DEVELOPMENT – TRACKWORK (STEP 1.2.1) – Page 3

Progress during December 2008 (uploaded 2 February 2009)

The diagram below attempts to map progress on track renewal work in easy to grasp form, and is essentially accurate and to scale. The extension work stretches from north to south and is shown extending from left to right. Major features are shown in black above and below the main part of the diagram. Above the diagram, from left to right, are the Rail over Rail bridge (bridge 12), Forgeside Road bridge (Bridge 18) and the Platform 1 at Blaenavon (High Level). Below the diagram, and also left to right are the level crossing immediately south of Furnace Sidings, Old Pit Road bridge (bridge 13), New Pit Road bridge (bridge 14), Cyclepath bridge (bridge 16). In the main part of the diagram, red areas are areas where sleepers (whether concrete or wood) have been laid recently, the long yellow part represents where concrete sleepers were laid pre-preservation. Green areas represent areas where sleepers (again, whether concrete or wood) have been dropped ready for relaying. The diagram reflects the situation on 20 November, shortly before work was suspended to prepare for Santa Specials

Track progress diagram 20 Nov

This unselfconsciously posed picture shows a group of eleven cheerful volunteers who have just barred almost a ton of rail into its chairs. With a difficult balance to be struck between expenditure and timescale, an early investment in significant number of handtools has greatly eased the work load and lifted the morale of the PWay crew.

With December effectively written off with most manpower drafted onto Santa Specials, the progress made by 1 February and since 20 November is truly remarkable, particularly in view of the unremitting cold, and with several weekends diverted to bridge work in support of the bridge contractors. Indeed, since 22 January, work below Old Pit road bridge has been made impossible, since the PWay train cannot now cross bridges when the rails are removed. Unfortunately, this situation will persist for three or four months.

Progress during January 2009 (uploaded 2 February 2009)

The PWay team are supposed to put track in – not take it out – but here is Doncaster’s Culvert (Br 17) stripped of rail. Since the rail had to be lifted in order to allow contractors to work on the culvert it seemed sensible to remove the redundant wooden sleepers. On the right are the replacement concrete sleepers. South of this point,from this date, workers, particularly those at Blaenavon (High Level) became marooned.

1827rr

A few weeks later the ‘difficult’ Old Pit Road bridge (Br 13) was stripped of rails and chairs in readiness for contractors. Looking north beyond the bridge the PWay team, who had already relaid the track north of this bridge are looking at their next task – underneath the Rail over Rail bridge (Br 12)

1872rr

In raw cold, and a bitter wind coming under the bridge, the PWay team complete another wood-concrete replacement panel. This panel was particularly difficult since headroom had to maintained under the bridge with the thicker sleepers. As it was, an important 0.5 inch was gained

1918rr.

Compare this diagram, with that at the top of the page in order to see that despite getting ready for Santa Specials, doing Santa Specials, recovering from Santa Specials – and even recovering from Christmas itself, good progress was made, even though it has been bitterly cold.

Track progress 1 Feb 09

Moving north into the cutting (uploaded 22 April 2009)

With the blockade caused by the bridges being blocked, the PWay team retreated northwards to the cutting just north of the Rail-over-Rail bridge (Bridge 12). This was an area that had been sodden for many years due to waterways being partially or wholly blocked. A few days with the minidigger improved matters though there remains a lot of damage to be repaired, especially in channels with brick or stone sidewalls and inverts, but this sort of work can wait till the line re-opens and things are quieter – and warmer!

Class 73electro-diesel loco 73126 cautiously drops into the cutting with men and equipment ready for another session of tracklaying.

1917rr

Looking vertically downwards from the southern parapet of Bridge 12, we eee a short lenth of track where wooden sleepers have already been replaced by sleepers of concrete

1991rr

Whilst looking northwards from the northern parapet into the cutting we see the next length of track climbing steeply and curving away to the right

1993rr

In better weather we see the ranks of concrete sleepers dropped ready to go in. The wooden sleepers in this area were the worst over the whole extension, having been rotted by overflowing drainage channels.

2010rr

A few days later on the opposite side of the line rotten sleepers begin to pile up, whilst the concrete sleepers are already in position. The drains on both left the right had already been the subject of attention.

2029rr

Nearing the middle of the cutting with yet more concrete sleepers await installation. The new ‘Down Exchange Sidings’ are on the left, whilst peeping out from under the sleepers on the right is a rail which will shortly form the first part of the new branch line Big Pit

2101rr

The cutting is usually a gloomy place, but the lengthening days, higher temperatures, and hard physical work have warmed up this cheerful group of Permanent Way workers as they toil their way up the cutting. On the left a cleared drain gurgles happily, and the sodden trackbed dries out nicely

2032rr

Here, as a development of earlier diagrams, is a ‘composite’ view of track re-laying progress on the first day of December, February, March and April. As a new feature, points (called ‘switches and crossings’, or simply S&C) are shown in pale purple. The work outstanding is beginning to look increasingly modest

1 Dec 08

1 Feb 09

1 Mar 09

1 Apr 09

Here on 5 April, Bridge 16 (Cycleway) is seen completed, but with the track either side still in original form.

2193rr 5Apr09

The same view a few weeks later shows Campaign NY, which started unexpectedly on 19 April, when a scratch team of six PWay workers became available and laid three panels of track in a day

2336rr 22Apr09

Viewed from the other end into a bright but hazy sun, three 60ft panel of newly laid concrete sleepered track stretches away northwards

2338rr 22 Apr09

DEVELOPMENT – TRACKWORK (STEP 1.2.1) – Page 3

Progress during December 2008 (uploaded 2 February 2009)

Track progress diagram 20 Nov

More sleepers being dropped – early part of Campaign OO

Looking north towards ‘Doncaster’s Culvert’ (bridge 17). Sleepers have been dropped in readiness for Campaign NY

In pouring rain, towards the south end of Campaign OO, another rail is inched towards its ‘dropping in’ position

Progress during January 2009 (uploaded 2 February 2009)

1827rr

1872rr

In raw cold, and a bitter wind coming under the bridge, the PWay team complete another wood-concrete replacement panel. This panel was particularly difficult since headroom had to maintained under the bridge with the thicker sleepers. As it was, an important 0.5 inch was gained

1918rr.

Compare this diagram, with that at the top of the page in order to see that despite getting ready for Santa Specials, doing Santa Specials, recovering from Santa Specials – and even recovering from Christmas itself, good progress was made, even though it has been bitterly cold.

Track progress 1 Feb 09

Moving north into the cutting (uploaded 22 April 2009)

Class 73electro-diesel loco 73126 cautiously drops into the cutting with men and equipment ready for another session of tracklaying.

1917rr

Looking vertically downwards from the southern parapet of Bridge 12, we eee a short lenth of track where wooden sleepers have already been replaced by sleepers of concrete

1991rr

Whilst looking northwards from the northern parapet into the cutting we see the next length of track climbing steeply and curving away to the right

1993rr

In better weather we see the ranks of concrete sleepers dropped ready to go in. The wooden sleepers in this area were the worst over the whole extension, having been rotted by overflowing drainage channels.

2010rr

A few days later on the opposite side of the line rotten sleepers begin to pile up, whilst the concrete sleepers are already in position. The drains on both left the right had already been the subject of attention.

2029rr

Nearing the middle of the cutting with yet more concrete sleepers await installation. The new ‘Down Exchange Sidings’ are on the left, whilst peeping out from under the sleepers on the right is a rail which will shortly form the first part of the new branch line Big Pit

2101rr

The cutting is usually a gloomy place, but the lengthening days, higher temperatures, and hard physical work have warmed up this cheerful group of Permanent Way workers as they toil their way up the cutting. On the left a cleared drain gurgles happily, and the sodden trackbed dries out nicely

2032rr

Here on 5 April, Bridge 16 (Cycleway) is seen completed, but with the track either side still in original form.

2193rr 5Apr09

The same view a few weeks later shows Campaign NY, which started unexpectedly on 19 April, when a scratch team of six PWay workers became available and laid three panels of track in a day

2336rr 22Apr09

Viewed from the other end into a bright but hazy sun, three 60ft panel of newly laid concrete sleepered track stretches away northwards

2338rr 22 Apr09