Extension Pictures

Thanks to Guy N here are the latest pictures of the extension under the bridge.  Firstly we look back towards Oswestry with a very significant picture, a steam loco hauling a coach on this section of track.  A sight not seen since closure of the line to passenger traffic way back in the 1960's.  What an achievement!  These are the Santa Specials and will continue up until Christmas, come along and join in the fun.  You can book through the CHR website, link top right of this page.

The Thursday Gang have been continuing with the recovery of chairs and the removal of life-expired sleepers.  The pile is growing waiting for the next mass clear-out.

The surveyors have been out and about, first setting the heights and then checking after the ballast has been levelled.  Here we can see the section ready to be handed over to the track gang.

 The sleepers are ready to be brought forward on to the freshly levelled ballast.

Under the bridge the rails will be fixed directly to the concrete raft to maximise the clearance.  Here you can see the gap in the ballast to allow the transition, this will be ballasted once the rails are in place.

On the other side towards Weston you can get an idea of the gradient as the track returns to the previous level.

Further along the line the screener has come back to base awaiting it's next operating session.

 Looking back towards Oswestry everything is place to ballast this next section.

Thanks again to Guy N for taking the pictures.

Until next time

December Arrives

Here we are, coming to the end of what was a glorious year for the CHR project.  We now move in to the month of December having achieved many of our aims for 2018.

• The lowering of the track bed under the bridge is complete.
• The signal box has been restored.
• The track bed for the next phase of the extension is ready
• The cattle creep bridge has been rebuilt and is available
• The Carriage and Wagon team have delivered another operational coach (and it's a cracker!)

It started with a coach arriving back in January and is ending with the arrival and entry to service of the TSO at the end of November. 

Speaking about the new arrival it's time for some pictures.  Last Thursday preparations were in full swing for the Santa Specials.  Here the Thursday Gang fix the festive lights to the inside of the TSO.

Further lights are added.  When somebody said we need someone for a light job this was probably not what they had in mind.

 The windows were decorated with Christmas messages.

Many thanks to Tom H for these three pictures.

On the suburban coach work continued inside on the restoration of the brass fittings.  Here are some being polished or painted as appropriate.  Andy G took the following two photos.

All in all around 16 people signed on during the Thursday working party and despite of the cold and wet weather achieved many of their objectives.

Down the line work continued with the sorting of sleepers and the recovery of chairs from those sleepers too far gone for reuse.  Here John, Glyn and Dave talk about anything other than the weather which was causing them to take shelter under the bushes until another shower passed by.

Guy took a walk along the extension and these pictures will be posted later.

Please come along and support the railway, the Santa Specials are a key source of income, all of which is being ploughed back in to the railway to improve our facilities and extend the operating lines.  Santa Special bookings are through the CHR website.  If you can't make it in person you can always donate to the railway following the links in the top right.

Until next time.

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?