Preperation for Rails on the otherside 2nd January 2015

 

 

As only described in last entry, decking boards raised and turned, still to be cut to size and secured to bridge. Height of ballast ramp not really noticeable in this shot.

 

This morning Vic the Builder assisted by John, finished off the rough and ready but effective ballast retaining wall, just in time!

 

 

As between service trains, Georgie managed to relocate the Road Railer from Boat of Garten to worksite and shuttle back and fore unloading a few tons of ballast, previously stored in the above wagon.

 

 

As the Sun goes down and the temperature drops even further, job nearly done for the day.....



 



More Bridge work 20/21st December 2014

 

First task on Saturday was the clearing of snow and ice from the Down platform at Boat of Garten, finally proclaimed safe once the first packed Santa train of the day had arrived.

                             

 Thereafter the small squad proceeded to the River Dulnain. Now that the rails are on the Bridge the approaching track was ramped up to Bridge Rail Level, by packing of the ballast under the sleepers and finally all tidied up. I believe there were some aching under used muscles located subsequently - you deserve a guilt free extra mince pie over the festive period!

An old view taken just under a year ago, showing the route to Grantown.
  

A fresh squad on the very wet Sunday- cut out, lifted and turned the temporary wooden decking boards, so that they are now on top of the cross members running parallel to the running rails.

 

Apologies for lack of photos during work - inclement weather and short daylight hours, will try and add some later of what the small but very hard working squads achieved.

 

Mike sent in this unattributed, even more historic photo, looking towards Grantown sometime prior to the lifting of the track by the looks of it.

I thank you all for your support (armchair included) and wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope to update you on PWay activities in 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

Bridge Work - 7th December 2014

A wintery scene greeted us today.

 

On Friday the ballast retaining wall was built by Victor, our friendly Builder assisted by John Wood.  On the Saturday the squad backfilled the ballast against it and the last two concrete sleepers were dropped in, the Base plates with yellow plastic ferrules and rubber pads were positioned on the bridge.

 

   

I think I am right in saying that the rails have a 20mm Cant, spacer plates just visible below base plates,

photos above and below.

 

 

Above looking towards Broomhill no doubt another ballast retaining wall required here in due course.

 

 

Today our own self propelled rail crane picked up the previously positioned 60 foot rails and gingerly propelled them into position.





 

 

Above the second pair of rails dropped into position.

 

 

Then a matter of fishplating up the rails together, pulling in the Pandrol clips, checking the gauge, drilling and screwing down methodically whilst again checking the gauge and alignment of rail.

 

 

You may well ask why the Crane had to go so far over the Bridge?

 

 

 

A  rare Celebratory posed photo, pretty much concluded the Cool days proceedings!

 

 

Progress on extension 15&16th November 2014

On Saturday the 15th the planned PWay was cancelled as it was the AGM of the Strathspey Railway Association, with a special DMU  trip up to the River Dulnain to view the work on the bridge, almost 50 members travelled with a good proportion getting off to have a look and Mike gave an explanation of what has been done and what is still to come.

 

 

Meanwhile further up the line, Chris and Davie carried out a survey of the proposed additional extension up to the caravan park at Grantown. photos and explanations below courtesy of Chris.

 

 

We were using a piece of kit called a Trimble VRS which uses GPS and Mobile internet to give co-ordinates and elevations. During the survey we picked up various locations such as the old solumn, fence-lines, top of cuttings/bottom of embankments, any structures and spot levels in the field. We came up against some issues with the GPS coverage, caused by the deep cutting and the dense tree coverage, this slowed us down but we completed it by Sunday lunchtime.

This survey will allow 2 previous surveys to be merged into one big survey. There was a survey carried out by Bear Scotland (circla 2008) for the Gaich tunnel works and a survey, by a company called PAL ( late 1990's), which was carried on behalf of the Highland Council in the area at the back of Mackellar's workshop down the Council Depot/Lorry park. The combined survey will now give an overview from the Gaich Tunnel site up to the Caravan park.

 

 

Sunday saw Georgie and Stuart assisted in the afternoon by Chris and Davie make a start on putting in the longitudinal timbers on the bridge.

 

 

Trimming the timbers first for an exact fit.

 

 

 

Applying bitumen, the steel needed a helping hand to get dry first!

 

 

 

2 down a good number to go.

 

 

 

 

Who knows by the end of next PWay weekend, we may see the rails in position.....

 

 

 

 

 

 



MSP and Ballasting 1st 2nd November 2014

 

Saturday saw a long length of Measured Shovel Packing, 240 feet close to mile post 89, below is the Pway train ready to leave Boat of Garten (fire lit in mess van) later ballast was dropped and tidied

 

 

Information and photo courtesy of John Wood

 

 

 

Above is a likely long term lineside feature, it is a length of rail that is in secure level storage in roughly the right place until it is required, possibly when the Rail Welders come back. 

 

 

On the Sunday another hopper full of ballast was carefully dropped on the Drumuillie straight, unfortunately the Sun was on the wrong side of the photo, for an action shot!

A good sized squad tidied the ballast and the day was finished off with MSP at a number of joints close to Lynchurn Number 1 Level Crossing as below. (Muscle Man was driven from Broomhill to Boat for future use)

 

 

We were blessed with good weather the whole weekend, long may it continue....

 

 

Recent events ending 18th 19th October 2014

Thanks to ian for info and photos.

 

 

 

PWay team members (idiots?) John Wood and Ian Stanworth became White Van Men for the weekend, taking a van from Inverness down to the Leighton Buzzard Railway to pick up bits of two Jacker Packers to act as spares for the operational machine that we have. They picked up the bits that the haulier may have left behind, and which may well be valuable in the future.

 

 

The timbers have arrived to sit in the channels on the Dulnain Bridge and will be installed once the blacksmith has completed fitting the channels onto the crossbeams. The chamfers on the timbers are to ensure a better fit in the channels.

 

 

The days work commenced with tidying of ballast between Milton No1 and No2 Level Crossings where a team of 6 were in attendance. In the afternoon, following the SRA meeting the team swelled to 8 and measured shovel packing was undertaken nearby, together with similar work being undertaken on a total of 4 joints in the section where rail welding has taken place.

 

 

 



Rail Welding 6th & 7th October 2014

Last PWay weekend saw considerable tidying of ballast, measured shovel packing (MSP) etc on the Drumullie straight, tiring but satisfying work as it should require very little maintenance in the future. 

When we first laid the line we where left with short irregular lengths of rail, meaning joints straddling sleepers, staggered joints and other unsatisfactory things for the long term. To rectify these "defects" and reduce maintenance in the form of oiling fishplates and MSP etc. It was decided to weld together the short lengths and make a number of 180 foot lengths.

Above in preparation of the Welders coming, temporary clamps and fishplates necessitated a long 10 miles per hour temporary speed restriction, which I am sure theTraincrew enjoyed immensely!

Warming of rail just prior toThermic Welding, photo from M.Tough

The still very hot mould after welding, photo from M.Tough

Rail Grinding off the rough bits.

I believe in total 27 welds were completed over the two days, thanks go to the professional welders from Renown Rail Services from York & Doncaster and if money permits they may well be back.

Here's a video of the Thermic Welding in Sweden