Sunday 11 July 2021

Fishplate oiling continues - 10th July 2021

Good sized squad parked up at Kinchurdy underbridge, Georgie duly arrived and conveyed most of us 


 on the back of her truck along the gated somewhat overgrown track,(above Sam, Iain and Bart) all the way to where we finished fishplate oiling sometime ago - Estate level crossing,


 just in time for the first train of the day to pass.


progress was swift until the we reached the bomb proof steel plates with nylock nuts, above Mike takes the strain, with Michael giving leisurely assistance as the tab had broken.

  

At lunch Mike alerted me that the dreaded track lube had somehow managed to migrate upwards! The weather just got warmer and warmer and by mid afternoon we where taking a wee extended break, as Georgie had to go and get replacement fishplates from Boat of Garten - she came back with unexpected but appreciated ice lollies! Somehow Michael managed to get two?


  We managed to do nearly a mile and a quarter before we were exhausted and bad light stopped play -  torrential rain followed,(my camera does not like H2O) hence above Met Office shot, sure the stuff we had should have been white on the scale, even though it was only a short walk back to our cars, some of us got wetter than others (Michael jogged to the Station to wash his hands, before getting in his car, maybe burning off the extra lolly calories!)

Thanks to all that attended to this much beloved task and Fergus for doing the track inspection.

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Meanwhile John and Ian finished the handrails at Dalfaber pedestrian underpass, not sure if they too got wet. 

Sunday 4 July 2021

Aviemore North siding complete (for time being) - 3rd July 2021

Friday morning saw only two responses to the usual weekend PWay call to arms but by afternoon numbers had more than doubled, fortunately Georgie was updated that evening. 


and she finally got the new "North" siding packed, slewed (again) and tidied to her satisfaction, thanks to the above - Sam, Fergus and Iain in four foot, Roger left and Michael right & Mike who took photo and assisted. The long term intension is for it to be extended right up to the coal bench, unfortunately the old redundant Aviemore Speyside Station footbridge and signal cabin are in the way!
 

And looking towards Aviemore Shed, number "one road" will be reconnected by a switch off "two road" roughly where the rail jack is in the above photo, I guess next year, as we are falling behind on track maintenance work.


Of recent Mike as been assisting Ellon squad with roof work on Boat of Garten North Signal Cabin (more info https://signallingstrathspey.blogspot.com/2021/07/renovation-of-north-signal-box-at-boat.html ) whilst there he took this almost drone like view looking North towards our PWay Depot - "Morley's" 


Steady progress has been made on fitting hand railings on underbridges by John and Ian, the Down side still to be done and location will then be revealed.