The Echills Wood Railway Observer
Reporting Every Monday
WEEKLY REPORT! 47
TUESDAY 24th NOV 2009
FAR LEYS LOOP COMPLETED!
Finally, after many months of hard work, the loop at Far Leys has now been joined up and all the pointwork and some of the sidings have also been put in place. Trains will now be able to run the whole circuit to Far Leys, once the connection at Picnic Junction has been linked up. This will be done tommorow (Wed) and a new point will replace the one that was laid a few weeks ago at the diversion near Picnic Junction.
Work on the extension got off to a good start on Friday, with the weather being quite pleasant. By the end of the day, the loop was in place, except for some final fish plate coupling. Saturday, was a bit of a damp start, but apart from the odd shower, remained dry until late afternoon, when work ceased about 3.30pm. Sunday wasn't much better weather wise, but quite a lot of work got done, mostly adjusting the track, adding sidings and generally putting in track edging and ballasting. Unfortunately, I was unable to be there on Monday, but Jeff Cogan & Ken Bull were, and they managed to send me a few photos. I did a flying visit to the Park this morning and took about a dozen photos of the work completed so far. I would just like to thank everyone who managed to attend over the long weekend in order to get the track work completed befor Christmas, WELL DONE EVERYONE! There is still a lot of work to be done yet on the extension, before it will be opened to the public, so between now and Easter, the final touches such as fencing, signalling, station canopies, board crossings and general sprucing up of the area wiil be carried out. Our next task is getting Santa's Grotto finished off over the next two weeks.
WEDNESDAY
Opps! This tree blew down over the track in Walter's Meadow, but was soon removed with the aid of a saw.
Up at Northgate, the usual track making team, were putting the finishing touches to some of the pointwork, for the Far Leys Extension.
Curved track panels in the making.
Dennis, putting the clips and screws down, ready for rail fixing to the sleepers.
.The track panel team, loving what they are doing
One of the points, being made up.
Another curved panel almost completed.
Pete doing a bit of welding on one of the points.
Ken this time, with the welding rod.
THE WORK COMPLETED LAST SUNDAY AT FAR LEYS
Note the orange pipes for signalling cables and other supply.
More ballast needed
The end of the line so far
Can you see the lake behind the trees! All the dead wood and bottom branches will be cleared out from this area, over the next few months, which will open out the view over the lake, for approaching trains into Far Leys Station.
Work completed so far, last weekend.
Ballast in place, ready for track laying.
Mel on the dumper, bringing another couple of platform slab for Picnic Green Station.
This rather odd looking square plate, will be fitted to the Leaf Blowing Wagon, with a pad for cleaning of the top of the rails.
Attaching the brackets for the track cleaning pad.
Another load of ballast being delivered, ready for the long weekend's work party.
FRIDAY (1st Day of the four day Weekend)
This was the best day of the four, weather wise and quite a lot got done today.
Bob Whitfield, doing a bit of shovelling at Far Ley's Station.
The Dumper was used to bring in ballast, located on the car park.
One load of ballast having just been tipped.
Track in place through the main platform, Ballasting work being done on the left, for the bay platform 1 and siding.
The main line through platform 2 at the station, with the passing loop running through platform 3
Three curved panels laid from the point.
Adrian, lining up one of the curves.
Track in place from the point, towards the station.
Mel taking another load of ballast to the station.
Tipping whilst moving backwards, to spread out the load.
Albert, scrapes out the dregs, whils Bob is busy with the rake.
Another load, this time on the main line track, alongside platform 2.
A couple of ballast wagons, for ballasting these curved track panels.
Matt stops the rail moving, as Kevin drills the holes for the fish plates, in one of the rails.
The loop now in place. But not ready yet, as lots of joints have yet to be connected.
The first steam train to run round the loop. Well, you might have known it had to be Thirlaiston Hall, which has done many firsts on the EWR. River Avon was the first loco to run round the loop.
Thirlaiston Hall at platform 2 Far Leys.
Thirlaiston Hall again at Far Leys.
The works train at platform 2.
Some fish plate work and ballasting being done.
Ballasting the top end of the loop.
Packing the track edging logs, which holds the ballast in place.
William greasing the fishplates, before coupling up, with Adrian looking on.
A works loco on the Bay Platform with Thirlaiston Hall on the main line.
Ballasting still going on at the top of the loop.
Last photo of the day, as River Avon pulls the track bogie wagon up the yard.
SUNDAY
The busiest day so far, with more than thirty members up at Far Leys. Some come to work, others having a chat and some just come up for a look. Oh and myself who has been recording all this work for the web site.
River Avon on the passing loop.
Adrian's works, loco coming back through the woods at far leys.
Some people will just park there loco anywhere!
Andy Gunn, checking the track gauge, through the wooded section of the loop.
Concrete slabs have been put in place at the inlet to the under track culvert pipe.
The outlet side of the culvert, yet to have slabs put in place.
Steve on the left, with Alain and Paul, posing for the photo.
Some sort of debate going on about the position of the track.
Ballasting completed on this section.
It was decided during the debate, that more room was needed for the siding, so Minnie was brought in to move some of the banking on the right.
Moving this, will allow more clearance for the reverse point.
Adrian doing the donkey work, some donkey! That's all for Sunday.
MONDAY Unfortunately, I was unable to be on site today, so Jeff Cogan & Ken Bull, sent in the next eight photos.
With the loop now completed, work done today, was genaral trackside work, levelling and balasting.
Making the crossing, to allow park vehicles to enter the green, for mowing purposes.
Meeting? - Or - I think it's time for a tea break lads?
Not exactly lightweight, these concrete sleepers. "You two bar it and I'll spade it."
River Avon with the ballast train at platform 3
The ballast train ready to return back to the yard.
A bit of snow and it would make a good Christmas card.
HEY!!! Wait for me! Photo's for Monday, By Jeef Cogan & Ken Bull
TUESDAY MORNING! Hot of the press this morning, I managed to pop up to the Park to get these photos of the finished work to date.
A bit of a muddy mess. This is where the unloading ramp will finally be situated.
The Tractor crossing for grass mowing on the green.
The Loop on the left and points for the sidings to the right. The line on the right will lead to the unloading ramp.
The loop coming out of the woods, with the siding yard on the right.
Photo taken from the siding yard.
Looking towards the loading ramp area.
The Tractor Crossing.
The loop, at the road side.
The point for the passing loop through the station.
The same point from the station end.
Looking towards the Bay and siding.
All nice and neat looking at the station throat.
Far Leys Station, after ballasting.
Looking over Bridge4 and the line through the woods. The area inside the concrete sleepers will become a garden.
The BayPlatform 1 and Main Platform 2
A shot taken from Platform 3.
Far Leys Green on the left.
Far Leys Green, which will have picnic benches, ready for next Easter.
Far Leys Green & Station. Once the fence is in place and the grass has regrown, this will become quite a pleasant area to watch the trains, whilst having a picnic.
Next Report Monday 30th Nov 2009
WEEKLY REPORT! 46
MONDAY 16th NOV 2009
FAR LEYS LOOP ALMOST COMPLETED!
Work continued throughout the week, with the making of more track panels and Chris Perkins made a start on modifying the new leaf blowing wagon. As usual, the track gang were back up at Far Leys during Sunday, to lay a few more track panels and a reverse point, which will lead off to the Far Leys storage sidings, just off Far Leys Green.
WEDNESDAY
Many hands make light work, during the building of these curved track panels.
Mick trying out his electric portable leaf blowere up at Northgate.
Chris fabricating the new blower nozzel for the new petrol driven leaf blower wagon.
Chris & Pat doing some adjustments to the new blower nozzel.
Attaching the top to the end of the nozzel.
Out on test round the circuit.
Chris & Pat testing out the machine, heading towards Sandy Curve.
As you can see, it certainly shifts the leaves here, where there was a thick covering.
The track cleared after the leaf blower.
Mel, Vic & Colin, putting in more platform slabs at Picnic Green.
Another slab in place, about six more to go.
Andy Walton brought this C19 for a test. It belongs to one of his customers and is called Old Glory.
Making lots of noise from the safety valves.
FRIDAY - there were only a couple on site,
so nothing of importance was done.
SUNDAY
Jim Steptoe with his latest petrol driven works loco, BEAU. A few more modifications need to be done yet, before it will be fully operational.
Last Sunday's completion at Far Leys.
The start of the curve for the loop has been laid. ( last Sunday's work).
One of the points arriving at the top end of the loop at Far Leys.
The point was laid temporarly in position, until the ballast was spread out. This point will lead off to the storage sidings.
The next three curved track panels in place, just before the point. This is where the loop, comes out of the woods and onto Far Leys Green, before entering the station.
Tom & Andy, attaching some fishplates to the rails.
William Grimett, attaching a sleeper, where two of the panels join.
The ballast train has arrived.
Thirlaiston Hall on the ballast train.
The farthest a loco has been so far, on the Far Leys Extension.
The first point, properly in position. two more points will be laid, to provide four storage sidings. These will be laid, after the New Year.
Doing some final adjustments, before laying the ballast.
I wasn't able to be there, when the ballast was laid, so this will be shown in the next report.
Next Report will be on TUESDAY 24th November. This is due to the four day working weekend, next week.
Dont forget if you can come on any of the four days, your help will be appreciated. For the less energetic, we would appreciate some help in getting Santas Grotto ready, up at Northgate. If you would like to help with this, please come along on any of the four days. BACON SARNIES will be provided FREE each day for ALL WORKERS, at approx 11am
WEEKLY REPORT! 45
MONDAY 9th NOV 2009
WEDNESDAY
A much shorter report this time, after the rather long report from last week. The deviation at Picnic Junction was started on Wed, but will need to be altered, as it seems that the new point has been put in the wrong place. This should be rectified shortly. More work was done on the extension on Sunday and although a quiet day regarding passenger numbers, we did manage to keep a couple of service trains running for most of the day. Maybe the lack of visitors to the park was due to it being Rememberance Sunday.
A start has been made by Chris Perkins & Pat Murphin, on adapting the petrol driven leaf blower, into a truck mounted blower for use with a loco. More about this as it develops.
More straight track panel for the new extension were made up today.
Ken Bull, in the track panel erecting shop.
Work on the deviation at Picnic Junction.
The new point at Picnic Junction, which unfortunately was laid in the wrong position.
Some of the curved track panels that were made up today.
FRIDAY
The new deviation at Picnic Green.
Ballasting the track at Picnic Junction.
The section of track leading into Picnic Junction Halt and the new extension, has yet to be laid. This will bee done when the point has been repositioned.
SUNDAY
Far Leys. Ballast has been dropped at different intervals, along the route of the track, ready for more track panels to be laid.
The end of track laying last weekend.
Not seen for a long time, is Jim Steptoe's Chessie Loco, which will now be seen a lot more often. This loco & Rough Pup, provided Sunday's service trains.
Two of the curved track panels, ready to be set in place, on the Far Leys loop.
Making the embankment good, through the wooded section at Far Ley's.
A few more panels which were laid at the departure junction at Far Leys Station. The track on the far right, will lead to a by platform siding, to allow the Tram to run a shuttle service from Harvesters to Far Leys and vice versa.
I have had a number of emails, stating that not all the photos from some of the reports are appearing, of not fully showing. I have checked the website and everything seems to be normal. Maybe it depends on your Browser, which can sometimes cause problems like these, especially when there are a lot of photos to load. Try changing your browser, if you are having such problems. I can assure you that the AOL Browser that I use presents no such problem. It could also be a problem with your service provider. I ma with AOL and have never had any problems over the past six years. Also lower end computers will not load photos as quick as newer machines.
NEXT REPORT MONDAY 16th Nov 2009
WEEKLY REPORT! 44
MONDAY NOV 2nd 2009
Part One
FAR LEYS HERE WE COME!
This report has over 100 photos, which is due to the amount of progress that was acheived during the three day Halloween Weekend. I have split it into two parts, so that you don't need to spend too much time viewing all the photos in one session. Work on the extension started on Friday morning at 8.30 am until 4pm., and the same for Saturday and Sunday. The weather was excellent, except for a wet start on Sunday, but by mid day, the rain had gone and we were able to get as much done as possible. I think you will all be amazed of the amount of work that was done during this weekend. Hopefully when we have the FOUR DAY WORKING WEEKEND from Friday 20th Nov to Monday 23 rd Nov, we should have all the track laid on the Far Leys Extension. So please make a note of these dates and if you can come along and help us to complete the job, it will be much appreciated. Bacon Sandwiches will be provided to all volunteers on all four days at the Cafe' de Echills at 11am.
WEDNESDAY
One of the points for the Far Leys Extension.
More point construction at Northgate.
And again inside the workshop.
Some of the track panels that were all laid during the weekend.
It was the half term school holiday this week, so this Romulus was being prepared for service.
About 6 loads of road planings were brought in ready for finishing the trackbed at Far Leys.
Two more loads were tipped at the other end of the car park.
Platform slabs ready for laying over the weekend.
This shows the state of the work completed up to Sunday afternoon, of last week.
Before starting the holiday service train, the Loco and carriages made a trip up to Bridge 3, as far as the track reached so far.
I managed to get a couple of nice shots of the train from above the tunnel.
This will make a good photo vantage point, once the extension is up and running.
Another shot from the tunnel roof.
Platform slabs at Picnic Green, which will be laid when time permits.
Callum, levelling some ballast where the slabs have already be placed.
More slabs which where brought up to Far Leys, ready for finishing Far Leys Station platforms.
These were brought from the other side of the park, near the Jet Ski Centre, a distance of about two miles.
These slabs are actually off cuts from the floor levels when contructing multi story car parks. Just the job for making station platforms.
These were the last to be unloaded from the trailer for this load.
Up at the storage area near the Jet Ski Lake, more slabs being loaded onto the trailer.
Ready to lower onto the trailer.
Three slabs at about 1 ton each, is about as much as can be loaded.
On their way to Far Leys, just coming round the bend by Wren Tunnel.
Starting to unload the last load of slabs at Far Leys.
These will be used for the main platform, which willbe two slabs wide.
As a bonus, we managed to get a load of hot tarmac, which was used for laying on the patio of the Cafe' de Echills.
Our latest rolling stock addition, being tested. This leaf blowing apparatus, will be modified shortly, to be used as a pernament item of rolling stock.
The new patio area of the Cafe'de Echills.
It has certainly made an improvement to our new Mess Room. The area at the far end will be completed as and when materials become available.
End of Part One!
WEEKLY REPORT! 44
Part Two
This was the start of the three day Far Leys Working Session, which has enabled us to get all the platform slabs laid for the station and track laid as far as the end of the woods section. Everyone who helped during these three days, really put in a great effort and hopefully the BIG NOVEMBER PUSH, should see us getting the Far Leys Extension Loop Completed. There will be more work needed to complete all the sidings etc, but by the end of November, we should be able to use the extension for members trains. It will not be open for the public until Easter.
FRIDAY
Setting up the route of the tracks, at the departure end of the platfoms.
The trackbed through the woods prepared ready for track laying. View from Bridge 4.
Work on digging a trench for the electric supply, at the far end of the site.
This was done using the Minnie Digger.
Two dumpers on the go today, which were used to take the road planings from the car park to the work site.
Adrian Grimett using his tractor for levelling the track bed area through the station, before track laying.
Adrian making a good job of the levelling.
Track panels being connected in the junction area.
Pipework for the electric cables between platforms. All electrics at Far Leys, will run on 12 volts, for safety reasons.
Another view of the track gang.
A ballast train arriving at the railhead.
Coupling rail together on Bridge 4.
As an aid to good drainage, these pipes have been laid in the trackbed all through the woods, although the trackbed has been made a good foot above high flood level.
Gang leader John Hancock, giving out a few instructions.
One of the dumpers being loaded on the car park.
Matt Gunn on the other dumper ready to take its load to the work site.
The leaf blower in operation again, waits at Picnic Green for the service train to pass, before continuing round the circuit.
Here comes Trojan, on the service train.
Back up at the work site, some cutting and welding going on, of the bridge decking
More trackwork being gauged at the station departure end.
Getting the ground prepared before slab laying gets under way.
The first piece of track laid, after Bridge 4.
The start of the woodland embankment.
Trackbed through the woods, ready for laying track.
Near the end of the woods, where the sidings area widens out.
Preparing the trackbed where the line will enter the sidings area.
Plenty of work for the juniors to do, as Oliver, Adam and Ian, do a bit of raking
Adrian on his Roller, coming along the trackbed, through the woods.
This compacts it well, before laying the track panels.
Kevin, welding the decking in place on bridge 4.
Bridge 4 from the water course below.
The first row of platform slabs which were laid Friday afternoon, but I was unable to take the action shots until work had finished, due to being on Halloween train duties.
These had yet to be finally levelled, which was done using crow bars and a bit of shovel packing.
A nice touch to bridge 4, with this arched top railing. Again, this was done during late Friday afternoon.
Track work roughly in place through the woods, which was put in place during Friday afternoon.
Looking back over Bridge 4 from just inside the wooded section.
The end of the line on Friday afternoon.
Looking back towards Bridge 4 from where the track has been laid so far.
The sidings area at the end of the wooded section.
The sidings area, opposite Far Leys Car Park.
SATURDAY
Ken on the works train, as it brings more track panels to the railhead.
River Avon on the section laid on Friday, which has brought more track panels in.
Clearing the ballast from the last panel laid on Friday, ready for laying more track.
Adrian levelling off the ground, ready for the second row of slabs to be laid.
Thirlaiston Hall on the ballast train, up at the railhead.
These are the track panels that were brought in by River Avon earlier. Work on coupling up the fishplates is under way.
The first slab of the second row in position.
Bringing the next slab into position.
The second slab being lined up.
Gently being lowered into position.
The third slab being brought in.
Back in the woods, the track has been lined up ready for ballasting.
Track laid as far as the sidings area, at the end of the narrow wooded section.
SUNDAY
River Avon on the works train, with Thirlaiston Hall on the ballast train, at the split.
All the platform slabs now in position.
A bit of levelling work going on up through the woods.
The newly ballasted track, running through the woods
The blck pipe on the left, is where the culvert goes under the trackbed.
Looking through the woods from Bridge 4.
The end of the line so far.
The end of the line from the sidings area.
A veiw of the Far Leys Station area from the road.
Preparing to pack in for the day.
The first Members Passenger train to enter the new laid track section through the woods.
That as far as you can go until the end of November folks!
Okay, everybody turn around for the trip back to Harvester's.
Thirlaiston Hall at the culvert, just befoe the end of the line.
A view taken from the water course.
Thirlaiston Hall with the works gang, makes its way towards Bridge4 ready for loading with tools.
Almost at Bridge 4
Last photo for this report, with Thirlaiston Hall and River Avon, ready to go back to Old Oak Yard after a good weekends effort. WELL DONE EVERYBODY. We have now broke the Camels Back on this huge undertaking. Soon we will be running trains around the Far Leys Extension. DONT FORGET 20th t0 23rd NOVEMBER for the FINAL BIG PUSH TO COMPLETION!!!!