DEVELOPMENT – TRACKWORK (STEP 1.2.1) – Page 5
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Trackwork through Blaenavon (High Level) station – and the
end of the line (uploaded 21 November 2009 )
Since our last
upload on 14 October, the wood-for-wood sleeper replacement program has been
completed through the station, as have the last two panels south of the
station. These will support a sand-drag
(used, in emergencies to stop over-running trains) and, beyond that an earth
bank or some bufferstops. These will
mark the end of the line for several years, until further southward extension
(the so-called Phases 2 and 3) can be funded.
This may be many years away, and indeed the railway must demonstrate its
financial viability before these important phases can even be
contemplated. To see details of the
phases, return to ‘Main development plan’ and click on the ’The overall plan’.
This
photo-survey, probably overdetailed, nevertheless marks an important milestone
in the extension work – the completion of the sleeper replacement
programme. A little over a year ago,
there were fainthearts who said it couldn’t be done in time, and to think of
doing the bulk in concrete was complete lunacy.
It was the chance purchase of a second-hand minidigger that was the
turning point. However, the faithful
little machine pictured here has borne the brunt of the work, and has never
failed once in service. The last month
has, however, been marked by never-ending periods of wet and windy weather, and
those few fine spells that do appear, perversely always occur during the week,
when volunteers are generally out making a living. As if that were not enough there was a
requirement to lift the rails and sleepers on Bridge 19 (Varteg Road
The PWay team
has now reached the end of the line – but it is by no means the end of the
story. In the following weeks and
months, the team must undertake jobs further up the line – replace rusting
chairs under Bridge 18 (Forgeside Road) bridge, where water leaking from the
deck above has cause severe corrosion, install facing point locks and fittings,
pour many tons of ballast, pack and line the track, saw of burnt rail ends,
drill them, and move the rails up to fill the gap sawn off, replace timbers
under the points, and continue clearing ditches. There’s no shortage of things to do – and
then they have to start all over again on the Big Pit branch.
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The second panel in the station is cleared ready
for the rotten wooden sleepers to be replaced. Despite assistance from the minidigger, the
fine work must necessarily be undertaken by pick and shovel. Here the team rest briefly from their
labours and smile (well, almost) for the camera. 388 – 18 Oct 09 |
Looking generally northwards (ie up the line, the
minidigger is seen at work, whilst volunteer Charles starts exploratory
digging on Platform 2. This platform
is not properly really funded at this stage, but our undoubted expertise in
building platforms on the cheap, and the opportunity to ‘get on with it’ are
powerful incentives. On the right the
steel beams which are to support the canopy are roughly positioned. The containers on the new works train are
rather high, but just clear the beams – but not with the doors open – as we
have already found out!) 0413 – 18 Oct 09 |
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During a day of heavy and prolonged showers the sun
did briefly pop out. Sleepers are
exchanged on a one for one basis so that the pitch is maintained. 0445 – 26 Oct 09 |
You could be forgiven for thinking that all PWay
volunteers are built like the proverbial brick-built outhouse, but even
placing the keys alongside the track (and on top of the platform in this
case) by volunteers more slightly built makes a valuable contribution and
saves considerable time 0446 – 26 Oct 09 |
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It really is worth going back to page 1 and
comparing this image with the corresponding image close to the bottom of the
page. The transformation is amazing,
but, perhaps more significantly, the team that started had little experience,
but have learnt their trade and honed there skills in a remarkable fashion. 0447 – 26 Oct 09 |
The very end of the line – at least, for the next
few years. The last bed is cleared of soil and vegetation
in readiness for the sleepers to be changed.
In the distance can be seen one of the parapets of Bridge 19 (Varteg
Road) bridge. 0448 – 26 Oct 09 |
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The foot crossing is very temporarily replaced, in
readiness for the following weekend when the sleepers will be changed. In this area some of the sleepers were so
rotten they had simply disappeared! 0449 – 26 Oct 09 |
Looking the other way, nice new track awaits its
new ballast. It is worth looking at image
0021 dated 2 August to see just how dramatically the view has changed., 0450 – 26 Oct 09 |
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Local circumstances
arising as a result of the work on Bridge 19 meant that the last panel was re-sleepered
before the penultimate panel – which meant that the last panel was not really
the last panel – if you see what I mean!
Here the last rail is just about ready to be dropped into its chairs
on the new sleepers. 0584 – 15
Nov 09 |
And then, suddenly, it was
all over – all the sleepers had been laid. 0587 – 15
Nov 09 |
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The last fishplate is
bolted into position… 0588 – 15
Nov 09 |
…and here is the job –
finished at last. The New Works team still
have plenty to do on the building which has been significantly delayed by the
poor weather. 0589 – 15
Nov 09 |
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‘The PWay train homeward makes its weary way, and
leaves the world to silence and to me’.
The poet Gray’s ‘Elegy written in a country churchyard’ seems
perfectly in tune with the moment as the PWay train, and the PWay team, their
work finished here for a few weeks, trundle off back to the yard 0596 – 15 Nov 09 |
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