Projects

May 2009- Overhaul of 'Carpenter'

We have started to overhaul Carpenter, the 0-4-0 diesel-mechanical locomotive. This is mainly a tidying-up operation because an overhaul was started a few years ago, but not completed. See the stocklist page for more details about ‘Carpenter’. We have started work on the 24 volt electrical system. The batteries have been re-installed and most of the lights are working but the starter motor, dynamo and voltage regulator have not yet been tested. There is no battery isolating switch but we intend to install one. Work on the diesel engine was almost completed at the earlier overhaul. We have found some minor faults, e.g. missing bolts in an exhaust joint, and corrected them.

We have managed to raise the engine oil pressure to the required 30 pswe with the hand pump, so the main bearings appear to be in good condition. We hope to start the engine when the weather is warm enough and this should be a good photo-opportunity. The next stage is to re-assemble the air system and the final stage will be a re-paint. Carpenter is not suitable for passenger work because of the low top speed (11 mph) and she is not fitted with vacuum brakes. Howe ver, she could be used for permanent way work and demonstration goods trains. We hope to get Carpenter moving, under her own power, by December 2009.

May 2009- Wallingford Station Development Update

At last, some real progress has been made on tidying up Wallingford Station. Over the Winter, the usual crew have been working flat out and have extended the platform by about 30 feet. We now have a complete platform with ramp, that has been fenced with GWR cast iron railings. This replaces the derelict mess of concrete that up until now greeted every train arriving in the station. There are still many hours of work to finish the platform. This includes painting the railings, putting up a GWR lamp, siting the 'Wallingford' nameboard and perhaps a bench so that people can watch the trains arrive. There are more photos of the work carried out on the Gallery page.

So what plans does the society have for the station?
We have agreed a layout that we would like to see developed on the site in the long term. We realise this make take many years to acheive, so we are improving what we can with the resources we have now. This includes making some changes to track layout and providing better facilities. We have just taken delivery of a new portacabin. This will provide us with an expanded Cafe, which will tide us over until a more permanent building is built. We plan to revamp the musuem in the old cambrian railways coach, which the cafe will vacate. Ultimately, it is hoped to provide a new station building that can house better facilities for visitors. It is likely to be a steel framed, wood clad building, that, despite modern construction methods, will still resemble a GWR style building. The time scale in which this is achieved depends on funding and the number of volunteers.

Next, we may install a long siding along back of the platform which will be used for stock storage. Building a maintainance shed is also high on our list and can be build without altering the track layout for the time being.

In the longer term, we want to rebuild the platform on a new alignment with run-round loop and station fittings. Further sidings will also be added.

Permanent Way Upgrade 2005-2008

An inspection of the permanent way at the end of last year revealed that the track-work requires significant upgrading if we want to continue to run trains in the future. The worst affected section is on the Cholsey side of the Winterbrook Lane crossing, where some components of the trackwork date from the 1930s. Spot re-sleepering took place here about 5 years ago, however, the older sleepers have since deteriorated such that they require replacement.

The inspector felt that it was vital to have a plan in place and some of this work completed in time for the start of the season in 2005. With this in mind, the troops, or anyone willing to help, were mobilised after Christmas to begin the huge task of re-laying the track.

Since January 2005, there has been a team of people, toiling away every weekend out in the bleak conditions of Winterbrook Curve. A number of wooden and steel sleepers were spot re-sleepered in the first couple of weeks. This involves digging individual sleepers out of the ballast, jacking up the track and removing the sleeper. This is then replaced with a new sleeper and the track re-aligned. It sounds simple, but can be back breaking work and is very time consuming.

The fact that there were more bad sleepers than good in a number of panels, combined with the prohibitive weight of the concrete sleepers, meant that a different technique was then employed. It was decided that it would be more efficient to remove the track entirely, remove the ballast, lay new concrete sleepers and then re install the rails. Due to the weight of the concrete sleepers, this is not a task that can be completed by hand. Thankfully, Tom and Dave Buckingham were able to lay their hands on a forklift/ shovel. With the aid of this, an efficient operation was established, whereby the machine was employed to shovel up the ballast and to lower the concrete sleepers into place.

Excellent progress has been made in 2005 and over 300 sleepers have now been changed in this way. A further consignment of sleepers has now arrived and has been taken by train down to the works site. There are about 600 sleepers that will need changing in the not too distant future, so there is plenty more work to be done. If you don’t have a bad back and would like some exercise in the fresh air then please give us a call.