Oswestry Update

I believe the platform at Didcot was replaced about 5 or so years ago using precast segments. They might also be worth contacting.

 

More work at Weston. The blog will be updated later today with pictures from Weston, I have already loaded some from work at Oswestry and Llynclys. This picture from Andy shows what will become the second platform in a later construction phase.


http://ilvaporista.blogspot.com

 

Something that occurs to me looking at these and other photos of Weston is just how neat and tidy the site looks, particularly compared with a few years back. Considering it is still a construction site I feel it's very commendable. Well done those guys.

Steve B

 

That you don't see the piles of rubbish is down to how well the photographer's compose their shots! We do try to act responsibly to our neighbours and not leave an eyesore. Plus we have people on a mission to keep things in order. If you have read the last newsletter you will know how much Norman values his input to the railway and how this helped him through a very dark period. The railway is the sum of the people and we are blessed with some really great people.

 

I enjoy your positive contribution to NP. I have just been reading the WSR thread which is totally depresing and you provide an antidote. It is great to see real progress after years of hard work. I am aware of the past divisions in the Cambrian saga which have been resolved and you have one United organisation, I hope the WSR can learn a lesson from you

 

I think all societies have their disagreements and the history of CHR is no different. The important point is that the issues are communicated and discussed so an agreement can be reached.
I think that airing the dirty washing in public benefits nobody.
I am truly sad to hear the situation in Somerset. Let us all learn from their troubles.

 

The 2021 calendar is now available through the website.

Work continues with getting ready for when we are able to operate trains.

 

Don't know if this has been posted before.

S4C programme on iPlayer (from 2000) following the line from Oswestry to Lanfyllin.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p05sny6k/cledrau-coll-cyfres-2000-croesoswallt-i-lanfyllin

It's in Welsh (subtitles available), and follows the route of the line by walking, ariel footage, and lots of fantastic archive cine film of 2MT's working the line - taken from both the train and most stations/viewpoints. Some interesting stories and anecdotes too.

Done on the cheap, but very railway oriented. Worth watching once to read the subtitles, then again to concentrate on the archive film.

Comes off iPlayer on Sunday!

 

Thursday was a day of lots of little jobs around the Weston site. It's the combination of lots of these little jobs that allows us to make rapid progress later. Shifting material into position and clearing space might not give spectacular pictures but this is a vital part of work at Weston.
One of the tasks was to move the chairs into position on the bridge, adding in the rails to check the alignment. Andy took a picture and you can see the slight curve that is needed to line up with the next section.

 

Good to see steady progress!

 

The ex-Caledonian sleeper coach has moved to Weston. Now who would have thought of putting volunteer accomodation next to a brewery....

 

More tidying up and moving things around today. But we did manage to place a pair of rails close to the bridge. We need to do some alignment tweaks before final clipping can take place.

http://ilvaporista.blogspot.com/

 

The Sunny Sky at the end of the day gives a false impression. The assembly of the track panel and the laying out of point timbers was carried out in the pouring rain, with the wind making sure moisture reached all parts despite full wet weather gear.


Update on the blog.
http://ilvaporista.blogspot.com/

 

Steam at Weston Yesterday.


I am a bit behind with the blog, we have been house hunting all weekend. Hopefully later I will catch up. The photo shows a visitor to the brewery who popped in for a 'top up'
CHR will receive a grant which will allow Covid mitigation measures to be adopted. Watch for more news soon.

 

Pictures from Thursday and Saturday now upon the blog. Sorry for the delay.

http://ilvaporista.blogspot.com

The grant to CHR for £20k will be used to allow us to put in place anti Covid measures and should see some stock movements to allow operations to commence.
Thank you for all of the donations, you can see that we are still busy preparing for when we can welcome passengers again, hopefully for a longer ride!

 

Glad of the progress, indeed congratulations

Wondered about the ballasting for the point timbers: what depth, what ballast and how it would be done?

From the photograph: the base the timbers are on seems to be level but old and rather barely draining.
Obviously there seems to be ballast to come and I presume the sleepers would be tamped up through it from the level of the bridge in the background.
Would it be fresh new ballast or old but screened?
What thickness of ballast was planned under the timbers?

 

It wiil be fresh ballast. The reclaimed ballast is used for the first bed and drains well where it has been applied before. I don't know about the final depth of the bed but I can try to find out. The tamper will be used to get the final levels correct.

 

Your Blog ia A very enjoyable read.

Nick

 

Just to follow up on one item, all ballasting has been done manually so far but equipment is being overhauled to speed up the process. It's one thing doing this manually on a short running line but as we are now talking miles (plural) there is a pressing need to mechanise.

 

Tuesday saw more components laid out for the points and work started on installing the gate posts for a footpath which crosses the line by the Morda bridge.