Diary
A regular update of what's been going on recently, by webmaster, Julian Jefferson.
A regular update of what's been going on recently, by webmaster, Julian Jefferson.
Tuesday 17 January
A quick review of work progress from the weekend; I was working with the track gang again on Sunday and we were jacking and packing the track on the main Down line close to the farthest extent of the boundary towards Chilcompton. The diesel loco and Dogfish hopper wagon were employed spreading further ballast, taken from the somewhat diminished latest delivery, stockpiled on the 'unloading road' in the goods yard. The PMV wagon has been shunted into the goods shed and Glyn's gang were busy knocking the hell out of its concrete screed floor, so that the whole floor can be replanked - which is progressing well. The Midland Railway coach was lifted by crane yesterday (Monday) so that the refurbished wheelsets could be replaced underneath. A spare engine for the DMU was due to be delivered yesterday. The original cold frame on the bank/garden on the Chilcompton side of the signalbox is being rebuilt with a low retaining wall on the bank, which both appear structurally complete, the cold frame presumably still requires a cover or some sort of glazing. The retaining wall block facing below the bank/path to the buffet coach from the main car park, at the end of the goods shed road, appears to have been finished.
Sunday 11 December
At the station today there was much going on. High winds last week meant yesterday some of the track gang were removing a tree which had fallen across the lineside path, and today we had to remove another which was threatening to fall across the running lines. The DMU is almost ready for the hoped Santa weekend operations, but some repairs are required before it is fit to carry the public, not least a replacement driveshaft on the power car, which hopefully will be done this coming week. The DMU was in operation again today on crew-training and familiarisation runs. The 'Chilcompton' end cab front of the DMU has had a lick of green paint and is a little more presentable now. The Sentinel was being worked on by Andy Chapman today, who was underneath on his back, like a motor mechanic, working on something or other. The Midland coach was also getting some attention; parts of the chassis and running gear are seeing restoration, with the leaf springs having been needle-gunned and primed ready for painting. Graeme was working on signalling equipment - point rodding among other things, and there's new signalling wire and a pulley installed in the north and south side cesses to connect the two new signals. Last night the Sunday volunteers had their Christmas dinner in the buffet coach, and excellent it was too, many thanks to the buffet coach staff for that.
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A quick review of work progress from the weekend; I was working with the track gang again on Sunday and we were jacking and packing the track on the main Down line close to the farthest extent of the boundary towards Chilcompton. The diesel loco and Dogfish hopper wagon were employed spreading further ballast, taken from the somewhat diminished latest delivery, stockpiled on the 'unloading road' in the goods yard. The PMV wagon has been shunted into the goods shed and Glyn's gang were busy knocking the hell out of its concrete screed floor, so that the whole floor can be replanked - which is progressing well. The Midland Railway coach was lifted by crane yesterday (Monday) so that the refurbished wheelsets could be replaced underneath. A spare engine for the DMU was due to be delivered yesterday. The original cold frame on the bank/garden on the Chilcompton side of the signalbox is being rebuilt with a low retaining wall on the bank, which both appear structurally complete, the cold frame presumably still requires a cover or some sort of glazing. The retaining wall block facing below the bank/path to the buffet coach from the main car park, at the end of the goods shed road, appears to have been finished.
Sunday 11 December
At the station today there was much going on. High winds last week meant yesterday some of the track gang were removing a tree which had fallen across the lineside path, and today we had to remove another which was threatening to fall across the running lines. The DMU is almost ready for the hoped Santa weekend operations, but some repairs are required before it is fit to carry the public, not least a replacement driveshaft on the power car, which hopefully will be done this coming week. The DMU was in operation again today on crew-training and familiarisation runs. The 'Chilcompton' end cab front of the DMU has had a lick of green paint and is a little more presentable now. The Sentinel was being worked on by Andy Chapman today, who was underneath on his back, like a motor mechanic, working on something or other. The Midland coach was also getting some attention; parts of the chassis and running gear are seeing restoration, with the leaf springs having been needle-gunned and primed ready for painting. Graeme was working on signalling equipment - point rodding among other things, and there's new signalling wire and a pulley installed in the north and south side cesses to connect the two new signals. Last night the Sunday volunteers had their Christmas dinner in the buffet coach, and excellent it was too, many thanks to the buffet coach staff for that.
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