The pway world has taken in various tasks over the recent few weeks. This reporter was away on holiday for the last part of October and for early November so I'll start from the middle of November. A trackwork day saw us cutting rails and fitting a block joint just past the country end of Ropley station as part of S and T dept's masterplan. November gives almost unrestricted access to the track as there are usually no train movements, so we have been out and about replacing broken sleeper chairs mainly to the south of Ropley. Copious jacking and packing activities have been undertaken, mainly in Sun Lane cutting, but with other areas around Medstead receiving attention, we have also been distributing ballast around the railway. Northside Lane bridge has now been detreed, if thats a proper word, on its north face and on the retaining walls. Fencing matters have seen us in action behind Ropley Manor and now the cows have been kept out or loco dept have been kept in - you choose the answer!. Our final task for this year - apart from the Christmas lunch at Alresford, for which many thanks - was to assist in the move of a wheelset from Alton to Alresford. You may not be surprised to hear the upon arrival at Alresford it transpired that the wrong wheelset had been selected so it was all the way back to Alton to try again. Got it right second time though!.
Southall has again featured in our days and we have been replacing a rather tired piece of original track in the loco servicing stand so that the area can be concreted. The cycle shed area has been flattened and graded and some 70ft of track laid so that an accomodation coach can set down at the water tower end of the site. Our final task - believe that at your peril! - has been digging out around said water tower to find suitable hardstanding areas for scaffolding to stand upon.
This months picture was taken at Southall and we are not quite sure why Norman was trying to hide. Anyway it's not worked as you can see.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers, supporters and customers!
Richard