15th March 2025
A blistering 8 degrees maximum today, don't know why David G needs to go abroad!!! Seven friends today and were:- Alan A, June, Andrew, Hayden plus Tim, Alan S, Andy, Dave M, Phil, Nick and Robin. Peter was unable to attend but came on the Friday to replace the broken toilet door handle. Alan S was first to start work on the level crossing at 10.30, the rest of us arrived about 10.40 so he had to stop and let us in. An extremely productive day and thanks to June for the teas and cakes.
Baytree 7 & 9 signal post was post creted in place and remained in situ as we also started to put some signals out. It was noted that some Spinney signals have severe rot at their bottom and will need attention and new style mounting posts next year. Alan A and Andrew ran a new cable for a diverted power supply and can be seen threading it under the track between Baytree and Dingly. Dave M and Andy also got involved with prunning dead wooden the level crossing area. Nick finished off the water tower at Dingly and more news about this next time when we attempt to run a water supply to it. Dave M has donated two trees which are destined to go behind the refurbished water tower at Dingly and currently there are two dead bushes which need removing. Robin continued to do some external wiring whilst Andrew did some work in Baytree signal box and says he is nearly 85% there for the track circuit and signal wiring. This will mean that all wiring in / around and between Baytree and Spinney signal boxes is new, hopefully this will cut down on the failures we have had in the past. Phil replaced a few sleepers and started to erect the signals whilst I dug some holes and filled them in again, well that's what it feels like but was in fact for the track circuit and signal cabling.
Level Crossing 2 project
I have added a full size picture as it adds to question, what is happening?
- Robin practicing his karaoke
- Robin blowing down the pipe as a warning that work is about to start
- Nick and Andy don't like the sound of either and making a quick exit stage left
Work started promptly on digging up the old level crossing using a kango. Plastic pre made girders were installed and levelled before cementing in place. Andy has just taken rest (so he says) whilst Dave M fills the cement mixer. Nick can be seen showing off his firing skills but with cement. Once completed, a wooden bridge was made to enable us to get out without damaging the days work. Next time, the rails require straightening before final fitment.
1st March 2025
Foggy start to the day but the sun came out and was another productive day, I was late due to emergency retail therapy, in other words, deeply out of pocket, but seemed to have missed all the standing around and chit chat on what to do next. When I arrived, Mick was loading his class 20 locomotive into his van to take home for maintenance. Nine friends today and were Alan, June, Andrew plus Tim, Robin, Nick, Mick, Dave M, Dave MB, Andy, Paul and Peter and can be seen completing various tasks. David G was not available as preparing for another SKI holiday in the Caribbean for a warmer climate, who says it is cold here!!! Righthand picture shows Nick and Mick overhauling the brakes on another coach. Thanks to Dave MB for a picture and June for the teas and cakes.
Rewiring project
Two pictures above show the amount of work completed at Baytree, cables buried and track ballasted, whilst the Baytree signal numbers 7 & 9 ground post was dug out and again was attached to a lot of concrete and difficult to remove, but brut force and ignorance won the day. It had to be removed as it was in the way of where the new posts will be located. I am making new signal posts in readiness for the next meeting. Robin can be seen offering guidance as project manager and in the lefthand picture he can be seen taking a well earned lie down. Andrew has been working hard in the Baytree signal box and has disconnected all the old wiring. New wires are advanced into the signal box and will be the the next phase to correctly wire them in.
Dingly Dell project
Dingly Dell saw a lot of action today with tree pruning and tidying up the area, it now looks very smart. Andy can be seen dancing on his new ballast, his method of tamping!! Nick can be seen installing a new water column made by Andy Gelson and this has now been taken home for painting. I did offer to paint it yellow and black but this was refused......
End of the day
The day finished earlier then usual as all projects had ground to a halt, I am still suffering so left early and as Robin said, 'I can't be late twice in one day'. Next time I plan to erect Baytree signals 7 & 9 on new posts and it will be the start of the level crossing project.
15th February 2025
A damp and cold day if you sat around, but we were all mostly doing something which kept us warm. Bakers dozen (Thirteen) attended today and were:- June, Alan, Andrew, Hayden plus Tim, Dave M, Andy, Mick, Nick, Alan S, Phil, Jamie, Henry, Robin, Peter, David G and Paul, a very good turnout. Book of excuses received from David D and Dave MB. Seriously though, David D, get an electric coat like Robin and Nick, it will be great to see you. Picture shows the bench seat David G and I shared for lunch with an unusual ending where the seat collapsed, I blame David G's wallet as it has not been used for a long time and therefore over weight. Also of note is David G is sporting a new jacket, not railway orange and CLEAN. Mick had a few spare, don't know what happed to the old jacket but even the bonfire refused it. I have returned Baytree signals 3 & 5 gantry which I have drilled and sleeved and have taken home the corresponding distant signal gantry to fit with the sleeves where the securing bolts pass through, Robin has also been doing some homework and producing stuff quicker than we can install. Tasks today involved:-
- Dingly water tower
- Dingly ash pit road
- Baytree cable running including trenches at Baytree
- Spot resleepering
Thanks to June for the teas and cakes, Phil brought along cakes with a drop of the local ale in the ingredients and Dave M for submitting a photo.
Dingly projects
Great progress at Dingly, Alan S continued with the water tower improvement development plan and now has all the bricks laid and waiting for the facia to hide the water butt, which will be fitted with a transparent tube up the side as a water level guide at a later date. The trackside paving slabs were also extended to the water butt.
Dave M and Andy tidied, levelled and paved the area at the Dingly ash pit road whilst Mick can be seen holding up the buffer stops offering his advice. The paving slabs look good and we now need a way of collecting the ash to avoid making the place a tip again. They also cleared the Old Oak turntable from all the debris from the trees.
Odd job projects
Andrew continued with the installation of the Baytree signal box power supply, and I noted the box was wall mounted with components inserted but no wires yet, a large project.
Jamie, Henry and Phil were noted for spot resleepering as we have many that require replacing in the bridge area. Nick and Mick continued with working on the carriage fleet and managed to repipe and reblock a passenger coach and tested with a vacuum pump which proved successful. Nick bought along two sizes of plastic brake blocks but not sure which type they used.
Rewiring project
Lefthand picture shows Jamie digging a trench and seven people (including myself) watching to make sure he does it right. Righthand picture shows one of the trenches dug today in the baytree / bridge area, conduit laid and then buried, which then shows little trace of any work done. Exhausting it was, dealing with passing under tree roots and edging slabs etc. Cables also run to connect the lines either side of the bridge so that we do not rely on the bridge tracks for the track circuits.
1st February 2025
Ten friends arrived and were:- June, Alan, Andrew plus Tim, Alan S, Mick, Dave M, Dave MB, Robin, Nick, Phil, Peter and David G. No David D - no flapjack however, Phil provided some very testy homemade cakes, competition ON. Thanks to June for the teas and cakes.
If it wasn't for the rail lines you could be forgiven for thinking these pictures are associated with fishing!!! Robin is explaining the size of fish that allegedly got away and Dave MB is hauling it in..... All part of the cable running, see below.
Main characters for cable running were, Phil, Peter with site supervisor, Robin. As per last meeting, the domestic vacuum was used to suck the pull wire through which was then used to pull the cables. Right hand picture shows Peter with one of the signals which he repaired at home. Repair included, attention to the base and a repaint and the same for the distant signal bracket. The signal is now in my workshop for the bracket holes to be drilled and sleeved. Standing joke of the day was that Peter required a variety of tools for the tasks and each time it involved a trip to the car!!! Perhaps bring the car nearer or better still, bring tool box nearer. Peter also mounted new signal connector socket at signals BE 1 and 10 which were moved at the last meeting.
Andrew is concentrating on providing new power supplies to the signal boxes and today he was working on the cabinet to house it in and will go in to Baytree signal box. Picture shows Andrew working under supervision from Alan A. This project is part of the re wiring scheme to try and over come the track circuit and other signalling issues that we have been subject to.
Nick and Mick continued to overhaul the coaching stock and found some piping was leaking. Not sure of their progress.
David G decided to go on a railway walk about as that's all I saw him do, however on his walk about it transpires that he was actually doing something, David was checking location and condition of all insulated block joints (IBJ) and making a record. Dave MB concentrated on clearing the debris from between the tunnels, observed using the large wheel barrow so presume he had to do a full circuit each time as there is not enough room to turn.
A lot of action at Dingly, Alan S continued with the water tower development improvement scheme (Facia for shorter words) and can be seen adding courses of bricks on to the concrete that was completed at the last meeting. Dave M cleared the way and installed a paved area next to the loco run round road and this will be extended once the water tower development improvement scheme is finished. All this was monitored by Mick and Nick and Mick can be seen holding the gantry post up in the unlikely event that it could fall over or he could. Tim installed paving bricks along the edge of the Dingly ash pit road to help maintain the ballast as it had slipped away.
18th January 2025
It seemed colder today than two weeks ago when we had frost. Ten friends arrived and were:- June, Alan, Andrew plus Tim, Alan, Dave M, Dave MB, Robin, Nick, Phil, Jamie, Henry and David D. Peter bowed out due to the A3 road closure and was a very wise decision as it took me 30 mins longer to do the journey and it appears others were affected but oblivious to the reason why. David G left the country for warmer climate but hopes to return for the next meeting whilst David D emailed to say he would brave the cold to meet everyone for lunch and of course deliver the famous flapjack. Dave MB arrived as lunch finished so David D left. Thanks to June for the supply of tea and cakes in the cold environment.
On the agenda today was:-
- Trying to get there because A3 was partially closed
- Talking
- More talking
- Bit of work
- Lunch
- Repeat of morning
Nick and Mick concentrated on overhauling some coaches and wagons by turning them over, lubricating and testing the vacuum brakes. New vacuum brake cylinders were offered up to see if an improvement could be made. Decision yet to be made. Dave MB inspected the tunnels and track between them and due to it always being damp, there is a lot of moss which will need some treatment.
Tim installed the 3rd signal post support for this year at SY 18 signal. This was moved to be nearer the track as the track alignment was moved many years ago but the signal remained at the old location, far left. I can think of main line signals that need to be moved and one especially is at Alton where the track was singled but the signal remains where it always has been. Note the concrete used to hold the old signal post which was also only one piece of aluminium angle. All signals with these new signal supports keep the signal post clear of the ground to prevent the damp causing the wood to rot. Peter has one signal at home which is severely damaged due to rot and is repairing, hopefully ready for next meeting.
Alan and Dave M worked together and started with reinstatement of the bridge side railings. New coach bolts were drilled into the concrete and larger bolts used, and as these are larger it is hoped to give more support and stability.
Righthand picture shows the start to the Dingly water tower which will eventually look like a water tower with the water butt hidden. Concrete foundation is being prepared for bricks which will be added next time.
Lefthand picture shows Robin mounting a box on a post. He managed to fix three boxes with six bolts and I watched him struggle with the last one before taking this picture - I then offered my assistance!!!! Jamie and Henry can be seen spot resleepering in the distance.
Phil continued with his hard task of spot resleepering and managed to replace eleven sleepers which is a good record beating Jamie and Henry by eight.....
Good progress made today with several projects on the go.
4th January 2025
Happy new Year to all.
Unfortunately we ended last year with the sad loss of Millie, who can be seen in the picture above with June on a rare outing on a train. Millie was not one for riding on the trains but often ran alongside it when her mum was onboard. She was always around whenever food appeared and always greeted everyone when they arrived, usually with something that she’d like them to throw for her. Millie passed away very unexpectedly from complications after routine surgery. We’ll miss her.
Thanks to David D and G for covering me during my absence, maybe he would like to take on a permanent position!
Today was forecast as cold with ice on the windscreens, however eight hard nuts arrived and were:- June, Alan plus Tim, Dave M, Dave MB, Robin, Nick, Andy, Phil and Peter. David G said it was too cold to travel that far and will not be at the next meeting as he will be somewhere too hot. David D was missing today and this was not realised until cake plate arrived with NO flap jack.
With eight friends, a lot of progress was made, some suggest less time to stand around and chat....... Phil took on the challenge of spot sleeper replacement which is a tough challenge in the frozen ballast and wearing on the knees, even with a padded garden kneeling pad. Phil was also observed clearing out the remaining leaves from Old Oak turn table, there can't be any more leaves, surely...
David MB was observed carrying a screw driver, but not sure what for or just taking it for a walk.
The bridge railings were examined and fell off in someones hand, another fixing job. At the branch junction, work involved Nick replacing the micro switches on the sprung point as the previous switch was faulty and new one will be wired into the new wiring which is on track for the summer running, I've said it now.. As the telephones have not been used for many years and mobile phone communication has taken over, it was decided to remove the line side telephone as the support bracket had rotted away. Dave M can be seen trying to phone for a pizza or phone a friend was suggested. Andy, Dave M and Nick got involved with major tree pruning and Andy can be seen telling Dave M what to do with a saw in his hand, must be other ways of asking!!!
Changes made to the location of signals at the junction where the Baytree line joins the loop. I have made new signal support brackets for BE 1 and BE 10 signals plus inserted sleeves in the signals for the bolts to pass through. Not only were the signals repositioned, they were swapped over so that BE 1 became BE 10 (Signals are different heights and so the Identification plates were swapped over). This again was for signal sighting for drivers and the signaller in Baytree signal box. BE 10 is now repositioned on the left hand side of the track so no excuses for missing it, if you do, you will be sent to Specsavers. Peter continued installing his signal connector and support brackets.
Finally as part of the rewiring scheme, new conduit has been laid out, Peter and Dave MB can be seen threading a pull wire through the conduit. This was cleverly achieved by using a domestic vacuum creating device, otherwise referred to as a hoover, which sucked the pull wire through. Day finished with a cup of tea and a warm mince pie as the light began to fade. Thanks to June for the catering.
14th December 2024
David D again, watch out Tim!
Not so many friends present today. It was quite cold, but dry. There were even one or two brief flashes of sunlight, but they didn’t help the temperature much. Many thanks to June for the refreshments, Alan A, Andrew and Heyden were busy on other construction projects.
Friends present were:- Robin, Nick, Andy, Phil, Peter, Dave Marsh and myself. I completed my map of the defective sleepers, but had to leave early, sorry, my health is still limiting my contribution.
Dave, Nick and Andy told me they had mostly just chatted, but I have it on authority that they dug several holes (and filled in another hole that Peter had just dug!).
Peter continued the programme of replacing all the signal connector mountings, like all these tasks, it is never ending, but it will be a more robust system when completed.
Phil made a start in spot replacing defective sleepers, a monumental task, highlighted by the map I have produced. There are no seriously defective lengths requiring complete re-laying, but some of the older re-laid stretches, dating back about 20 years are beginning to show their age.
Robin made an overall survey of prospected work, possibly including a couple of short lengths on the main line that would benefit from a measure of re-alignment, and he and Peter started laying out lengths of conduit for carrying wiring through the trunking put in last time.
As deputy News Writer, may I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
30th November 2024
Well, with Tim and Heather away, I’m afraid you have to put up with my attempt at ‘The News’. It won’t be half as interesting and entertaining as Tim’s efforts, but here goes.
The weather was not bad, mostly dry, and not too cold considering the date. We were happy to have our hosts, Alan and June, in attendance, thank you June for the welcome refreshments. Also present were ‘the four Davids’, Grant, Marsh, MB and me, Alan S, Robin, Mick, Peter, Andy and Jamie. (Have I missed anyone?)
The main work undertaken was the laying into a trench a pipe so that the mice can run from one side to the other at the bridges without being squashed by the traffic. What! Oh, the mouse is so that the new signal wiring can be pulled through to extend the rewiring process. By the finish (seen on the left) you would not suspect the ground had been disturbed, well done everyone, it should now be an easy task to connect the new wiring across the gap.
This was not by any means however the only work being done, I think I have the list correct, please advise me if otherwise. Jamie and David MB worked hard to clear the immense carpet of leaves that the recent gales had brought down, including in the cutting, a truly monumental task. Peter continued the long task of repairing and replacing signal and point sockets, and also got the light in DD box working by replacing the faulty switch. (He also brought back the now functioning OO12 signal, thank you). Robin carried out an assessment of the work required this winter and then continued the task of bringing the new wiring into service. I made an initial assessment of the number of rotten sleepers around the railway, it comes to about 50 spread around, mostly in isolated cases, I have generated a map shewing their locations.
The crossing of the drive that was not rebuilt last winter is being prepared for re-building to the much improved standard of the one that was, the work there will continue.
If I have missed anything, please let me know. David D.
16th November, Pack away
It has been almost impossible to get a group photo, so the lunchtime stop will have to do. Left to right - Robin and Alan S (both standing) centre line - Heather, Peter, Dave M, Mick, Phil, righthand side - David D and David G (alleged orange coat). Jamie and Henry had to leave early and I was behind the camera, totalling 12 friends today. We must try and get one next year with everyone. Thanks to June for the teas and cakes.
Pack up
That time of year where we wash and store the signals to avoid the winter weather. It also gives us a chance to examine and identify any repairs required. A few signals need some TLC with new aspects and paint whilst some now have rotten stems. I have taken three signals home to make new bases and these are all due for repositioning. It goes without saying, the railway was covered in leaves and had to be swept up. Not in camera was Heather who concentrated on Old Oak area. Lefthand picture shows Phil changing a light bulb, so the question is - How many people does it take to change a light bulb? This signal fault turned out to be a loose wire but all signals have been checked and new bulbs are required for next year.
Winter projects
Alan S and Dave M started on the level crossing project which involved lifting the rails on the other part of the crossing and will be dug out to have the same treatment as the other line which was last years winter project. Peter continued making and installing stands to hold the electrical sockets for the points and signals.
With signals away or identified for repair, attention can be turned to the following:-
- Level crossing
- Spot sleeper replacement
- Trench across the road at the bridge
- New wiring trunking from Baytree
- New design for a water tower at Dingly
- Signal repairs