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Spring Outdoor Week

Spring Outdoor Week 2002 took place between 23rd Feb and 3rd March; the major items of work were relaying the loop at Brynglas and at Forestry Crossing. Work was also being undertaken on the new steps down to the play area at Abergynolwyn, and at Nant Gwernol.

Brynglas

At Brynglas, the main line had been relaid during a Territorial Army exercise earlier in the spring. However, it was necessary to complete relaying the loop, as shown in the photographs below.

"I wish to report a theft officer!"
Prior to starting work on reinstating the loop.

Tuesday morning at Brynglas.

"Well it was the right shape honest!!"
Minor adjustments to the loop.

S&T Work in progress, connecting up the compensators for the point rodding.

Completed trackwork at Brynglas.

Completed trackwork at Brynglas from the west.

Some of the Gang.

Other work at Brynglas included:

• Replacing the first length of the siding.
• Lifting, aligning and tamping both the main and loop road.
• Digging in all the blocks for the crank bases.
• Replacing and reconnecting all the S&T equipment.
• Tidying up the site.
• Landscaping and grass seeding the area between the loop and siding.
• Digging out part of the siding.
• Road cleaning and sweeping.

Abergynolwyn Play Area

The new play area at Abergynolwyn also received attention:

• Fitting one of the balance beams in the childrens playground at Abergynolwyn.
• Burning the large bonfire at Abergynolwyn.
• Progressing the hand rails on the zig zag path.

Work on the new steps between the station and the play area at Abergynolwyn.

The "station" in the children's play area at Abergynolwyn.

The playground, looking down the new path from the station.

Forestry Crossing

• Removing the old crossing timbers.
• Removing the 30 ft track panel and 6 ft from the Nant Gwernol rail head to allow the original panel to be replaced by a 36ft panel, thereby taking the rail joint out of the route used by southside wheel sets of vehicles using the crossing.
• Fitting new crossing timbers. (Some were not fixed until later.)
• Clearing all spoil displaced and further quantities which have been washed down the road over the years.

The Bobcat moving a track panel at Forestry Crossing.

Moving the panel clear.

A tight fit in the cab.

A wet day at Forestry Crossing.

No. 2 "Dolgoch" using the retimbered crossing.

Other Tasks

Other tasks completed or progressed during the week were:

• Lifting the crossing of the Nant Gwernol (West) point and bringing it down to Pendre to have the holes in the base plate adjusted.
• Preparing some sections for tamping. (Heavy rain stopped actual progress on the tamping).
• Tree and branch pruning west of the blockpost at Abergynolwyn to milepost 5 3/4.
• Clearing away most of the arisings from the pruning operations.
• Drainage work.
• Bonfire on Brynglas Bank.
• Preparation work associated with installing wider crossing timbers at Brynglas farm crossing
• Removing undergrowth from Rhydyronen.
• Sleeper drilling at Pendre.
• Stacking logs.
• Tidying up.
• S&T work at Wharf.
• Ballast loading.

Diesel Driver Training was given to six people, who were given the opportunity during the week to drive three of the railway's fleet, as well as receiving talks and practical demonstrations appropriate to the grade.

During the week some 179 working days were given by 50 different people. The weather improved as the week progressed after reaching a low on the Monday when the waterproofs took a real test. Thanks as always are due to the staff, volunteers and speakers who made the week a success, their support is much appreciated.