The Echills Wood Railway Observer
Reporting Every Monday
WEEKLY REPORT! 46
MONDAY 21st JULY 2008.
JACK'S OF ALL TRADES
TAKE ON TUNNEL!
It was back to the days of Railway Mania for the EWR this week, as a gang of navvies carried on blasting their way through Wren Tunnel. Armed with dynamite and trowels, these Jack's of all trades soon had the first wall finished by the end of the day. When the final whistle blew the gang of navvies were seen scurrying back to their Shanty Town in Old Oak Yard, for a well earned cup of tea and a few biscuits, if there were any left. Apparently, the biscuit tin is always left empty, except for a few broken remains and a pile of crumbs! We know who eats them all DONT WE GUYS!
WEDNESDAY
Bringing the tools to the tunnel site.
The Compo Train & Genny Wagon.
The lengths some people will go to, to get a tent errected!
A few ton of soil is better than a few tent pegs for holding this sheet down.
Yozzer Stevens checks his handy work with one of those things with a bubble in it, whilst the chief construction engineer keeps a beady eye on him.
Ooops! Iv'e dropped my trowel!
The remnants of the tunnel spoil, after blasting, which needs to be carted away!
Not bad for a bunch of novice navvies.
Richard got the job of barrow pushing, which every expierienced navvie has to learn, before given the more technical jobs like mixing compo.
Grade 1, 2 & 3 navvies in action! 1.Working 2. Looking as though they're working and 3.Watching!
Definately a Grade 3 navvie.
I think they have given up trying to errect the tent!
Iv'e been told I won the sweep so I'm claiming my prize!
That's looking a bit better!
FRIDAY
Start of Mel's Allotment!
Clearing away some more of the tunnel blasting debri!
How much dynamite did they use to get this lot!
How to build a lintel support, with a little help from the Druids? All will be revealed!
This pile is reserved for Mel!
Iv'e always wanted an alotment by the railway, so I think I'll claim this plot here, as mine!
Pass me another block!
.
Hurry up, this things heavy!
It looks like they have got that tent battened down at long last!
Don't you dare put that muck on my allotment, or you will definately not be getting any carrots!
This allotment is going spare if anyone fancies it?
I don't know what I am supposed to be doing, but at least I'm doing something!
Meet Kermit! He appeared from a cloud of smoke after blasting!
Trying to get the trackbed levelled out.
Not bad considering half of Wednesday's navvies didn't turn up. Thats the other side wall, half completed!
Doing the hole bit, in the middle wall!
How's about that for a bit of ancient, technical support!
This support was thought out by studying several photos, of Stonehenge. Note the ressemblance!
Another good day's work done. Those carrots might be showing by next Friday?
The latest up in the carriage shop. The under ends of all the coach seats have been primed.
Next Report Monday 28th July 2008
WEEKLY REPORT! 45
MONDAY 14th JULY 2008
NEW COACHES TAKE SHAPE
The articulated coach sets bodywork, is almost completed and soon, they will be ready for fitting. Pete Rimmel and his team have now got all the panels made up, ready for painting, before fitting them to the chassis of the coaches. Hopefully, it won't be too long before the two triple sets are seen in service, which will allow us to withdraw some of the older coach stock for modification. More building has been done on the tunnel walls and it is hoped to get them finished during the comming few weeks, so that the roof sections can be put in place. Other work done this week, was drilling all the rail lengths on a jig, ready for fishplating together, when each rail panel is made up and some work on the 16mm garden railway.
WEDNESDAY
Ken & Michael having a sticky moment adding glue to the body panels, before final fixing with a nail gun.
Team leader Peter, marking out where the nails will be inserted through each panel. In the background, a couple of already completed seat compartments.
Careful alignment of each panel is neccessary before final fixing together. Brian (Quality Control) makes sure Ken & Michael do the job properly.
These were the first two end compartments to be made up.
Work of a slightly differnt nature was being done to these two coaches belonging to Jeff Steven's. They have now been fitted with soft foam seating to the roofs, covered with a grey vinyl covering , which is held on using velcro tape.
Ken using a nail gun, to fasten the panels together, after glueing all the joining surfaces.
How's this for mass production, these are most of the end compartments already assembled.
By the end of the day, all six coaches had had their compartments assembled, ready for priming, before final painting. Michael & Ken, making up one of the double centre compartments.
An interested enthusiast who arranged with Andy Walton, to have a day's driving experience. He is seen here driving Erin, with his wife seated in Brett Rogers covered coach. Yes it was raining as usual!
This steaming bay is specially reserved for Ian Parsons, or members of The Drayton Manor Golf Club only! Four!
FRIDAY
Most of the day was spent drilling the rail ends of all the remaining rail stock, ready for laying, for the Far Leys extension.
Vic holding the rail, whilst Mel attaches the drilling jigs to the ends
Some of the drilled rail lengths laid out, with the undrilled ones, stacked against the container.
Attaching the drilling jigs to the ends of the rail.
Final drilling, with the jigs in place. The rails were done in pairs, then turned to drill the opposite ends.
Work on the 16mm garden railway has been slowly taking shape, here are the latest pictures, of work done during the past few months.
The wide section is to incorporate a passing loop.
All the track boards have been felted, as far as the steaming area, which has yet to be completed
A view of Phase 1 on the right, with the dog bone loop of Phase 2, just visible on the far left.
This plastic membrane was set out and will eventually be draped over the tunnel roof and down the sides of the end walls, before soil is built up over the tunnel. On top of this membrane, a thicker grade of plastic will be put over the roof sections, which will keep the tunnel dry. Here the inner membrane is temporary draped in position, until the building of this wall is complete.
The backside of the tunnel, where the soil will be filled. This side, which is closest to the road, will be done first, so that we can get the hyab as close as possible, for lifting the roof sections on, once the walls have reached their correct height. The internal wall and roof surfaces, will eventually be painted black.
These last four sections were put in last week, but have yet to be properly levelled and ballasted.
The foot crossing will be the next job, before the track can reach the tunnel.
SATURDAY MORNINGS WORK
Today was the last day that Tamworth College, were on site, until after the summer term holidays in September. So they have built up the walls at the ends to the correct height for us. It is now left to the members to finish off, before we can get the roof sections in place. So it is hoped that work will commence this coming Wednesday and providing the weather is good, we could have it finished, by Friday afternoon or Sunday, if we can get enough people willing to get their hands dirty.
Tamworth College will be back after the holiday, to build the tunnel mouths, which will be done using red & blue brick. It is hoped to have a castellated mouth at the meadow end with turrets, and something differet at the Baldwins Bridge end, which has not yet been decided. So all in all, it should look quite an impressive structure once finished.
Laying the middle section of courses, is all that needs to be done to reach the required height. With a long piece of string and a plumb line, no problem! Oh, and a trowel to lay the blocks with!
This photo taken yesterday (Sunday) shows the work done so far and a couple of guys preparing the site ready for our own brick layers, the boys from the black stuff (Jeff Stevens, Yozzer Hughs & Co.) to start work on Wednesday. Give us a job, I can lay bricks!
Scaffolding planks in position, to reach other parts little guys can't get to! There is still quite a lot of blocks to lay, before it is completed, so as Jeff Stevens (being an ex Fireman) would like to say, IT'S ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP! for a final push to get the job finshed for the end of this coming week, or the following week at the latest, so that we are ready to get the roof on by the end of the month. The management can't guarantee any wages, but those offering their skills to get this job finished, will be given FREE train ride passes for posterity!
Their will be a separate report for the Anniversay
Weekend, which will cover both days.
See Page Index.
Next Weekly Report, Monday 21st July!
WEEKLY REPORT! 44
MONDAY 7th JULY 2008
TUNNEL CONTINUES - PREPARING THE
NEXT PHASE OF TRACK LAYING!
We are now entering our fifth week, since tunnel building began and it is coming on at a steady pace. Hopefully, it will be ready to recieve the roof, by the end of this month, but don't hold me to it. Preparations are in hand to start track laying again, up as far as the tunnel (foot crossing) and once the tunnel roof is on, we can now lay track as far as Baldwins Brook. This last week, ballast was spread out from where the track finishes now, up as far as Baldwins Bridge, except for the tunnel section. We now have the point in position, just after Picnic Green Station, which will allow trains to leave platforms 2&3. The track bed for joining these tracks to the main line has now been prepared and just needs final topping off and compacting.
MONDAY
Work on the centre wall is well under way.
The wing walls are coming on too.
This will be the battery storage compartment, for the tunnel signaling & lighting. It has not quite reached its full height yet, when the lintels will be positioned.
I think that this will be the last day for these students, as summer term holiday approaches. They have other parts of the course to learn as well, besides on site work.
There is still five or six courses to be built up yet on the outer walls.
So far looking good.
One of the course instructors, with the bucket.
A view taken from the road
View taken from the top of the soil pile on the opposite side.
View taken from same position, showing the wing walls at the meadow end of the tunnel.
Another view of same side, taken at about tunnel centre.
The centre wall so far, at the end of the days work.
View of centre wall looking towards Baldwins Brook.
One of the instructors put his monica here in yellow paint on the day in question. However, it won't be seen, once the infill goes in behind it.
Looking through one of the bores (well it would be if it had been properly tunneled).
All packed up after another good days work.
WEDNESDAY
A bit more builders rubble goes into making up the new bit of trackbed, where the lines from 2&3 platforms will join in with the main line.
Andy prepares the trackbed for inserting the new point.
This is the point which Andy made up last week.
Matt, who was giving a hand, clearing away the ballast ready for taking out this panel, which will have to be altered to fit the pointwork.
The new point now in situ.
Looking towards the station and the formation of where the track will continue. Note the rubble still being tipped They have been reported to the council for fly tipping 
These gravel boards have been placed here, ready for forming wing walls, to hold the embankment in place.
More gravel boards, this time at Bridge No2.
Work on placing these, will be done later.
Up in the carriage department, work was continuing with the building of the articulated coach set bodies. Some sort of serious discussion, seems to be going on, as to what should be decided.
Ah well, some sort of agreement must have been reached, Pete looks convinced as Ken is putting the idea into action. Michael doesn't look to sure about it though!
Michael, one of our qualified electricians, has been fitting a new fuse box and tidying up the Mess Room electrics.
FRIDAY
Work started today in preparing the track bed in the area just prior to the tunnel.
As there was far too much ballast tipped here, some of it was taken through the tunnel, to be tipped on the causeway towards Baldwins Bridge.
Mel carefully brings Dumpy through the tunnel, with the first load of ballast. He was greeted with a loud cheer and hand clapping, for getting through, without touching the sides.
Altogether, starting at Baldwins Bridge, about six dumper loads were required.
As each load was brought in, the tram was rolled out. Here the first load is being tipped.
The ballast was then spread out to form a bed of two to three inches, ready for laying the track. Before track laying commences, it will be compacted first using a whacker plate.
What a difference already, to the dirt track bed, it now looks like a railway is coming through here.
Back alongside the meadow, the ballast has already been levelled out. The foot crossing will be set in concrete, so this is as far as ballasting can go for the time being.
Beyond Wren Tunnel, laying of the ballast is well under way.
The last load being tipped for this section.
Whilst the ballasting near the tunnel was being done, Terry on Minnie was preparing the track bed near Picnic Green Station, ready for the adjoining track work to be laid.
Starting by the station, to fill in the depression, by the fence.
The toe of the point for the two tracks leaving platforms 2&3, will be in line with the tree. Just enough clearance will allow the track to run between the tree and the fence.
Andy & Ian, taking a few track pannels up to the new ballasted site alongside the meadow, ready for laying.
The end of the line, but not for long!
Ian loosening the track clips, of this panel, ready to be adjusted to fit.
Back at Picnic Green, the new track bed is taking shape.
Just final finishing off, before it is compacted and topped of, ready for ballasting. At least it looks better than looking all that building rubble that those fly tippers dumped! It has come to the Observer's notice, that a certain Mr Tom Bailey & Mr Jeff Stevens were the main culprits, involved in dumping this material and they are have both repremanded to serve three months hard labour, working on the EWR.
It's no good burrying the evidence Terry, I have already got the Fly Tippers on Camera and you were included.!
Later in the afternoon, one of the park ranger's did a bit more tree felling for us.
This will allow the track to take a better line towards the next bridge.
