Nostalgia.

North of the station, track has reappeared from under the sleeper pile, there is much debate about what to do but a few of the Thursday gang have become emotional about previous times and how much fun everyone had with the sleeper stack.  Feeling quite lost without a stack of sleepers a search party was sent out to look for anything to fill up the empty space.

They searched high and low, under bushes and behind sheds.  Eventually strange half devoured things were found and brought up to refill the pile.   

 

 The sleeper stack starts to grow again, though at a much slower rate than last time.

 More sleepers are found and brought up to the pile.

Seriously this is not an attempt to rebuild the pile but part of the ongoing clean up of the site, the chairs are stripped off the non-useable sleepers.
Thanks to all who are helping in the clean up, it will improve the view over the whole site, also thanks to Andy G for the pictures.

The Signal Box

If you get chance, come along next weekend on the 12th May when we are having an open day at Oswestry to rededicate the South Signal box.  What was once a stripped out shell has been returned to life.  The day is getting closer when the lever to pull off the starter signal can be pulled to start our trains to Weston.

Here are a couple of past pictures and some new ones, bringing the story up to date.  Thanks to Andy G for the pictures.

John, who replaced much of the rotten woodwork, looks at his new flight of stairs which will welcome our visitors.

Even the Chairman, Rob, has been on hand to give a top coat to the restored wood work, Glyn was learning from past experience and took shelter on the landing, avoiding the paint drips...

Meanwhile at lower altitudes a great deal has been going on with that other Cambrian speciality... digging holes and filling them up.  Here is the before.

Once completed the soakaway will allow water from the gutters to drain away

The final piece of the path to the signal box was concreted, the mesh panel over the wet concrete is for access and not, as someone suggested, a test of valour.  It also served to see who had the extra portion of cake after lunch.

Further holes appeared and will be filled later.

Work on the signal box will now continue inside.  Come along and see what has been achieved and chat to the volunteers on the 12th May. During the day you will also be able to chat to all active departments.  The PWay team will be behind Travis Perkins doing their stuff.

Priorities

First things first, after almost a month of not really posting it is time to catch up, which I will do over several posts.  With so much going on and many jobs completed it's a bit difficult to know where to start. Time to set some priorities!
In True Cambrian Spirit this all has to be done with a mug of tea.... and having the sunshine out certainly helps with decision making.

Here are some of the Thursday gang sorting out the priorities.

Number 1
A mug of tea...

Number 2
A refill...

Number 3
Lost count, better go back and start again...

Thanks to Colin for the picture.  I can assure you that after the tea was despatched much was done, 

Normal Service To Be Resumed Shortly...

Sorry for being off line for a while, do not worry, much has been going on and I will catch up shortly, family events have taken precedence at this difficult time.

Here are a few pictures to keep you going, courtesy of Andy G..
The preparations for the signal box event are coming along and holes are being dug, filled and finished at an alarming rate.

Inside the coach is coming on and there are the first signs of colour are appearing.  Looking good isn't it?

Work on the paths continues and it's thirsty work watching Glyn The Younger level off the concrete

And to end a wave goodbye from Jumbo. Thanks for all the love and support you gave us.

Another Job Ticked Off the List

Sorry for the delay in updates.

A quick plug for the Cash For Your Community token appeal.  If you have any please drop off at Oswestry Station as soon as possible, we need to get these sent off so we can register them.

Another milestone was passed last week, the sleeper stack at Oswestry has been flattened and all that are useable are now on their way down the line.  Here is a little bit of history and a summary.  Below is a early shot of the pile and the team going through the sorting procedure.  If you like playing Jenga you will love this job.

With the starter signal planted behind you can see how much everyone enjoys this in the good weather and the strategically placed mugs of tea.  Thirsty work this is!

Once sorted into categories the sleepers are overhauled and any remedial action taken on those can be reused. 

The last lot were done in pretty grim weather so many thanks to the Thursday Gang that finished off the job and to anyone that has helped with this operation, it's been a long time but we have got there, 

The last five sleepers from the pile, now a quick was a brush up of the track and we can go right up to the crossing.

Thanks to Andy Green for the pictures.  

But what we really need is a nice restored signal box to work all of the points and signals.... Hang on a minute....

Here are the details of the signal box and the upcoming event on May12th for the reopening ceremony of Oswestry South. Taken from the CHR Website.

Railway signalmen of the past, present and future are being invited to Oswestry station on Saturday, May 12 for the reopening ceremony of Cambrian Heritage Railways’ (CHR) historic signal box – which will coincide with an open day at the railway.

Built in 1892, Oswestry South signal box was operational until 1970. Unlike much of the town’s railway infrastructure, it escaped demolition in the late 1960s and early 70s, but was stripped of its contents. The ‘box regained a lever frame recovered from Wellington (Shropshire) when it was restored in 2005/6.

As part of the structure’s recent refurbishment, CHR volunteers have sourced and installed additional appropriate equipment. Although there is still much to do, it is now in a position whereby members of the public will be able to visit and see just how mechanical signal boxes, once common across the country, operated.

Part of the work was funded by a grant from the local Triple Niners charity from funds raised at the town’s annual bonfire.

CHR Chairman, Rob Williams, said: “We are delighted that ITV Central News' Transport Correspondent, Keith Wilkinson, has agreed to undertake the formal opening for us and we will also have a signalling expert on hand to explain to members of the public how everything works.

Also ticked off the list on a personal level was the first appearance of my loco and brake van after a few years of hard work.

Until next time

Operating Days

As we move towards warmer weather it's time to plan your visit to take a ride on the railway.
Here are the operating days at both sites.

Firstly are the dates at Llynclys

 Then we have the dates at Oswestry

First trains are 11am and at half-hourly intervals until 3:30 or 4.  Full details are on the CHR website.

The special events kick off with an Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday.  Each child taking part with an adult in the hunt will receive a free Easter egg

Around the railway work is ongoing but the cold and snow has meant a certain slowing down of activity, however we are expecting work to start shortly on the excavation works to lower the track bed.

Choices, Choices

Pictures will be coming later but there was much activity during the 'Big' working weekend, the plan was to get ready for the arrival of heavy plant.   During the weekend we were faced with the ongoing debate about gauge supremacy so to end it all an experimental section was laid to determine the feasibility.  So far we have 5", 7 1/4", 10 1/4", 15", 2ft, 2ft 6", 3' and 4 feet 8 1/2".

The head of the PWay team, on looking at the results, was a bit sceptical and when someone mentioned that points might be a bit of a challenge was last seen taking big steps towards the Highwayman for serious refreshment...

Edit:  Here's the idea...

Any more suggestions for gauges to incorporate??

PS Thanks to Tony J for the picture and the idea.  Or did somebody put something stronger in the tea this weekend..

More soon.