Moorlands and City Railway

Extremely busy day for the mid week gang today( just the 2 of us). The rest had been changing sleepers with the elastic spike type chairs Monday and Tuesday and were completely knackered, after removing the spikes ahead of the sleeper changer. Anyhow we cleared a 1 foot length the width of a sleeper on every sleeper which was buried in ballast on 16 panels. This was because the tamper could not see where the sleepers were located( being the pandrol clip type and they were also buried ) Some big blisters on my soft hands today. We then changed the bakelite inserts on 4 insulated fishplates north of Consall, in the process we had dekey and move the rail on 3 of them as the gap was to big or to tight for them to go in. Then on to Leek Brook tunnel to check the wooden keys after the tamper had been through, 43 keys had to be knocked in again. 20 odd degrees plus today, boy was I ready for a hot soak when I got home. Who would be a pwayman, any takers?

 

Blimey, p/wayman, not only are you keeping the postings on this important thread going, it seems like you're doing all the work yourself! I take my hat off to you! Roll on retirement, when I can start to actually do something useful with my life!

 

There's a regular pool of around a dozen or so of us, all clearly as mad as hatters, but if the work's hard, the banter and the fresh air more than make up for it! Iain

 

Hello Kenneth, We are having a volunteer week on the CVR in June on the 1/4/5, why don't you come down and see what we do. You don't have to join us but you would get a good idea of what is involved for when you do retire.

 

Now that the CVR running line has been fully tamped it was time to do a track inspection. Cool this morning so decided to wear a heavy jacket (whata mistaka to maka) within 30 mins the sun came out and we cooked. Pleasantly surprised, not a lot of problems on the Froghall to Consall section but a few keys out on the Leek Brook to Cheddleton section. With the trains running today we had a 3 man gang plus a lookout, blisters on hands last week, sore feet today, but still the best job on the railway.

 

i know froze me nads off this am cycling home,then found at dinner time it was shorts weather again!.

best way to cool off do the inspection in leekbrook tunnel, keep up the good work lads!!!

dom

 

Thanks Dom, We did the tunnel again second time in 2 weeks, I never remember the tunnel being tamped before and as you know there is quite a lot of sand in there.We wanted to recheck it because the wooden keys are either in or out, there's no in between i.e. part in. We did find a few but nowhere near last weeks total, although the tunnel is cooler with a heavy coat on because of the extra reflectors and the train running we did not want to hang around. So still rather hot under the collar when we came out.

 

yup,i knock some back in any time i go through there too,still not as bad in there as when somethings got full smoke on!!!! and youre midway in.

 

Another track inspection walk today. For those unfamiliar with what goes into maintaining our heritage lines, here's a brief outline of today's work. Three vols walked from Cauldon to Bradnop, approx 5.5 miles under glorious sunshine (for a change), two carrying the usual weaponary of large keying hammer and 3ft fishplate spanner, the third member keeping a written record of faults found and action taken.

In summary then, over a period of 6 hours we checked approx 20,000 chairs and keys, 4,000 fishplate bolts (each whacked and then tightened if necessary) and 1,000 fishplates for cracks. After a long recuperative soak in a very hot bath, the report was typed up by our revered leader and emailed to the others for checking. Job done (until the next time of course!). Iain

 

How close is the runround loop to being finished guys?

 

It's not progressed any further in the last month. Needs ballasting and the buffer stop relocating still. Focus has been on post-winter track maintenance prior to the busy season ahead I think. Iain

 

After next week when we replace the crossing timbers and sleepers at Cheddleton, we should then go back to Cauldon to finish off the work.

 

Will the scheduled steam to Cauldon Lowe use the run round loop, or be a top and tailed service ?

 

Crossing work postponed for 2 weeks so its possible we will do the Cauldon work next week. The run round loop will have to be tried and tested, I'd like to see it used on a gala day which could make some interesting runs.

 

back to chedd crossing, great that the work is going ahead for at least the pedestrian barrow crossing, bit wondering if the driver will manage to stop the rear of a train on it when they come into the platform, anyhow have fun,we had a look down the access ways there yesterday and with much scratching worked out where our stuff went, and found a toad too!!!

shame it werent a wooden barrow crossing,but tarmac much longer lasting at least, i still aint got to have a trip up to caldon,i will get round to it, watch that tan now lads n lasses when youre up that lovely moorlands!!!

dom

 

We'll be up tomorrow and Thursday come sun,rain or wind,got the road railer up so should be able to finish the work there. It'll be good to have a barrow crossing at Cheddleton the road is quite narrow when parents and children are crossing the road with the traffic on it.

 

Great day at Cauldon today only 1 shower. Moved and relocated buffers, connecting them to the main line was a pain as the buffers were of N.Staffs 95 ld. rail to standard rail . We managed in the end, then went on to change some long sleepers in the loop points. A picture of today's gang thanks for coming and hope tomorrows gang have as good a day

 

Cracked the photo upload gadget OK then Jeff Iain

 

Yes thanks to the grandson. Hope it won't be to long before the track at Cauldon is ballasted and tamped. I know the mainline was done with weed killer but I was amazed at the weeds in the loop in 3 short weeks a jungle of nettles.Perhaps they can spray it after tomorrow.