Re-Timbering concludes at Boat of Garten - 13th & 16th October 2021

With the loss of Mike's phone he also lost his photos, so I took the one below recently and now include the anecdote that Mike kindly previously supplied -

   Above "as highlighted in yellow by Georgie that the crossover rails added in 1943/44 are rolled in USA as 95 lb per yard bullhead rails at a place called STEELTON in 1941 before USA entered the war in she says 45 foot lengths as Liberty ships could not take 60 foot rails & using rollers supplied from UK as USA only did flat bottom rail."

An ad hoc midweek day was arranged at short notice and a surprising number were able and willing - including a new volunteer Peter (left) think he enjoyed the experience of timber renewal at Boat of Garten in perfect working weather.    

Georgie holds the correct gauge with a rail jack as Andrew drills, so that it can be permanently fixed in place.  

 

Alas only the one train today to give us an excuse for a break! - One of the many of recent welcome visits of the Royal Scotsman heading for Dundee on this occasion.

Many thanks to Georgie, Mike, Andrew, Roddy, Iain and Peter.

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Yesterday saw another great turnout in cool dry weather.

Above shows a scarf joint, expertly cut by John using his chainsaw before installation,

considerable amount of digging required for this now 24 foot timber, I suspect coordinated teamwork required in getting it in situ

as close as possible to five rail joints

and finally the scarfed joint from above.

A new Stihl petrol chair screw/sleeper drill trialed by Ian above, seems to have speeded things up as the last of the remaining six timbers were changed, leaving time for a bit of lineside clearance to finish off the current work at Boat.

Thanks to Georgie, Mike, Ian, Fergus, Michael, Sam, Bob and especially John for providing photos/info

But the unsung Hero of the day was Track Inspector Les, who reported a double broken fishplate (which Georgie promptly attended to)

 Les was promised double time and a day in lieu as a Volunteer!