The P'way Blog

Pway Report for Saturday, 16th January.

Fortunately the snow had mostly disappeared this week, which allowed most of last weeks' absent contingents to turn up, making a good turn-out for a fun day's timber changing in and around the carriage shops at Buckley Wells, a job delayed since before Christmas.

A total of 5 timbers (the ones under pointwork) were changed; one on the line down to the Loco works and four in Buckley Wells yard itself. The ones in the yard required the removal of a rail in order to be able to get them out, as, with adjacent trackwork and a small embankment, there's not really a lot of room to manoeuvre 11 foot long timbers in the carriage shop yard.

However, although the weather had improved, we did spend the day working under a big black cloud - poor Alan B. was inconsolable that Burnley FC's manager Owen Coyle had left his beloved Clarets and gone to Bolton. Someone said that he went to Turf Moor and nailed his season ticket to the door, not wishing to support them any more. However, he later changed his mind and went back to retrieve it. Fortunately the ticket was still there, but on the floor - someone had nicked the nail!!

(The 3-0 defeat against Man U. this afternoon probably won't have helped to lift the mood , either. At least Blackpool managed a 2-all draw against QPR!! )

A quick check was also made of the wooden keys holding the check rails in on the Heywood line curves as you leave Bury as this section unfortunately does tend to destroy them rather quickly, due to the action of the rear of the flange pushing the check rail against they key and steadily squashing it. A total of 46 needed replacement; at £4 a piece for a shaped Oak key, Gaffer Bailey is now feeling as upset as Alan. There is a reason that check rails use wooden keys rather than the more usual spring metal, but I can't remember it. Bret can find out for next week's report.

According to the Met Office, it's supposed to be snowing again next weekend!!

blackpool hoolie

Pway report for Saturday, 9th January, 2010.

With snow still lying over all the UK and East Lancashire in particular (you know it's bad when Blackpool has snow and we've got about 3 inches!!) P-way work was a little difficult!! However, the stations were all shouting for their platforms to be cleaned and gritted in order to provide safe passage for our passengers (or customers if you prefer!).

So a very much smaller gang than usual (only 8 people) spent a sunny day roving the network to help clear the edges of the platforms at Heywood (am) and Summerseat (pm) together with Ramsbottom footbridge steps (pm), whilst the Gaffer and Mr. T. repaired one of the roller shutter doors on the carriage shop in the morning that had come adrift from its runners . A fairly easy task, but one that found the possible reason it came adrift was a number of guides had broken on the door itself; some more will need to be purchased in order that it doesn't do it again, which will give the Gaffer a few sleepless nights!!

Sadly, we've run out of grit and have about as much chance of getting any as Blackpool FC have of winning the 1-1 draw with Cardiff in the replay (i.e. none - it's all going to the Highways agency).

As usual, we had a few P-way members cry off due to the weather. "The Post" got stuck in Manchester, even though both his favourite locos were running (the Deltics). The Rossendale and higher East Lancs contingent were noticeable only by their absence and even a previous 'man-of-the-match' winner from Bury didn't make it - although there was some concern he could have set off for Turf Moor (Burnley FC's ground) very early, only to find the match against Stoke postponed!

The gang were going to give a "Big Girl's Blouse" award to the person with the worst excuse for not coming, but as no-one could agree on an outright winner and your scribe put his foot down about producing 20 certificates, the award was abandoned! So thanks to Gaffer Bailey, Harvey, John the Bus, John T., Mike G., Scott (doughnuts in the car park king!! - until the car gets stuck!! ), Bret (Wizzo) and your scribe Blackpool Hoolie for turning up for the P-way gang today.

Next week the weather is still predicted to be as poor as it's been all this week, so it might be tree clearance at Heywood - or watching your team annihilated 10-1 at Old Trafford for Bret (with the 1 an own goal !! Watch this space.

Dave.

blackpool hoolie

P Way Report for Sat 2.1.2010

No problem with this weeks report as there isn't one, as we are still on hols. Gaffer Bailey decreed that we restart ( the Saturday crew that is) on 9.1.2010.

I thought therefore that a few meandering reflective thoughts on Pway in 2009, as is customary at this time of year might be in order.

We do seem to have grown in numbers this year and thankfully some of these new members are younger blokes,though I hasten to add, any new volunteers of whatever age are always welcome. The younger blokes are welcome, as in an ideal World we could just simply watch then do all the work, just kidding guys  .

We have grown in number I suspect due to a higher profile for our Department through our weekly reports letting people know that we do exist and we do have fun and do important work. We also are always in the fresh air and have a constantly changing aspect of the Railway as we appear all over the Railway. It is also an excellent way to watch our trains go by. It cannot be because we do the most glamorous work on the Railway and some of our members are definitely not the most glamorous in terms of beauty  .

I am sure most visitors to our Railway never think about the track when they plan a visit and we accept this, but the fact remains that the so called Permanent way is anything but permanent and needs never ending maintenance to ensure that probably the most fundamental part of a railway remains in good order for the much more glamorous trains to run on.

To this end our main priority over the years has been to relay our main line with concrete sleepers instead of wood. This reduces maintenance enormously and whilst we will never relay all our Railway as turnouts and station areas, being low speed traffic areas will always be the last on the programme we will continue to upgrade the main line as finances allow. To date we have relaid something like 7 miles and 2009 saw the biggest relay we have achieved with a length from the old drumworks at Bury being laid back to Bury North pointwork. Ballast is the costliest item in a relay and this is our bottom line. The concretes allow us to take a mutual advantage with the Companies working the Big Railway to prove their track machines as we have just seen.Long may this continue.

What we would really like to do but the cost is exhorbitant and probably beyond us is to do what we have already dabbled with years ago across Burrs Country Park, and that is to weld up every other joint. It doesn't need Einstein to figure out that this reduces joint maintenance by half while still maintaining the ability of the rails to expand and contract with the temperature. We had our Xmas Party in the Bubble Car in May as usual and we thank the guys who own the car for making it available to us. We often get asked why we have our party in spring and this will have to remain a mystery for people to conjecture about We really blew out the party budget this year engaging that well known band "Sleepers from Hell" to provide the entertainment,they were almost good as the beer flowed, the singing got worse and they started to sound better . Seriously you did a great job Andy, Nick and Dave, they might even get a return date this year, though the Jack and Dave songbook as demonstrated in the snow up the Heywood Line just before Christmas might also get a look in. This year it is earlier in April I understand as the Partymaster has decreed so.

Again we have had much fun as we get on with the routine work we have to do and the bond between the blokes is what makes our get togethers each week so enduring. We always welcome new members however and I feel sure those who have joined this year will endorse this.

Looking forward to 2010 we will start another relay probably in Feb at the metrolink bridge on the Heywood Line as part of the continuing programme and we look forward to seeing the exciting new locomotives coming to the ELR in the early part of the year joining our historic and superbly restored resident locos and coaches running on our metals.

It is possible this year to represent the 15 guinea special as far as it is possible to do so, and I am certainly looking forward to this. I am sure this will be a huge attraction to our Railway. Not to be missed.

Wizzo

P Way Report for Sat.Dec !9,2009

It's always good to have a Plan B. Actually we didn't know we had a Plan B until the heavy frost came and Gaffer Bailey decided that our planned work in the C & W yard would be a bit pointless due to frozen ballast (ash, or whatever is in the yard).

We remember when we were laying all the trackwork at Bury South one week in between Christmas and New Year and had to give up and retire hurt to the Toby van to thaw out. The ballast on that occasion was as hard as concrete and impossible to dig.

So Plan B kicked in which found us on the Heywood shuttle to be dropped off on Broadfield bank at the site where the stoneblower was operating, our mission, to do a bit of gardening. There was a raft of trees here on the northern side with branches overhanging the line. We only cut the bits we have to, leaving the ones going straight up but the overhanging ones have to go as potential hazards. Climbing up the bank was not easy with the snow but we got the job done. Our bonfire had to be set about half a mile away on the nearest available recess in the alignment and this involved the Landrover and trailer on an oft repeated wood shuttle run from site to fire. Each journey the trailer had to be unhooked and the loco run round due to the restriction in turning area,we know its not normal to turn the train around as well, but thats what we had to do as there is a hook only on one end of our train

The lucky lads got on fire beating duties, the unlucky ones stayed in the cold.

On 3 occasions at least, yellow cards had to be issued for diving by the referee as blokes, including myself fell over without challenge in the snowy conditions. I am claiming a bramble deliberately took me out. Anyway we all survived.

Mince pies actually turned up today, donated by Josh to celebrate his 18th birthday. Cheers Josh, Happy birthday. Shredder, pity you missed the mince pies !!!!!

Two track inspections were carried out midweek Bury to Heywood and Bury to Ramsbottom. No real problems were discovered, just routine bits and pieces.

It was fantastic to see our two newly recommisioned locos D1501 and 44871 working the Santas. They both looked great and a real credit to the guys responsible, well done.

So it only remains for me to wish the World in general a HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR from the Civil Engineering Department of our wonderful railway, the ELR.We will continue to endeavour to keep our track in good order in 2010 to enable all the incoming exciting locos to run in the New Year.

Please come and visit our railway and enjoy !!

Wizzo

Pway report for Saturday, 12th December.

Well, whilst both Wizzo and last week's "man of the match" Alan B. were watching Burnley FC draw 1-1 at home with Fulham (still, better than a 3-1 loss away, which was Blackpool's fate against Ipswich ), the rest of the gang turned out to Bury - and in a similar fashion to the football, it was a "game of two halves".

The morning was spent at Bury North on the diesel shed, completing the re-instatement of the trackwork that we removed a few weeks ago to allow the museum sewer system to be connected, which in turn allowed the Diesel lads to do a shunt this afternoon. Mr. Hardman (eBay) was so pleased (probably glad to have the place back to a semblance of normality) he came out with "tiffin", in the form of a plateful of cake slices. Thanks once again, Andy. However, someone thought it a bit cruel that in return, we loaned him young Josh for his afternoon's shunting!! Perhaps that's why it took longer than the hour Josh said it would!!

Mention must be made to the superb job on D1501 (formerly 47402 "Gateshead"); although there were a few jobs still to do on it, it almost looked like it could have rolled out of Falcon Works for the first time. Well done Gilbert and all the other lads (and lasses?!! ) that have worked on it, it's a credit to you all. It also started perfectly, for those who are interested and went for a little run somewhere on its own.

The afternoon saw us going South of the station, to one of the points into the ca rriage shed at Buckley Wells where 3 timbers needed replacement - always a fun job unless you have acres of space to get them out. Fortunately, after a few struggles and a lot of bad language we "got them out and put the new ones in". It's more of the same next week, although next weeks are further towards the carriage sheds and are therefore harder still to get out. We should have looked at the point from the line to the Carr. Shops into the carriage sheds, but we didn't get time. We also believe that no signal levers were harmed (should that be collared?) in the doing of this job!!

Whilst we were doing that, Alan (trike) took the chainsaw and tried to emulate the Canadian lumberjacks on the banking of the curve onto the Heywood line and Metrolink bridge, with help from at least one of the S&T lads. Even running out of fuel about 2 minutes after starting the job couldn't dampen his enthusiasm - he just asked the Gaffer to get some more.

At least we know what we're going to be doing next week - assuming nothing more pressing happens in the intervening 6 days!!

Dave.

(p.s. - Wizzo - one part of the shunt was to move the Western ready for its rebodying - apparently it's going to look like a class 70 when its compeleted!! )

Blackpool Hoolie

Pway report for Saturday, 5th December.

Green Lane Level Crossing at the east end of Heywood station was the location for today's little job, which was simply to change 2 pre-cast concrete panels, or sections, in the crossing which had dropped due to the continual 24/7 movement of HGV's into and out of the former CorbyChilled Distribution Depot, now owned by Eddie Stobart. Lots of named Stobart trucks going on and out all day; an "Eddie Spotters" heaven!!

The basic outline of work is:
* block one half of the road off and control traffic using a STOP-GO board (temporary traffic lights cost money!! )
* remove the rubber retaining pieces from the sections to be removed
* remove the unserviceable (u/s) sections
* clean the area
* replace with better sections (note: not new ones - they probably don't make them any longer)
* refit the securing rubber retaining pieces.

Problems are:
* The rubbers are life-expired and are more plastic than rubber
* The rubbers generally don't want to be removed and take a lot of effort and WD40 applications
* The concrete Sections have to be lifted by 8 men; yes, they are that heavy
* You have to constantly watch out for boy racers, HGV's, dozy drivers who come past the stopping point when they have the STOP sign, etc.
* We do not have a stock of replacement sections, so you take a good one out from the pavement area and put it into the road area and put the u/s one from the road into the pavement and pack it to level. Hence you do "double work", to coin one of Bob Johnson's favourite sayings (sorry, Bob!).

We're running out of sections - Gaffer B. might have to buy some more!!

A total of 3 sections were replaced - 2 from between the rails and one between the rail and the edge of the road.

Also, Jack and Alan messed about with some fishplates and John and Co. cut down a few trees between the crossing and Hopwood ground frame.

However, the "Man of the Match" award must go to our very own Alan B., who ably manned the STOP-GO board all day, apart from half an hour off for lunch when Allan W. took over. He had to put up with insults and rude gestures all day - plus the abuse he got from the motorists. The Police even stopped at one point; fortuntely they were only asking if many cars had ignored the STOP board. I think 3 had tried their luck at that point; all had to back up. Thanks Alan - you were a star!!

However, when compeleted you can admire your handiwork safe in the knowledge that it will probably need re-doing in another 6 months - if it lasts that long. One day we w ill have to come up with a better solution for it - or get someone to pay for a new crossing!! Best get saving, then!!

Dave.

Blackpool Hoolie

P Way Report 28.11.09 (Nori bricks and who ate the pies?)

Today Santa's little orange helpers descended in the main on the empty platform 1 at Bury, empty due to the bogie van normally parked there being shifted to plat 4 in connection with Santa duties. This revealed 8 sleepers needing replacing in a very short section up to the stop.

Best way to do this in a confined space is to take out a rail and dig out the old matchwood.  This then is when the Nori bricks appeared. Nori bricks ??? wot are those said some of the younger blokes? They have from 1887 until Sep '08 been produced in Whinney Hill road in Accrington and are famously hard, tough bricks which were used all over the World from the base of Blackpool Tower to the Empire State Building in New York. Anyway, a fair raft of them appeared to have been dumped in our track base. Fortunately we had a resident expert in Accy John with an NVQ in Nori's who knew just how far we had to dig down to clear the bricks.

A second party worked on changing 4 bullhead sleepers on the inner Heywood line curve at Bury South. This curve is not normally used for service trains but operationaly for Santa period, access to plat 2 from Heywood is straightforward and does not conflict with the Santa set in plat.3. On the check rail curve it is a good idea to leave the check rail chair in place on the rail and slide the sleeper underneath it.Normally we would remove the chair before replacing. We also assisted S & T with the gardening work on the bank above the Heywood curve,and also joined them in stoking their bonfire with our removed "sleepers".Blackpool Hoolie was kept well away from the S & T hut so as not to cause an "Inflamatory incident" !!!!!

Wot about the pies then? Not a single mince pie found it's way to the hard working orange helpers. This was most disappointing. Despite seeing Uncle Bob, Pitprop Eric, not to mention our great hope General Shred on the Santa train, David Layland from Pie Central was spotted, and even that nice Mr.Hardman, who we can normally rely on for emergency food supplies failed. This probably didn't help Nelson Jack's demeanor as he did turn up, no doubt lured by the prospect of mince pies.

Midweek, the guys were assembling the shelter on Heywood Station but the weather prevented them finalising the painting. Ditching was carried out at Strongstrey in connection with the drainage work there. They unloaded some 140 concrete sleepers donated by Metrolink, thank you very much, possibly some more to come from this source.

Yet another new member joined us. Good to see you Kirk, hope you enjoyed yourself and come again. A big turnout today, there must have been no meeting of the Burnley Sewing Circle.

Wizzo

Pway report for Saturday, 21st November

Seeing as Wizzo (a.k.a. Bret) is still in Egypt on his hols (someone unkindly said "perhaps they'll keep him?"  ), it's down to me to write the report again. I was hoping to start by saying that his beloved Burnley FC had managed to win at home whilst he was not watching them; sadly a late equaliser from 'Villa saw them draw 1-1. Still, at least they did better than Blackpool who lost 2-1 away at Reading. 

Another large gang, unexpected due to the weather forecast (which, in the best traditions of the Met Office, was going to be far worse than it actually was), made its way to Ramsbottom South where 3 timbers needed changing on the south end loop point, whilst 2 joints and a short section of rail were hand packed as opposed to stone-blown, due to the fact that a) it's hard to get the stoneblower to that location and b) the Gaffer didn't bring any chippings anyway!!

Also, there was a good deal of vegetation clearance to both the north and south, thanks to the purchase of a second chain saw!! Apparently, Gaffer Bailey has been having funny turns all week after spending money - even if it wasn't his own!!

We were also treated to cakes for the Gaffer's birthday. However, it came to light that they were actually from Tina's 18th Birthday and they had initially been given to the midweek lads; we got the leftovers. So it's congratulations to Tina and a positive assurance to the crew that spending money on the chainsaw hasn't seen our very own Ebeneezer change his colours (hmmm... might be a good outfit for the Gaffer to wear when he works on the Santa trains - Scrooge!!   ) 

Best bit of useless information for the week was from Craig, to say some of the volunteers on the Embsay Steam Railway have acheived an NVQ level 2 in "Trackwork and Maintenance"!! Should be worth a few percent extra in the wage packet!!  Of course, having a piece of paper does not ensure your track is in good condition..... only physically doing the work does that. Fortunately, we have some very good people within the ELR, including the Gaffer, of course, who know what they are doing without an NVQ. 

His 'nibbs should hopefully be back next week and Burnley are away at West Ham!! (No points there, then  ) 

Dave.
blackpool hoolie

Pway Report for Saturday, 14th November

Bury was today's destination for a depleted team, due to weather, illness, Wizzo's holiday to Egypt and an impromptu meeting of the "Burnley Sewing Circle" (Scott knows what we mean!!  ). 

The morning's work found us split into three teams: one small team went to Buckley Wells Carriage Sidings to clear the trees from the loading dock, which they did until the chain saw "blade" failed them, one team were at Bury North packing the usual dip in the rails where the original crossover used to be, before it was moved further into the tunnel and the third team set about dismantling some of the trackwork into the diesel depot, in order that the sewerage system for the museum could (hopefully) be sorted once and for all. That nice Mr. Hardman gave us some "tiffin" in the form of jam tarts, in thanks for marooning the Western on its shed road, or perhaps as an incentive to come back and re-fit the track once the museum contractors have finished the sewer works!! Thanks Andy; they were appreciated.

(Someone, perhaps unkindly, commented that Eagle should have been here this week, as he usually appears if free food is on offer!!  ) 
The afternoon was a bit of a wash-out, due to heavy rain falling from 12:45pm to 2:45pm (well, we don't work in it if we can avoid it - we may be barmy but we're not stupid!!), but it did give us the chance to repair the Bance (the petrol powered impact wrench we use for removing / inserting rail fastenings and fishplate bolts; Bance is the name of one company that make these items), or at least for Craig to repair the Bance, which had a poorly kill switch and to strip the chain saw ready for a new blade (really a new chain, but we call it a blade). This brought joy and delight to Gaffer Bailey who didn't have to spend £1.50 on a new switch, especially after he had to fork out for a new chain saw blade!! We also "refurbished" a light string for Bob J. and removed some empty cardboard boxes for Irene. It's amazing what we can get up to!! There really is no end to our talents. 
Finally, once it had ceased raining the remaining 6 intrepid P-way'ers (or those who didn't want to go home early for fear of getting something less interesting to do!!) returned, with chain saw bearing new blade, to finish off cuting the trees down on the loading dock. However, an SOS call from Rammy saw Gaffer Bailey and your scribe rushing off to repair a broken foot crossing board at the level crossing (well, we don't want a member of the public being injured, do we), before getting further news that a bench at Summerseat had a broken lat (the long strips you sit on) with "a sharp bit which could hurt someone", which on closer inspection proved to be a rotten piece which had come away. The whole lat was removed (if anyone sees it, it wasn't vandals who broke it this time - it was hoolies! ) and it will be attended to at later date (hopefully this next week, but don't hold anyone to it). 
Thereby completed a mixed day. Let's hope for better weather next week.

International duty saw that both Burnley and Blackpool had a day off trying to play footie.

Dave R.

blackpool hoolie

P Way Report for Sat 7.Nov.2009

At last a Saturday without rain,well almost, a bit of a small shower mid afternoon but driving to site I thought we were in for a real degging.

Site this week was in Ramsbottom Sidings and then to just north of Sterling Stubbins crossing. This is the level crossing just north of Ramsbottom if anyone is not sure of it's location.

As usual we were spot changing sleepers and packing joints. The wetness around Rammy sidings prompted me to think about when we installed these very useful sidings some years ago. Installed is not really a good word to use, floated the sleepers in would be more accurate. It was like working in a shallow lake, it was so wet and we had to put loads of ash in to get it some bit like. I never expected the already old sleepers we had spare at the time to last but they are doing better than like. However we do have to replace ones that have succumbed from time to time and 4 were replaced today. This is an excellent spot to watch the trains go by for us. The gang had split at this point and the joint blowing lads had moved to the main line and were blowpacking with Billy Wind and shimming a series of joints.

We also changed a couple of rotten wooden sleepers on the main line in this vicinity. Some of the guys were cutting bushes back near the playground area and piling them up as a barrier lineside. This is probably the most effective fence we have devised.  Another crew were cutting bushes back by the main joint blowing worksite mainly for sighting purposes. I know Mike has reported the following in his midweek report on our forum but I repeat this for the main official website. The midweekers this week have been, in the main preparing the "new" shelter for Heywood Station. This has a "core" of an ex bus stop shelter from Bury but has had "modifications" in the shape of bits added here and there and looks pretty good it seems.I think this will be erected next week.

They have been busy erecting the Christmas lights etc. around Bury station ready for the Santa trains.

The heavy rain this week has led to the usual problems at Strongstrey with flooding. This has nothing to do with the Railway as the water comes down the hill behind the line and passes beyond, but the drain easily silts up and this had to be unblocked yet again. A fence at Summerseat had to be repaired again!! We would be able to go forward faster if we weren't constantly having to do this sort of work.

The Diesel theme day went well and I have to say class 37 has a very definite aura to it and our 3 examples in different liveries with different mechanical specs. are superb examples. The freight behind Mirlees Pioneer was brilliant and what a lot of wagons including some of our Pway fleet, and running full line too. A superb show and thanks to all involved. I can imagine the amount of shunting that had to be carried out.


On Remembrance Sunday we remember the Fallen in all the conflicts and battlegrounds around the World.They will never be forgotten.

Wizzo

P-way Report for Saturday, 31st October.

Today's exotic location was sunny Ramsbottom, in order to keep out of the way of the steam engines!! 

A rather disjointed day saw the initial plan to concentrate  solely on the abandoned sidings area North of Rammy station. Instead the morning consisted of two teams on two separate jobs: one team of about 10 people changing 2 sleepers in the station platforms (always a difficult task as you obviously cannot simply slide one out and slide another in - you've the platform walls and an adjacent track to complicate matters - so you have to dig a larger hole than normal and "persuade" the sleeper it's coming out!!), the second team staying around the sidings, chopping vegetation and starting the first fire of the Winter 09-10 season!! 

After lunch, 3 sleepers were changed around the sidings area; one on the main line and two in the sidings themselves and the fire got some more love and attention (and actualy managed to burn something, a feat that sometimes didn't happen back in Mr. (Joe) Calverley's day!! 

Meanwhile, the Gaffer and the stoneblowing crew set off for the Stubbins subway, which had recently received replacement longtitudinal timbers (ones that go along the rails, rather than the across); it needed some remedial work to cure a rocking motion that it was starting to do each time a train passed over it.

Train performance of the day had to be the early afternoon (13:20, I think) northbound departure of the J94 and Jinty; the double exhaust bark of the two locos accelerating their train was pure quality! In comparison, the K4 and Black 5 handled their trains with ease - as usual - and Gothenburg happily chugged up and down between Bury and Ramsbottom!

Finally football focus (if you can call it that!!): Wizzo watched his beloved Burnley beat strugglers Hull City at home, whilst Blackpool drew 3-3 away at Doncaster to earn another vital point.

Dave.

blackpool hoolie

P-way Report for Saturday, 24th October.

A slightly depleted gang of 17 hardy souls ventured to the south of Ramsbottom station, to change 8 sleepers and pack 2 joints over a long, moving work section between Nuttall Tunnel North portal and the 1st river bridge leaving Rammy Station.

The weather was decidedly wet for the morning and early afternoon, with sheets of rain being driven across the fields adjacent to the line at this point, but mid afternoon it fined up, with an appearance by a bright object in the western sky (the Sun!!) to produce a lovely Autumnal afternoon. The rain started again, fortunately after we'd adjourned for the day. For once, the weather forecasters actually got it correct!!! 

Accy John did a lovely job pruning some of our excess vegtation, with the help of Bob W.

We also welcomed another John (John number 7, I think - it may be more!!) from the midweek P-way team, who ventured to come and see what happens at a weekend. I hope you weren't put off by the rain, John!! 

The final job of the day was cutting some trees down to try to plug the hole that the scrotes from "Scrotewatch" (those who read the forum will know what I mean) use for access onto the railway; how long it will keep them off for remains to be seen.

There is a plan that the Ballast Regulator that caused so much trouble a coouple of weeks ago is coming back in a number of short visits to put right what it screwed up. Hopefully it won't cause as much damage this time round!! 

Finally, I've got to say commiserations to Bret (Wizzo) and Al. B. who watched their beloved Burnley beaten 3-1 at home by Wigan (probably didn't like the pies!!). Fortunately, Blackpool has a 0-0 draw with Swansea away. We might get in the Premiership yet!! 

Dave R.

Blackpool Hoolie

Pway report for Saturday, 10th October.

A larger than normal team ventured forth to Summerseat for the first time in a long while. The morning's activity was to change a total of 6 sleepers in the main line, although teacher John did find another 10 that could be done at a later date. Additionally a small gang, ably led by Mr. Hunt (at least, I assume it was ) departed early to start on the afternoon's undertaking - which was a prime example of how the larger Pway machines can easily cause more work than they actually do!! 

The prologue... (i.e. setting out the story)
Midweek past, we had a Ballast Regulator come onto the line, either for shakedown tests or training (sorry, I forgot to ask PB). The job of a Ballast Regulator is basically to move ballast about - either in preparation for tamping a line or cleaning up after tamping a line.

Regulators comprise 4 main parts: The central ploughs, the shoulder ploughs, the ballast brush and a conveyor and discharge hopper system. Ballast is dropped conventionaly via ballast hoppers hauled by a loco, then the Regulator comes along and moves it all, creating the shoulders at the sides of the rail to prevent the track moving sideways and moving any ballast between the running rails into a positoin where a tamper would use it. The brush is exactly that - a large rotating brush, like a vacuum cleaner, which takes surplus ballast and throws it onto the conveyor. It then gets stored in the on-board hopper and can be dropped where it is needed by the machine. All in all, a nice bit of equipment - when it's used correctly!! The Plasser & Theurer USP5000c is a prime example of such a machine.

The Story...
Between Summerseat and Bury there has been a lot of track relaying over the years to introduce concrete sleepers, so there is a lot of ballast which is not quite in the correct place for a 100mph main line, but will do us fine. Unfortunaltely, the instruction not to regulate this section was lost and the crew did it "as a favour to the railway" - consequently, as we don't have the amounts of surplus trackside ballast that Network Rail do, a large amount of trackside spoil was dug up by the shoulder ploughs as the machine created shoulders that would not look out of place on a 100mph main line. Also a number of cables that normally would be marked up manually prior to the machine regulating a section of line - such as track circuit cables - were pulled up as the machine's ploughs found them!! No doubt the S&T report may well be moaning their sudden increase in unplanned work.

So the job of the advance party and the afternoon's job for the rest of the team was walkng between Summerseat station and the foot crossing at the Brown Cow / Burrs, trying to remove as much spoil from the shoulder as possible, replacing sleeper fastenings that the machine seemed to like removing and doing the bits of ballast regulation that it hadn't quite got right!!

The Epilogue...
Phil B. then told us that the regulation that we'd done previously between Bury and Heywood (see previous reports) had been re-done by the machine!! So basically, what we did in about 2 days it would have re-done in less than 2 hours!!   Sounds about right. 

An additional item of note: when passing through platform 3 at Bolton Street station, the machine knocked the water control value for the coach watering system off at the Northern end of the platform with its access steps. The crew - who incidentally work the unit on Network Rail - said "it had been confirmed to be in guage by Derby". All we can say is that Stoneblowers, tampers, classes 60, 66, 67, 37, GWR locos with their wide cylinder blocks, etc.. have all passed through that platform without incident.

Hopefully it will be a few years before we have another one in!! 

Apologies for the length of this report, but I thoought it worth explaining a few details about one of the many track machines that work on the "big railway".

Dave R.

blackpool hoolie

Pway report for Saturday, 3rd October.

On an initially cold and periodically wet day a reasonable team on 15 Pway workers assembled down at the old EMU carriage shops, now our Steam Shed at Baron Street, to remove and refix one rail on the pit on the approach to shed road #5, as Mr. Johnson was concerned abot the safety of locos going over it and we don't want Mr. Cameron's nice engine to end up in the pit, rather than over it!! 

The job initially seemed fairly easy; there were 3 rails, approximately 20-25 feet in length, on one side of the pit that needed fastening. Each rail was screwed down to a longtitudinal timber baulk via right angled brackets, bolted securely to "the web" of the rail (the piece between "the head" that the trains roll on and "the foot", which goes at the bottom).

The idea was to dig the surrounding ash away, unscrew each rail, remove the fishplates joining one rail to the other, then move rail #1 (nearest the shed) to where rail #3 was, rail #3 to where rail #2 was and rail #2 to where rail #1 was. This would gve us new undrilled wood to screw the brackets to, as each rail was different in length from the others. Of course, being the ELR, that simple job took the best end of 6 hours to complete in a very oily and dirty environment!!
(Can we have an allowance for clothing washing, please, Gaffer?)
(PB reply: No. Or words to that effect.  ) 

In the meantime, a small, breakaway team, ably led by Mr. Manly, packed the first joint outside the shed on 5 road, then bu**ered about for the rest of the day trying to refit the board crossing which had to be removed to get access!! 

We also welcomed a new member, Craig, to the team. Hopefully he wasn't put off, at least in terms of volunteering for the railway!! Not all weekends are as hard and dirty as this one was!

Still, at least Burnley won 2-1 to the Brummies at home, even if Blackpool lost away - again! (Thrashed 4-1 by Crystal Palace would be a better term )

Dave R.

blackpool hoolie

P Way Report for Sat 26.9.2009

Due to mobilisation for the War effort, we had access limitations for our equipment and so General Bailey decided to deploy the Pway Battalion on a mission that only needed our Mk1 manual track stabilising units and our track stabilis ing material hopper relocation device deep into Heywood line territory.He set off in his armoured patrol vehicle and we took off in the troop transport.

Over the second bridge after Spout Bank farm we waited for the light coming on in the fusilage and baled out to continue our work in ensuring the Railways keep running as part of the War effort.

John, complete with forged papers, escaped darkest Yorkshire and deployed himself prior to this mission on knocking the keys back in the platform road at Heywood station. This is a regular job he took on some years back and it shows how important this is as there was quite a lot out as last week he drove direct to the worksite at Sterling Stubbins. It is possible that this happens as a loco entering the station is under power around the tight curve as is approaches the platform.

I must mention another bastion, (I think I got the word right ) of our crew who is our eyes and ears on lookout duty. Always ready and alert to spring into action, yet again, another exemplary performance Alan.

As we were walking towards our next ballast shovelling site we spotted a rabbit hunched up to a sleeper and sitting under the rail. Hidden talents in the veterinary department were shown by Alan Trike who diagnosed myxomatosis. The rabbit it seemed didn't have long to live so we left it in peace.

No doubt about the "Star of the week" award. This prestigious trophy is occasionally awarded by the P Way Department to "The most unpopular ELR person of the day" and was won hands down today by ......... well,no names, but he is quite a prominent figure at Heywood station and he obta ins ties and capbadges and so on. Today he won the award for his outstanding performance in failing to advise the crew of the returning Heywood to Bury shuttle to pick us and our equipment up whilst out in the middle of nowhere. The train sailed past and said awardee immediatly received the award, as well as some good old fashioned Anglo Saxon.

We are looking forward to hearing his weary excuses in his acceptance speech that will will hopefully follow this report, unless he has gone into hiding that is.

General Shred seemed to be attending a General's convention on Plat.2 rather than leading the 101'st Airborne into action. I have never seen so many Generals. Young Josh complete with suitable shades was spotted in his US. Parachute regiment duds.he did explain all the badges but I must confess I cannot remember what they all were.

I forgot to ask General Bailey as to what the midweekers were doing so maybe someone else can help out here.

Wizzo

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P-Way Report for Saturday, 19th September

On Gaffer Bailey's first weekend back after his holidays a smaller than usual gang, mainly due to holidays and the lure of Burnley playing Sunderland at home (a game they managed to win 3-1!! - rumour has it that Bret spilled his Bovril when David Nugent put them ahead!!  ), the team visited the Ramsbottom area, packing and shimming a (poor) total of 3 joints (well, there were only 2 of us for most of the day), changing 4 sleepers (again, not good, but with a reduced team) and a spot of vegetation clearance alongside the Papermill's chemical treatment works. 

Just before lunch, a small team of intrepid p-wayers broke away from the main gang and headed south, under the control of Gaffer B., to the loop point at the Bury end of Ramsbottom station which needed packing. Fortunately, they returned only about 15 minutes into lunch-time, so an all out st rike was averted (P-way men like their meal-times to be strictly observed!!  ). 

One piece of good news is that Network Rail want to bring a Stoneblower onto the railway in early December for a few days of shakedown tests. Stoneblowers do in a day what would take us 3 months of Saturday working to achieve - although we can actually do it slightly better t han the machine and we are certainly cheaper!!  

Comment of the day goes to Bob W.; however, for the life of me I can't remember it. I should have written it down - I must be getting old! 

Dave R.

blackpool hoolie

P Way Report for Sat Sep.12,2009 (A voyage of discovery!)

With Admiral Bailey in sickbay, Captain Harvey led his intrepid crew of 12 Sleepernaughts on a voyage to discover the rotten sleepers in the loco works yard. Though we had a chart with the approximate locations marked on with crosses it still takes some doing to actually find the remains, which are buried about 6 inches under about a 1000 years, it seems, of compacted accumulated ash, muck, and general debris. (Our Anglo Saxon word we use to describe this stuff is better suited than this French derived word).

Armed only with primitive tools (the silencer fell off the bance again Bernard!) and faced with many obstacles we pressed on and found 9 of these hidden gems which were replaced.We took the remains away in a binbag. The Phoenix (Eagle!) arose amazingly this week and joined us, when will he appear again?

AB stayed on his feet all day this week and he tells us that he has now acquired a lapdancer, er! sorry, laptop. His next step down the road to Cyberdom is to figure how to switch it on! Sorry Alan, I couldn't resist it.

Blackpool Hoolie clearly knew wher e our delightful work area was and made some excuse about painting his wash house or something. Trike had returned from his Aussie bashing trip to Melbourne to remind them where the Ashes are now. He blagged a footplate ride on the Puffing Billy it seems.

We can probably change 3 sleepers on the mainline whilst we are doing one of these things, we have to dig out another full sleeper length alongside as there is no ballast shoulder here (or ballast!) in order to draw the remains out and fit a new one. The chairs are sealed to the remaining wood with felt pads and are securely stuck to the wood remains. It is not easy to clean the chairs up prior to refitting. Oh! Happy Days, at least we had none of the daft Lanky pegs to deal with this time.

Wizzo

P-way Report, Saturday 5th Sept

What is it about the end of a British Summer. Suddenly, within the space of a week, the days seen so much shorter, the central heating gets put on. The wind has a colder edge to it, the autumn colours start appearing and of course the rain falls. Especially on Saturdays!

So it was with drizzle falling at an oblique angle that 15 bodies turned up at the yard at Baron St to set about sleeper and timber changing. Our gaffer is on holiday so tools and sleepers etc. had been delivered to our work site and Harvey sorted us out on the jobs.

Four timbers (ie, very large and longer sleepers that fit under points etc) were changed with amazing proffesionalism and efficiently. Despite Alan B being discovered lying down on the job; twice no less! we were able to finish these just after lunch. Alan B was reprimanded for this and his excuse that he fell whilst carrying timbers weighing half a ton was dismissed.

We then move nearer to the shed as the weather improved and finished off the day changing four sleepers. The last one of these took some finding as the level of the ash and spoil on and around the track was somewhat higher than usual.

Job finished for the day, the tools were stashed in the Steam Shed ready for a revisit again next week.

Allan W

Pway report for Saturday, 29th August.

A slightly reduced P-way team headed onto the Northern section, working at various locations over a long length of line between Townsend Fold SB and the Motorway bridge (N of the old Ewood Bridge station); a total of 8 sleepers were changed and 5 joints packed - thankfully none needed shimming this week, so Jack was happy  - whilst Accy John worked the strimmer, trying to control the lush vegetation that always seems to grow well in this area.

Josh switched departments from sleeper changing to stoneblowing and showed a good aptitude for the role of hopper feeder! We'll have him trained as a "fully blown" () Stoneblower operative shortly, then the usual crew can take a well-earned retirement!!!

Alan did his usual sterling job as lookout all day - without falling asleep, looking the wrong way, doing any bridge diving, giving the traincrew the wrong signal.....

Once back at Bury, the trailer was unloaded and cleaned (not a regular Saturday occurrence, it usually gets done during the week) and the two mobile generators were loaded, ready to go to Nuttall Park on Monday morning for our "Teddy Bears' Picnic" event.

Wizzo was absent, this time watching his beloved Burnley getting a 3-0 thrashing by Chelsea. It's a good job Currys open until late, as he probably threw something through his television screen!! Never mind, better luck next week!!
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Someone else will be doing the report next week as I'm not there!! (Off to the Welshpool and St. Mary Railway.)

Dave.

[ Incidentally, for those people interested in the Blackpool Tram Fleet, on the way home, two Blackpool Transport crew members were saying that Centrenary tramcar #645 had three times blown the power at Bispham that afternoon, the third time with "a large bang"!! Ooops! Another poorly Centenary car  (why is there not a tongue in cheek emoticon?) ]

blackpool hoolie

P-way report for Saturday, 22nd August

The P-way team returned to last weeks' location of Irwell Vale, changing 8 sleepers and packing and shimming 5 joints, whilst Alan did a good job strimming the excess vegetation at the side of the line so it didn't dirty Mr. Bailey's Land Rover.

The sleeper changing crew had finished by about 2:00pm, whilst the depleted stoneblowing crew (down to 2 men and the Gaffer helping out from the usual 4-5) had to work until well after 3pm (about 3:20pm, without a brew!! - but at least the Gaffer said we'd be on a cash-in-hand bonus!! ). Some of the sleeper crew had a ride behind 37418 to Raawtenstall, then back to Bury / Heywood. Mike M was seen breaking into a run up the platform to get the train, having left it a little late - it's not known whether an ambulance had to be called or not!! Someone unkindly said it was the most he'd done all day!!

Wizzo, your usual scribe, was still on cloud 9 after seeing his beloved Burnley FC beat Man United during the week by a goal to nil. Probably they'll now go down 5-0 to Everton at home tomorrow!! (Don't throw your map of how to get to Blackpool away yet, Bret!!)

blackpool hoolie

P-Way Report for Sat 15th Aug.

Turned up at Irwell Vale. Changed 6 sleepers, cleared vegetation and attended to dipped joints and fishplates. Oh!....... and got wet.

Allan W

P Way report for Sat 8.8.2009

Today we had one of those jobs which are necessary but non too joyful.

We were ballast regulating on the Heywood Line in two areas, between Spout Farm and the motorway bridge and between Roch viaduct and Alfred St bridge.

Once again joy upon joy we got to use our latest state of the art manually operated ballast relocation devices and our hand operated ballast relocation hopper.

After boarding the train at Bury by the Sea we were dropped off at the motorway bridge over Route 66, the road between the Windy City and LA,(Manchester and Lower Accrington), where we commenced the extremely technically difficult operation. The trick here is to get one of the sought after garden spades we have in our stock as these will not carry as much ballast as the MK1 shovel thus ensuring you are not as knackered at the end of the day.

Haven't a clue as to what the midweekers were doing as Gaffer Bailey was not here for me to ask, at least this spared us the gaffer in his dreaded shorts. Perhaps Bernard can update us here.

Wizzo

Pway report for Sat. 1st August

Well, his 'nibbs (a.k.a. Wizzo) was at a rain-lashed Turf Moor watching his beloved Burnley FC, just elevated to a Premiershp side, go down 2-1 to league 1 side Leeds (i.e. 2 divisions below them ), so it's fallen to me to write the P-way report again.

For the third time in as many weeks, a slightly reduced number of P-way Wallahs were back at Heywood, this time on the section between the Schofield St. O/B (the bridge with a separate pedestrian footbridge) and the playing field, packing and shimming (at least, when Jack really had to!!) 4 joints and changing 8 well-spaced sleepers. Fortunately, the level of rubbish only ran to 2 small bags worth, rather than the previous 4+ sackfulls! We truly expected more!

Entertainment was provided by the frequent DMU shuttle between Bury and Heywood; fortunately the frequent rain showers, especially the final heavy one around 3:00pm, kept the local loonies away, so at least we didn't have to put up with the less desirable forms of Hoolie; just the Blackpool type!!

Our lookout man Mr. B. had a bit of a problem with his horn - he was blowing it with all his might, but he wasn't getting anything more than a feeble squeak out of it. However, dropping it on the floor (accidentally!) seemed to blow the cobwebs out and get it working, so we were suitably protected against the trains - when he was looking in the correct direction, anyway!       It had probably got wet - a bit like everything else. A wet horn's no good to anyone!

Gaffer Bailey has promised that we will be somewhere else other than Heywood next week - probably Pot Hall Bridge? (The school on the Heywood line).

Dave.

blackpool hoolie

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