To Cap It All

Of the services that we need to cross probably the most delicate is the one seen in the picture below.  Usually service pipes are colour coordinated relating to what they carry, water pipes are blue, gas pipes are yellow and so on.  Well this one is brown so that should give you a clue as to what it carries.  This has been in place since the 1880's and still performs a vital service to the citizens of Oswestry.

Here is the usually submerged beast which has been carefully exposed so that a load bearing cap can be built over it.  This has started with the excavation of suitable footings and a first layer of concrete poured in.

 Here we are looking north with the reinforcement base almost ready for the next phase,

 Here you can see the base and on the left are the slotted drains that will take away the surface water.

This is a view along the pipe where you can see the fall which keeps the contents moving in the right direction.

The pad over the top will spread the load of the trains in to the adjacent ground avoiding damaging the pipe.  We would all rather have what is in that pipe taken away and not come to the surface

Thanks to Guy N for the pictures.

Until next time.

Changing Bridges

Here is a set of pictures from Noel of the work done over the weekend of the 14th and 15th July when the footbridge was changed overnight.  Thanks to Noel for staying up late to record the events.

Here is the ballast bed ready for the crane, with the old bridge still in place.

 And here is the star of the show, the road/rail crane.

 Not forgetting the support trolleys.

 Which are quickly unloaded at the medical centre crossing

 Using the on-board arm the truck positions the trolley over the main line.

 Lifting equipment is then loaded for transport to the site

Now comes the tricky bit, putting the crane on the rails.  This is not like a model railway.

  The crane moves in to position

 Almost there.

 Another shuffle and the job will be done.

 Now lined up over the rails the crane moves in to rail mode as the tyres are lifted clear of the rail head.

The assembled train is propelled by the crane through the station platform under the setting sun, should we pull off the signal to allow the train to proceed?

 The crane continues its slow progress down to the lift site.

 Now on the main line it's an easy run to the bridge.

 Past the fixed distant signal.

To arrive at the bridge ready to spring in to action.

A few minutes later and the outriggers are down on the fresh ballast and the jib is raised for action.

 Rigging is positioned and we are ready to go.

 The crane then takes the strain and begins to lift out the old bridge.

 Up up and away for the old bridge.

To load to a waiting transport which is moving in to position.

 The old bridge is now on the trailer.

 The crane and spreader bar move out of the way.  Ready to pick up the replacement footbridge.

 Deep in to the night the new footbridge is swung in to position and the job is done.

And when we awoke the next day there was a brand new footbridge in place over the railway.

Thanks to all involved and especially to Noel for the pictures

Until next time.

A Week is a Long Time in Oswestry

As the old saying goes a week is a long time in politics, so it is in Oswestry with work on the Gasworks Bridge site.  Just a week separates Guy N's pictures of the work under the bridge. 

Here is how it was left a week last Saturday, the concrete pour has been started but there was still another section to complete.

One week later the view has changed with the retaining wall in place and the bank graded.  In the distance on the right you can see the drains in place and the cutting sides nicely sloping back to the new track level.

Looking towards the bridge the right hand side is pretty much done, the left requires further stabilisation works, which are in hand.

 On the other side here is the 'as was' photo with the shuttering in place.

One week later and the concrete cap is in place above the services and a ramp has been constructed.

Looking the other way shows the finished ramp, you also get an idea of the new track level under the bridge. Ground level was roughly at the level of the top of the concrete with the track and ballast above that.  Now we can pass through the middle on the way to Weston.

Thanks again to Guy for this useful comparison.

Until next time.

A Peek at Weston

At the far end of the current extension lies Weston Wharf.  This was never actually a station but a key goods depot along the line.  There was a loading platform and a goods shed.  The loading platform still survives but is not at a suitable height for passengers, the goods shed is intact. Weston is currently a storage area for material to be used on the extension.  Noel recently took a walk round and sent some pictures.

Its Noel's first set of pictures on the blog so many thanks to him for sharing his pictures and the continuous support of the Thursday Gang.

After the sleeper pile at Oswestry had been processed we moved on to the stack behind Travis Perkins where work is currently underway.  Once that stack has been dealt with the team will move on to Weston.  Here you can see what awaits them, the next Jenga puzzle.  Again at Weston the track will have to be lifted to screen the ballast which, as you can see, has been reclaimed by mother nature.

There are a good few sleepers for the P.Way team to work on. These are recovered from the national network but require sorting and overhauling prior to re-use.

Alongside the goods shed is the probable site for the passenger platform, as you can see the track here has been lifted to allow access for material and stock deliveries.

Already we have most of the material stockpiled, if you fancy joining in just come along.

Under the bridge the line continues south.  Out of shot to the right is Stonehouse brewery where you can enjoy their products and book brewery tours.

As you can see there is a lot to do at Weston, when we arrive there and open the station will depend on volunteers and donations.

Until next time.

Thursday Gang (2)

Roving cameraman Andy G was also around on Thursday to take pictures.  We start off in the signal box with new plinths for the GWR chairs being given a coat of preservative before painting.

Inside the shed Rob continues with replacing rotten metal on the coach, still a fair way to go yet.

Alan continues with the needle gunning of metalwork to remove old paint and prepare the surface for painting.

John continues with work on Cyril, who is having a bit of a facelift.  Cyril that is, John says he is just fine as he is.  Cyril was manufactured by F.C. Hibberd in 1952 as works number 3541 and is now back in Oswestry.

 Here is John working on more replacement wooden parts for the coach.

Outside, after a stint on the drains at the cattle creep there was the serious business of lunch 'alfresco'.  Colin, Keith, John and Steve make sure nothing is left.

Following lunch, attention turned to the sleeper pile, there are plenty to get through and a routine is soon developed.

I thought we might round off with a caption competition, no prizes other than the glory of contributing to the blog, Post below or send a mail.  Best ones will be posted in a week or so.

Thanks to Andy for the pictures.

Until next time.

Excavation Progress

We are now in to the last scheduled month of the works around Gasworks Bridge.  There are still some key items to be completed and work continues during the week.  From the overbridge you can get a good view of what is going on.

Recent work by the contractors has seen further progress on the drainage.  Thanks to Guy N for the latest pictures.  Here we see an overview of the slotted drains ready for connection to the inspection chambers.

 The inspection pits and crossing of main services are also just visible in this view.

Here we are in the drainage channel which will be overfilled with stone once the connections have been made.

Lastly here is a recently installed chamber set to level and waiting connection.

It's not the most exciting part of the project but it is vital to get this right now to avoid future issues.

Until next time.