Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

Now, now, we don't want any flare-ups, or a flame war!

 

I have to say a massive thank you to the churnet valley railway! They hosted an evening special for not only the churnet volunteers but also the Foxfield volunteers using Whiston that has been on loan to the churnet valley. I hope this goes to show railways can work together for mutual benefit! But getting all the volunteers together has been fantastic!

 

Been a bit quiet on the OAPWay recently - preparation for big projects has kept us busy. Eventually got a load of ballast for more routine PWay work but to get it to the right places in small loads means putting it into bags - so today was spent using our minidigger loading bags and getting them onto the Hiab ready for dropping off at the spots needing work.

 

Work started on the preparation for the new turnout and siding at Froghall - ballasting the track bed but doing it a rather slow way with a barrow, pway trolley and the mini digger.
Whiston was also departing from the pad at Froghall when we started work.

 

Can you say anything about what they are?

Noel

 

New siding at Froghall, Extension to Leek and re-introduction of the Leekbrook triangle are all being worked on.

 

Beat me to it!

 

The track bed of the new siding is just about ready for the sleepers. Ballast laid, levelled and compacted, then the surplus (16 tons) put into bags for use in ballasting the track later

 

Deleted - trying to upload a photo but it does not show. Success at last - had to re-size.

 

New Trailer for 2019 available online

 

Churnet Valley to feature in an episode of a new series following Allelys Heavy Hauliers around the country.

https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/train-truckers/episodes/

CVR to be included in the episode to be aired 26th September, as 5197 moves from Cheddleton to Telford to take her place hauling the Polar Express. Look out for a Tartan Flatcap...

 

Not much news from OAPWay recently, but that is not because of inactivity.

One day was spent tackling lineside vegetation clearance (no pictures of activity) with a lunch stop at Consal

The very wet windy weather dislodged a small tree over the tunnel mouth at Leekbrook. Soon sorted with the help of the 08 shunter

Today was spent changing long sleepers left over from when Leekbrook was a much more complicated junction for standard length ones. This will free up the long ones for switches planned for Froghall.
The resultant section of track is probably the best row of 9 sleepers on the line

 

Love the last photo, OAPWay indeed!

Noel

 

I'm the handsome, virile, charismatic hat-wearing figure on the right, the baby of the bunch at a youthful 55 years of age, which makes me an apprentice, of sorts.

 

Short bit of action from OAPWay today. Removing the old sleepers from the trackbed at Leekbrook prior to the work to relay the first 200m

 

Back to sleeper changing today but first of all we were on our 'good neighbour' duty. A fair sized horse chestnut growing on the embankment was interfering with a local residents satellite reception. As it was not a difficult job we said we would remove it. If any one wants some conkers .............. !

 

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/anything-goes-october-2019.html

Timetable, tickets and event info now available for our End of Season event. For those who haven't attended one of our enthusiast events, the timetable really does present a great opportunity to explore everything we have to offer. Sheds should be open to view progress on 48173 too.

 

Next week the first section of track heading for Leek goes down. Much time has already been spent drilling holes in sleepers for chairs and then fixing the chairs. This week has been all about building the track panels ready to be laid. Sounds easy but both sleepers and rails are heavy. There are now 6 panels ready and waiting.

 

Am I correct in thinking that the 2 tampers in the photo are 73405 on the left and 73241 at the rear?
When did 405 move to the Churnet valley as it was listed at Foxfield in July?

 

After being quite ill lately I thoroughly enjoyed being down today. When I joined OAPWay it was in part because I wanted to be involved in the actual laying of new track so even if I don't actually lay the new panels I can say that I was part of the whole process and fulfilling a long-held wish - with more to come too.

I think Jeff Higginson, who got me into this, was smiling down on us too.

PS, who's that Dandy PWayman in the Hat, I like the cut of his jib!