PERMANENT WAY
- previous activities

Work started between Christmas and New Year to gather the required materials for the job, and transport them to the site. This was achieved with two days of works trains, and use of the Steam Crane.

The first three weekends of January 2003 saw the DMU running an altered service, between Bolton Abbey and Stoneacre Loop while a posession was taken of the rest of the line. This allowed works trains and the lifting of the track under Holywell Bridge, ready for replacement and drainage works. This was completed on time, and handed back for services to recommence on the 26^th of January 2003.

Back in September 2002, another batch of concrete sleepers was delivered from Healy Mills, location of the team's 'collection' work. These are seen being unloaded at Prior's Lane and stacked ready for use, including some for the relaying at Holywell. (c) Mike Mason.

As the unloading continued, Monckton passes with a passenger train. The sleepers had all been sorted before loading up the lorries - this is what most of the work at Healey Mills entailed. Included amongst the sleepers is a selection of the new 'Fastclip' type, some of which were put to use at Holywell, and the results and ease of use impressed those taking part. (c) Mike Mason.

The train viewed at the throat of Bolton Abbey station from the top of the cutting / side of the quarry. The steam to the left is that from the steam crane. Cranford provided the power for both days of the operation, meaning we had an entirely steam-powered couple of days on the works trains. (c) Tim Warner.

The first task was to unload some S&T equipment from some of the wagons that were required for the job. This took a lot longer than expected, but was completed! Here the crane is seen lifting a pallet of equipment from the wagon, under the instruction of James. (c) Tim Warner.

Over the other side, a pallet is lowered ready for the ground crew to guide into the correct position and un-sling it. (c) Tim Warner.

The next challenge for the crews was to shunt at Bolton Abbey to get the formation of the train correct, before propelling it to Prior's Lane. Not too tricky, you might think. BUT it had been raining. This left the track in Hambleton cutting very slippery, and as it is on a gradient (and the train was heavy), the journey took far longer! Photos to follow shortly.

The following morning saw activity recommence at Prior's Lane with the crane in action lifing rails from the stack to where they could be loaded onto the rail wagon (seen next to Cranford). (c) Tim Warner.

A lot of shunting followed as wagons were loaded, as the one being loaded had to be shunted in next to the crane. This was the view that greeted any of the spectators (there were quite a few...) from Prior's Lane Bridge. The crane can be seen lifting rails using a lifting beam. (c) Tim Warner.

Once the rails were lifted next to the lineside, it was time to use the hand cranes on the rail wagon (recently recomissioned) to load the rail. This made the task much easier, and allowed the steam crane to make a start on the concrete sleepers. (c) Tim Warner.

Unfortunately the sleeper stacks had been positioned with a forklift truck. We were using a steam crane. There were some telegraph wires above! The result was we had to lift the sleepers with the jib a lot lower, meaning fewer could be lifted at any one time. It also limited the length of the chains used to lift the sleepers as can be appreciated from this photo. (c) Tim Warner.

As we got further down the stack, things became easier. As the weather looked as though it was going to take a turn for the worse, the crane showed what it could do with loads increasing with each lift. (c) Tim Warner.

The sleepers were loaded onto flat wagons with a minimum of fuss, and then shunted up to Skibden siding to await the start of the work at Holywell. Whilst all the sleepers were being loaded, Cranford took the rail wagon to Holywell where the rails were unloaded.

On the first day of the posession, the Robel was used to collect tools from Embsay and other small mterials. Here it is seen alongside the P-Way container at Embsay before heading to Holywell. (c) Tom Ireland.

The sleepers that had been loaded onto the flat wagons were collected from Skibeden as they were required, using the Robel. Here the team are seen loading up the first installment of sleepers for the relaying before continuing to Holywell. (c) Mike Mason.

Meanwhile, back at Embsay, a works train was being prepared, making use of steam power in the form of Annie, which was approaching the end of its boiler ticket. (c) John Garwood.

Annie is moved off the coal dock to assemble the train. (c) Tom Ireland.

As with all works trains, there is a certain amount of shunting to be done... The train had to carry a mini-digger to Holywell, as well as materials to construct an off-loading ramp so that it can be used to get at the site of works. (c) Tom Ireland.

The works train approaches Holywell, having passed under Skibeden footbridge (just to the left in the background). The Lowmac contains the mini-digger as well as quarry fill to construct the off-loading ramp. More fill is in the Grampus, along with a secure box that was used for storing tools whilst the work was carried out. (c) Tim Warner.

The train arrived at Holywell and sat until the Robel had completed its work, unloading sleepers alongside where they were required for the relaying. (c) Tim Warner.

Annieis seen again waiting with the train in Holywell Halt, which has had much attention of late, and is now a desirable place to stop off. (c) John Garwood.

The Robel is seen here unloading the new concrete sleepers ready for the relaying, on the Stoneacre side of the bridge. (c) John Garwood.

The new rails can be seen at the far side of the line, as some of the P-Way team start to remove the keys and clips from the track, ready for its removal. The foreground shows the drainage that has now been improved. The problem stems from having to lower the trackbed under the bridge when it was rebuilt as a single-track arch in the mid-1980s. This resulted in a dip, which collects water because the drainage is very liable to blockages. The work that has been carried out has been difficult as solid rock is literally just below the surface! (c) Tim Warner.

Annie is seen with the Lowmac with the mini-digger, ready to start construction of the off-loading ramp on the opposite side of the train. (c) Tim Warner.

The construction of the off-loading ramp commenced, using the mini-digger and some quarry waste / fill with the running edge supported using old sleepers. (c) John Garwood.

As above - note the rails in the foreground - these are the replacements for this section, allowing fewer joints under the bridge by using longer lengths. (c) John Garwood.

The view from the top of the cutting - Holywell station is to the left, and the bridge is to the right. The new rail is visible to the right of the loco. (c) Tim Warner.

As can be seen here, some sleepers have been fastened together to make a supporting wall against the trackside (like a mini platform), and the digger is filling the space behind with quarry fill from the wagons, as mambers of the team look on. (c) Tim Warner.

Another view of the process, this time showing where it is in relation to the bridge and hte extent of the work site. The Robel can be seen under the bridge, ready to haul out the old lengths of rail. (c) Tim Warner.

Taken from the opposite side of the bridge, looking back towards Holywell Halt, the Robel is seen dragging the old length of rail out from the sleepers. The new concrete sleepers can be seen laid out to the left of the photo. The works train has headed back to Embsay to collect further quarry fill to continue the construction. (c) Tim Warner.

Another shot of the rail being dragged under the bridge. Note the Fastclip fastenings on the sleepers to the left - very much up-to-date! Are we the first preserved railway to include them? (c) Tim Warner.

The old rails are dragged up to the other side of the station so that they can be collected for re-use elsewhere at a later date with the rail wagon. The reason for their replacement is principally their length - only 30'. The new ones are 60', resulting in fewer joints under the bridge which should help reduce the hammer the ground gets, which can lead to 'pumping' where the formation disintegrates. (c) Tim Warner.

Although not especially relevant to this, Annie basks in the sunset at Embsay towards the end of the day, but we didn't let the lack of light stop us straight away! (c) Tom Ireland.

In the wet weather, granite chippings are laid on the scraped and ballasted trackbed, ready for the new track to be laid. (c) John Garwood.

Using the mini-digger, the new fastclip sleepers are positioned, working from Holywell Halt towards the bridge to allow the Robel to run over the track as it is laid to transport materials. (c) John Garwood.

Viewed towards the bridge, the first few new sleepers are laid. Looking to the left of the track, the drainage can be seen. This was tackled at the same time as the relaying, and later assisted by the army apprentices. (c) John Garwood.

Looking back towards the Halt, and the contrast between new and old sleepers can clearly be seen as the first length takes shape. (c) John Garwood.

Making use of rollers and the Robel, the new rails were pushed along to the required location, then moved in by hand and secured. The fastclips were received favourably amongst the department - very easy to use! (c) John Garwood.

Looking back through the bridge towards Holywell, the new track is clearly visible, showing off the fastclip components. The distant signal is for Stoneacre Loop. (c) John Garwood.

The final job was to move the reusable wooden sleepers to Bolton Abbey ready for use in the headshunt that is planned for there. Here they are being unloaded by the Robel and a small team. (c) John Garwood.