Headshunt Hiccups

Sorry about another delay in writing these, it’s been a manic few weeks for the Permanent Way Team.

Anybody keen eyed visiting the railway this weekend will have noticed that the headshunt at Parkend was hurriedly taken out of use, creating a few interesting shunts. We’ve had a few issues with the sleepers in place, which were approaching the end of their lifespan. When the points there were put in, there was a very tight budget, and the sleepers were simply “plonked” down onto the original ash bed, meaning that they didn’t last as long as hoped!

Over the last few weeks, we’ve prepared for the job by lifting the rails of the adjacent siding, and moving them to the side, by using bars and our trusty Duff-Norton lifting jacks, and digging the ballast back between the siding’s concrete sleepers.

On Thursday, a team of four of us attempted to replace the now excavated sleepers by jacking the point up and sliding them out sideways. This was met with significant problems, with the first sleeper breaking into four pieces whilst sliding, and required a rethink.

Multi-part Sleeper!

Salvation came in the form of a chance encounter between Keith and the Railway’s Development Officer, Jason Shirley, who offered us the use of a Telehandler that we had on hire to unload stone arriving to the railway from our ongoing project at Griffithstown, a chance too good to miss as it would greatly accelerate our progress.

Telehandler in action just to the north of the headshunt

A working party was hurriedly assembled on Friday, with Mark and Scott from the Civil Engineering team on hand to drive the telehandler. Unfortunately, the telehandler proved to be the wrong tool for the job, due to its poor maneuverability, as the site was constrained by a large bank on one side and a steep drop on the other, meaning that it was unable to get close enough to the track to be able to lift anything. A new plan was put together, and we decided to go back to the good old manual way, with bars and shovels! By the end of the day, we had the rails lifted out, and all the sleepers removed, some coming out in a few thousand pieces!

The rolling hills of erm.. Parkend. The "Gentle Persuasion" tool in view.

Fortunately, Jason came to the rescue again, and by our next working day on Sunday, we had the Railway’s 360 digger stood on a wagon next to the worksite. This proved to work very well, and we had the old ballast dug out in a matter of minutes! To counteract the problems caused to the previous sleepers by sitting directly on the original ash bed of the railway, and as these sleepers were an inch thinner than the old ones, we laid down a bed of small stones, to provide drainage from the area, this again being completed in a matter of minutes!

We then got to work laying out the new timbers. We chose second hand timbers for this, as hopefully in the next few years we will be replacing them again, as part as our extension to Traveler’s Rest and Speech House Road. The timbers were the originals that came out of the “C” point being installed at the south end of the station, and were still in a decent condition, and will certainly last the few years that they will be needed for. Again, the job went extremely well, and we were soon laying the rails and chairs on top.

By the end of the day, we had all the rails laid down, ready to be bolted down, and the rails in the siding back in, with just a bit of fishplating to be done! Roll on Tuesday for the next working day!

The end of the day, with the sleepers and rails in place. In the foreground are some more sleepers that needs replacing, however less urgently.

As a bonus, we had several people use the shunting at Parkend to be passed for several modules in their 08 driver training! Well done to Rob, Courtney and Huw, who all passed their theory tests, and Adam, who is now completely qualified, and is already proving to be valuable, with works trains going here, there and everywhere being planned and carried out! 

Newly qualified drivers Adam and Courtney go on a ballast run between passenger trains

A catch up! Normal service will resume shortly.

Apologies for the delay on an update for those following this blog. However a bit of an update to keep you all in the loop.

Work on the new point at Parkend has resumed again following a 'pause' as Network Rail so eloquently put it. Drilling and bolting down has continued apace and it is hoped to get it completed for lifting into place ASAP.

 Screwing and gauging continues. (Pic-A.Stenning)

 Petrol spanners at full chat. (Pic-A.Stenning)

This is hoped to be assisted by the newly overhauled Diesel crane which is currently undergoing its job and cable insurance tests, This should prove interesting!

A request was made by the 5541 gang to have a look at the lip forming on the inside of one of the rails in the long loop at Norchard. Closer inspection found the rail to be an 85ln rail sitting opposite and in between 95lb rails. This had resulted in heavy wear causing a potentially flange damaging lip to form. This was temporarily solved by the simple expedient of applying angle grinders to the lip to remove it. This is only short term solution and the 'new' rail has been located in the vicinity of Lydney Junction and will be brought up by works train for us to replace.

Temporary but necessary! (Pic-P.Hyndman)

 Continued work goes on around the yard on non p/way days with all the levers for the hand points in the yard receiving a spanking new paint job to make them more visible to shunters and loco crews alike. Being hand operated rather than signalbox or ground frame operated, they fall into p/ways remit.

Another job looms menacingly on the horizon and that is the replacement of 9 timbers in the headshunt northwards of the crossing from Parkend. This is an operationally vital point as it is required for the locos to run around the train. Luckily we have sourced enough timbers from various locations around the railway to sort them. Notably they are shortened ones that were removed from the pointwork we a re assembling at the moment. Although worn they are just what is required for a low speed headshunt. More on this job as it occurs.

Once again we are host to the tamper from NR for a number of weeks to train crews, however interestingly we also recieved a visit from a ballast regulator. A rare beast indeed considering they are renowned for breaking down! Fingers were crossed that it didn't happen on our watch!

 Looking South to Upper Forge. (Pic-E.Dyer)

Tamper and Regulator. Not often get to see the pair of them together! (Pic-E.Dyer)

Bits and pieces.

A long overdue update this evening.

As before we are sans power spanners, however this will be rectified this week. However due to this we have been cracking on a few little jobs that have been niggling at us. The downside of the running season getting underway is our regular maintenance list gets longer. As we like to say, 'It would be in perfect condition if you lot didn't run trains on it!'

Once again the greasers have required filling and checking over. As followers of the DFR know, we have some serious reverse curves and sharp curves in general. The judicious use of greasers makes life for the rails and the wheel flanges a bit easier.

 Alex and Rob refit the greaser at Upper Forge. (Pic-P.Hyndman)

 A right bunch of likely lads! (Pic-P.Hyndman)

The Geismar loaded with all the necessary kit in beautiful Spring sun! (Pic-P.Hyndman)

A recent and containing job that we are undertaking is the replacement of cracked slide chairs in the only point onto the engine shed sidings. Needless to say it is something that is vitally important  to keep in good order. Without it we have no locos! Unfortunately no pictures at the moment. One interesting aside for this point is was it was originally a GWR point with the associated through bolts. However the chairs have been secured using LMS screws. Unfortunately there is a very slight difference in diameter which requires all the holes to be reamed out slightly, or having each screw turned down a few thou. Neither option is an easy route! A timber will also be replaced in this point in the very near future.

On the subject of points, a member of our gang, Aron has been tidying up the point levers for the hand points in Norchard Yard. They need to have their tops painted white to make them easy to see. Hand points are our realm whereas all the others are the realm of the S+T dept.

 Wire brishing the point levers. (Pic-A.Stenning)

Levers all Red Oxided and ready for the finishing coats. (Pic-A.Stenning)

Meanwhile yours truly has spent the last week working on the Dogfish again. This has consisted of vacuum pipe replacements, freeing rigging and the judicious use of WD40 combined with a sledge hammer. The reason for this burst of actuavty is we are both hoping to do a ballast drop in the near furture for the purposes of training incoming tampers, and to get them into a state where they can be used in a consist for the rideable freight at our September Diesel Gala. Its not often we have all 11 of our Dogfish in a single consist!

 Breaking out the big guns. (Pic-E.Dyer)

 Extracting the last wagon from the junction with the shunting gang.  Final Dogfish is to

the left of the wagon. Note the 08 lurking the undergrowth! (Pic-E.Dyer)

 Behold! Forgotten ballast! 3 wagon loads!! (Pic-E.Dyer)

That is one serious ballast train! Now to fill the suckers! 11 filled wagons would make

whatever loco pulling them bark a little! (Pic-E.Dyer) 

We're not sure if any other heritage railway can put a rake of 11 together, we think we may have the longest in preservation! Any readers know otherwise, we would love to hear from you.

Until next time.

A tamper session.

A Thursday session! Sadly due to a lack of power tools, work on the point at Parkend has 'Paused' - to use the lingo of Network Rail. Fingers crossed it won't be for too long, we are just waiting for the pair of power spanners to be serviced and we will be back into the task with aplomb.

BR Brakevan and out flatbeds wait to go back to the junction. Not entirely related

but I liked the picture so here it is. (Pic-E.Dyer)

 However, the day was not wasted. We were lucky enough to have a return visit by everyone's favourite High Output Track Tamper. As you may or may not have picked up from the blog so far, we benefit incredibly well through or contacts in the Rail Industry and our mainline connection enabling all sorts of fun bit of kit to be brought in and trained on away from the mainline.

Tamper sitting at Whitecroft waiting for tea boy to return from the shop. (Pic - E.Dyer)

 The tamper approaches Oakenwood Crossing. This is the last section of track to be 

on the line and our loco drivers have remarked on the quality of the ride! Extra attention was paid to the section of track over the culvert that was recently rebuilt. (Pic - E.Dyer)

A couple of videos now showing both the action of the tines and how it shuttles back and forth so the machine as a whole isn't stop/starting.

One of the other jobs we undertook was to excavate the sleeper ends within Parkend Station. This is because as part of the overall remodelling of the trackplan, we need to move the track in platform 2 approximately an inch closer to the platform face to improve the clearance between the lines. This will be done by mechanical means in the next week or so as a alignment training. However due to the proximity of the foot of the platform wall, ballast needs to be removed in order to allow the sleepers to slide across easier.

Bit of a departure from the hi-tech, but shovels and picks 

still have a place on the gang. (Pic-E.Dyer)

We started here and finished by the building. (Pic-E.Dyer)

Another task undertaken was that of sorting through the acres of special chairs we have arranged in order of usefulness (Read - A gert big pile....) at the end of the Higher Level platform at Norchard. We need to replace a cracked slide chair in one of the points heading onto the shed sidings. Luckily we found a replacement and this will occur shortly.

Finally we have two new recruits, Pete who is getting stuck in and enjoying himself and we are very glad to have him, and this chap...

He just stands around watching, and messing in Civils sand pile! (Pic-E.Dyer)

An utterly shameless plug!

Those who read this blog may well be interested to know or indeed already know of our 2016 Diesel Gala at the DFR from the 2nd to the 4th September.

A direct quote from our Gala Team!

"The Dean Forest Railway is pleased to announce Hymek D7076 as the first visiting locomotive for our diesel gala on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th September 2016. The locomotive will be in service all 3 days of the gala with an intensive timetable including last year’s popular rideable freight. The DFR is very grateful to the Bury Hydraulic Group for agreeing to let the Hymek loose in the Forest!! The visit is subject to the usual availability/terms & conditions."


Our home fleet is hoping to be running as many as possible as well.

This slight departure from our usual fair of hammers, trolleies and swearing was brought about many from a purely selfish viewpoint as we shall be selling tickets for our popular raffle, the cause this year being an actual p/way depot to be constructed between the Bypass and Harbour Road Crossing. This will enable us to keep our stockpiles in one place and have the abilty to fianlly see what we've got lying in the bushes,as well as provide space to service the various bits of rail mounted p/way kit we own.

More news to follOW!

An interesting if slightly late-coming post. a.k.a DFR to the rescue!

 Set the scene, a cold evening in January. The phone rings. It's Rob. "Whats your worst nightmare?" Having promptly listed about 8 worst nightmares, none of them being why he's calling, we get to the bottom of it.
Apparently the GM had received a call from DB Schenker. They had a crippled wagon in the middle of a train and it needed to be shunted out for repair. Running it along the mainline was a no-go so they have asked us if they could use the sidings and run-round loop at the junction via our mainline connection.

In theory this shouldn't pose an issue as we have had many a vehicle over it in the past, the heaviest being a diesel drag to pick up an engine from Dean Forest Diesels. However this will be the heaviest for a while and he wanted a couple of guys on the ground to watch things going through. The last thing we want to be learning to do is re-railing a 66! Step forward Sam and I, with our cameras naturally! Pictures below by E. Dyer.

 The groundframe is unlocked from Cardiff panel and the access from the loop is granted.

 In comes 66006 with the tankers.

 Crossing the pointwork dead slow.

 The wheel skate under the crippled wagon.

 Wagons in the entirety of the loop, while the 66 crosses the road into the headshunt.

 New delivery for the mess room! We are running low...

  

View from the box. 66 waits for the crossing.

And over we go.

Waiting for the crossing.

 Running back from the headshunt into the platform road.

the siding off the left is the connection to Dean Forest Diesels

Half the trains shunted out onto the loop, the crippled wagon is on the end. It was then

shunted back into the siding used by NR for their tampers etc. 

The train was then remade and went on its way.

Definitely an interesting couple of hours which passed off without a hitch, and not something you see everyday. The crippled wagon was left in the siding at the junction until DB arrived with a monstrous crane and a spare bogie to replace the one with the 100mm flats... This occurred about a week later and sadly nobody caught it on camera. 

Still once again our mainline connection proving its worth, and building bridges with the 'Big Railway' is never to be sniffed at.

That was the week that was.

Well that was quite possibly the coldest wettest week we could have chosen for a working week. Still, mustn't grumble.

Sadly we didn't manage to get the pointwork into the ground, although a large part of the pointwork is complete and the lifting that our brace of RRV's managed to achieve for us means that we can finish the construction with the kit we have, all ready for it to be craned into position in the near future.

 Cold morning start + diesel engines=Clag!

Hope we didn't wake the neighbours! (Pic - C.Lewis)

The RRV's once delivered were stabled within the station limits in platform 1. This was also shared by the bogie bolster the final parts arrived from the junction on and a very ex BR-brake van. Although an incredibly grotty bit of kit, the brakes worked perfectly and due to the overhang of the rail on the wagon, the unique shape of the brakevan prevented the rails from catching on the bodywork. Something that couldn't be achieved with our Midland or Toad brakevans.

Good view of the RRV's maneuvering the rails into position. Due the weight of these

bits of kit, heavy lifting capacity is a must! (Pic - C.Lewis) 

Lifting in the sun. (Pic - C.Lewis)

Aron on the drill. (Pic - S.Bolingbroke)
  

 RRV's having just laid the check rail in the 4 foot. (Pic - C.Lewis)

Once the last delivery was on-site, it was necessary to trim them down to size to fit between the stock rails and the point vee. The trimming was necessary as they came from a slightly longer D type point. This being a C. This worked out quite nicely as it resulted in cutting off the section that has the thermite weld. The upshot was had room to adjust.

And adjust we did! Our railsaw once again came to the fore and performed its hardest graft so far at the DFR. It turns out that more modern 113lb FB rails have a slightly harder steel compared to well worn 85 and 95lb BH rails. A fair few cutting blades were used.

 Yours truly receiving guidance from Courtney. (Pic-A.Stenning)

 Safe to go it alone! (Pic-C.Lewis)

Rail successfully cut. (Pic - C.Lewis)

 Lined up and ready to drill. Notice how wet everything except the cut rail. Bit warm!

(Pic - C.Lewis)

Once the main cutting of the check rails was done, the RRV chained up and lifted them onto the sleepers where they were bolted into position. Lifting proved an interesting task as it took place on the Wednesday that the Forest Flyer DMU service was running. This is one of the first running days of the new season so stopping at Whitecroft was a no-go. Luckily being the DMU it didn't require the second platform road so we were able to secure a signalman for the day and do our work within the timetable.

Looking on as the DMU passes. (Pic - C.Lewis)

The point as it stands. (Pic - R.Alpin)

As you can see the point is not quite where it needs to be, however work does continue every Thursday and Sunday if you would like to join us.

This lack of installation is a mixed blessing however as it was noticed by our friendly S&T gang that the point blades had indeed been drilled. However it had been drilled for the mounting of a point motor, whereas we shall be operating this by hand from Parkend box. It is far eaier for them to drill it in situ where it is at the moment rather than havingto do it once it is in the running line.

You might almost say we planned it to be like that.

Honest guv....

Due to this being a working week for p/way and not just a week on the pointwork, we also took full advantage of the RRV's and used them to fill the 8 Dogfish Rob, Courtney and the 08 retrieved from their sidings. We are expecting another visit from the Ballast Regulator in the near future for another training session, and it seemed prudent to give it some ballast to regulate!

 Ballast loading (Pic - A.Stenning)

And the other one. (Pic - A.Stenning)

Gladys in the High Level after what I was reliably informed a spirited effort to

propel the Dogfish up the bank. (Pic - C.Lewis)

Fiddling with the Shark in the approach to the Low Level. (Pic - C.Lewis)

One of the last jobs achieved was the recovery of some of the bags of ballast from Whitecroft and bring them up to Parkend for our Civil Engineering Dept and their ongoing battle with the culvert. Aron was dispatched with RRV and trailer for the purpose!

On the way to Parkend. (Pic - A.Stenning)

Returning to Parkend. (Pic A. Stenning)

Hope you enjoyed the update, more will arrive soon.