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GWSR General Discussion and Operations

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by michaelh, Aug 25, 2013.

  1. Andy B

    Andy B Member

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    The new paint shop really does make a difference. Certainly looking forward to seeing what the first locos look like after sneaking in for painting! At least the maroon set will look a lot better when it's behind the black 5 (and other black engines) at the gwsr steam gala may 24th - 26th
     
  2. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    hint hint, plug plug :rolleyes:
     
  3. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Right, a couple of people have spotted this already, but thought I'd post a link to an article I've written about my volunteering experiences on locoyard.com, the same site that hosts Siquelme/Simon/Brookes castle's volunteer diary entries on CanPac
     
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  4. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Report on BBC Midlands Today featuring the GWSR and a train provided for regional tourism people. Comment made about the record passenger numbers in 2013 and the push to Broadway, including brief footage of the Broadway station site.

    46118
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ooh, hadn't heard about that, I'll take a look, thanks for the heads up :)
     
  6. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Will 7820 be running on Monday?
     
  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Yep, along with 5542 according to the online roster, subject to the usual caveats etc.
     
  8. GeoffS75

    GeoffS75 Member

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  9. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the link Sir Handel. This is excellent news; at last the aim of the GWSR to reach one of England's most popular inland tourist destinations becomes closer to achievement. However, as you say, time to dig deep into those pockets again!
     
  10. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Excellent news, still a little way to go though. Hopefully some interest will have been generated from the War weekend and the upcoming steam gala too.
     
  11. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Just been looking on the P'way Flickr site, I forgot they were lifting all the track at Toddington and was quite a shock! This particular picture shows how much work is being done, next train in 7 week's time, ooh 'eck!
     
  12. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

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    Eeck!

    Reassuring to find somebody else discovering that PWay materials may have a life of 70 years, but if they were 45 years old when you put them in 30 years ago, they are going to need replacing!

    Just wondering - is this the first "track renewal" that GWSR or any of the other lines reinstated from bare track beds has had to do due to the track being life expired (I am assuming it is) as opposed to where there has been land-slips etc.?

    Steven
     
  13. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Nope, there was quite a large project to replace track around Hailes this time last year. This would have been the first track laid after Toddington station so is now quite old. I seem to recall all the track at Winchcombe was taken up some time ago, although that could have been to do with the floods, which were quite amazing looking at the photos.
     
  14. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    Over various winters recently we have relaid Swanage station (albeit much of this was to sort out substandard drainage), but our two significant relay projects between Swanage and Herston have been due to life-expired track. This winter is also seeing the section of track through Herston platform being relaid due to the condition of the rail.
     
  15. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Time flies like the wind (and fruit flies like bananas). The track laid between the platforms at Toddington will be some of the "longest lived" on site, some of the track in the signal box area, including some of the sidings, being laid only slightly earlier. I recall my father rescuing a trailer load of railway sleepers which were being used as part of a roadway on a farm estate when he had the contract to rebuild the road. We took the sleepers to Toddington and most of them ended up forming a small section of what became the Platform 1 road through the Station; the sleepers were probably quite old then but were sound. That would have been around 1982 I think.
    The current GWSR P-Way blog shows scenes very reminiscent of the early days at Toddington. Looking back, it all seemed very primitive and it's hard to believe how much has happened since. I do recall the aim was to reach Broadway and re-open it by 2010 but good things come to those who wait! (So do land-slips and other expensive diversions unfortunately but this "relatively" small track/sleeper renewal task shows just how much needs to be done to keep a railway going, again, a case of liking what you have as well as what you would like.)
     
  16. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    Didn't much of the MHR extension from Ropley to Alton have to be re-railed not long after it was laid, due to the rails being corrugated?
     
  17. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Looks like everything will be back in place for the start of the running season, unlike another railway not too far away... Main reason for posting though is GWSR seems to have done quite well in the latest Steam Railway magazine, with an article on 76077 and a big article on MK1s which is mostly about us, just wish the chap didn't turn up on a Thursday, I could have ended up in there otherwise! In fact it might even warrant me wandering into WHsmith and taking a look whilst no one's looking. :D (Before anyone rips into me, I probably will buy it...)
     
  18. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Yes it's pleasing to see good coverage all round for GWSR, though I was surprised to learn that the 8F has left for pastures new, to the GCR(N). It's been a good engine and I'd say the most well maintained of it's class appearance wise.

    Though after giving some thought, I can understand the reasoning, since with 4270 present and 35006 not far behind, the line probably has more then enough engines to meet it's foreseeable demands.

    Hopefully the parting of ways has been a mutually respectful and gentlemanly one.
     
  19. D6969

    D6969 New Member

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    No you are wrong, only 3/4 of P1 was removed, under bed ballast and sleepers replaced from material in stock, no money due blowing it all into banks!
    This is to be revisited 2016 closed season to complete P1 and do P2 as at Toddington.

    Toddington this year has had all sleepers removed, there may be some left from the original reinstatement in the early years, but not many as repeated panels in the platform have been replaced over the last few years. Only 135 sleepers out of 400 removed could possibly reused. This year has seen the rubbish "ballast" (John Innes No 2) removed and replaced with new ballast and replacement hardwood second hand sleepers, the original rail is reused as not badly worn and in station limits subject to 10mph limit. The underballast was very good with no clay intrusion and draining freely.

    The barrow crossing has also been moved southwardly to stop blocking by locomotives.

    This week the area has been ballasted and awaits tamping next week prior to re-opening on the 7th March.

    Pway then undertake more mundane jobs, like starting the extension toward Broadway!

    Nigel
     
  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ah my mistake. I wasn't a member of the railway at the time, but remember seeing an article about it on the website archives. I look forward to viewing p'way work first hand next winter at Winchcombe then, I imagine it will provide a bit of a challenge for our dept as we usually put the coaches in the station over the shut down so we can.do maintenence and clean them. A way off yet though, first, some forward progress to Broadway!
     

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