Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum Group News

Despite the weather, progress continues.

John Rowley — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:15:18 +0000

With the £100,000 in place, it has been possible to push on with the tunnel construction. On a day when the Bournemouth Airshow was cancelled for the second day running, the volunteers sliping and sliding in the mud made great progress.
The tunnel was covered and French drains installed.
The tunnel is beginning to obtain its own atmosphere.

All photographs copyright Andrew P.M.Wright

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Norden's Underground Tunnel takes shape

John Rowley — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:49:32 +0000

1st August saw rapid visable progress on the constuction of the Mine tunnel.
© A.P.M.Wright
Some of the construction team can been seen here taking a photographic break in their work. From left to right Peter Sills (Chairman), Brian Langdown (the brains behind the project), Bob Mcgraw, Wayne Masters, Alister Hall, Dr Keith Major, and Noel Donnelly.

The construction follows the system that would have been used underground, but with slight differences to compensate for the lack of ground pressure. It is designed to create the feeling that one is deep underground without the risks. The work now has the urgency to complete before the winter rains come, making the clay difficult to work safely. Volunteers of all sexes, shapes, sizes, and fitness will always be welcome.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Purbeck's underground railway under constuction

John Rowley — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:03:27 +0000

The start of July saw the beginning of the constuction of the "underground" tunnel. The view of the mine building from the Foreman's Office has for the time being almost disappeared behind a mountain of excavated soil. It has been great to have working alongside us one of the original miners, giving us access to his practical knowledge. The construction of the tunnel has to be completed during the summer months, as during the winter the clay becomes very unstable when wet. During the Winter the narrow gauge railway complex around the site will be laid.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Sorting the Good from the Bad and not so Bad - Sunday 28th March

John Rowley — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:10:49 +0000

It may seem that all is quiet at Norden, but preparation work is being done offsite for the Summer work load. Mine is to be dug and track to be laid in the forth coming months.

This is tiring work and our thanks go to all the hard working volunteers who have taken part in the task.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum Update

John Rowley — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:13:22 +0000

Sunday 28th February
The last 2 months have seen a lot of effort to try and secure funding necessary to reach the point of opening a working mine experience. The whole site has been tidied, and the inside of the transhipment shed progressed towards public admission. This Sunday saw the volunteers split between working on site and at our offsite storage. On site steel flor panels were cut to allow the feed of the switchgear panels sit flush with the floor. We also moved some sleepers on the Norden Platform to allow the Tarmacing team clear access on Monday.
The Offsite storage team set about dismantling ex MOD track panels ready for transport to Norden and regauging. Like every part of the railway, we would love more volunteers to come forward and help us achieve create something that Purbeck can be proud of.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

An opportunity to tidy up

John Rowley — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:59:08 +0000

Sunday 10th of January saw Norden Park & Ride under a layer of snow. Initially the many volunteers who braved the cold spent time identifying the various animal and bird tracks around the site:- mainly rabbit and pheasant. Then we set to, and freed a flat truck from it's sidings, de-iced the points, changed them and pushed the truck the whole length of the site and back. The truck was loaded with old rail from close to entrance and taken eith to scrap pile or the track stock. Scattered sleepers were piled up neatly and other rubbish around the site collected and disposed of. We even had some visitors that had seen a recent item in the local newspaper saying that the Museum was open on Sundays. We showed them around and being impressed with our efforts, they left a donation. We hadn't expected people to turn up with the railway closed, but it does show the future potential.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Signs of the start of a Mine tunnel 20th December

John Rowley — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:34:27 +0000

It has been a long time coming but on Sunday 20th December a mine tunnel arch was placed into postion at the foot of the ramp.

The construction of the tunnel will take place next year when the soil has dried out from it's present very liquid state. We have the volunteers and the equipment, but still require funding for the timber supports. Hopefully that will be in position by then.

Also on site is a skided generator unit that will power the electric winch and compressors with power left over for many other requirments. Now we have to build a foundation and do remedial work to the accoustic shield including painting.

Anyone wishing to help with the project, just turn up on any Sunday and you will be most welcomed to assist.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Progress on 9th November 2009

John Rowley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:29:02 +0000

Work completed during the day was the ongoing prepation of shelving for the offsite storage container, that will allow us to move stores out of the mine building ready for the public to visit, maybe next year. Also the transition shed at the bottom of the ramp received yet more attention and the trackbed of the line up to the future engine shed started to be cleared of grass that had grown ontop of the loco ash bed. A few of the volunteers were on standby to help the team working on the extention of the waiting room on Norden Station. Towards the end of the day they shifted sleepers and old rails to create a new retaining wall from the side of the running track up onto the station.

A brightly lit ramp. Photo by Andrew P.M.Wright

Original post blogged on b2evolution.