A summary of projects currently in progress around the Railway.
Infrastructure
Project Swanage
A visit was arranged a couple of months ago by Mark Lackner
of Geotechnical Services Limited to assess if it is feasible to
use a process by which lime is mixed with clay to stabalise the
sub surface of the site, in particular where clay is pumping
through the ballast. The firm is familiar with this type of work
for both rail and road projects, but whether we will have the
funds for the plant to be moved from East Anglia need to be
considered. The whole site has been surveyed, and Dennis Gregory
is this week working on the drawings, needed by Geotechnical
Svcs, and others. Dennis has also agreed to mark the levels of
all S&T equipment onto the drawing. Phillip Wycliffe-Jones has
recently handed over a number of drawings which should assist
with this work.
Following a visit by Jeff Card, who has provided a good deal
of professional advice in the past, we are investigating whether
we can piggy-back onto his Company’s visit to a local school in
Swanage where some sub surface investigation is being carried
out. This will be useful as it will assist us to know what is
beneath the thin layer of ballast. Hopefully this will go ahead
in the next few weeks.
Finally some of the work will form part of the Railway’s
overall planning strategy, and some liaison with PDC is now in
process; this specifically concerns the provision of water for
locomotives and any move of the water tower together with the
possible extension of the platform.
FER
Permanent Way and Civil Engineering
Motala Connection
Please see the report under S&T.
Pondarosa Slip
Some temporary work done to retain most recent slippage.
Design work in progress for solution. Jeff Card visited this and
other sites at the beginning of the month with Mick Stone and
myself. He is now working with Dennis Gregory to complete
calculations so that Dennis can produce the drawings for a
formal planning application, as required by PDCHX Slip.
FER
Corfe Footbridge
The decision was taken earlier this month to lift the main
span of the bridge on, or soon after, Tue 19 Sep 06.
FER
Herston Yard
A drawing for planning permission has been completed and
handed over to S&T whilst the Sighting Committee considers the
position of the DN Distant.
FER
Swanage Coal Dock Conveyor
Having liaised with a potential supplier Dennis has completed
drawings for the new system which will then form the basis for a
bespoke conveyor. Installation work is not planned until the
autumn
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Signal & Telegraph and Telecom
Motala Connection
After minor problems with Network Rail, work commenced on
Monday 5th June to make the final connection at Motala.
The buffer stops have been removed and the closing rail
installed.
The connection has been aligned, jacked and packed to blend in
to the trackwork either side.
Ballast has been dropped and tamped. A gate was installed
across the boundary and fencing erected to the perimeter fence.
The groundframe has been is connected to the double catch
points and locks installed on the two release levers.
The stop boards and speed restriction boards are in place and
sightlines have been checked.
All adjustments have been completed and final inspections
carried out by Swanage Railway.
The site has been inspected and passed as satisfactory by
Network Rail. An HMRI inspection is planned for 4th August. The
Annetts Key for Motala and the Worgret Staff have been modified
to include the wording MOTALA.
DC
Herston Bank Messroom
The P.Way hut has been cleared, the windows glazed, shutters
fitted outside and a door fitted. Outstanding work includes
fitting a lock to the door and constructing a fireplace.
DC
Stations
There was a site meeting held with PDC on 4 Jul following
which a number of reasonable changes were requested. These
included slight modification to the location of some lighting
bollards, signs and one ticket machine. There was also a
reduction in the number of bollards from 30 to 24. It was agreed
to reduce the number of signs, have them all painted in
Buckingham Green with white lettering and white edges, and some
wording has also changed. The new plans were re-submitted to PDC
on Mon 24 Jul.
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