GWR – Permanent Way Progress

December 2007

Here is an overview of what the P-way gang have been up to in December of 2007 (apart from getting cold that is!)

Sat 1st Dec - 130 sleepers laid out on northern extension. P-way train pushed further north.

Sat 8th Dec - Two Dogfish of ballast dropped and Sharked on south end of Gotherington Loop. Headshunt at Cheltenham RC slewed to left hand siding to facilitate wagon removal.

Sat 15th Dec - Scrub clearance immediately north of B4632 road bridge at Stanton to assist with
off-loading of sleepers. Various rails cut for fitting at Stanton Fields. 134 sleepers laid out towards Laverton.

Sat 22nd Dec - Winchcombe area: Loose keys knocked in Winchcombe station-Tunnel mouth. Attended to a dodgy turnout in the C&W sidings in the afternoon.

Sat 29th Dec - Fed up once again with turkey and trimmings, the gang met between Christmas and new year. As this was the date of the “Christmas Cracker” event, a few local jobs were undertaken in the Winchcombe area. A cracked fishplate at Chicken Curve was changed. Several ferrules changed from the Defford Straight to Greet Tunnel mouth. Loose fishbolts in same area tightened and any loose keys knocked back in.

During the ‘closed season’ from now until March 2008 will see P-way undertake essential running line maintenance. This is really our only major chance in the year when we can take our train out into the middle of nowhere to get the work done. Work which includes sleeper changing, stone blowing and the well-loved job of fishplate greasing!