PWay Annual "Track Inspection" and Interring of John Morley's Ashes. 27th September 2014

 

The opportunity was taken to have our Annual "Track Inspection" the same day as the Interring of the Ashes of the late John Morley, who helped the PWay Department considerably by maintaining and fixing our Plant.

 

The LMS Inspection Saloon, which is owned by the Watkinson Trust, was added to the Service Train formation for the day.  It was for our exclusive use and thanks go to the Owners and Keith Holyland, the Engineering Superintendent (I believe anyone can hire it, at a cost though!).

 

 

It gave us an excellent view of the Track and we perused a possible Track Plan of the layout at Grantown on Spey. We retired to the Cairngorm Hotel for a beer and a hearty lunch and returned to the Saloon to imbibe in some more light refreshments and chat.

 

 

Bob doing what he usually does on a PWay day!

 

 

Later a Special Train was used to convey friends and colleagues to the final resting place of John Leon Morley

 

 

Overlooking the Milton Loch, his eulogy was repeated for the benefit of those unable to attend the Leicester Crematorium late last year, a tribute poem written by Mae Munro was read out and a few religious words were said.  

  
 

 





Maintenance near Broomhill 20th 21st September 2014

 

Thanks to Colin and his gang on the Saturday a good number of sleepers were changed in the Broomhill area and I believe that the elastic spikes were living up to their reputation of being a .... to remove!

 

 

The curve through Broomhill was the tightest on the line between Aviemore and Forres

and because of this Georgie decided to replace the usual base plates with "L C" ones at the fishplates as they have a better fastening both to the sleeper and the rail.

 

 

Foreground shows usual elastic spikes and background shows an "L C" which were designed to be a Low Cost way of deferring a complete renewal of track.

 

 



Extension Work 6&7th September 2014

 

Ironing out the hollows continued this weekend using the very useful Jacker Packer, I believe that spares, sourced by Ian from South Tynedale Railway at Alston, have now been paid for and only the logistics of getting them up here are now in hand.

 

 

Mike & Ian survey their work, continuing the clearing by hand of the Down Cess from the "BG" to the Dulnain bridge, as it is likely to be used a lot, walking back and forth for tools and of course, the odd Tea Break!