Tuesday 8th March
Off once again to Toddington to continue with all the re-connections associated with the new pointwork south of the station.
Firstly the replacement of the signal wire stakes. These are hammered into the ballast and then firmed up with a bit of concrete. Eight of these to do.
Malcolm W spent most of the day re-jointing signal wires - of which there are many - we estimated that about 50 joints are required. He ended up with some fairly rough and sore fingers.
I may have described these joints in a past blog but here is a quick teminder. The wire is threaded through a thimble and cut off leaving about six inches protruding. Each of the seven strands of wire is then teased out and then sequentially wound round the entry wire. This gives a very reliable joint which will not give .
Malcolm's knees also taking a pounding, not the best position for doing this!
Because the new pointwork is now in a different position most of the concrete blocks supporting the angle cranks have to be moved - so some more serious ballast digging to get them in the right position
And for the angle crank across to the points
This will need a bit of cutting of point rodding to connect up but after a bit of block adjustment this should be OK.
One of the problems with unbolting these fasteners which have been buried in these blocks for years is that you have to get a spanner inside a limited space underneath to stop them from turning when you are trying to undo the nut on top. So the four blue nuts you can see holding the two bars here have a welded strip on the bolt head underneath to prevent it turning.
And unless you have a large enough clearance round the block, ballast keeps falling in to impede access!
Neil C has been finishing off the wiring of the motor point and associated connections at the north end of Toddington station.
No photos I'm afraid but I am reliably informed that the motor point which was removed from Winchcombe adjacent to the embankment works (now completed) has now been put back and re-connected. Just a few more signal wire stakes to replace once the remainder of the contractors access road adjacent to the track has been levelled.
So fingers crossed for the weekend!!
Curly
PS I have recently visited relations in Lancaster and have been made aware of an interesting project that is being launched later this year. This is a major investment planned for Morecambe to build a similar site comparable to the Eden Project in Cornwall called Eden Project North (could be part of the government's levelling agenda??)
Worth a look on www.edenproject.com
Morecambe Bay's Tidal Power source is more important right now than some fancy plant project , sadly neglected by Government as well as Swansea Bay , the Severn Estuary and the Wash .4 souurces of energy twice a day guaranteed .
ReplyDeleteWind power is not the answer to save our island's energy crisis , now that we have to cut off Russian Gas supply . john M .
Unfortunately vanity trumps hard reality every time, these days, though it is fooling fewer. Nonetheless, millions of people are in for a very harsh awakening this year.
DeleteWell done on the knee crippling wire connections.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Paul.
I see a new signal lady in the video of the first train arriving at Cheltenham on GWR'sFacebook page . When is Broadway Signal Box going to open , long overdue .
ReplyDeleteHave you trained up more volunteers to become signalmen , so Broadway can be manned this year . john M.
Until platform 2 is usable ie all or part tarmaced and the base for the waiting room prepared then there is the possibility of opening up. We will also need to connect up the pointwork to the box ie remove the ground frame (south) and hand operated unit at the headshunt.
DeleteTraining of signalman continues.
Good luck in getting signalman asap but i cannot see why you delay on Platform 2 when other boxes are accessed via tracks and no platforms ,so why wait for tarmac platform base and waiting room base which are not relevant to opening the box , 6 years is a long time to wait .
ReplyDeleteI have heard that Angela Rowbotham is the signalady in the video on opening train of 2022 into Cheltenham .as well as a valued member of the Loco dept . Congratulations Angela , any more ladies coming through ? john M.
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