GWR PERMANENT WAY DEPARTMENT UPDATE
JANUARY TO MARCH 2008

Apologies for the lack of updates on the Permanent Way department's progress over the last few months, so to make up for it, here is a week-by-week account of what we've been up to over the winter months whilst the Railway has been closed...

Sat 5th Jan
Stoneblowing dipped joints between JJ Farms bridge and Prescott Road Bridge.

Sat 12th Jan
Fitting insulating fishplates at Gotherington in readiness for signalling completion. Six Dogfish moved from CRC to Stanton for loading.

Sat 19th Jan
Six Dogfish of ballast dropped from Working Lane bridge to Winchcombe Distant signal. Fishplate greasing from Gotherington north turnout to Dixton Road bridge and fitted insulated fishplates where required. Gotherington north turnout: two timbers replaced and whole assembly lifted/packed/levelled and drilled as required for S&T fixings. Redundant concrete sleepers from Gotherington loop (south) loaded and taken to CRC headshunt.

Sat 26th Jan
Six Dogfish of ballast dropped from Winchcombe Distant signal towards Tunnel and Sharked. Fishplate greasing from Gotherington north turnout to south turnout (mainline side only) and fitted insulated fishplates where required.

Sat 2nd Feb
Fishplate greasing Dixton Rd Bridge to Tunnel Bridge. 3 Dogfish dropped & sharked Royal Oak to Greet Tunnel south; 3 Dogfish dropped various locations twixt Working Lane Bridge and Cracked Bridge. All Sharked.

Sat 9th Feb
Fishplate greasing from Tunnel Bridge (14m11ch) to Working Lane Bridge (13m17ch). 6 Dogfish loads of Ballast dropped & Sharked Stanley Pontlarge Bridge to Micks Bridge.

Sat 16th Feb
Dismantling various turnout parts at Stanton to make a complete unit ready for installation at CRC during "work week".

Mon 18th to Fri 22nd Feb
"Work Week": Installation of CV9 flat-bottom turnout at CRC headshunt.

Sat 23rd Feb
Completed installation of CV9 turnout at CRC headshunt. Sunday saw the stored wagons relocated onto the 'new' siding.

All Saturdays in March
Spot re-sleepering at Toddington: 53 rotten sleepers changed between Toddington barrow crossing and the section signal.

Photos of the gang's progress can be found at www.nigel-black.fotopic.net and www.gloswarksp-way.fotopic.net - both sites are updates every week where possible.