July 2015 - Outdoor Work Update

Even though trains are running, our Outdoor Gang is still busy!


Summer Outdoor Week (27 June - 5 July)

Most of our efforts were aimed at sprucing up the railway stations and loops ahead of the celebrations and assembling the temporary track panels for the visiting engines at Wharf. A small select group worked on bridge maintenance work at Rhydyronen. The bulk of the track panels could only be assembled once both the engines had been delivered, Russell was delivered on Tuesday afternoon and Prince on Wednesday morning. Some painting was also carried out at Wharf and Abergynolwyn.

With the available gang members that did not leave much room for manoeuvre. The gang worked hard and we completed the task mid afternoon on the Thursday, the yard is not as level as it might look from the platform, so a lot of timber packing was required. All the sleepers were then packed with a quantity of slate waste and held in place with more slate waste.

Most of the gang then enjoyed the 3 days of 150 anniversary celebrations, fortunately some were available on Saturday morning to deal with a quantity of tree branches that had succumbed to the high winds that blew overnight. Others had helped with removing materials and equipment from Rhydyronen early on the Friday.

A very good and satisfying week even if we still have a lot of routine and deferred maintenance work still to do over the coming months.

Over the 6 days 22 (29) people gave 62.5 (102.5) people days last year figures in brackets. The figures for 2014 have been adjusted to make a fair comparison possible.

Fishplate Oiling 18 / 19 July

We managed 115 lengths - 920 fishplate bolts undone and done up again after the fishplates and rail ends had been oiled. We started at Rhydyronen where we were rained off last August and finished west of the up whistle board for Brynglas.

On Saturday and Sunday eight people were available for work.

Keith would like to thank everyone who was able to help.

Update by Keith Theobald

Photos by Tony McIlwrick and Keith Theobald