The RRV Cometh!

Last week we were very lucky to have a visit by a 360 RRV and its trailer belonging to Quattro. Even better than supplied an operator. Even luckier than that, we had the pair of them for a whole week! You'd better believe we made use of them.

One RRV with flail attached.

One of the first task that was put to the RRV was that of making a dent in the lineside undergrowth that it has been impossible to get a tractor based flail to. In this end we have flailed the banks above Norchard High Level on the way to Whitecroft as well as the approach to the High Level from Middle Forge. 

Looking towards Whitecroft.

This has improved the view of the line from both of the Norchard platforms. We have also managed to flail the embankment above Lydney Crossing. This has been a bug bear for a while and it has resulted in the sighting for the crossing being greatly improved. A similar clearance had been achieved for the foot crossing at Middle Forge greatly improving safety. We have also cleared the massively overgrown siding that is connected to the Middle Forge Junction. This siding is rarely used but it seemed prudent to clear it while we had the means to do it easily! This flailing took a bit longer that anticipated due to hydraulic problems and the need to have a couple of guys poking around in the bushes to make sure the flail didn't hit any bits of steel and the like.

The clearance of Middle Forge.

On the third day we trekked down to the junction with the trailer to start shifting the quantity of concrete F27 sleepers our gang chipped in to buy from NR from their relaying efforts on the Ebbw Vale branch.

Sleepers arriving from Crumlin a few months ago.(By Rob Alpin)

The plan is to use them to relay the running line between the Bypass Crossing and the bracket signal on the approach to Lydney Junction in the near future. To aid this, our valiant shunting crew emptied the 'junk siding', *cough cough* I mean the Spur Siding alongside the running line at the point. We plan to use it as a base to swing the concrete sleepers into position once the existing line is removed. However, in order to do that, more flailing!

RRV in the bushes. (With apologies to Dian Fossey)
There is track in there somewhere...

It made it to the bufferstops!

Once the siding had been fully cleared, shifting the sleepers could start. These were loaded onto the trailer that came with the RRV and dragged up the siding.

Keith and a load about to depart.

This task was made interesting as we were moving loads in between the service trains. This made our signalman sing for his supper with some unusual moves! Needless to say it all pulled off without a hitch.

Sleepers about to be laid out. The black roll of material is
anti-weed matting. We laid the sleepers out on this to prevent

us loosing the stacks in undergrowth should it take a while to

get around to using them.

The sleepers were spaced into stacks roughly on track panel apart to aid the moving of them when relaying commences.

Something else that was a benefit of working on a running day was the possibility of some interesting overtaking shots. This was taken while running in to the East Loop while the trains ran into the West Loop.

Once the sleepers had been spread out along the length of the spur siding, we turned our attention moving some pointwork up to Parkend in preparation for the connection of the goods sidings. Our ever helpful shunter gang met us at the junction with their 08 shunter and a couple of bogie bolsters. Moving these parts has been something we have been meaning to do for a while but lack of heavy lifting kit has prevented this. In this regard the RRV was a godsend.

Flat bottom points laid out and ready for loading.

As you can see Sam was excited about finally getting everything on the move.

Deep discussions with yours truly in the background.

In addition to the pointwork, two lengths of rail were acquired to take up and leave at Whitecroft to replace the stretch of rail with a squat on it.

Any rumours of a conversion to two foot gauge are grossly exaggerated...

Once we reached Parkend, the switch and stock rails were laid out of sleeper off-cuts at regular intervals to prevent sagging while the search for funds for a complete set of new hardwood timbers goes on.

In addition to shifting p/way kit, we dug out and shifted a few gantry signals that have been lurking in the bushes by Lydney Junction signal box. They have been waiting to be moved for a good few years and we thought we would do S+T a favour.

These are relics from Walnut Tree Junction and Maesycwmmer.
Hopefully they will be relocated at Parkend soon!

Loading up! (Photo from Aron Stenning)

This weeks work could not have been achieved without the generosity of Quattro to use our line for training, or without those who pitched up to help, be it a day or two, or all week. Something we learned however is that when our own RRV has finished being overhauled, we will be damned nigh unstoppable!

Many thanks to Rob, Courtney, and Aron for supplying the pictures. Apologies I haven't marked all the photos with whose are whose, I can't remember who did what...