Fishplate Greasing at Middle Engine Lane

Last week David led a party of Youth Group volunteers greasing fishplates within the yard at Middle Engine Lane.

P-Way Trolley Maintenance

Davy has been completing some maintenance work on one of the P-Way trolleys.

This has included sanding, painting and re-fitting the plywood top.

And fitting a new turn buckle to the brake mechanism.

Re-Sleepering Works at Wallsend Road Curve

Today Michael lead a P-Way gang down to Wallsend Road Curve where 6 sleepers where change out over the course of a day.

The section of track in question requiring re-sleepering and checking of gauge.

The first task is to dig out the ballast around the sleepers to be changed.

Then unscrewing the chair screws to free the sleeper from the track.

With the sleeper replaced, new plugs are put into the chair before screwed by hand, or impact wrench.

Ben tightens down the chair screws under the watchful eye of Michael.

P-Way Re-sleeper Works

Last weekend Michael D lead a P-Way party to complete re-sleepering works a short distance south of the Wallsend Road Bridge, swapping 3 sleepers that had becoming unfit for use.

Ben uses the impact wrench to loosen the chair screws. The surrounding ballast has already been shovelled out by Barnaby, Dylan and Jacob.

Having loosened the chair screws and removed the track keys, Barnaby and Dylan further shovel out the surrounding ballast with Tyler and Aiden watching on, allowing for the sleeper to be removed from under the track.

Clearing Brambles at Percy Main

08915 brought a van load of volunteers and equipment down to Percy Main to carry out further vegetation control this afternoon.

Josh, Chad and Robert trimmed the hedges around the station entrance whilst Michael, Aaran and Joe cleared bushes of nettles and brambles...

...to increase the station's visibility from the street adjacent (with a view to improving security).

Aaran cutting back brambles between the tress whilst Michael cuts down nettle bushes towards the platform end.

08915 propelling the brake van back to Middle Engine Lane...

...with Aaran at the controls.

Moving Rail

Over the last few days, volunteers have been moving rails to free up space in the yard.

The telehandler lifting scrap rail away from the pile...

...and stacking it closer to the road ready for collection.

A Busy Day at the Railway

It's been a busy Saturday at the railway with many volunteers working on several projects around the site.

In the morning, a works train was shunted together ready to tackle some re-sleepering on Percy Main curve.

08915 taking the works train around Rising Sun surve.

At Wallsend Road curve, Michael and Aadil remove the first sleeper.

Joe, Aadil and Ben digging out the next one.

Taking a short break - three new sleepers with a fourth about to follow.

Michael takes the works train down Percy Main bank to collect the spent sleepers.

Meanwhile, back at the museum, Nev has been installing Consett No.10's new batteries...

...assisted by Neil and Paul.

Michael W cutting up path to make way for the miniature railway.

In the workshop, Aaran and Robert have been grafting to remove the firebox from the Sentinel.

The firebox after being lowered into the pit.

Jacking and Packing

Today, a small team has been undertaking more jacking and packing of the south crossover.

James using a handheld tamper to remedy a twist at the top of the crossover.

Michael and Michael replacing a sleeper on the crossover.

Crossing timber donation delivery

Last week the railway took delivery of a large number of crossing timbers donated by Nexus.

Members of the Youth Group completed removing the chair screws and palletising the base plates.

Then they were loaded onto the Salmon wagon and stored in Middle Engine Lane yard.

Re-railing Continues

Work to re-rail the south end of Middle Engine Lane yard has resumed this week, with the focus being on the new south crossover.

Michael D using the rail saw.

Re-railing

For tonight's P-way working party, the team have concentrated on re-railing the curve on the approach to Middle Engine Lane platform.

Richard using the rail saw.

Measuring up.

Permanent Way Working Party

Some photos from tonight's P-Way evening, during which volunteers focused on more jacking and packing around the south end of Middle Engine Lane yard...

Michael (L), our Head of Permanent Way, and Aaran (R) using the handheld tampers at the south end of the new south crossover.

Joss building up a ballast shoulder at the south headshunt to provide easier access for plant vehicles to the woodland walk project.

Nev (L) and Aaran (R) tamping...

...as are Michael and Joss.