Another late update to the goings on here at the DFR. Sadly due to work commitments, I am not there as often as I would like, so photos and tales of derring-do trickle back to me slowly!
Firstly, we had the fortune to have parts of our running line surveyed by a Geirsmar track reading trolley as part of out openess to companies wanting to use our track for training purposes. Unfortunately however, a *slight* twist fault was discovered immediately north of Lydney Town Crossing. Never fear you might say, for we have a tamper in the training at roughly the same time. The only downside was the need to have the crossing closed for upwards of 20 minutes to get the the track leveled mechanically, and as the main road is fairly busy this was a definite no-no.
So out with the track jacks and Kango hammers it is then! Photos courtesy of Sam Bolingbroke.
Preliminary jacking and leveling with the gauge.
In preparation for some severe graft. Lots of voids to fill!
We believe that drop on this rail had come about due the dying and the subsequent cutting back of the large leylandii trees that were adjacent to the crossing. When the roots rotted we believe they gave the ground enough 'give' to allow the rail to settle. This was solved within a few hours, but the jacking and packing of concrete sleepers is hard work due the necessary force to bring both rail and sleeper to height with hand jacks.
Onwards to Whitecroft. Regular readers may have picked up that the running line though the platform was ever-so slightly too close to the platform face. (By roughly 35mm) Originally a plan was formulated to shift the lot over the course of a working day with bars and Duff-Norton jacks acting on the platform face. However, some bright spark realised that we had a large tamper type machine visiting and this sort of thing was right up its street!
The tamper approaches Whitecroft.
Our resident P/way guru John directs operations.
A short video of the tamper doing it job.
Another job that has come to our attention is on the pointwork at Middle Forge. A report of rough joint made its way to me on the last day of the Day Out With Thomas. Needless to say it was after the last train of the day and black as your fathers hat. However enlisting the help of one the guards and the newest P/way member, we set off to check it out. A couple of tweaks with the spanner and a check by Bardic Lamp put any doubts to rest. Nevertheless it was reported for handpacking ASAP.
A bit of damp handpacking!
Although this joint has been packed tight and stabilised, we will have to replace the offending sleeper at some point in the near future. It will either be a 24ft direct replacement, or a pair of shorter ones cut to fit. This is yet to be decided.
One finally job to be achieved however, and one would argue that at this time of year it is the most important job. It is of course the erecting and decorating of the railways Christmas tree! P/way? More like tree/way!
Merry Christmas to all our readers and followers!
