The Longest Day - Double Shift Thursday- Evening Report

As well as the usual Thursday Gang during the day we also are putting in additional time after normal working hours.  When that coincides with the longest day of the year there were possibilities to crack on with more work on the extension.  The twilight shift were in action again, one of this week's jobs was to add the handrail supports outside of the already installed main girders at the cattle creep.  You can see in the photo the shadows of the longest day and the first of the supports nearest the camera.  The steelwork was all purchased at the same time and 'all' that remained to do was fit the parts together and tighten up the bolts.

After the up a bit, down a bit, left a bit, right a bit routine was completed Henry tightened up the bolts to anchor the support rail to the girders.

How would the job turn out?  Here Henry and Tim look anxiously at the spirit level for the verdict, the camera never lies.

How's that for level?  I think that deserves a pat on the back and a good cup of tea!  And all done before sunset. 

Thanks to Tim H for the pictures.

Until next time.

Thinking Inside the Box

No it's not some new management speak, but a view inside of the restored Oswestry South Signal Box.  I wanted to show this so that we can share the achievements of the team that over many months has worked so hard to achieve the end result. I take my hat off to you!

As a child I used to play in and around the signal box and all that was left was an empty shell, smelling of.. well it was not pleasant.  Now look at what we have.  Oswestry station is coming back to life.  We have the restored platform, the station building, the signals and now the signal box.  What will be the next item to come back to life?  Well there is still plenty to do, the down platform, the water crane, the centre road.  With your help we will make it all happen. 
Thanks to the CHR Facebook page for the photo.

Holiday Thursday?

It would seem that the Thursday Gang were slightly down on numbers this week as many have started the holiday season already, sunning themselves in exotic locations.  The sun also comes out in Oswestry so all it not lost.

On the agenda this week were more hours on the coach.  The first and most important job was to sign off the quality of the tea, Noel is on his way to confirm that the most essential of elements is up to scratch.

John was sorting out the door hinges in the guard's compartment, so he said, or is he testing out the new tea stirrer?  Either way further steps were made.

 Work on the bodywork continues, including offering up and fitting replacement sections of wood.

Meanwhile Steve continued with putting another coat of white paint on the pedestrian crossing gate. 

Further work went on around the site and thanks to Andy G for the pictures.

The contractors continue with earth moving from the area around the bridge.  With our large mole hills and deep burrowings people may think we are building a rollercoaster.  All will become clearer as we go forward.

Until next time

And They're Off

Thanks to Colin here is a picture of progress, as you can see the levels are marked up on the boards to the side and the first part has been excavated.  We have not yet found any buried treasure but we live in hope.  Maybe it's where all the leprechauns keep their treasure for the ends of their rainbows?  This is the view looking south with the footpath to the left.

You can see where we are aiming for and how much material needs to be removed.  We then have roughly the same on the far side of the bridge to come back to the previous level.

Last weekend's Football Special was blessed with good weather and as an added attraction there was a flyby of the Red Arrows! Steam, the Beautiful Game and aviation all rolled in to one!  We do try to provide value for money for all our events!

Keep watching for further progress updates

Until next time

Football Special

It might be a few years before we can have a Football Special leave Oswestry for Wembley but today 10th June sees our ever popular event at Oswestry.  Come along for a ride and see exhibitions of football memorabilia and don't forget your sticker albums to see if you can swap to get that last one and complete the set.

Whilst you are there take a walk along to the gasworks bridge and see the latest developments.  Andy G has supplied some photos showing the site with walkways defined and now ready for the contractors to start the actual dig. The first photo is looking towards Weston and it won't be long before rails return here again.

The next picture is looking back towards Oswestry

Elsewhere the Thursday Gang continued with various jobs and maintenance tasks. This week there were 7 able souls, or should that be the Magnificent Seven? The coach progressed, weeds were strimmed (or should that be strummed?!) and the access gate receives it's top coat, nicely done! 

Noel and Dave R took a walk along the track to tackle the greenery, on ongoing task. Next stop Weston!

   

Work will continue this week on the dig and we will keep everyone updated with progress.

Until next time

To Dig or Not to Dig

Just a quick picture from Andy G before the start of the dig.  Here is the top layer scraped off and ready to go.

The question is do we start to dig? Yes or no....

Of course the answer is Yes!  We dig...

So let's go.

Until next time

Things are Moving!

Just a brief update to say that machinery is moving on to site for the dig.  It seems as though the contractors are in full Cambrian mode as the first thing on site was the mess room with tea facilities.  Our fame is spreading!

Thanks to Dave for the picture.

As the first part of the work the machines have been moving excess ballast and making access easier. Here is the view from the end of the current running line.  From here the track bed will be excavated in line with the gap between the supports and the section graded with a gentile incline to drop down under the beams that support the bridge giving adequate clearance for trains to pass underneath.

Here is the view to the North looking towards the running line with the footpath on the right.

The next view is looking the other way, to the south, with the vegetation cleared.

Now we are ready!  Thanks to CHR for the progress photos.

Work on the actual dig will begin shortly and updates will be made on progress.  Plenty of other things bubbling along and we are that keen that there is even a twilight shift has been added on Thursday evenings.

The blog is also moving and we are now at 50 posts since starting!

Until next time