progress on the GWRR (Great Westcott RailRoad)

Westcott

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Work has progressed slowly over the winter, whenever it's been not too cold and not too wet.
I'm still completing the difficult 20 metres through the old rough ground and trees at the back of the garden.
To make it as difficult as possible for myself, it's double track to Fn3 clearances, min 3m (10') radius curves, and max gradient of 1:70 (1.4%).
Nothing like the actual shape of the ground, so a tunnel, deep cuttings, and 5m of bridges is needed.
The code 250 track is supported on a ladder made from strips of recycled plastic.

As a reminder, here's the view before work started -

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And here's the excavations started through the left hand side of the above photo -

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Excavations complete, some tunnel and cutting lining slabs, and track ladder in place -

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Further round, heading towards the main bridges the ladder is being assembled -

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Looking back from the start of the bridges, both ladders in place, and track bent and roughly laid in place on one road.
The contractor's first loco and its driver are shown as well -

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And finally, further back, ballasting is well under way from where the ladder goes from trestle to ground level -

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Only the bit from the bridge to the other side of the tunnel has the second track for now.
This will let me finish the tunnel, and then complete a single track circuit.
Double tracking will be completed later.

That's all for now, folks!
 

minimans

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Oh this is going to look most excellent running through the tree's!! But that tree right next to the track is going to cause some upset as it grow's.........................
 

Westcott

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minimans said:
... But that tree right next to the track is going to cause some upset as it grows.....

Hi Minimans,

Yes, the clearances are OK at the moment.
The tree and I had a chat when I was laying out the route, and we agreed that he would not grow any more, in return for not being rooted out there and then!
I also demonstrated Mr Chainsaw at work to him "pour encourager les autres".

Hamish.
 

Steve

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Brilliant Hamish , and so local to me parents:clap:
 

Richie

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Nice work Hamish:clap: I bet all that digging kept you warm in the cold weather:happy:
 

Bram

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Skillful piece of civil engineering there Hamish, I do hope the tree dosen't disappoint
 

Westcott

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Steve,
Roughly where do your parents live?

Richie,
Unfortunately I did the digging in the summer, when the clay was rock-hard.
Had to use a picaxe, and yes it was warm work indeed.
Can I bring some of my US stock up to your line sometime, please?

Bram,
Thanks!
I suspect that the old saying "trees will be trees" will turn out to be as true as ever.

Hamish
 

Richie

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Westcott said:
Steve,
Roughly where do your parents live?

Richie,
Unfortunately I did the digging in the summer, when the clay was rock-hard.
Had to use a picaxe, and yes it was warm work indeed.
Can I bring some of my US stock up to your line sometime, please?

Bram,
Thanks!
I suspect that the old saying "trees will be trees" will turn out to be as true as ever.

Hamish

Hi Hamish
When the weather improves your more than welcome to come and run some stock on my line .