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For the Enthusiast

Autumn Outdoor Week 2002 Progress

During the week 59 people gave 251 people days of effort to achieve the following tasks. A heartfelt "thank you" to all.

Half of West Carriage floor concreted. (approx 8 days work)
North road slab track in the West Carriage Shed extended as far the pit.
Drains cleared West of Dolgoch viaduct and in Dolgoch Station area.
Four sleepers replaced on the ash road point at Pendre.
Moved portaloo to site and commissioned.
Sleepers collected from milepost 6, 60 sleepers drilled for Pandrol gauge lock fixings, 100 sleepers drilled for double outside spikes, 24 sleepers from stock at milepost 6 redrilled.
Point rodding runs cleaned at Pendre and Quarry Siding.
Concentrated all available logged timber in Dolgoch area. (Storm damage 26th Oct)
Burnt a large amount of the smaller branches etc. (Storm damage 26th Oct)
Six days supporting the clearing of storm damage in the Dolgoch area.
Large bonfire site at Quarry Siding cleared, bonfire at Ty Mawr cleared.
Hedgelaying arisings removed from Cynfal.
Settling of ballast in a bay at the bottom of Cynfal Bank investigated.
Started work on renewing South side fence at Fach Goch.
Completed work digging out for and installed 100 metres of new drain at Fach Goch.
Rodded through other drains in Fach Goch area.
Fireworks preparation and clearance.
Moving some of the rails required for the winters relaying to Fach Goch, and crowed to shape the first six pairs of rails.
Relayed the first six lengths, barred to shape and prepared for a final tamp with the Matisa.
Reconditioning more secondhand nuts & bolts.
Moved bobcat & roller to and from site during the week.
Loaded ballast train.

Older Younger Members Long Weekend

On Friday 22nd November a small gang assembled at Pendre with an engineering train before heading off up the line to Fach Goch. The task was to continue with the relaying at the bottom of Cynfal Bank. During the day nearly 6 lengths (11 rails) were crowed to shape, tools gathered up, the closure length removed, plant loaded and delivered and the first length prepared for rolling.

On the Saturday with a much larger gang we relayed 6 lengths and continued with the crowing. All the required sleepers had been predrilled during the Autumn Outdoor Week and placed close by. Sunday again saw a smaller gang, however we still managed to nearly complete a further 4 lengths and ballast part of the previous days work.

The few remaining gang members on the Monday completed the tenth length and made the closure, before progressing with the ballasting work. After lunch 6 of the 10 lengths completed were tamped with the Matisa. The tools & spare fixings were loaded up along with bobcat skid steer returned to Pendre.

A great success - very many thanks to the organisers for conceiving the idea and rounding up the troops... Very many thanks are due to the gang which gave 40 people days over the 4 days.