Miniature Railway groundworks continue

Some more groundwork has been carried out today on the main station area with the last of the old terram membrane being removed and separation of the old bark covering saved for use down in the Woodland Walk.

Removal of the last few mounds of bark and top soil.

Marking of the definitive boundary between the Miniature Railway and the picnic area.

A bonus find was several flagstones buried not far below the surface being excavated. These reclaimed flagstones will be incorporated into the new platform at the entrance to the site.

At the end of the day, Tom washes down the bucket of the excavator before parking in storage ready to be used again.

Remaining phases of the Miniature Railway begin

 Another successful day of preparations and initial groundworks for the remaining phases of the North Tyneside Light Railway.

Two fo the volunteers started to make progress in marking out, excavating and laying the track up to the eventual crossing location.

The laid track being aligned with the previously laid track adjacent to the coal pile to ensure both sides will line up correctly.

Tom operating the excavator to move ash out of the path of the propose railway.

Excavation works then moved onto the picnic area to the entrance to the site. The new main station will sit in this location, the existing ground is being levelled to enable station and railway constreuction.

Ash clearing

Michael loading a freshly overhauled dumper truck with ash from the pit road

 

Line flail

On hire line flail down at Percy Main this afternoon after cutting back a lot of the lineside vegetation

 

Dumper truck frame painting

Michael painting the dumper trucks frames in undercoat

 

Work on the dumper truck

Work on the dumper truck continues, here several components have been shot blasted and rubbed down ready for painting

Cameron working the shotblaster

 

Dumper truck engine work

John (L) and Richard (R) dismantling the dumper trucks engine for its overhual

 

Work on the dumper truck

The railway's resident dumper truck has been out of action for some time now. Today, volunteer Dai set about removing the engine from the dumper truck so it can be sent away for repairs

 

Digging out an old gate post

The digger being used to dig out one of the old gate posts at the southern end of Middle Engine Lane platform

 

Filling the dogfish

Some photos of the Dogfish being loaded up with ballast this afternoon, ready to drop down the mainline for one of the track training schools in order to build up the ballast shoulder on Percy Main curve

 

New water hose

After loosening the jubilee clips, Michael removes the old torn and battered water hose from the water tower this afternoon

Replaced by a new hose

 

New batteries for the forklift

Some photos of Richard and John removing the batteries from the forklift and cleaning out the compartment before installing new batteries

New mini-digger

This afternoon we took delivery of this fantastic second-hand TEREX 360 Mini Digger. Another fantastic piece of plant equipment, sure to come in very handy in the future

 

New chipper

The railway took delivery of the new wood chipper this afternoon, sure to come in very handy on lineside de-vegetation days

 

Bonfire

Bonfire in the field this afternoon to clear up waste foliage whilst the tractor in the background is being used to clear more waste from the bottom field

 

Metal delivery

Michael unloading a delivery of new metal for No.69

 

Lineside work at the Rising Sun bridge

In preparation for the bridge inspection and reopening of the railway, volunteers have made a start clearing lineside vegetation from around the Rising Sun overbridge

Antony clearing vegetation from around the north west parapet

Tom doing the same on the other side

Adam working underneath the bridge

Burning the waste in the back field back up at Middle Engine Lane

 

Coaling 401

Whilst 08915 was out the shed the opportunity was taken to haul 401 out and fill the locos bunker

 

Work on the John Deere

Collecting logs from down the field

Refuelling

Richard working on the tractor after fitting a new battery

 

Security lights

Richard fixing outdoor security lights on the side of the shed

And installing new ones