Moorlands and City Railway

Well it looks as though our next big job on the CVR could be the level crossing at Cheddleton. Whilst riding on the train with my Grandson going through Chedd. I spied a conference going on by the gate and they were watching the movement of the rail as we went over. There were several directors, chairman, red crane operator, a couple of others and our leader Bob. I suppose we'll know in the future as there will have to be a road closure and our leader is on holiday again this week. Remember you heard it first on here but not from me.

 

I don't suppose that while you're at it you guys could be sweet talked into installing those lovely gate posts ready for some proper wooden gates could you?

Since trains started running over the crossing (1996) I know many have been looking forward for the farm style gates to be replaced.

 

Wish we could get round to doing them, they are on the list but quite a bit down at the moment. You never know though, things change a short notice a lot on this railway. Seems like the crossing is on for a couple of weeks time.

 

Nice change of venue today, Leekbrook, working on the points at the junction with the Stoke line. A lever box and associated timbers being put in to control them. We cut the timbers to suit and trial fitted the lever box, a bit of a problem with the spring so it has gone back to Cheddleton to be sorted ready for final instalation on Sunday. Meanwhile our gallant footsoldiers did a line walk on the Cauldon line in readiness for the Diesel Gala. Once again our leader had gone AWOL so well done all.

 

The trains were running today for the shareholders to see 4th share issue from the CVR, so the road railer could not be used at Cauldon. A bit of a rain, but a line walk between Froghall and Oakamoor was done by one group and a second group worked in the yard at Cheddleton. They worked on assembling a point that is going to be used on the -----h----- branch in the near future. Things seem to be moving fast these days on the railway or perhap it's an age thing. I cannot keep up with jobs going on but it is an enjoyable hobby.

 

I cannot get anything to fit your spaces Jeff!

 

Must try harder Jim!

 

I did think of waterhouses, but that needs 3 points and a crossing!:eyebrows: :rofl:

 

You must have had a recount then

 

Have you been looking at the original track layout again. Next you'll want a signal box

 

Yes! Why they made the junction like that, heaven knows. Must have done it to give the signalman summat to do LOL!

 

Jim, I think it needs 5 sets of points plus the crossing, but it might be old age, what's your excuse.

 

Yeah, your right.... What a wastage of pointage LOL

 

We should use the spare for the triangle lol

 

Busy day again, there was a reconnaissance walk from Leek Brook to Stoke (glad I wasn't doing that), a line walk from Oakamoor to Consall to find out and mark how many sleepers needed to be replaced. A survey of the Cauldon line to see where points would start for the branch, incidentally some of the old foundations of the signal box were found. Several long sleepers in the points for the loop at Cauldon were replaced, the bed for the buffers dug out and also burnt some of the brushwood that was cut down at the start of the recouperation of the loops. All in all a very tiring day but nice and warm.

 

Had a nice stroll down the line from Froghall to Oakamoor with Al and John, plenty of work identified to keep us busy for a while (even before lunch we'd run out of paint and had to back track for more supplies).

 

I might be down on wednesday (as long as i have some money for petrol) or if anyone has keiths no/ contact details i wonder if he would give me a lift? does he still come down?

 

Gav, my fuel consumption would be greatly improved if I wasn't lugging that bag of books around for you every week

 

The pway gang is working all week on the CVR this week, with various members working on different days. The big job is sleeper changing, with a sleeperchanger coming in and doing all the heavy work. We have started with concrete sleepers south of Cheddleton changing every 3rd sleeper from a clamp type fitting to a pandrol type. This will help to keep the track gauge in limits especially on the curves where we have to keep constantly checking. On top of this yesterday we started the weedkilling train as the weather was good and the forecast was for rain today, did the section from Consall to Oakamoor sidings. Surprising what a differance it looks like from wagon level and traveling about 3/4 mph and not looking at your feet all the time. Enjoyed the sunshine, had a good day all round.

 

Well today has finally seen the end to the longstanding problem of the concrete sleepers south of Cheddelton. The section was ballasted, leveled with the Shark and tamped. Regular checks will now be done to ensure that it stays in gauge. The weedkilling was completed this week on the CVR from Oakamoor to Leek Brook as was the MCR line from Leek Brook to Cauldon Lowe. Many thanks to all the pway gang that did extra days work this week and also to the MPD dept. for supplying both men and locos to assist the work. Next Friday sees the first of a regular timetabled series of trips up the Cauldon branch. Please see CVR website for haulage and times, definately not a journey to be missed this year.