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March Drains Working Party

16 March 2017

Teamwork Ballast train in the mist

Our Trackside Drains Working party was over last weekend, 11th & 12th March.

On Saturday we spent time at Penrhyn, just down from Bakehouse Crossing, where our trackside drain had been lifted to the surface during the recent track renewals. So we dug a trench in the new ballast and lowered the pipe back in.

Dropping the ballast Van 51 brings up the rear

On Sunday we had a Ballast and odd job train that turned out to be more like an old-style pick up goods!

We first went back to just below Bakehouse to cover the pipe lowered yesterday, then up to Rhiw Goch to return the scotch block, then up to Tan-y-Bwlch, where Rodney, our leader, took possession as a PICOP (Person in Charge of a Possession), using this title for the last time for with the new Rule Book coming in later this month, a PICOP becomes a Possession Manager.

Unloading water for Dduallt staff toilet The train at Tunnel South Looking from the van to the wagon

Then it was up to Bunny’s foot crossing to cover the pipes put in last month. Then on to Dduallt to drop off four 5 gallons of water for the staff toilet there. Then up to Tunnel South to cover with ballast a pipe that protects the Signal & Telegraph department’s cable from the tunnel, to the first telegraph pole.

Then it was up to Tan-y-Grisiau for lunch, then back down again to continue picking up old fence posts and wire. We went into Dduallt siding to run round. At Hen Bont we stopped to top up the ballast over a new pipe put in last year. And back down to Penrhyn to join the other works train before both returned to Minffordd yard. A very useful days work.

Close to Tunnel South Further ballast covering The view from Harlech Castle Harlech Castle

Ron Walker – scribe to the trackside drain project

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