Boat Footbridge, Fishplate oiling and Aviemore Running Shed - 5th June 2023

Mike reports -

"Boat of Garten  Footbridge was made in Inverness 123 years ago, to a design used throughout the Highland Railway. This one came from Dalnaspital as Strathspey Railway got going & replaced (in 1977) the original in a different place which was at Station House / Gas House in background above.

By 2000 it was looking very shabby & some of the balustrade lattice bars were corroded & had to be replaced. A specialist painter was engaged to scaffold shot blast & paint it with a long lasting oil rig type coating . This wax in 2004 & we recall being told to touch in any minor problems after 10 years but are now getting onto it only after 19 years! Overall it remains in good nick but many of the lattice crossings show cracks in the paint water ingress & rust.

 

Mike Tough under took to touch it in over Summer 2023 & decent progress has been made helped one Saturday by Reg Stanley & another Saturday by Michael Massie (above left)

    The odd hour with a scraper after other work has helped. After scraping off loose paint wire brushing with a battery drill we apply metal primer then black hammerite which on tin says it will last 8 years . Hopefully we will get longer with the prep & primer used . The steps on platform 2 need done & using safe high level access the middle outside parts over the track."

Thanks to Mike and all that assisted.

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Medium sized squad met in glorious sunshine at Boat of Garten Saturday 3rd June for usual P'Way meet, alas Georgie phoned to say she was not with us, as she had to drive the banking diesel, to ease the associated fire risk from the Steam Service. "Not too hard a task" was set for us - fishplate oiling, once we assembled all the necessary parts which were scattered somewhat, we set off towards Drumuillie, every 180 foot length was oiled, thereafter every second joint on the usual 60 foot. 

Above left to right - Fergus was on the final torque tightening with the big spanner, Michael loosened and tightened with the battery wrench, Iain wheel barrowed all the oil and tools and most importantly our rucksacks, David was the advance dab of oil on threads before slackening nuts sufficiently for wrench and I had oil tin.

By the end Michael (who worked hard) had plenty factor 100 suntan oil in spots! The rest of us were suffering from heat and exhaustion but our target was met.

Thanks to all.

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Late News - Today at Aviemore. Again Mike reports -

"Start being made on East pit blocks being put exactly where the stone / brick mason Alex wants them, using Strathspey Railway loader driven by John Sinclair and a hired in grab which is simple & cheap so all good, Georgie will excavate a bit more later on 5 th to allow base of West pit to be shuttered & concrete on 9 th Busy times ahead this week....."