This Monday those friendly chaps from 'Pulhams Steels' delivered another batch of sleepers so that we can launch our next 'push south' beyond the level crossing.

The next big get-together to lay all this lovely track will be over the weekend 3rd & 4th December. If you want to join in then please feel free to come along and get involved and we’ll be delighted to see you; no previous experience necessary. However, please note safety boots are essential.

Either way, by Christmas we will be well south of the Station…..

The second of our monthly ‘meet the team’ nights will be held in the snug bar of the Old Ox Inn in Shillingstone from 19:00 on Wednesday 9th November 2011.

These are very informal get-togethers open to anyone who has an interest, question or complaint regarding the Project and is open to all, members and non-members alike.

The inaugural meet in October went down very well and it was great to see some new faces and talk about all aspects of the Project.

Earlier this year the Trust purchased this 'London, Midland & Scottish Railway' pattern brake van from a private individual based on the 'Swanage Railway', but was not in a position to bring it to the site until sufficient progress had been made with track-laying.

With the grand opening of the signal box out of the way our great supporters and local hauliers, P H Antell Haulage, delivered the vehicle to site on Monday 17th October.

As demonstrated at the superbly restored Midsomer Norton Station brake vans are excellent vehicles for embryonic sites such as ours to allow passenger running to begin, but first there is the small matter of restoring the vehicle as it seems that a quick paint job won’t quite be enough!

Despite appearances the vehicle is sound with good metal work and restoration will begin shortly. The first job is to meticulously measure the vehicle so that the replacement wooden sections can be accurately fabricated. Thereafter we will begin with the roof and work on from there.

After all, look how quickly we built the signal box!

Although the vehicle wasn’t actually built until 1950, the chosen livery will be 'LMS' brown which will be authentic for 1923 until the mid 1950s.

Nationalisation of the railways may have taken place in 1948 but brake vans wouldn’t have adopted British Railways livery overnight. 

Once the brake van has been fettled we will then turn our attention to the Gunpowder van that is currently sulking behind the 9F.

Another special guest was signalman John Cluett from Stalbridge box. So far, as we can tell, John has spent the entire weekend in there polishing all of the brasses; good to see!

Among the visitors was a deputation from the 'Heritage Railway Association', of whom Shillingstone is a new member, and you can expect the signal box to compete in the 'HRA' awards next year.

The record takings from the day will make a healthy contribution to Shillingstone’s ‘Magic Mile’ project to reinstate the track work throughout its site! 

Track laying Update

Express Arrives at Shillingstone

Signal Box Grand Opening

This exciting event has now been scheduled for the weekend of 15th and 16th October 2011.

The actual ceremony will be at 14:30 on Saturday 15th October, but we are combining it with the 'Three Okefords End of Season Steam Up', meaning we shall have traction engines on site, a licensed bar on the Saturday, live music (hopefully) in the evening.

As an extra treat, we will be a running a range of 'O Gauge', 'Gauge 1', and '5-inch Gauge' locomotives, all providing 'electrifying enjoyment' to visitors of all ages.

Our delicious café and fascinating shop will be open to satisfy your desires! Ample parking (close by) will be available between 10:00 and 16:00 on both days.

Big Track Week - Day 4

Not much to say really because the pictures speak for themselves.  Norman and Ben Young (N D Young Transport)delivered another delicious load of 60 ft rail while the track gang (Tom Antell, Dave Clark, Derek Lester-Jones, Ken Merriman and Toby Watkins.....all well fed by Bob Smith and Bill Munden) made busy laying out the new sleeper collection.

Thanks to Express Hire for the loan of the plant equipment. 

This is the early stage of Phase 1 but a Down line that is well clear of the Station has already been created.  Friday and the direction of track guru, Barry Light, will see further progress.

Bring it on!
 

Track Laying Progress

The work continues!

Since Monday Norman Young has delivered further lorry loads of base ballast and the track team (masterfully and inspirationally led by Barry Light) continued to spread it out and lay out sleepers in readiness.

Wednesday was mainly about loading and unloading the track from its secure storage to Shillingstone Station; easier said than done with 60 foot lengths! At about 1800 on Wednesday evening the first length of rail was placed on the sleepers. Thursday will see more track arrive and several panels assembled.

At Last! The Track Laying Begins

Following the thorough clearance and preparation of our track bed from the signal box, right through to our southern boundary the actual business of laying the new track began on Monday 5 September. 

Once again, plant was hired in to meet the several lorry loads of ballast delivered courtesy of Norman Young Transport and once again it was duly dropped and spread between the platform faces. 

The next couple of days will involve completing the ballasting and laying out the newly purchased sleepers in preparation for Wednesday’s delivery of lots of lovely track, again courtesy of Norman Young. 

At the end of week Dave Clark is looking forward to making his Ruston shunter the southernmost S&D movement for nearly 50 years!  Once this phase has been completed track-laying activity will halt until the Spring when another surge of activity will further transform our site.