Moorlands and City Railway

A cool start this morning found 12 of us champing at the bit, raring to go, to finish off timping the track on the CVR ready for the gala. In the yard 2 engines polished to the
nth degree. In the shed another 2 engines with the S160 sparkling. The weather turned a bit warmer or a little less cold as we made our way between Cheddelton and Consall. The sleeper changer ran between Cheddleton and Podmores Mill transporting materials.A good day, some good banter and some good companionship what more could you ask for. Only 3 photos as we were rather busy.
1 The 2 locos in the yard.
2 Lunch break, looked like a Teddy Bear picnic.
3 Fully refreshed off we go again.

 

Some shots of 6046 on todays Footplate-ex... 6046, CVR, 25/2/13. - a set on Flickr

 

My pics and a video of the Gala here;- Churnet Valley Railway - Steam Gala 2013

 

31806 up Cauldon Lowe, 26/2/13: 31806 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

What a difference a week makes, nice and sunny and warm with it. We worked around Froghall today clearing some drains and jacking and packing sleepers. Not one of my favourite jobs j&p but it's all part of working on the p/way. Another good turnout today and it was good to see Syd our oldest member of the group after having a hip operation. Of course he didn't work today but everyone was cheered up to see him up and about. Bit busy to take photos only managed 2.

 

31806 up Cauldon Lowe today, 1st March 2013: 31806, CVR, 01/03/13. - a set on Flickr

 

Just a nice quiet day on the p way today, One group did a line walk up the Cauldon line, while our group did a bit of maintenance and general tidying up at Leek Brook. Steam was being used for an education day. Managed to take a photo of the N7 running around at Leek Brook and 2 of the Pug simmering outside the shed at Cheddleton.

 

With it being a non running day today, we carried on changing damaged concrete sleepers between Cheddleton and Consall. Using the sleeper changer really takes the maul out of the job, just a pity it's not designed to pack them as well. It was a bit chilly when we started but the sun came out and made it a pleasent day. Well thats another job done until next year. Will have to wait to see what next weeks work is. Well veriety is the spice of life for a p/wayman.

All the photos are of the sleeper changing this week.

 

What to remember the overall age of the gang, its not so much time as effort. We dig out one end of the sleeper then the changer pushes it out we then scrape the bed. It then positions the new sleeper with special lifting lugs in the pandrol fasteners and manoeuvres the sleeper under the rails. It take several repositinings of the lifting lugs to do this but is easier than barring etc. It then only leaves us to jack and pack under the sleeper. hope this gives you a rough idea of whats involved.


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Firstly, it loads and carries the sleepers to site and then off loads them. That saves a works train and gallons of diesel, as it's only a 3-pot Lister (though quick it ain't - think narrow boat on rails). As for changing the sleepers, it's a god-send for the concrete ones which are the devil's own job to manoeuvre by hand due to their weight. The HIAB will drag the old one out and slide the replacement most of the way in, men with bars doing the rest. Of course there still plenty of jacking, digging out and packing required, so it's not exactly a picnic.

 

Just in case you're thinking we're going soft in our senior years using a traveling platform , standing there for about an hour and a half, on a journey fom Froghall to Cheddleton, in the open, with cold winds, driving rain or in a snowstorm is not very pleasant. So why do we do it---------------- for the love of railways. Here is another view of it taken earier this year,

 

Now this would be the Bee's Knees if we could get one. Taken today at Betley by my lad.

 

I know a guy who could probably build one. He's a dab hand with welding and fabrication. If you sourced the wheels and base I'm sure he could come up with something?

 

I know a fair few people selling bucket racing seats. Get a few racing stripes and Jeff will be tearing down from ipstones summit. I just hope he doesnt crash at leekbrook.......

 

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Just needs a side exit exhaust with a 5" opening and it's ready to hit the streets... err... sidings?