PERMANENT WAY
- previous activities

During the first weeks of 2004, the section of the main line between the crossover at Embsay and the top yard headshunt was relayed. The rail was reusable, but the sleepers and ballast were well past it, and when any recoverable materials had been removed, the line was lifted and relaid as shown below.

The first job, once the length of track had been surveyed, was to deliver the new sleepers to appropriate locations along the length of track to be replaced, using the Robel. This allows much faster progress to be made once the job is started. (c) Tim Warner

Viewed from the top of the bracket signal, the length of line towards the top yard headshunt is marked out with yellow paint, showing how much of the ballast needs to be removed. All the cables running under the line were identified, and arrangements made to reinstate these in the appropriate manner later on. (c) Tim Warner

Viewed on Sunday 18th January, from the same location, the progress is clear - the old track has been lifted, rails stacked to one side ready to go back in, ballast removed, new ballast laid and rolled, ready to accept the track. (c) Tim Warner

The start of February saw the trackwork completed, with only ballasting required before the final aligning and tamping could take place. (c) Tim Warner

February 8th, and the track has been ballasted, with work on packing underway. This was completed, and the line was handed back for traffic as planned, in time for the half term services. Initially there is a 10mph speedlimit on this section to allow it to settle fully before it is packed and re-aligned. (c) Tim Warner

Looking the other way from the bracket signal, and the markings showing the extent of the removal are once more visible. (c) Tim Warner

Sunday 18th January, and the new ballast is in place, as is the yellow line showing the alignment for the rail to aid the relaying process. The rail can be seen to the left of the trackbed, and new sleepers to the right. (c) Tim Warner

Begining of February, showing the gang at work around one of the joints. This was prior to running through the length of relaid track screwing down all the chairs, as initially only 1 in every 5 had been so-treated to allow the Robel to move materials. (c) Tim Warner

WIth ballasting complete, things are almost ready to be handed back. Further work to tidy up the area will continue once trains are running again. (c) Tim Warner

Alongside the carriage shed extension (the previous P'Way project), the Robel and gang prepare to continue relaying the track, with the first couple of lengths already done. (c) Tim Warner

Another view of the ballasted trackwork, still awaiting packing alognside the carriage shed and its extension which should be cladded shortly. (c) Tim Warner