unravelled

I have some photos of oil trains passing through Oxford in 1964/5. Perhaps someone can identify the various tanks in them. Sorry about unrotated pic Dave

Sundown and Sprawling was one which always stood out as something different. I don't know whether it inspired me, but it's one of the names I remember. Dave

Is that under Crouch Hill bridge, where there is a section of longitudinally timbered track, near the valve tower? Dave

Two brand new albums. First a visit to the Goblin line, to see the electrification works progress.There are quite a few mast bases in evidence, if you look for them, and even a few masts errected. I will be adding to this over the coming weeks https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157670436505966 Also a walk along the trackbed of the bottom end of the Northern Heights route. https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157667744833913 Thanks Dave

Have you contacted Megapoints directly. They wre very helpful when I had problems starting out with the controller. Dave

Watching the culvert build. I'm curious about the old one. Is it still in place below the new construction? Will the new replace the old, or double (?) the capacity, as well continue to operate at at higher tide levels. If the old one was inadequate in some way, could excess water flowing across the tracks have contributed to the sea wall collapse? Thanks Dave

Some pictures from Southall shed, around 1963 https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157668992047700 Thanks Dave

Lymington Branch, last steam day, 25/3/1967 https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157669935868115 Thanks Dave

I'm interested to see that the first slab ends so close to the main sea wall fault. Possibly making the slabs meet there will allow relative movement over a number of years without overstressing anything. Thanks Dave

Just one set tonight, some pictures taken at Banbury station and shed in the mid 1960s https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157669811399195 Thanks Dave

As an inveterate looker into holes in the ground and building sites , it's always interesting to see those things destined to be hidden, and never imagined by their users. Some of this rebar construction is a real work of art. Perhaps we need some form of instructional public "art". How about a rebar cage standing on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square? You do occasionally see constuction items displayed, there's part of a tbm cutterhead mounted at Cutty Sark DLR for example, but so much interesting stuff is hidden. Sorry for the ramble, thanks again for your photos, both instructional and incidental Dave

Leaving the edges clear(Ish) may help with safe access, but I wonder if precast edge sections will be craned in before the pour. As well as a quicker/neater edge, it would act as the side shuttering. Thanks Dave

I wouldn't be surprised if the rebar from the piles was going to be bent at right angles to tie in with that of the raft. I suppose one of the things determining the depth of slab might be whether the track will be slab or conventional. I was interested to see that the joggle section and ring welded into the rebar on each pile was removed. I assume it was there as part of the concrete delivery system rather than pile structure. Possibly to guard against loss of the funnel section down the hole. I an also curious about the sheathing around the top section of the rebar. Is it possible it was there to ensure that concrete contaminated with ground water and debris from the start of the pour was kept away from the rebar at the top? The nibbling of the piles would have ensured that they are back to clean concrete. Fascinating pictures as ever, I'm sure we'll se all the answers in due course. Thanks Dave

If the crosing is going to be on the key module, why not include that in the name. To link up with the Kidbrooke possibility, how about Brook Lane Crossing? You could omit or replace lane. Other generic names could include Factory, Ferry, Gas Works, followed by Lane, Road etc. On the baseboard side, why does modular have to mean rectangular? Rectangular is possibly cheaper in the first place but not necessarily best. I would be templed to make up some cardbord mockups .of layout modules with their transport covers to see what would fit in your car. Non rectangular might pack in better, think sloping ends fitting under the back window (your vehicle may vary). Hth Dave

A last one for tonight, Fratton shed 1964 https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157669111770506 Thanks Dave

Oxford North Junction 1964 Three at Princes Risborough 1964 Dave

I photographed this interesting timbering on the approach to Preston, in 1967. As for model work, this is by Bassett Lowke, supposed to have been built for Count Zborowski. Gauge 1, individual wooden keys. Thanks Dave Edit to correct Crewe(?) to Preston. Thanks

A few pictures of terriers also posted in the Terrier thread. Posted here for completeness https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157668792642031 Dave

Thanks, Tag added to flickr and original Dave

Another couple of small albums. First are some photos taken at Woodford Halse, Byfield and an unknown lineside location, (possibly nearby). https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157668340338150 The second contains pictures taken travelling to a family holiday to Swanage. I was allowed to take the train down from Oxford, rather than go with the rest of the family in the Morris Traveller. https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157666582814964 Btw if there are any obvious errors, or unknown sites are recognised, I'd be happy to update the details. Thanks Dave

Re Carplan sprays, I have seen a suggestion that it's worth replacing the nozzle with a halfords one. I've not tested it but may be worth a try. Dave

I can't decide whether bracing the inner safety fence to the railing on the sea wall is a bad idea, or is intended to act as a tell tale for movement of the wall. Dave

These tracks are along part of a newly opened path behind Millwall's football ground. Milwall path by David Harvey, on Flickr Milwall path by David Harvey, on Flickr They were one of the pairs of tracks leading down into Bricklayers Arms depot. Complete set https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157666204931963 Dave

A couple of new sets of uploads tonight. The first is a set from the Flying Scotsman anniversary special of 16th April 1966. While 4472 was serviced in Edinburgh, the train was taken across the Forth Bridge by Bittern, turned on the Inverkeithing triangle, and back again. https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157666089744184. The next set of pictures are from the next couple of days visiting some of the local sheds. https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157666103926693 Thanks Dave

I must add my "thank you" for all the pictures. I'm curious about one part of the construction, and wondered if anyone can explain. Sometimes the cylinders are pulled out of the ground, and sometimes they appear to be left buried, and the top is cut away. Or was that just for some of the piles related to the test rig? I wondered if there was a window of opportunity for removing the cylinders, and if it can't be done after the concrete has set. On a linked note it is clear that the concrete spilling out of the holes in the cylinders at the end of the fill is much wetter than that being poured. Presumably it is contaminated with displaced groundwater, and this is one of the reasons for the filling pipe and funnel filling method. I assume that the contaminated top layer will be removed at a later stage, and the rebar exposed to be integrated with that of the raft. I noticed on some images that the rebar at the top of the upper section seemed to be protected with what looked like pipe insulation, so that the concrete releases easily. In local piling works for a new building a hydraulic cutter has been used to break free a disk of concrete and lift it free of the rebar. Thanks Dave