   |
Latest News
|
Admin login | Printable version
October 2007 Tracksiders
A big 'Thank You' to the 38 youngsters who contributed 76 "tracksiders days" on the Talyllyn Railway over October half term.
Ian Evans has kindly written a short article describing the work the Tracksiders undertook.
The 'Tracksider's Special' at Wharf with No 4 'Edward Thomas'.
At Tynllywynhen - the Tracksiders built in slate a "step" to divert water into the culvert.
At Dolgoch - we built the new drain in what became known as "Passiondale"! It was shifting quite a bit of water, but may silt up. We used some slate from the stack. We also briefly checked drains west of the viaduct, but there were still a lot of leaves on the trees! We cleared the gutters of the toilet block, but again more leaves to come there. We carried out routine maintenance and bramble bashing on the footpaths to the viewing platforms.
At Quarry Siding we had a small bonfire at the burn site, but did not clear everything in the time available. We also cleared vegetation from the vee to improve sighting of the level crossing for Down Trains. The arisings went with all of the others on our works train to Tynllywyn.
Tracksiders clearing the vegetation from the approach to Quarry Siding
At Abergynolwyn - the Tracksiders cleared vegetation from behind the platform fence and in the car park hedge (concentrating in the latter case on clearing brambles and branches growing outwards - at Noel's request we left most of what was growing upwards. Some of this went to a bonfire along the forestry path and the remainder is at the east end of the platform awaiting collection on a suitable train.
We gave the slate spiral a birthday and washed down the level crossing gates. We did a little more work on the sculpture train, in particular opening up a "valley view" and creating a "bugs breeding ground". I've had no help with seeking grant funding for the sculpture trail, so it's not going to happen for next May. However, with a little more work, we are probably in a position to open it up in a low key way, with temporary laminated / non bi-lingual signs, until we are ready for a more formal opening. The redundant chairs were taken to Tynllywyn. We spent an hour on the south side cess drain clearing leaves - one of the small under track pipes was almost blocked, so that was cleared out. We did not get as far as the Forestry sign. We did not sweep the drive this time. As you know, we left the 2 barrows under the toilet, but one of these now has a flat tyre.
At the winding house we felled the saplings and, together with the boscage at Big Bend, this was transferred to Tynllwyn. The panels at Nant Gwernol were washed down.
Tracksider's engineering train at Brynglas
Thanks to Ian Evans for the article and to Steve Hart for the pictures.