Thursday Gang

Another active and productive day in Oswestry.

On the extension we welcomed another four loads of ballast which arrived to the access point and then had to back along the formation.  Here we start with a view of the wagon backing it's way towards Gasworks Bridge.

It is a tight squeeze under there with no margin for error.  These boys certainly know the width of their vehicles to a fraction of an inch.

At the sharp end Glynn watches the drop is going just where it s needed.

In a couple of minutes the lorry has arrived, unloaded and now makes it's way out of the site, to repeat another three times during the day.

Alan and Tom knock in the poles which will give us the correct levels, when I nod my head you hit it.. Everything passed off fine

Henry was setting up the levels with the able assistance of Alan and Tom

By the end of the day it was time to get back to base for the final brew of the day, here we can see that any surface will do to rest a cup, Cambrian Style

Elsewhere work carried on with the coaches, the steam heat was tested on the new arrival and the transformation for Santa duties will begin soon.  Inside the shed further restoration went on with the suburban coach.

Thanks once again to Andy G for the pictures and updates

Until next time.

Santa Specials

Don't forget the Santa Specials.  Please support if you can as these help to fund future developments along the line.  Come along and join in the fun!

The Start of Ballasting

Following the laying of the membrane last week the first two loads of ballast were placed in position.  Guy N took some pictures showing the latest status

We start off at the railhead where you can see the sleepers lined up and ready to be moved in to position

Looking over the sleepers we see the ballast waiting to be spread and graded before the sleepers are laid.

 There were two rolls of Terram laid out and two truck loads of fresh ballast to make up this section.

The heaps will be distributed to an even ballast bed and checked to ensure the gradient and alignment is correct before the sleepers are planted on the ballast.

 The membrane and ballast take us from the railhead to where the sewer crosses under the railway

The next loads will take us past the sewer and up to the bridge, due to the clearances here the chairs will be fixed to the concrete base to maximise the headroom.

 Looking back towards Oswestry you can see what has been done so far.

Many thanks to Guy N for the pictures and information.

Until next time.

Coach Arrival Pictures

Here are a few pictures from Andy G of the unloading of the TSO at Oswestry.  Tony W and the team have been busy transforming this coach back in to a workable state and we are very proud of the results.  Just a couple of finishing touches and we are ready for the Santa Specials.

First off is a picture of the trailer being manoeuvred in to position.  There were a few minutes of delay to the road traffic but they were soon on their way again as the coach was positioned in the yard.

Tony and the C&W team have carried out extensive work on this coach replacing the rust damaged sections.  Last chance to admire their handiwork whilst the coach was on the trailer.

 The unloading ramp is assembled to allow the coach to run down on to the rails

A goods van is used as a buffering vehicle between the loco and the coach, the van is pushed up to the coach and coupled up.  The combined train is gently eased down on to the track and the TSO is ready for inspection

Once checked over Telemon took the coach round to the platform so that members could have a closer look.  The short train took a run down the line to check everything was working OK and passed with flying colours.  Even the school children on the footbridge waved to the train and the people inside waved back.

Once the run was complete the coach was stabled in the compound next to 2261 which was having a steam test ready for the next operating session.

Thanks to Andy G for the pictures.

Another important day for Cambrian Heritage Railways and further proof of the progress being made.

This week should see the next sections of the membrane installed and further ballast drops.  The ballast will then be levelled and graded so that the sleepers can be positioned.

Until next time.

Llynclys Carriage and Wagon Delivers

Tuesday saw a new arrival at Oswestry, the TSO coach (Tourist Second Open) E4965 made it's move from the restoration base al Llynclys to be welcomed in to the passenger fleet.

The team at Llynclys have restored this coach over many years and will form part of the loco hauled stock which is being readied for use on the line.

It was almost a party atmosphere with many people turning out to see the coach touch down.  Shortly after the coach was taken on a test run with Telemon and everything worked as intended

Thanks to Dave R who was on hand to record this moment and who took the picture.  And an extra big thank you to Tony and all of the C&W volunteers who have put so much effort in to this coach.

Roll on the Santa Season where you will be able to experience travel from Oswestry in a nice warm coach.  Have you booked your tickets yet?

The Thursday Gang Roll Out The Black Carpet

The Thursday Gang were out in force with over 15 people on site.  There were multiple jobs going on and Andy had fun keeping up with everything that was happening. Here are the photos he took during the day.

First up Dave, Harvey and Glynn discuss the recently arrived concrete sleepers.  From the piles there were sleepers that moved to strategic points along the line.

Glynn and Harvey were out surveying and marking up the levels, here you can see back towards the bridge with the poles in position to assist in surveying.  It looks like the gradient under the bridge will be around 1 in 80 though the final figure will be confirmed once the track has been laid.

The scrap skip made a return and was filled with around 350 broken and scrap chairs and the corroded beams from the cattle creep.  That will generate more funds for the Weston extension.

After watching the bridge works for so long it was time to start moving things under the bridge.  The first roll of the membrane was brought up through the bridge.  This membrane allows the water to drain through but stops the earth and sub base from rising up and mixing with the ballast.  Here Steve, Andy, Dave and photographer Andy manhandle the roll through the bridge.

And so it came to rolling out the 'carpet', in our case it is black.  Here we are starting from the current railhead and  going south.

Andy and Phil roll out the membrane with Steve and Glynn supervising.  Dave keeps checking the alignment to make sure it is in the centre of the future running line.  The black carpet will be covered up by the tonnes of fresh ballast that will arrive shortly.

Eight concrete sleepers were taken down the line and these will be used to make up the full-length track panel to the north of the cattle creep.  

The sleepers are on the left of this view of the cattle creep

Many thanks to Andy for the report and pictures and Glynn for the extra information.

Elsewhere work continued with coach restoration and parts are being refitted where possible

A big thank you to all who turned up.

Until next time.

Clear through the bridge

Guy took a walk along the recently cleared track under the bridge and sent these photos.  We start the journey on the north side of the bridge.  Beyond the current stop block materials are being gathered ready to start relaying the track.

 

Looking south the concrete slab is between the supports and you can see how much the bridge has been lowered.

The painting of the bridge is complete and with the scaffolding removed you can now see the bridge in all it's glory

 Along the east side is the staff walkway, separated from the running line by a steel fence.

 Looking from the south you can see the cast-in steps and the extent of the excavation.

 Looking back towards Oswestry you can see that they way is clear.

 Next you can see most of the work site with the head of steel just behind the sleeper stack.

The contractors work site has now been cleared and we are ready.

 Beyond the Heras site fencing lies the way to Weston.

Keep watching for further updates

Until next time

Thursday Gang

A bit later than normal here are the photos from Andy G of the work done last Thursday.

The sunny weather had the team out and about along the line working on clearing the old wire fencing.  This will allow us to use mechanical means to clear  the track side without fear of damaging the equipment.  Here Dave, John and Steve tackle the serpent-like wire which was uncovered during the last working weekend.

Looking along to the bridge it would appear that the contractors have gone and we are ready to rumble.  In the foreground is the cover over the sewer and behind are the gabions which support the deepened cutting sides.

The next picture with Steve and Dave repositioning the stop sign, on this side of the stop block we are now ready for business.

The final result of the clearance was a wagon full of wire fencing here being taken back to base to be disposed of.

Elsewhere more wood work from the coach was sanded down but the cold weather meant that varnishing was not possible.  Other coach fittings were also prepared for paint.

Thanks as ever to the Thursday Gang and to Andy G for the pictures.

Until next time.