1. Steam Power

Winter trackwork 2010/11

Track maintenance and repairs for winter 2010/11
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  • Scraping out the muck that has gathered over the last few months

    Scraping out the muck that has gathered over the last few months

  • It's an essential job

    It's an essential job

  • Looking much better, and far less chance of problems happening now

    Looking much better, and far less chance of problems happening now

  • Drilling holes for the pins that will secure the rail

    Drilling holes for the pins that will secure the rail

  • Spacing out the sleepers evenly

    Spacing out the sleepers evenly

  • On the Nursery Line, the track has been lifted, the track bed dug out and a layer of ballast laid to allow plenty of drainage for the new track

    On the Nursery Line, the track has been lifted, the track bed dug out and a layer of ballast laid to allow plenty of drainage for the new track

  • Hammering the pins in - two in the outside and one on the inside of the rail

    Hammering the pins in - two in the outside and one on the inside of the rail

  • Greased fish plates join two rails together

    Greased fish plates join two rails together

  • Ensuring the correct gauge - this is the Nursery Line, so it's 2 feet between the rails here

    Ensuring the correct gauge - this is the Nursery Line, so it's 2 feet between the rails here

  • Jacking up the rail so that the sleepers can be removed

    Jacking up the rail so that the sleepers can be removed

  • Unbolting the fish plates to remove the old rail

    Unbolting the fish plates to remove the old rail

  • The track has been lifted, the track bed will need to be dug out, levelled and re-laid with ballast before any sleepers can be put down

    The track has been lifted, the track bed will need to be dug out, levelled and re-laid with ballast before any sleepers can be put down

  • All aboard the maintenance wagon

    All aboard the maintenance wagon

  • Fetching new lengths of rail

    Fetching new lengths of rail

  • More ballast arrives - this is the first of two 20 ton deliveries

    More ballast arrives - this is the first of two 20 ton deliveries

  • Applying grease to the rails before the fish plates are bolted in place

    Applying grease to the rails before the fish plates are bolted in place

  • Bolting the fish plates on - it's a messy job with all that grease

    Bolting the fish plates on - it's a messy job with all that grease

  • Ensuring that the sleeper is correctly positioned before the rail is fixed

    Ensuring that the sleeper is correctly positioned before the rail is fixed

  • Positioning the new rails

    Positioning the new rails

  • A bit of coaxing required

    A bit of coaxing required

  • If not cleaned, the accumulation of leaves and dirt will cause problems with the points

    If not cleaned, the accumulation of leaves and dirt will cause problems with the points

  • Spreading the ballast

    Spreading the ballast

  • As the track is ballasted, a check on the level is kept and adjusted if necessary by jacking the track and tamping more ballast under the offending sleepers

    As the track is ballasted, a check on the level is kept and adjusted if necessary by jacking the track and tamping more ballast under the offending sleepers

  • More ballast required!

    More ballast required!

  • Loading 4 to 5 tons of ballast into the dumper - for spreading by hand

    Loading 4 to 5 tons of ballast into the dumper - for spreading by hand

  • The track is now ballasted and just needs a sweep to tidy it up

    The track is now ballasted and just needs a sweep to tidy it up

  • Everything in place, joined up and fixed

    Everything in place, joined up and fixed

  • Where the new 35lb/yd rail joins the older 20lb/yd stock a custom fish plate is used - the older rail will be replaced at a later date

    Where the new 35lb/yd rail joins the older 20lb/yd stock a custom fish plate is used - the older rail will be replaced at a later date

  • This section of track runs through Peat Field 1 & 2 - this is why they are called Peat Field 1 & Peat Field 2!

    This section of track runs through Peat Field 1 & 2 - this is why they are called Peat Field 1 & Peat Field 2!

  • This section just past the glasshouse (on the Nursery Line) needed attention too - the track has been lifted and the track bed dug out with a mini digger

    This section just past the glasshouse (on the Nursery Line) needed attention too - the track has been lifted and the track bed dug out with a mini digger

  • Initial bed of ballast goes down for the sleepers to rest on - this allows any water to drain away so that the sleepers are not waterlogged - otherwise they will rot more quickly

    Initial bed of ballast goes down for the sleepers to rest on - this allows any water to drain away so that the sleepers are not waterlogged - otherwise they will rot more quickly

  • Sleepers for the glasshouse section

    Sleepers for the glasshouse section

  • Toby the maintenance diesel shunting the wagon with the sleepers

    Toby the maintenance diesel shunting the wagon with the sleepers

  • Whacking the bed of ballast ready for the sleepers

    Whacking the bed of ballast ready for the sleepers

  • New rails loaded onto the maintenance wagon - these weigh just under 350lb (over 150kg) each

    New rails loaded onto the maintenance wagon - these weigh just under 350lb (over 150kg) each

  • Finished track - see if you can spot it when you ride the Nursery Line

    Finished track - see if you can spot it when you ride the Nursery Line

  • Further along this rail needs replacing - with still a few days before 2011 opening it's a priority

    Further along this rail needs replacing - with still a few days before 2011 opening it's a priority

  • Dragging the rail into position

    Dragging the rail into position

  • Positioning the final sleepers

    Positioning the final sleepers

  • Other than a quick sweep, this section of track is now finished

    Other than a quick sweep, this section of track is now finished

  • Drainage pipe installed to help the track last longer

    Drainage pipe installed to help the track last longer

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