Summit PWay and Improvements at Boat of Garten - Week ending 18th May 2019

Recently I had a midweek day off, so headed to box in a few of the "new" sleepers with ballast near the Summit, hard going on my own and in the baking sun 

 

but I took the opportunity to take a take a break now and then! - above the late running first service train of the day, gingerly passes due to the high fire risk.

 

 

Sometime later in the opposite direction The Royal Scotsman hauled by our own class 31 at linespeed of 25 miles per hour. Think I only managed 25 sleepers before dehydration kicked in and I headed back to Boat of Garten to sign off and take water.

 

 

Where I came across David Childs who has been doing a massive amount of unseen skilled labour, inside and out, on the Island Platform Waiting Room.

 

 

For sometime now loose cabling has been hanging off the footbridge, 

 

 

as part the planned electrical upgrades at Boat of Garten by our own Electrical Department, the opportunity was taken, to finally camouflage (blackboard paint has its uses!) and secure them in position. Thanks to I think Nick Winter, Neil Ellison and Bill McCarthy for skilled work, photos/info.

 

Finally, a shot from the footbridge showing the sleek, unobtrusive, low profile....            WEEDS!

Less permanent evidence Mike Tough has been busy again!



 

 

 

 

 

 



Re-sleepering at Summit and RH & DR - 4th May 2019

On Saturday 4th of May a good squad of Ian, Mike, John, Bruce, Roger & Fergus all made their way to the "Summit" worksite by car, Iain arrived by the eco-friendly way, on his bike.
 



 

Fortunately John the Railway's Fitter had managed to cobble together a parts bin drill, as our one had failed in service last PWay Weekend, although it was slow going drilling as the sleepers are hard and knotted, blunting the bits rather too quickly. John Wood's battery drill also assisted in drilling some  the 430 holes! (using all his 4 batteries in the process)

 

 

Despite the weather being awful: squally showers of hail sleet and rain, at least abating the recent high fire risk. Excellent progress was made, Mike and Bruce managed to change 6 of the 12 remaining double sleepers, which will need drilled and screwed and then only the entire length needs all the ballast neatly boxed in! (with future tamping with our Jacker Packer planned)

 

Thanks to all that attended and John Wood for photo and video clip (edited by Graham Sutherland) and more info from Mike.

 

 

Meanwhile I was with R.MacPhee and R.Anderson on a short Heritage Railway break at the other end of the country admiring the 15" track gauge of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, complex but much lighter work to change sleepers here!

 

 

"Hurricane" left and "Hercules" ready for the right away, both built by Davey Paxman & Co in 1927, seen here at New Romney, was the final day of our pleasant jaunt South.