Two new recruits welcomed & Jacker Packer arrives - 1st May 2021

Mike reports - Good turnout yet again, meant three small PWay squads at Aviemore! Two re-sleepering on the Mainline between the Signal Box and Aviemore Station and one on new works in yard.

We welcomed Sam (on right) whom at last was allowed to travel from Aberdeenshire to join us, glad to report that he felt the long trip was definitely worth it for the day and looks forward to the next time, who knows our Hostel like accommodation Spey Lodge may have re-opened by then. 

Iain (left) also glad to return to Aviemore, as travel restrictions now lifted, on the right is another new recruit Alasdair (two in one day amazing!) looks like he is getting to grips with filling in ballast after sleeper changing. More sleepers would have been changed had the new works squad not hogged the generator and drill! 

This was the scene at close of play on the line into proposed new running shed.

Thanks to Georgie, Ian, Kevin, Angus, Martin, Roger, Iain, Sam, Alasdair and Mike who took the photos and supplied info.

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Earlier in the week, thanks to Ian Stanworth's dogged searching and perseverance, a replacement for the "Jacker Packer" that was totally destroyed in the catastrophic Shed fire in the Summer of 2019 duly arrived in the yard at Boat of Garten. As its name suggests, it Jacks up the track and Packs ballast under the sleepers - saving many hours of hard manual shovel labour.  

  Having been cast aside in the bushes at Titley Junction for sometime it looks a bit worse for wear but the guys there assured Ian it does run, the driver that delivered it was not happy that a considerable amount of hydraulic fluid had leaked over his lorry! (it is a long way from Herefordshire) After John Sinclair our Plant Engineer had tightened things up and inserted a new battery.

. This was the scene on Friday being driven by Ian (after refreshing his memory from the manual) from the yard to our new Plant Maintenance Shed (Morley's II) for more in depth maintenance and some TLC.

Let's hope we will see it in use in the not too distant future?

Thanks to John for sharing photo/video and of course Ian - maybe it might pass its Noise and Vibration test someday!