Lineside Clearance

As mentioned previously we have been preparing for the operating season and putting our house in order.  This includes tidying up and cutting back the vegetation before we go in to the nesting season when it is no longer possible to disturb hedgerows.  Colin sent a picture of the area to the north of the crossing alongside the Cambrian Railways works where the team spent some time on clearance work.  The pictures shows the point at the north end of the run round loop,

Afterwards the team went to the crossing of the A483 to continue lineside clearance. The air was quite cold and there was a strong wind, snow was also in evidence but the dedicated team continued until the lure of tea intervened.  Thanks to Colin for the picture and for the team for braving the arctic conditions.

The second newsletter has been published and there are more details about future plans including the relaying of the centre road on Oswestry.  Have you signed up yet?  You can sign up on the CHR website. link on the right hand side of this page.

Until next time.

Thursday Gang

The Thursday Gang were in action again with thirteen people concentrating on the tidy up efforts around the station.  A big effort saw another skip arrive and be filled with scrap metal that will further help to fund our activities.  No pictures so far as people were busy all day.

Part of the Gang then went on to replace a sleeper at the station before gravitating back to the tea urn.

Inside the shed work continued on the restoration of the suburban coach, the usual gang of three continued to make progress and were later joined by some of the others after tidy up activities around the station were completed.

Until next time.

Mothering Sunday 31st March 2019

How about a treat on Mothering Sunday?  We will be running an afternoon tea special.  Details and booking through the CHR website, the link is on the right hand side of this page.

It will be a chance to sample the run from Oswestry in the recently arrived Mk 1 coach.

See you there?

Tuesday Gang

Tuesday's heroes were in action again and carrying on the packing and tweaking of the recently laid track.

This crack team were in action doing what they do best, sitting around and contemplating life whilst watching someone else do all the work.  Well not really.  This new fangled technology has many applications and the latest App will tell you how far we have to go, how many sleepers left to lay or even how many calories you have burned up during your day.  Here Steve, Glynn and Dave are watching and checking on something, what could it be?

The subject of the time and motion study was new recruit Brad.  A warm welcome and big thanks to Brad who joined in with the other four to make up the Tuesday working party.  Here Brad is digging back some of the spoil to allow better access for track tweaking.

Brad passed the audition with flying colours. Thanks to Andy G for the first two pictures.  As you can see in Glynn's photograph from the bridge the alignment is improving and we are progressing with making this section ready to receive trains. This photo was taken at the end of the day whilst returning back to base.

There is still plenty to do before the operating season starts and we will be carrying on with housekeeping and further work on the extension.  Regular mid week sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the occasional extra day as well.  Weekends are also available for those who work during the week.  Would you like to join in?   

Thanks to all who joined in on Tuesday and to the photographers Andy and Glynn.

Until next time.

Clear Views Ahead

We are now at that time of the year when attention has to turn to lineside clearance.  During the nesting season it is not possible to carry out major clearance so we need to have everything completed before the mating season starts.

There has been a concentrated effort along the line south of Gasworks Bridge and the views that have opened up along both sides will be much appreciated by our future customers on their way to Weston.  Recent working parties have been busy with this ongoing task. 

Thanks to the adjacent landowners we were allowed to prune back and dispose of the years of growth that had built up alongside the overgrown trackbed.

Guy N took a few pictures of the completed work.  We start with looking from the adjacent field at the access crossing just to the side of Travis Perkins' yard. 

The material removed has been stacked up waiting to be disposed of 

You can see how much has grown since BR days and several large trees needed mechanical intervention to be removed.  Here is the before picture.

And now the after as the lineside is cleared.

The team has worked their way along this stretch and you can now see over the glorious countryside.  When we open come and take a trip and see what you can spot from the train.

Here you can see the piles build of the material removed from alongside the track

There were several controlled burns to remove most of waste but there are still a few of piles to deal with. 

Both sides were cleared, opening up the views.  In the future there may be a bit of gazing out of the office windows as steam trains go past. 

Thanks to Guy for the pictures.


Until next time.

Jack And His Friends

Tuesday was all about fettling and adjusting the track.  Under glorious sunshine the Tuesday Gang spent the time working north and south of Gasworks Bridge.  The following pictures by Guy show how much fun a group can have with a few crow bars, spanners, a can of oil and a few jacks.

The trolley was used to move the tools in to position, we will soon have the rail tops nice and bright!

The tools of the trade ready and waiting

Here you can see the welded joint from flat bottom rail to bullhead. It's time to loosen a few bolts for some tweaking.

A quick conference is organised to see what needs to be done,

There is always lots of advice!

 Our fiend Jack is brought in to play

Through careful alignment and a few movements here and there the hollows are gradually eliminated.

Jack has done his bit and the sleepers and ballast are moved in to position.

A gentle nudge and all is well.

On to the next sleeper and the process is repeated.

Sometimes a bit more umpf is needed to help Jack along.  You can see the improvement already in the track towards Oswestry,

Jack is put under pressure again.

Beyond the bridge work continues with fettling the joints and track levels.

Here a bit more work is required to get everything lined up and twist free.

 Jack is back and again provides the force to get everything aligned.

 In advance the nuts were given a spray of penetrating oil

Thanks to all who turned up and to Guy N for the pictures.

Until next time.

(St)Roll On Sunday

Guy N took a walk to take a few pictures of the latest situation.

We start at the crossing where you can see in the fist picture where the rail head is in relation to the crossing.  Even the sign will soon take on a real meaning as we begin to run trains past this point, a just reward for all who have put effort in to the project.

The track materials for the crossing are waiting and in the background is Oswestry cemetery

The P.Way Team are itching to get these sleepers laid and press on with the extension.

Looking towards Weston the area has been cleared and levelled, waiting for the machines to move in.

This telephoto lens shot shows the dip and the track that runs back to Oswestry station.

To the south of the crossing the rails wait to be extended.

The orange lines indicate the position of the ballast bed which will shortly be laid out to allow further track laying.

Lastly where there was a hole is now a not hole.  We shall see if further works are needed before the track is laid.

The Tuesday Gang will continue with P.Way work on the extension and I will update progress later in the week.  Thanks to Guy N for the pictures

Until next time.