Moorlands and City Railway

An Asylum a place where the nuts hunt the squirrels!

 

Without wanting to stir up a hornets nest, what's this all about?

http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/news/statement-cauldon-branch

 

Basically what it says in the statement. Staff from Trackworks visited the worksite at Ipstones, and told the guys who were installing the loop that they were there to measure the track for lifting next month. Obviously upset, complaints were made to CVR Board Members.

No-one from CVR Board was aware of this though, and as postings appeared on a couple of internet sites the CVR decided to make a clear statement of the true situation. That's all there is to say about it.

 

Ok - thanks Lil Bear. Does anyone know what the Trackwork staff were actually there to do?

(BTW - I am a supporter and do wish the MCR project every success).

 

Not sure tbh, I've not heard anything official and wasn't onsite on the day in question so can't say myself. There seems to have been a mis-communication somewhere along the line, but Tony's statement has drawn a line under the issue in order to move forwards. Once the Loop is completed for the gala, next items are installation of the South Ground Frame and rebuilding of Ipstones Platform.

 

Loop now commissioned and tested by Wadebridge. Lots of work has gone into this project so that the steam gala can run without top and tailing - come and enjoy it.

 

I'd been watching the Leekbrook webcams for the last hour and wondered what all the activity was about.

 

Can barely believe we made it over the finishing line in time. It's a privilege to work with such a great team, that's got to be one of the fastest run-round loop constructions in preservation history - even more impressive given the appalling weather much of the time.

 

And it looks good - not a temporary structure by any means.

 

"An apology has now been made by Trackwork about the conduct of their staff..."
Would be better if they said that they were wrong and were NOT there to look at lifting the track as apposed for apologising for the "conduct" of their staff....

 

Were the people from Trackworks trespassing? If not, what were they there for? Surely the pway volunteers should have been kept in the picture. Clarification is required.

 

And it has, hence the press release. Tony even made the effort to visit the PWay Gang personally at Ipstones on Wednesday and re-iterate his message in person. With Trackworks having made a formal apology, as far as we're concerned the matter's closed and we move forward.

With the Loop having now been commisioned, we are looking forward to the Gala in a fortnights time!

 

Correct Lil Bear - the line has been drawn under it and we move forward. No future in digging holes.
Come and support the gala.

 

not forgetting the good work done by the Sunday P/way gang in getting all the panels etc ready for moving down to Ipstones..mostly done in the pouring rain up at Cauldon..Having worked with both gangs I can't praise them enough..some of the hardest working blokes I've ever come across....

 

Does the far point at Ipstones loop have FPL to facilitate passenger working when the track to Cauldon Lowe is eventually relaid?

 

Cool machine to test your new loop with. I had hold of it last year on the Valley. Lovely piece of kit.

 

Not yet, was one task too many for our small band of volunteers to finish before the gala. However 34014 is collecting all the bits for it, so once she has them we'll be off up there to install. Will be needed once we re-open Ipstones station too though we have a bit of work ahead of us there first!

 

It was great to see the Ipstones loop being used at the Gala The speed it was laid and the weather conditions when doing it are all now memories of the past. I was really proud of all who worked on it as the double header 6046 and 69621 came past the carriage we were in on Sunday. Roll on the next project (Endon?)