Thursday Gang

Thursday continues with it's regular pattern with work going on at both Oswestry and Weston.  The team at Oswestry got stuck in to preparing panel eleven on the centre road.  The rail was brought up from the store and moved in to the freshly laid out sleepers.  Andy G took the following pictures as with one rail in Noel, John, Keith, Steve, Julian, and Norman work on moving the second rail to where it will be needed.

The team takes a bit of a breather with the second rail now lying in the 'four foot'.

 Inside Keith and Alan continue on the suburban coach.

Out of sight of the camera the drainage catch pits in the station area received attention, the wagon refurbishment continued and a squad of four went to Weston to dismantle some track.

Thanks to all who took part and to Andy for the photos.

Until next time

Tuesday Gang

Team Tuesday carried on around the site working on finishing panel ten and getting material ready for further work. Glynn was in action with the Hiab to move rails around and create storage space for track materials.

In the first picture from Andy, John, Tom, and Noel take a breather having carried on with completing the keying up.

Once the work is completed Noel and Norman take a look at their handiwork.  Now doesn't that just look so good?

Many thanks to all who turned up under sunny Oswestry skies and to Andy G for the pictures.

Until next time.

There She Blows

Over the bank holiday weekend we took another small step on the way to Weston.  The limit of operation of the running line was extended down to Gasworks Bridge.  This is a fitting reward for all who have helped with this project and it was good to see smiles on the faces of the volunteers and customers on these runs.  Guy N was on hand and took the following pictures of the event.

We start with a look south along the line towards the bridge.  The Stop board has been positioned and the track has been jacked and packed where necessary.  The track has been inspected and tested and we are ready to go.  The only thing missing is a passenger train.

In the distance the whistle blows and the sound of the steam loco can be heard making it's way along the line.

The loco and train eases up and creeps along to the end of the line.

 There we have it, a steam loco on the new track, time to set off back to the station.

What a wonderful tribute to the hard work of so many people in all roles who made this happen, take a deep bow.  Then take a deep breath as we push again on the way to Weston.

Until next time.

Squeezing One In

One of the leftover jobs from the work under Gasworks Bridge was to install an additional concrete sleeper to the south to support the rails.  The team tackled this job and Guy was on hand to take a picture once completed.   This meant a bit of a shuffle with the sleepers and an inverse game of Mikado (the one where you have to remove sticks without moving the rest) as the sleeper has to be threaded under the rail without causing disruption.  Just to add to the fun access from the sides is limited by the steps and supporting wall.

It was a bit of a wiggle but in the end, as you can see in the picture, the sleeper is in and the rail clips are now evenly spaced, ready for trains.

There is still plenty to do with preparing the track for passenger services.  The line needs to be finally packed and tamped but the way ahead is now clear.

Thanks to Guy for the pictures.

Until next time

A Little Bit of Weston

With a fair wind we should soon be starting work at Weston on the upgrading of the site, adding facilities which will allow us to welcome guests.  Before the work starts we have a couple of pictures which we can then use for a comparison on completion of the modifications.  Thanks to Guy and Noel for the pictures and information.

We start with the view of the line arriving from Oswestry.  In the background can be seen the row of poplar tress that have been in the distance of photos taken from the recently replaced cattle creep.  The long straight run down to Westin ends just before the station in a gentle curve.  The recently moved tank wagon rests at the entrance to the station.  Hopefully it won't be too long before we see loco hauled trains arriving here.

Looking the other way we see the site at Weston with the raised area to the right which will become the platform.  There are already materials on site for the trackwork but the platform wall will need stabilising and rebuilding.  The wall shows the many changes that have occurred over the years at Weston.  A simple loading dock was extended and then raised/extended again resulting in a variety of heights and stability.  The brickwork on some sections is poor to say the least, on other sections it has already collapsed.  The only solution acceptable to be able to use for passengers is to rebuild starting from new foundations.  

The new platform will also house the new toilet block which will be a welcome relief for all and possibly of vital importance given the brewery next door. The track layout will consist of a run round loop on the left side of the picture and a bay platform to the right of the running line. 

The goods shed will become a useful space for conservation and restoration work and the small office will be used to show the history of the site and house the station office.
 
There is a great deal of work still to be done and although we have received a grant to cover a lot of the cost we still need to raise around £30k to complete the works.  All donations are welcome.  Timing will depend on how quickly we can raise the money but we hope by next year to be well on the way to having Weston station ready for trains.

Thanks to Guy for the pictures.

Until next time.

Thursday Gang

Twelve volunteers turned up on Thursday to continue with work around the station.  There were three main activities.  Work on the Suburban coach continued inside the shed.  The Dogfish wagon was given further attention and a further panel of track was assembled on the centre road.  Andy G took a couple of pictures.

The first shows the arduous job of supervision, it takes years of practice to become this proficient and there is a long list of potential applicants, all able to expertly drink tea.  The training is intensive and competitive interviews were conducted as to who was the most suitable to sit in a chair and drink tea.  It was a hard fought contest but Davey J just edged it.  Here he is in classic supervisory pose watching the rest laying track whilst offering suitable works of encouragement, which were given equally suitable words of reply.

At the sharp end it was time for another panel to be laid, after a burst of activity the team take a rest whilst Steve works on the fishplates.  Norman, John, Noel, Mick and Tom have a chat about the next panel.  We are going to need more sleepers before too long.

The centre road is making progress and it won't be long before we reach the curve, still some way to go though.  If you fancy joining in get in contact or come along and take a ride.

Many thanks to the twelve volunteers who came along to enjoy the sun and to Andy G for the pictures.

Don't forget the Model Railway Exhibition on the 2nd June, trains of all scales will be operating.

Until next time.

Tuesday the 9th

But Tuesday was the 21st you say, not the 9th. That is true but in Oswestry we were toasting the 9th.  The volunteers restarted work on the centre road and installed panel number nine.

The day started with a shunt with Andy R at the controls of Telemon our trusty shunter.  Once the way was clear more rail was brought up to allow us to assemble another panel.

We start with a picture from Guy showing the end of panel number eight. This is just about in line with the north end of the station building.

The first job was a rail hunt. Once a suitable pair had been found it was time to prepare the ironmen for the lift. Here Norman keeps an eye on photographer Andy G whilst Andy R, John and Colin ready the ironman with Mick casting an eye over the proceedings.

Once the rails were loaded between the trolley and the frame it was time to move off and journey up the line. The team make their way over the single slip towards their destination.

With the first rail in position, Mick and Norman tighten up the bolts on the fishplate in the foreground whilst Tom, Colin and Noel are putting the keys in the chairs to hold the rail in position.

The second rail was then installed with Noel, Mick and Colin starting on the keys.

Just the last few to put in place.

That's it. Panel number nine completed. John, Mick, Andy R, Colin and Noel look happy with progress before returning to base to celebrate with a mug of tea.

Another panel of progress as we head north to complete the run round.

Thanks to all who braved the sunshine and to Guy for the first picture and Andy G for the rest.

Until next time.

Back to Sleep(ering)

The north end of Oswestry station has returned to being the storage and working area for the next lot of wooden sleepers that were recently delivered.  The wooden sleepers, which give more of a heritage feel, are used in the stations and  surrounding areas.  Although the look more historic they require more ongoing maintenance than the concrete sleepers that are used these days on the national network.  The track that was left over from British Rail days on our line is a mixture, we have both wooden and concrete sleepers which all require some degree of attention after many years out of use.

Guy was on hand with a camera as the sleeper pile started to be sorted.  We have no say in what arrives and the quality is highly variable.  But there are no complaints from us as the source is in line with our budget. The first job is to roll out the sleepers from the pile on to the track so that they can be assessed.  Basically we have four categories. 

Main line use:  For the passenger carrying part of the line

Sidings Grade:  For use to store stock.

Garden Grade:  Sleepers that can be used for landscaping 

Scrap:  As it says and easy to spot as they fall apart in your hands.  Also useful for firewood!  

In the first picture the crew start to prepare, joined by new volunteer Norman (And a very warm welcome!).  You can see the size of the sleeper mountain. 

Norman gets cracking on loosening the nuts on the chairs and removing the bolts.

 With one end done it's over to the other end to get the chairs off.

There are still a few to go, in fact so many that we have almost buried the starter signal at the end of the platform.  That will keep the crews busy for a week or three.

 Looking back towards the station the pile almost dwarfs the station building as well.

Once in to the swing of it the selection process yields results.  It is a bit hit and miss as the loads are mixed in quality but every reclaimed sleeper will be used along the line.  The first couple are ready and will be joined by other as the work progresses.

 The next sleepers to be worked on are rolled in to position.

Once examined and graded they are moved to the appropriate location.

We finish with a view looking north along the platform in which we can see several features.  In the foreground the water crane and heater are coming along.  Behind the water crane to the right is the Cambrian Railways works which was the main centre for the Cambrian Railways system.  Between the signal and the water crane is the footbridge which gave access to the works, this is now a listed monument.  Gradually the station will return to full operation but it will require time and money to achieve.  Donations are always welcome and volunteers too!

It will be some time before all of the sleepers are processed and it will be a regular weekly job, but then again with all of the track we will have inside the station limits we are going to need plenty of wooden sleepers.

Thanks to all who joined in and to Guy for the pictures.

Until next time.

Holy Dogfish

More painting and deeper holes. Those are  the current orders at Oswestry.  Guy N shared the following pictures of work going on this week.

Davey has been busy on the Dogfish ballast hopper with the steps. The old paint has been wire brushed away and the straps treated followed by new paint.

The one in the shadows has been done allowing Davey to move round and soak up the sunlight whilst working. The mug of tea has a handy platform so life is bliss.

Alongside the Dogfish the Lowmac has also been having attention. Once the chassis has been repainted a new wooden deck will be installed allowing us to load equipment to transfer to the worksites along the line.

On the other side of the running line a new spectator sport was invented. Watching Andy dig a hole.

Andy was progressing well with the encouragement of the rest.

News travelled fast and more people came to see what was going on.

By the end of the day the hole was almost done and ready to receive the gate post.

Thanks to all who braved the sunshine and to Guy for the pictures.

Until next time

Thursday Gang

Another warm and fun day in Oswestry brought out the Thursday Gang who welcomed a new member.  There were many different jobs going on and we will take a look at a few.

South of Middleton Road bridge the excess ballast has now been removed allowing access for fettling and track maintenance.  This has been an ongoing task largely achieved through manual labour, well done!

At the other end the sleeper pile has been rediscovered, more correctly it has been re-stacked.  The Thursday Gang get back in to the swing of rollin', choosin' mendin' to prepare more sleepers to continue with the relaying of track in station areas. 

The rolling stock maintenance continued with the Dogfish having a brush up and a fresh coat of paint to the steps.

It's nice to sit out in the sun and make the stock look cared for.

Inside the shed the work on the Suburban continues with more painting and varnishing

The interior roof panelling gets some attention before refitting the interior, we don't want to have paint drops on our upholstery.

The away team went to Weston in search of long lost rolling stock and cleared vegetation from around several items which will need to be moved to allow access.

Lastly the latest CHR Newsletter has just been published, you can sign up on the CHR Website
Once again thanks to Andy G for the phots and to all who participated.

Until next time.

Another Post

The Tuesday Gang were back on song after the bad weather last week.  Tuesday was a day of sun and high temperatures, time for some serious physical work.

The eight team members set off on expeditions to various parts of the site.  Andy G was on hand with the camera to catch what was going on.  In the first photo Nick gets stuck in and before long a large hole appeared, we are good at these!  This will be the location of the gate post for the next crossing gate to be installed.  The gate is already finished, all that is missing is the post to hang it from.  Nick digs and Tom is offering helpful instructions, 'only another foot and you'll be in Australia'..

Another team set off to Middleton Road bridge to continue to reclaim the nice fresh ballast that was dropped to support the crane that lifted the new footbridge in to position.  The ballast had been dropped on a steel mesh which now needs to be removed and the ballast can be used in other locations.  Noel, Dave and John take five whilst Mick levers up the mesh. 

John is on barrow duty whilst Noel, Dave and Mick work on getting the mesh out.

Another section of mesh removed, with Dave, Noel, John and Mick contemplating the work done and what is still to be tackled.

At the station the new crossing posts were under preparation. The point has been cut to be later pressed down in to the hole.  A coat of primer has gone on the post as we get ready to install it.   Here is the picture of Another Post.

One local resident popped out to see what was going on and was impressed by the large open air swimming pool that seems to be under construction.  We will be keeping a careful eye open when we come to fill in the hole with concrete that our resident is well out of harm's way.

Thanks to the eight volunteers that helped and to Andy G who took the pictures.

Until next time.

A Wet Thursday

The weather was not kind to the Thursday Gang as it poured down.  There were many sub tasks going on, the normal Oswestry tasks continued with restoration on the coach and further loco work.  Some of the team went to Weston to continue with work on the temporary track and general clearance.

At Weston the area in front of the current wall needs to be free of rolling stock and materials.  The temporary connection was completed and spare chairs and sleepers were moved to a more suitable location.  This will allow us, once the connection is made just south of Gasworks Bridge, to bring a loco down to Weston and recover the stock stored there.  Once the stock has been moved we will be able to commence the works on the new station platform.

Further wooden sleepers have arrived at Oswestry for use in the relaying within station limits.  The Thursday Gang will no doubt be returning to sort these out in to the usable, re-saleable or scrap.

The new mess cabin in Oswestry yard is gradually being worked now it is in the right location.  The services still need connection but the ever increasing number of volunteers will have somewhere to congregate and chat over the ever present cups of tea.

The weather was not really suitable for pictures, thanks to Dave M for the update.

Until next time.

Tuesday's Work

The Tuesday Team continued with the tidy up around the site and were to be seen in many locations relocating material to where it is needed or getting it ready for disposal.

The major effort was concentrated on the ballast pile just south of Middleton Road bridge, this ballast used during the renewal operations can now be used elsewhere. The team tried many ways of moving the mesh retaining the ballast but further thought and mechanical means will be required.

At the station work continued on the LowMac, the Mermaid and the Suburban coach with more surfaces made ready for paint and more varnishing.

Thanks to all who attended and to Dave M for the update.

Wagon Update

In parallel with work on the coaches some of the other vital rolling stock is being updated for further service.  First up is the Lowmac which, along with a good de-rust and paint, is having a new deck installed. This ongoing job when finished will allow us to take plant and machinery along the line to where it is needed.  The 'Dogfish' ballast wagon behind is having some attention to the brakes.

The second view shows the box van which with it's fresh coat of paint was having some work done on the piping.

Thanks to CHR Facebook for the pictures.

Until next time.