Brookwood Survey

With the clocks changing tonight and the recommencement of running operations tomorrow, it was an important time for the permanent way gang to carry out their surveying for the forthcoming Brookwood extension. With their equipment and tools in hand they made an early start and completed their work by lunchtime, much to the Controllers delight.

 

 

 

Busy under the watchful eye of a gargoyle!

An aerial view from the teams overhead plane.

Hold it there, left a bit, that's it - done!

Another aerial shot of the team.

Soon they'll be traffic to Brookwood.

Girder Bridge - Stage 2

With both sides completed,  six 250mm lengths of aluminium were cut with 8mm holes drilled at each end and then connected to both sides across the top.

Similar to the top, five 250mm lengths of angle-aluminium were cut, again with 8mm holes drilled at each end and then attached to both sides across the base.

Next stage, track supports and side diagonals, angle permitting.

Hot off the Press

Further to yesterdays posting, this months Garden Rail 212, issued today, features a similar bridge structure to the one that I am building. Good article and very informative.

Garden Rail

Girder Bridge - Stage 1

Clearing out my shed I came across my old greenhouse aluminium staging stand which had been dismantled and stored for many years. Should I throw it away, ebay it or..................make a girder bridge for an extension line?

I had also read one or two articles in railway magazines and viewed several clips on YouTube where girder bridges had been incorporated.

So I decided to give it ago and build one from scratch using the angle-aluminium and the nuts & bolts from the staging stand.

I knew that I needed it to be around 1800mm long by 250mm tall with a width for a single track of about 200mm.

So carefully utilising the pre-drilled holes wherever possible, I cut two bottom lengths of angle, two top lengths and sixteen vertical lengths. Loosely bolting the pieces together as I progressed, the first side began to take shape.

The top piece was added and the diagonals at each end were made to measure and again bolted together.

Here one side can be seen completed to stage one. The other side is made identical to this one.

Diagonals are yet to be added to each side provided that I have sufficient angle available.

Next stage, connecting the two sides together.

Track Cleaning Locomotive

Found all over the world, this replica of a track laying machine was my first new locomotive purchase. 

Model: Simplifying track cleaning, this LGB model is a 'must have' locomotive for your railway. Two cleaning wheels rotate in the opposite direction to the driving wheels for effective cleaning of the track.

Length: 435mm Weight: 2900g LGB: 21670

Ffestiniog Railway (2)

Looking towards Porthmadog along The Cob and the adjacent A487.

Preparing for departure at Tan Y Bwlch.

The Welsh mountain side towers over the reservoir at Llyn Ystradau.

Awaiting the signal at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Iarll Meirionnydd quietly hisses in anticipation.

The disused turntable at Penrhyn.

Upnor Castle working at Boston Lodge.

Brake Van

Two brake vans were supplied to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway by Pickerings, each equipped with an end verandah, stove and lockers. When the G.W.R. took over they were fitted with sliding doors to the verandahs which were enclosed and given two windows.

Model: Mainly constructed from injection moulded plastic, with 45mm wheel sets fitted.
Length: 285mm Accucraft UK-BMS: R19-6B
Scale: 16mm to 1 foot (1:19)

Open Wagon - High Sided

Initially supplied by Pickerings to The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway and built to carry four tons, these wagons were equipped with drops sides, single brake and later fitted with safety chains.

Model: Mainly constructed from injection moulded plastic, with 45mm wheel sets fitted.

Length: 230mm Accucraft UK-BMS: R19-3B
Scale: 16mm to 1 foot (1:19)

HLR Stock: 5