now on sale at both sites, get one quick before they sell out!  Picture courtesy of CHR Facebook page.