RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted August 13, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 13, 2015 When 50050 was moved from Yeovil a few weeks ago it was routed via Taunton as it was out of gauge due to Dundas Aqueduct. Something strange must have gone on at that aqueduct - back in the '70s we regularly had Class 50s diverted that way on passenger workings (in both directions) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted August 13, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 13, 2015 Something strange must have gone on at that aqueduct - back in the '70s we regularly had Class 50s diverted that way on passenger workings (in both directions) Indeed, Mike. It did make me wonder. Maybe tamping / lifting in subsequent years or maybe someone 'not wanting to risk it'? Anyway, a little strange whatever the reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I travelled behind class 50s in both directions along the Avon valley in March/April 1985... Northbound in March on a diverted 1S71 Penzance - Glasgow/Aberdeen, Exeter - Yeovil - Westbury - Bristol and southbound in April on (I think) 1A32 Bristol TM - Paddington, which routed via the Avon Valley and the Berks & Hants at the time... fairly sure that was a rake of declassified Mk1 open firsts, luxury on a cheap day return! AndyD. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1059 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Indeed, Mike. It did make me wonder. Maybe tamping / lifting in subsequent years or maybe someone 'not wanting to risk it'? Anyway, a little strange whatever the reason. No stranger than all the other 'loading gauge' issues that seem to spring up a week before a steam special (that has been scheduled for months) traverses a line One example near me - Hall class locos have to pass through Culham station northbound at walking pace because of clearance issues. Why ?? - its a GWR design loco on an ex GWR line, passing an ex GWR platform, that to my knowledge hasn't been altered since the days of steam. I guess track maintenance has slewed the line closer to the platform face over the years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 14, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 14, 2015 Something strange must have gone on at that aqueduct - back in the '70s we regularly had Class 50s diverted that way on passenger workings (in both directions) There have been changes in the way that gauging is done, also PW changes no doubt due to tamping etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spannerman Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Thanks for such an interesting thread. It's good to see behind the scenes and what makes the railway work. Atb Nik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 20, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 20, 2015 Some photos taken at Bathampton last week: The situation at Box Tunnel (both ends) and Middle Hill Tunnel (London-end), that same afternoon: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Excellent record of events there CK thank you for posting the photographs (that KodaK Brownie of yours must be red hot !) Looking at the contractors name A.P Webb is that a grown up version of this modellers web site ? All joking apart thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calnefoxile Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Some photos taken at Bathampton last week: IMG_7219.JPG Hey Cap'n, Looking at this photo, I think your Tracksettas need recalibrating Cheers Neal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted August 20, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 20, 2015 Thanks for the photos, Tim. It's nice to see the twin jib cranes making a comeback. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted August 20, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 20, 2015 Going back to the loading gauge issue, can I illustrate this by going back over 40 years ago to an incident on the North to West line at St. Devereux, south of Hereford. A steam special hauled by King George V, then based at Bulmers cider, had the safety valve spindle damaged passing under the overbridge there. It just happened that the spindle was the highest part of anything running under the bridge, and the bridge, an old NA&H job,the lowest structural item on the line following recent track maintenance. Track tamping and lining works by loose ballast being spread over the line and the tamper firming the track up to an idealised level. it doesn't scoop ballast out, and so there is always slight increases in the overall level of the tracks with each cycle of maintenance. Spreading ballast on tracks is what civil engineers do. Needless to say, this incident brought the pains on with temporary lash ups sent out on panic gauging checks. Since then the whole set up is better managed by the all singing and dancing load gauge laser measuring thingy, but the same process of maintenance continues of necessity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestPines Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Something that's puzzled me recently: yesterday and today, both of the trains I've been on leaving Bath (in the Down direction of course) have stopped briefly by the old Refuse Transfer Station, with the front of the train close to the Up signals that are in rear of the bidirectional-working crossovers (they are in advance of the crossovers from my point of view, if you see what I mean). It's not a station stop - the location is well short of Oldfield Park platform - and it's not a signal stop. I'm just curious, that's all. I've also just noticed something looking suspiciously like an axle-counter in roughly the same area, that I've never noticed before - and I've also noticed Up trains are having to be talked past the Up signals mentioned above, so I was thinking it might all be somehow connected. Are the trains having to stop to report themselves complete? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 25, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 25, 2015 Something that's puzzled me recently: yesterday and today, both of the trains I've been on leaving Bath (in the Down direction of course) have stopped briefly by the old Refuse Transfer Station, with the front of the train close to the Up signals that are in rear of the bidirectional-working crossovers (they are in advance of the crossovers from my point of view, if you see what I mean). It's not a station stop - the location is well short of Oldfield Park platform - and it's not a signal stop. I'm just curious, that's all. I've also just noticed something looking suspiciously like an axle-counter in roughly the same area, that I've never noticed before - and I've also noticed Up trains are having to be talked past the Up signals mentioned above, so I was thinking it might all be somehow connected. Are the trains having to stop to report themselves complete? It's Working by Pilotman to and from Point of Obstruction between the protecting signals at Bath Goods and the London-end of the Down platform at Bath Spa. This is for signalling reasons and to remain compliant with the Rules & Regulations. From 0030 hrs tonight, the Up platform will be the one used for all trains into and out of Bath Spa, but due to differing signalling overlaps, Working by Pilotman will not be required. The reason for specifying platforms and changing half-way through the week is to allow sufficient head room for the engineering trains for the Sydney Gardens plain line relaying site. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestPines Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 Ooh, interesting - thank you! I noticed this afternoon there was a ballast train on the Up with its tail blocking the London end of the Up platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 26, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2015 Ooh, interesting - thank you! I noticed this afternoon there was a ballast train on the Up with its tail blocking the London end of the Up platform. Not a problem, as the entire Up line, back to the protecting signal at Bath Goods, was part of the possession. Arrangements were in place for all trains to use the Down platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Seen on flickr some work from Bath - not taken by me. https://www.flickr.com/photos/byjr/20915204492/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Added a couple of shots at Sydney Gardens yesterday pm. This is one of them taken with a phone's camera. https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/20786963108/in/album-72157657134518659/ Rails were added by early evening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted August 29, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2015 Added a couple of shots at Sydney Gardens yesterday pm. This is one of them taken with a phone's camera. https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/20786963108/in/album-72157657134518659/ Rails were added by early evening. I wonder if it was blanketed before that ballast went down as it looked rather damp underneath? Somehow I get the feeling it wasn't and that the price will be paid in years to come. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I wonder if it was blanketed before that ballast went down as it looked rather damp underneath? Somehow I get the feeling it wasn't and that the price will be paid in years to come. NR were filming the operation from both sides of the Cast Iron Bridge, at some point a time lapse film will be released, I suppose it will show all the stages undertaken in the last week.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 There have been changes in the way that gauging is done, also PW changes no doubt due to tamping etc. The question must be asked, why didn't they put it back as they found it? Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I wonder if it was blanketed before that ballast went down as it looked rather damp underneath? Somehow I get the feeling it wasn't and that the price will be paid in years to come. I think that they did blanket it before ballast. I was there last week and was looking over the Sydney Road bridge. There were rolls of something wrapped in blue plastic beside the excavation and later white sheeting laid over the formation before the ballast was tipped. Didn't take any photos then as the rain was HISSING down. Here is a later one when the rain eased off, the blue wrapped something can still be seen. edited for typo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 The triple 'Wacker' thingy in the distance was fun to watch as it was remotely contolled. The operator could spin it round in it's own width. Another photo attached looking the other way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted August 29, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 29, 2015 One thing that hits you in the eye looking at the sYdney Gardens Photos is the greenery growing out of the retaining walls. It's something that drives me scats when you think of what the roots are doing to the masonry joins. Another notable location is the brickwork going into Birmingham nEw Steet. What's the betting there'll be shiny new electrics running past and the foliage will still be poking out? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol_Rich Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 NR were filming the operation from both sides of the Cast Iron Bridge, at some point a time lapse film will be released, I suppose it will show all the stages undertaken in the last week..This is great but can't help feel it is unfortunately somewhat after the event... A significant amount of work colleagues are talking about the Box/ Bath works who AFAIK are not interested in railways at all but are all talking positively about the works regardless of the service impacts. Publishing photo updates to a website (possibly First as that is who they see as the customer facing service entity?) similar to those in this thread as work progresses would answer the questions they have and is nothing but good PR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted August 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 30, 2015 Some more photo's here from the Bath Chron(icle) (once described as a newspaper - probably by someone that had never attempted to read it) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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