Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"

[Flying Phil]

mcdjl said:

I can see that makes sense but on the other hand will almost certainly preclude it happening in the future. It would be nice to see double track over the canal....its almost there through the shed anyway.

They do say the canal bridge is to be single line restored to keep the cost down, but, "could be fully upgraded later if required" and the initial part of the missing embankment is further from the brook.....

[Flying Phil]

Meanwhile back to "Windcutter Stuff"
For a bit of variety, we also have a wooden bodied Box Van to hold our stores. This was in need of some TLC and so we have been working on that, stripping paint, repairing and replacing rotten wood ready for priming, undercoating and top coating.



But then we had a bit of bad news as two of our running wagons have been inspected and failed due to "thin flanges". We have a pair of spare wheels for one but the other is unique as it has larger 10" axleboxes...and one pair of spoked wheels!

[Flying Phil]

Well the spare wheelsets have been checked, the protective wrapping on the journals removed and the surfaces re-polished with progressively finer emery cloth. Now we are waiting for the crane to be used to do the exchange.
.
It is the "Goods Galore Gala" next weekend...... with 6 different freight trains in operation! There are 7 steam engines, including 2 8F locomotives being used.

[Flying Phil]

I had to change a brake shoe yesterday.....
The old one on the ground was "excessively worn"........ They are a bit bigger and heavier than my Sprite brake shoes! However, I did not have to take wheels and drums off! This was an urgent job as the wagons are out on Sunday for the "Goods Galore Gala".

[Flying Phil]

The canal bridge has had quite a lot of work done and the top of the three steel girders has been shot blasted and coated in a heavy duty grey plastic/paint. There are still some steel repairs to do on the lower vertical plates and the brickwork will need extensive attention. [url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/EwzMcNz6[/url]

Edited by Flying Phil on Monday 13th May 10:20

[Flying Phil]

This is the view of the underside of the canal bridge, as expected, it is the parts at the ends where it sits on the abutments that are the most corroded.

[toastyhamster]

Nothing recent on the web site - what's the plan for the underneath? Winter 2019 when the canal traffic is less?

[Flying Phil]

Quite correct Toasty - remaining work to be done when canal is quiet from Autumn.
Meanwhile the background work is continuing, getting plans approved and consents etc for the embankment and engine shed work. All of which costs money, takes time......and is "invisible".

[toastyhamster]

Yeh I've seen the news on the shed move and the fundraising. The embankment is going to be a challenge not to screw up the precision business next to it. Coincidentally did Nottingham to Leicester this week on the train so saw the bridge for the first time, I have cycled under the canal ridge before, looked a right mess so I can imagine the work involved. Thanks for the update, keep em coming.

[Flying Phil]

The latest news on the canal bridge is that it will be restored for two tracks after all, more work will be done when the canal is quiet over the winter - over £410,000 has been raised so far!
Meanwhile back on the windcutter wagons, a bit more prepping and painting has seen the East side of #19 looking a bit smarter whilst it is awaiting its move to Quorn.
White stripes and end door still to be painted
.

Edited by Flying Phil on Saturday 27th July 21:05

[Flying Phil]

White stripes now done and end door being worked on during a working party Saturday.

[Flying Phil]

We were able to see how the guards and drivers are trained on goods train operation over the weekend as we were allowed to be in the "spare" brakevan during the training runs. The first picture is the rake at Loughborough and second at Swithland, waiting for the service train to come through and the diner train pausing in the loop whilst coffee is being served...

[Flying Phil]

Back to work on #19 and repairs are in hand to the end door. We are also going to remove the buffers at that end as there is a worrying amount of corrosion on the ends of the headstock.

[Flying Phil]

Work has restarted on the Canal Bridge now that the boat traffic is much less.
On top of the bridge is a new girder over the North end which is being used as a cantilever beam. The new "cross girder" is anchored on the left hand side and those red and white containers have 10 tons of water to hold that side of the bridge down. At the right hand end there are 2 hydraulic rams to lift the tie rods - and the end of the old bridge girder, by a few cm. That corner of the bridge bearing surface is repaired. The Centre span girder acts as the support and does not need repair.
Repeat for the other side and other end (possibly only one corner).
They could not risk jacking up from the towpath underneath as they were unsure as to its stability and strength.

[Shakermaker]

The episode of Top Gear where they make a train was on early this morning, which was filmed at the GCR.

Did you have any involvement with that back in the day, must be 10 years ago I guess they made it?

[Flying Phil]

Shakermaker said:

The episode of Top Gear where they make a train was on early this morning, which was filmed at the GCR.

Did you have any involvement with that back in the day, must be 10 years ago I guess they made it?

I didn't have any involvement but I believe the work was done in the Rothley shed and it was very "hush hush" at the time.
Meanwhile, the canal bridge has been encased in a plastic tent so that they can shot blast the underside without getting any debris in the water.

[spikeyhead]

I really should have a ride on this, I can hear the trains from my garden and do love a steam train.

[Flying Phil]

As the brake van has arrived in Quorn yard I was able to pop along and tidy up. As it was a cold but sunny day I had a picnic!

[toastyhamster]

Good work on the "Picnic". I've been assisting the "Cutting 'edge" gang when possible, all hands needed during cutting season.

What's going on with the van?

[Flying Phil]

Hi Toastie
I believe the brake van was used with the long flat wagon to deliver Christmas lighting rigs for the "Winter Wonder Lights" along the line.
The box van that was in the Rothley shed is used as a stores van for the "Windcutter" wagon team.