More Painting at Aviemore

 

Rather decrepit Stop Board, protecting Aviemore Station, before 

 

and after Painters got their hands on it, looks like they have joinery skills as well!

 

 

The Level Crossing Gates at the other end of Aviemore Loop, in the background is the repainted one almost in Signal Red.

Thanks to Colin Frost and the Gang for the work and the Photos.

Aviemore Station Painting and "Line Inspection" - 18th June 2016

The Ellon Painting Squad led by Colin Frost, start the undercoat, using the bespoke scaffold (as per last Blog) to paint the Aviemore canopy facia.

 

 

 

Photo taken by Norman Cameron, during his last Track Walk Inspection

 

 



and by the end of the day the other end of the canopy! Well done Guys.

photos taken by David Crosley.

 

 

The main event was the Annual PWay Line Inspection/Do from the comfort of the Watkinson's Trust LMS Saloon (it is available for private hire, fortunately we got it for free!) where a few "libations" were had and for the first time ever, we were served soup and a sandwich by a charming young lady from the Railways Caterers. Maybe the Caterer slightly underestimated how hungry "line inspection" work can be!

 

 

 We had a leaving card and collection (350 Canadian Dollars raised) for Norman Cameron as he is emigrating to Canada with his Canadian Wife. We also gave him at little expense, a book on Canadian Railways, donated to the Railway at some point! to whet his appetite for his new life. He gave us a short thank you speech above, in which we learned that he has been Volunteering in the PWay squad since 1973!

 

 

Here Norman wears, the first to be presented - 30 Year, Long Service Badge

 (yes we know he's been here more than thirty years but its the highest we have! and we thought postage costs to Canada might be a bit steep)

Anyway thank you Norman and we wish you and your Wife Marlyin all the very best. 

  

 

Group photo in glorious sunshine at Boat of Garten almost concluded, I hope very enjoyable day had by all.

 

 

New Departmental Wagon - 13th June 2016

As mentioned in this Blog a few weeks ago, Colin and the Ellon Gang Painters must have come up with a plan in their local Pub on how to access safely our inaccessible platform 3 canopy facia at Aviemore because on Monday, Speyside Scaffold from Aberlour came to the Railway to erect a bespoke scaffold.

 

 

 

 

 

Which was securely clamped to an old "Sole" wagon chassis and suitably certified. 

 

 

 

Which surely is one of our more exotic additions to our Departmental Fleet of wagons, all be it temporary as the intension is to start painting this weekend, weather permitting.

Thanks to Mike for Info and photos.

 

 

 



Tidying Ballast Tullochgorum - 4th & 5th June 2016

As Georgie was on last day of holidays. On Saturday Stuart was in charge and the task was to tidy the ballast near Tullochgorum overbridge, where we have been using the Jacker Packer on midweek days.

A good sized squad made quick work of the 6 lengths asked for, possibly aided by Stuart buying the squad ice cream (take note Georgie!) to cool them down in the glorious sunshine, once the earlier mist had lifted.

 



 

 Left to Right Jim Clark, Andy McClintock, Angus Macphail, Roger Snowdon and Andrew McCracken.
 

 

Before Stuart, Myself and Andy headed to Tullochgorum to continue with ballast tidying today, I took a quick snap of the Class 27 deputising for the Class 31 on Royal Scotsman duties at Boat of Garten, as the 31 has oil problems.

 

 

Later the Diesel Multiple Unit made an unexpected appearance, transpires the Class 27 may have had turbo problems. Anyway PWay work continued albeit at a slower pace, due to the heat and we finished a bit earlier than usual.