Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal and other remedial works/single line control.

[LNERGE]

For a while now bridge 6 has given the infrastructure department some worries. It was rebuilt over the weekend using materials to hand. The rather flimsy remains of the old timber bridge can be made out in the background..

The new bridge is made from some secondhand cast girders. I know cast is frowned upon for railway structures but the span is small and the waybeams are continuous from one abutment to the other.

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The next job is to install these trusses as bridge 9. They have been hanging around for a while now and i can't remember where i bought them. Does anyone know who made them? I intend to install them as they are and let them rust considerably more than they are already. I thought i'd better check and see in case they are a rare item etc..

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The works around bridge 6 are complete. The final jobs were to top up the ballast and install the structure identification plate. I failed to locate matching ballast this year. At least i'll know what year i reballasted some of the track. The bridge plate was a trauma. Trying to buy the dog tag without having it engraved seemed beyond my local merchant. After much haggling the price reduced from £7.99 each to 10p. I still think he doesn't believe what i was going to do with them.

The next project involves a piece of old rail, a large washer, a section cut from a railway signalling relay spring retaining clip and a plastic 'thingy'... Can you guess what it is yet?

 

[alec dawe]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

Its a whim-wham for ducks to peck on?

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

My four year old has taken an interest in driving trains. We had to come up with an idea to protect the long single line..

 

[garrymartin]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The token device is a stonking idea have 5 stars

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The basic idea is.. you show up and the token is there it can be acquired and hung on the loco and off you go. If it not there you are expected to walk to the other end of the section to a similar post there*. If it is there it can be acquired and taken back to the waiting train, hung on the loco and off you go. If the token is not hanging on either post the chances are it is hanging on a loco coming towards you*.

*= There are two intermediate posts, both without the configuration reminder, where the token could also be hung once a train is shut inside and clear of the main running line. To join the main running line you have to hunt down the token from the three possible fixed locations. If it's not there.... it's most likely hanging on a loco coming towards you.

I think the basics of the system seem to be embedded in my daughter now. To legalise the whole line two more sections will need to be fitted. This section the configuration of the token is 'A' or a round hole. A 'B' (square) token has been made along with a representation of a Webb Large staff.

 

[Dtsteam]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

I'm with Garry - what an excellent idea ! I'm planning my next railway, which is going to be dead simple, and this is the sort of thing that will make it interesting to operate. Thanks for that.

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The next structure to receive attention has been Bridge 3. This is a three arch viaduct over water. Special dispensation was given for the line to open without the viaduct having it's parapets. 9 years later this work has finally been carried out.

Here is Br3 in the early days of the G&SLR back in 2004..

and after the ravages of time but with it's new parapets..

 

[playmofire]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

The token idea is very clever and involves some pretty advanced concepts for your children to grasp. Learning through play, I wonder if Michael Gove has heard of that? (Actually, I wonder if Michael Gove ever actually played.)

Oh yes, and some neat bridgework too.

 

[LNERGE]

Re:Greystone and Snailsworth bridge No6 renewal..

It is amazing what you can sneak in under the umbrella of 'play'..

 

[LNERGE]

A pleasant day spent doing some maintenance. Two sections of line needed reballasting, several sections had their ballast shoulders topped up and the prep work for the renewal of bridge 2 started. This has totally rotted away and no trace remained..

 

[LNERGE]

The G&SLR was a bit late awakening from it's winter slumbers this year as was LNERGE for various reasons. The G&SLRTUCC (the kids) had levelled complaints about the lack of services and the lack of passenger facilities. The recommissioning of the railway consisted of a brief trim of a few bits and pieces, cleaning the rails, servicing the spring points and turning on the power. The first train ran quite happily. A few broken bonds were identified but they are all covered by parallel paths so there's no telling when they broke and can be fixed in due course.

This years first project is to address the lack of passenger facilities. Designated stopping places were identified and the first to receive attention was Churchyard Halt..



There are a few thing's to perfect with the mould, the mix and release agent but it's a start.

Next up was Lakeside and Havawait Halt..



I'm not totally happy with the end result but it's got me off the hook with the TUCC for now.

 

[dunnyrail]

You certainly have a way with Concrete, love the Station in the post above.

The Token Concept is perfect and not unknown on other Garden Railways. In fact the Somesay Island has quite a few for the varying Single Lines. A boy on a Bike under the SM's instructions can be used to move the Token if it is at the wrong end of the line. This has been known to happen on the real thing. Also worth considering is to Colour the Tokens differently for the varying sections of line. Does help with identification for casual visitors to your line, also helps if the Posts are also so colored.

Also worth remembering that more than one Train can pass through a Section with one Token. Called Staff and Ticket Working, the first Train (or more) enters the Section with written authority and the final Train has the Token. Of course a Train comming the other way cannot enter the Section as it cannot have the Token till the last Train has cleared the section. What fun.
JonD