Oswestry Update

It's probably harder to go under a B-road, as it will follow the ground more closely than a motorway, so you've got a better chance of finding an embankment to go through under a motorway. (and they probably have a better idea of the road is constructed rather than just knowing the last 200 years of it's history...)

 

If you drive up the M6 Toll, you will see a bridge over the motorway, standing in glorious isolation. I drove that way regularly for over 10 years, and saw no sign of progress; I don't believe there's any tangible progress on the ground but the Wiki entry suggests there's good work going on in the background.

 

Achieving forward planning objectives is a lot easier before any public enquiries. There's a footbridge over the M25, included to placate both users of a public footpath. AIUI, some decades on, usage hasn't increased too much.

More relevant to our merry throng, FfR provision, with regard to the Porthmadog bypass, was functionally seamless, thoughtful timetabling ensuring it's installation didn't impinge on rail operations.

Down in Devon, I wonder how much life there is in aspirations to reconnect Ashburton?

 

How do things stack up with regard to the original canal and any Act of Parliament governing its construction? I only ask because when British Coal needed to change the course of the Are & Calder navigation, it required an Act of Parliament to change the original authorising Act, which laid down where the canal went. All a bit like railway Acts.

 

I'd be interested to learn the answer, too. Local to me, the Wey & Arun restoration looks to need three deviations from the original course, from north to south, through Bramley, the cut lies beneath housing. The proposal is to use 'Cranleigh Waters', thence a probable re-routing past the (historically problematic) summit level. The original cut on this section was twice the usual depth, for resilience against drought and finally, around the southernmost lock at Pallingham, where the canal joins the River Arun.

 

More work on the ground at Weston. The blog has been updated as we now have satellite WiFi at the new house.

http://ilvaporista.blogspot.com

Here is the removable walkway which can be lifted out when we need to move stock in or out if the goods shed.

 

It had to be built before the M6 Toll opened. One day it will hopefully be connected the canal

 

That crossing was included in the TWAO so that only requires reactivating. Mind you last time I went across it there was almost a foot of tarmac above the rails.

 

Class 33, small mod to lower the front snow ploughs, job done …

Tom

 

Last night we ran the first freight train for many years from Weston to Oswestry.

This was the load and the destination was The Bailey Head in Oswestry as part of the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival.

The motive power was a little bit excessive but looked good.

Thanks to Stonehouse Brewery for entrusting us with such a precious cargo! Thanks to Colin for the pictures.

 

This event was prominently reported on by Radio Shropshire - good publicity for both Stonehouse and the railway, and the owner/manager/whatever of the brewery was speaking of looking forward to more shared events when the railway opens to the public.

Well done

Steve B

 

And here is Colin's video of the event.

 

Interesting comment in Sir Peter Hendy's (Chairman of NR) letter of support to the RVR TWAO Public Inquiry:


(c) that acting in my role as an assessor of all the Restoring Your Railway schemes, for the Secretary of State, I know of another scheme in North West England that has a strong case which will involve a similar crossing of a single carriageway Highways England road. That scheme will likely be supported by Government so I am sure Highways England will want to perfect the departures submission on the RVR as it will form the basis of another future case on the A5.

 

It's been a bit quiet over the summer as regulars take their holidays and spend time with their families.
Although the track laying is mostly complete there are lots of smaller jobs to tick off the list before trains can operate.
Location cabinets and signage are being installed. If you don't fancy heavy lifting now is the time to come along and get involved with the lighter jobs. Such as making and installing notices along the line.

We will be having a tamper on site shortly and this will be used all along the extension to bring the track to it's final alignment.
The blog will be updated in the next couple of days with lots of progress pictures. Keep watching.

 

Thanks for the update...looking forward to more soon!

 

Look what came off the back of the lorry today... Thanks to CHR Facebook for the picture.
Blog updated
https://ilvaporista.blogspot.com

 

The tamper has reached Weston. Picture from CHR Facebook.

 

How long is your railway?

And how much of it do you hope to get tamped?

Or seeing it is an S+C machine will you be concentrating on pointwork?