Wednesday 22 February 2023

Signal Wire Re-route Continues

 Tuesday 21st Feb

Today at Winchcombe we continued with the groundwork needed to re-route the signal wire to the outer home signal on the approach to Greet tunnel . This to free up access down the embankment to the trackbed south of the station.

Just to remind you this needs the installation of a vertical pulley wheel at the base of the signal ,  a horizontal crank and two horizontal pulley wheels.

So, stage one was to fill the hole we had previously dug at the base of the signal with concrete to mount the vertical pulley on its steel plate




We use a length of nylon rope to set the height so that the wire will clear the ballast under the rails 

Opposite this on the other side of the track an  angle crank on a steel plate bolted to two large concrete blocks has to be let into the ballast. Luckily we have the assistance of a mini digger to excavate a rather large hole to drop this assembly in.



Again setting the height with the aid of the rope across the track.


Eventually buried and firm.

Then, continuing on this side of the track, to position a horizontal pulley mounted on two similar concrete blocks. Again a large hole using the digger was required:




Then a repeat of this for the second horizontal pulley on the opposite side of the track (this position is between the bracket signal and where the access track comes down the embankment)




(excuse my thumb!)

That concludes today's work . 

Before we disconnect the existing signal wire we need to install a series of stakes along the opposite side of the track to carry the wire -a job for next time.

Just a quick review of last week. You will probably have heard that approval has been given for the construction of a proper workshop for the S * T Dept in Winchcombe yard (exciting news!). So there has been a significant effort (courtesy of Neil C with the telehandler to clear the site and relocate/scrap many pieces of railway "memorabilia" that have found their way to storage here over the years!





We look forward to a start of the earthworks

Curly

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