John_Hughes Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Fascinating to see, and a good job done by all! Nice to see the idiocies of the past being corrected. And was it indeed reopened on time this morning? I'm keeping stumm... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 2, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 2, 2013 Fascinating to see, and a good job done by all! Nice to see the idiocies of the past being corrected. And was it indeed reopened on time this morning? I'm keeping stumm... Alas it would seem to be over-running by a few hours. Currently shown on the 'net as replacement 'buses until c.10.30 this morning. Presumably the S&T testing has not gone to plan or something happened which stopped them getting in on time? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hughes Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Alas it would seem to be over-running by a few hours. Currently shown on the 'net as replacement 'buses until c.10.30 this morning. Presumably the S&T testing has not gone to plan or something happened which stopped them getting in on time? A good job done by all in the end, I think! I see it's now the turn of the Wrexham line, another very necessary bit of work that's been needing doing for years - well, ever since some chump singled it, really! . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffalo Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I have found the whole thread fascinating and informative, thanks to all involved! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted September 3, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 3, 2013 But not so character building. I once soon after privatisation had to move and install a 600' rail using a rail scooters. The contract gang who were all painters (white splodges all over their boots and clothes) of limited PW experience thought I was kidding when I told them it weighed 10 tons and we were moving it 200 yards by hand. I won't say we were tight for manpower but every time I crossed a low point in the ballast shoulder my feet left the ground, and I was left dangling from the end of the scooter handle. For some strange reason I never saw that gang again. Christ, was it in one piece?? That's 9 chain of rail! You must have had about 18 scooters and 40 odd men! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrg1 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 Pleased to see this line re-doubled. What other investments would RMweb members like to see? Instead of wasting money on HS2, I think that re-doubling the Salisbury-Exeter line and even electrifying it would be high on the list. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted September 3, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 3, 2013 Pleased to see this line re-doubled. What other investments would RMweb members like to see? Instead of wasting money on HS2, I think that re-doubling the Salisbury-Exeter line and even electrifying it would be high on the list. Agreed. I would like to see another in-land route by-passing the Devon sea wall. This would supplement it rather than be instead of! Would be a snip compared with with HS2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edfielden Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 First-posting lurker here! I live in Cirencester so I took the opportunity to have a little look up the line from West Swindon to Kemble on Sunday just before the handback. I was curious that the track that was to reopen on Monday seemed to be on the 'down' side from Swindon as far as Purton, but on the 'up' side from Minety to Kemble. So somewhere between Purton & Minety there must be a 'wiggle'...! I spoke to a worker at Minety Crossing who was knocking off for the day - he tells me the road crossing is due to reopen on 9th September - initially still as a manually operated manned crossing. As an aside, does anyone know whether there is a lower speed restriction on the line as it is at the moment? It used to be 80-90mph as a single line. View WNW from Moredon Bridge (new track on right ('up' side) is unfinished in distance): Purton Crossing, looking WNW (no new track laid here, existing track on 'down' side of alignment): Minety Crossing (new completed track on 'up' side, 2ft lower than old track at 'down' side): Oaksey (old platforms removed, new track on 'up' side; gaps in old track on 'down' side): Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted September 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 3, 2013 Pleased to see this line re-doubled. What other investments would RMweb members like to see? Instead of wasting money on HS2, I think that re-doubling the Salisbury-Exeter line and even electrifying it would be high on the list. Please elucidate. Why would HS2 be a waste of money? Better still, make such statements on the HS2 thread instead of the Swindon Kemble redoubled thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted September 3, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 3, 2013 Agreed. I would like to see another in-land route by-passing the Devon sea wall. This would supplement it rather than be instead of! Would be a snip compared with with HS2. Once again, make your point on the HS2 thread. Quite why the Devon sea wall alternative is anything to do with Swindon Kemble or HS2 is beyond me bearing in mind the different geographical locations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy stroud Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Once again, make your point on the HS2 thread. Quite why the Devon sea wall alternative is anything to do with Swindon Kemble or HS2 is beyond me bearing in mind the different geographical locations. Are you the thread police then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted September 4, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2013 Once again, make your point on the HS2 thread. Quite why the Devon sea wall alternative is anything to do with Swindon Kemble or HS2 is beyond me bearing in mind the different geographical locations. Sorry dude, he only asked and I gave an opinion. Is that OK with you? Think you need to take a chill pill. Are you the thread police then? Every forum has them unfortunately. I call them self appointed moderators. No doubt one will also be along soon to delete this post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod4 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Gents I think a number of members need to take a "chill pill" and keep to the OP please [message from an non self appointed but appointed moderator, who, unlike any "self appointed moderators", could delete posts but won't in this instance provided that the thread now stays on topic] thank you, my diodes are starting to play up again... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted September 4, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 4, 2013 First-posting lurker here! I live in Cirencester so I took the opportunity to have a little look up the line from West Swindon to Kemble on Sunday just before the handback. I was curious that the track that was to reopen on Monday seemed to be on the 'down' side from Swindon as far as Purton, but on the 'up' side from Minety to Kemble. So somewhere between Purton & Minety there must be a 'wiggle'...! I spoke to a worker at Minety Crossing who was knocking off for the day - he tells me the road crossing is due to reopen on 9th September - initially still as a manually operated manned crossing. As an aside, does anyone know whether there is a lower speed restriction on the line as it is at the moment? It used to be 80-90mph as a single line. Some nice photos there, Ed, thanks for posting those. I don't recall getting to the Moreton bridge in my perambulations during the blockade, although it will feature for a photographic visit with my co-author at some stage between now and next Easter. There is indeed a speed restriction along most of the current Single Line length, to allow the re-laid track to 'bed in'. It would normally have been 90 mph, but currently one section is 75 mph and another section 50 mph, pending immenent PW works to raise the lot to 75 mph. After that, following the above-mentioned 'bedding in' period and further tamping etc., the temporary speed restriction will be removed and normal (90 mph) line speed will apply until the actual redoubing is completed and commissioned next Easter (I'll need to check what the planned Up and Down line speeds will be after that, it might remain at 90 mph). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trog Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Christ, was it in one piece?? That's 9 chain of rail! You must have had about 18 scooters and 40 odd men! One string of rail 200 yards in length, it was a long time ago but I seem to remember there being about 15 or 20 of us. To lift the rail needed every one on site, trackmen painters, welders, technical staff the lot. Even then we were hanging off the extreme ends of the scooter handles to get every mm of leverage, and at a low section of cess your feet would leave the ground. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher125 Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Pleased to see this line re-doubled. What other investments would RMweb members like to see? Instead of wasting money on HS2, I think that re-doubling the Salisbury-Exeter line and even electrifying it would be high on the list. It's because I want to see those kind of investments that I support HS2, to prevent a significant proportion of the rail budget being wasted on repeating the same mistake made with the WCRM - if there's one thing you can be confident about is that cancellation (or the more likely indefinite deferral) will not see the Treasury commit to a long term increase in rail funding to compensate. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Was the source of the derailment ever established? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 BBC implies that the work might be delayed due to urgent work elsewhere. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26067520 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I was wondering only yesterday if current, weather related events might have this effect. No surprise really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 The next phase of the work involves moving all the existing signalling equipment / routes at the Swindon end sideways to make room for the second track Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Something had to give I guess? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted February 8, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2014 The delay is less to do with weather-related matters and more to do with the overall sheer volume of work currently being done and planned across the country. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 And The good captain can only be in one place at once! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Woolford Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Passing over the line today, I decided to have a look at the progress and take some images. They are currently clearing vegetation next to the line that was installed some months back. I was a bit surprised by a class 43 on its way to Cheltenham Spa but managed to catch the back of it before it disappeared into the distance. Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Is that bridge with the fancy concrete the one at the north edge (Sparcells) of Swindon? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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