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!