Missing Sleepers Aviemore Yard -7th March 2015

The plan was to be re-sleepering in Aviemore Yard, however the new replacement sleepers were found to be missing! It didn't take long to find them borrowed by the Engine Shed, supporting the boiler of 46512 which I believe, has to have been found to have cracks in the firebox? now requiring urgent repair.

 



After a productive "Pre-Season Volunteers meeting"  in the Cairngorm Hotel, Aviemore, followed by a hearty soup and sandwiches lunch, it was time to progress to plan B - Measured Shovel Packing (MSP) in the platform at Aviemore Station.

 

 

A good couple of lengths were completed with Bill Johnson (centre)  keeping his hand in, before his drive back North to near Thurso. Lets hope its not too long before we can use the sleepers for which they were purchased.



Aviemore Carriage Storage Shed - 21st Febuary 2015

 

The culmination of three days hard work, unloading wagon loads of sandy material by hand, presumably obtained from the Sand Pit at the back of Boat of Garten Yard, certainly put a strain on Fergus' back

 

 

But as can be seen from above - lightening Jim Clark was on hand with the shovel today ! and John Wood wondering who is daft enough to try and take a photo, in the distant background is Stuart with a petrol whacker plate consolidating the base layer and Georgie as ever correcting our mistakes.

 

 

 

The location of this noisy frenzied activity is between 6&7 "Roads" in the Carriage Storage Shed, for approximately 4 carriage lengths, hopefully now ready to pour the concrete between the wooden shutters, providing a safe level trip free walkway.

 

 

to be completed midweek hope fully............

 

 

 

 

 

 



Boat of Garten Head Shunt - 7th 8th Febuary 2015

 

On the Saturday after the obligatory clearing of snow off the platform at Boat of Garten for the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) service train. A small gang, finally got onto sorting out some bullhead rail concrete sleepers, 93 of them had varying defects and deemed suitable for use on the Head Shunt were stacked onto wagons below.

 

 

leaving approx. 200 now neatly stacked for mainline use again (think they came from Highland Main Line Dalnaspidal area?)

 

 

Thanks to John for info.

 

 

On the Sunday a larger squad loosened off the bolts of the fishplates, with much huffing and puffing as reckoned not to have been oiled since installation some 40 years previously!

 

 

Next task was to clear out level one foot from the sleeper ends

 

 

so that the rails loaded onto the bolster wagon by the paid staff in the morning, could be dropped into postion............ to be continued

 

 



Ditch Clearing - 31st January 2015

Plan A was to make a second attempt at getting materials in position for Track relaying at Boat of Garten Headshunt today, however the weather had other ideas.

 

So we headed off to Lynchurn Burn, which is between Drumuillie Level Crossing and Lynchurn Number 1 Level Crossing, as the burn had been threatening to underscour the bridge and Railway embankment. Here Georgie, John and Mike are shoring up the bank with boulders.

 

A considerable amount of material was removed from the burn, right down to the granite stone floor, which actually extends all the way to the boundary fence, downstream at an angle. This increased the flow speed which hopefully will continually flush out any debris. The area on the left was to allow Cattle to safely pass under the Railway.

 

 

After some more vegetation clearance round the bridge, we all agreed that its a pity the passengers don't see below to appreciate the skill of the builders more than 150 years ago. 

 

 

 



Lineside Clearance - 17&18th January 2015

 

As to be expected at this time of year our plans for replacing the Track in the Headshunt at Boat of Garten had to be postponed - yet again! for obvious reasons.

 

 

The PWay train was taken down to the old GNSR divergence near Croftnahaven and a considerable amount of lineside clearance was achieved on the right of photo and piled up on the old trackbed, ready for disposal by burning, once the Fire Service had been informed.

 

We then moved onto Lackgie Level Crossing and some trees were felled, to improve the sighting at the crossing

 

 

and more bushes removed on the other side, over the weekend the weather was cool and crisp but we were warmed up by exercise and the odd fire!



 



Snow clearance of points - 13th January 2015

Todays PWay was meant to be getting materials ready for the weekend at Boat of Garten headshunt. 

 

Instead a lowloader eventually took away the privately owned Austerity No 60,I believe to Morpeth, a considerable amount of snow clearance from the points had to be done first.

 

 

And once they had gone it snowed rather heavily, so sourcing the said materials became difficult, so the Class 27 and Brake Van after more clearing of points, lock bars and signals departed to the River Dulnain to retrieve Wagons and our Messroom BG.

 

 

Class 27 last seen propelling Brakevan towards Broomhill and beyond.

Mike and I decided we best head home over Slochd Summit before dark.

 



  



Rails on Ballintomb side - 3rd January 2015

On Saturday the largest squad this year! including a couple of welcome new faces, levelled to an approximate grade, the freshly dropped ballast and positioned 23 concrete sleepers and laid out four 30 foot temporary rails.

 

The loosely assembled track was left for completion by the following days squad on the Sunday.

 

 

Thanks to Ian Stanworth for info&photos.