More rail.

Tuesday with a rail train.

A cold and bright day for a the gang of 7 who assembled to join a train loaded with new (- better second hand) rail for Dixton cutting.

Overnight the temperature had sunk to zero first thing this morning, but things brightened up considerably under the all day sunshine we had. Provided you didn't stand in the shadows, where the cold persisted.

Winchcombe forecourt was crammed with production vehicles for the BBC, as was Toddington upper car park, and indeed all the way down the drive right up to the gate, both sides. Filming took place at the entrance to Winchcombe station.

'X' marks the spot, the first rail to replace. 'Saint' Robert shows us where.

A rail train from Toddington, two Landies and the Telehandler set off for Dixton cutting, starting at the northern end. We've got a short stretch of track there laid with sub standard second hand rail back in the 1990s. It's all in one area, so clearly from a batch delivered then. The rail has many 2 inch craters on top ('squats') and while these just produce a rumbling sound when the rain passes over them, it's a weakness in the fabric of the rail and could result in a break. It's held up 30 years so far, so we've had good value from it, but now we need to change it for better. 

On Tuesday then we set out to unload the first of two wagon loads, using our new lifting beam.

My measuring wheel is broke, who will fix my measuring wheel?

Full of confidence we gave Andrew our measuring wheel, but it turned out to be broken in two. A lash up with some white cloth didn't help. It needs some sort of a pipe to act as a sleeve to unite the two halves.

After a little wait on site - the opportunity for some banter and coffee drinking - the train turned up with our wagon. This whole exercise also gives the diesel department and the guards something interesting to do, so they were very enthusiastic.

On arrival the group had a site discussion on how this was all going to work. It was our first day with the new spreader beam.

In the picture Andrew is holding the sad remains of the measuring wheel.

The spreader beam came with the train, so the first thing to do was attach it to the forks of the Telehandler.

Then the first rail was lifted off. It went pretty well really, but there was clearly a learning curve, so we got more proficient as the day went on.

A worry was the room available behind the Telehandler, so the Camlocks were attached on long chains, which allowed a drop without the forks having to pass in front of the bogie wagon.

This was the view of the guards today - way back in the distance is Greet tunnel, and in between a very long and very tall embankment, the spoil for which came out of the southern approach to the tunnel when it was dug.

We also had 2 bullhead rails with us. These were dropped off 1/4 mile further north, which meant out of Dixton cutting and on top of the long and tall embankment.

Here there was a lot less room behind the Telehandler, as you can see from the position of the rear wheels. It's also apparent why we used those chains.

Lunch was taken 'al fresco' in typical PWay style. Unfortunately this restaurant was already fully booked, so we had to eat, buffet style, standing up.

Photographing the train (or indeed anything else that day) was difficult, due to the intense and low light, not forgetting the weed growth here.

 

Motive power for the day was 47 105, in its shiny new blue and yellow jacket.

It was probably nice and warm in there too. Most of us had it cold, standing in the shadows at the bottom of the cutting, where the sun didn't reach all day.

We slowly made our way up the cutting, laying pairs of FB rail, end to end. Of course we still have to place them. The ones with the squats are still good for modest use, such as the proposed carriage sidings at Winchcombe, in connection with the carriage shed that is on our wish list.

And then it was the last one, No.13. You can see here how awkward it is manoeuvering the Telehandler with that big spreader bar attached.

We measured the rail and painted a white line exactly in the middle. That was the aiming spot for the Telehandler operator.

Here you can see our work at the end of the day. 5 pairs of 60ft FB rail, with another pair of Bullhead dropped round the bend. We'll be back next week for another shipment of 14.

Such dedicated, selfless volunteers. It's called charitable work, chaps.

On the way back, we passed this remote controlled flail working near 3 arches bridge. It does a good job.

Wednesday - Loading rail at Toddington & more

This report from one of our correspondents, out with the PWay gang at Toddington, and then at Broadway.

The 'Elk' bogie, emptied at Dixton on Tuesday, was loaded again with a second delivery of used rail. 

This delivery didn't take too long as the Elk was already parked on the unloading road in the car park, and the delivery lorry had a HIAB, which was able to make use of our lifting beam.

This lot will go out, as earlier in the week, on the Tuesday.

With an afternoon to spare, the gang then went to Broadway to distribute the replacement rails unloaded a few weeks back at the bracket signal. They too faced the lunch time rain.

With two sets of iron men the rails were transported through the platforms of Broadway. One rail was carried on the cross beams, the other hanging from the chains. Two tons being moved by four people.

Lunch was held in the deserted platform under the canopy - cold, but at least dry. Everything was shut of course as there are no trains, but we do of course have our gala this weekend, so don't miss that.

After lunch the other pair of rails was moved north using the iron men. They are ingenious little contraptions, and work very well, especially in enclosed places like at Broadway.

And this is the end result - four replacement rails laid out along P2 at Broadway. While P1 was laid with new rail, as an economy measure in 2017 it was decided to lay the loop in second hand rail. A number of these rails now need to be changed, as 4 of them had defects, some so hidden only the ultrasound detector could find them.

Pictures, with thanks, from Walt.

The Usketeers brave the weather.

A lot colder last night, and when we started it was too cold to lay blocks - only 3 1/2 degrees.

It was decided to have an early coffee break, and to try and catch some of the thin, early sun that there might be (later we would hurry everything into the tin hut)

Paul brought some seasonal mince pies, and John (hot) cross buns.

A generous volunteer from the Santa scheme came and gave us £10 for doughnuts! We accepted gratefully, but will put it towards cement. We'd rather not eat up the donations, unless offered in actual doughnut coinage.

While waiting for  the slight rise in temperature that we needed, we heard an engine noise. But this is a non-running day? What the.... 

It was a rail mounted cherry picker, on its way to Greet tunnel for one of our regular inspections.

To get Paul and Dave going, we laid out this row of blocks for them (on the right).

Can you see John inside the hut? Barely - it shows how high the walls are getting now.

Here we see Dave and Paul then, actually bedding down that row shown in the picture earlier.

Seen from the outside now, Paul too is looking short. He's standing on the foundation slab inside, two courses below damp course. Dave is on planks outside.

That little row of blocks was soon in.

Paul also completed the arch over the fireplace today. Just the former to remove now (which he did later on).

It looks rather neat, don't you think?

Just as we were doing nicely, late in the morning, it started to rain. That hadn't really been forecast, so we held out in the drizzle for a while, but eventually cracked, and held an early lunch.

It was quite snug in the little lamp hut there, one man to each corner. John passed the (hot) cross buns around, and it was really a rather pleasant half hour, until the rain eventually receded again.

Here now is the corner mentioned above, completed. The frame of the big sash window can be seen poking out at the rear, we are almost at the top here. The area needs backing up though first, something we didn't do today, as our chief backer-upper Julian was sadly detained at home. Maybe next week, the temperatures look a bit warmer then too. We can't afford any frost with our mortar.

While Dave was pointing the row on the left, where he ran out of mortar at the end of last Wednesday, we laid out a new row for him on the right. There are 4 heavy ten inch high blocks in a row - got to get rid of them somehow -  and these took a lot of effort to manoeuvre up there. The row is finished with a row of 5 inch blocks, to meet the quoin on the corner.

A little news item - there is in fact quite a lot happening on the railway at the moment - is that the contractors have arrived on site between Winchcombe and the tunnel to make a permanent repair of the slip caused by the drains from the new built houses above the cutting a couple of years ago. It's being paid for by third parties, not the GWSR. Hopefully the ugly 'Lego' blocks' on our up line will then be removed.

 

Walking back from the road bridge, we too a quick snap of the Usk site, as passengers will see it in the future.

There's definitely a stone building going up there.

Shortly after that we had another visitor, from station staff this time, and he also very kindly left a donation for a bag of cement. We get through about a bag a day.

Near the end of the afternoon we found Dave here inside on some backing up to use up the last of his mortar. He had just bedded down the row facing him, on the outside.

This is our end of the day shot, with Dave working on that same row. The next heavy quoin for placement waits in the foreground. They're so heavy we need to use a little trolley to move them around.

In summary, we placed two rows today, on opposite corners of the building. The winter weather is going to start impinging on our progress now, with rain or frost potentially calling a halt. But next week still looks quite feasible, with slightly warmer temperatures again.

Shareholders' meeting, Thursday 4th November.

If you are a shareholder, you will know there is a briefing meeting in the Insurance Room of the race Course at 19.00. It's just to keep the shareholders updated on the many things that are going on.

One of these things is planning for the proposed visitor centre on the garden centre site at Toddington. It'll be quite large, with a footprint of say 750m2. With the re-routing of the approach road round the back, the new building on our Toddington site will be the first thing our visitors will see. It will be a scene-setter, and needs to say straight away: 'This is a heritage railway'. It will also be part of a heritage station ensemble, together with the original station building, goods shed and signal box. It needs to fit in. There's even talk of a turntable in a stage 2 of the project.

At this stage there is no design yet. As we have seen with the Winchcombe visitor centre, you can spoil the effect by building down to a price, using inappropriate materials such as Bradstone and plastic, or taking shortcuts with the design because 'people won't notice'. An argument might be that one facade of heritage style is enough. Nothing is set in stone yet (as it were), but we're sure we all want a building that is as convincing as Broadway, one that we will be proud off, now, and in 100 years time. 

The new design needs to convince not only our customers that we are a heritage railway, but also our shareholders. They will be asked to fund it, and a share issue is proposed. They need to be enthused, excited, keen to contribute to an authentic looking Edwardian building that will be our flagship at Toddington.

Of course if you say nothing there is no guidance from the shareholder, so do come along tomorrow and make your views known. The project team is there for you.