If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Peak Rail General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by kestreleyes, Nov 22, 2009.

  1. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Smallish update and unfortunately no
    Photos today as thanks to iPhone charging lead not doing what it says the phone was flat . You can have a photo of Rowsley box instead as I like this photo.

    Wiring works up north yard, several of the locs have had old wires replaced, the old power off relays no longer required have been removed except for the circuits powering the signal lights

    Also a chance to upgrade the fuses from the old cartridge types to klippons and upgrade the wiring runs so next time I can slip the bolt on cable ducts into the three gaps left in the woodwork for them to sit in and the wires can be threaded into them then

    So a few days of redrawing up various drawings to suit the changes and also north yard is now supplied of its own transformer rather than voltage fed down from the crossing in the lineside circuits

    The permanent way we’re out working round the crossing clearing beds and the crossing out and I managed to call in on mr Briddon for a quick brew before heading off home

    So have a good Christmas all and a safe new year and il see you all soon, now all we need is some dry snow
     

    Attached Files:

  2. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    The floodwaters were abating the other last week when I undertook a flood safety check on the signalling side of things, luckily the water was lower this time , only as far as the church town crossroads but still it flooded the valley again, never less the signallbox at darley had been sandbagged up (thanks to whoever managed it) and with trucks waiting and queuing from Five am to get the go ahead over darley bridge (it came later in the day) I managed to fix a fault on the point motor detection and put some salt down on the frozen wet crossing at church lane which was like a slide with the road being closed off and nothing clearing the frozen water away.

    The residents were glad and said a quick hello before going back home , overhead the police helicopter was having an assessment of the flood from their lofty vantage point.

    At least this time the water was lower than last, where it left a tide mark under church lane box and flooded the churchyard at St. Helens church too,

    hopefully if the local infection numbers keep Dropping then maintenance work will recommence soon, which on my side will be oiling and greasing , I’ve also finally finished church lanes replacement wooden arm ready to be drilled and fitted when we get back down.

    The national network contractors have spent the week cutting foliage down on the Matlock area part of their
    Lane, my Colleague John has kindly shared the photo attached of the work, whilst up in the High Peak the other end of the old line has seen flooding down around the great rocks end (photo included)
     

    Attached Files:

  3. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Only a little side bit of news this week, The Rowsley box nameboards are proceeding , the wood has been cut and replacement new cast letters are now with the local casting firm to be made, so hopefully in a couple of weeks the letters should be ready and can then be attached to the new nameboards,and painted up,ready for final mounting post lockdown

    photo D Turnock
     

    Attached Files:

    bobw754 and Bluenosejohn like this.
  4. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2018
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    711
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Does anybody know how PR’s appeal is progressing? As usual, no updates...I do despair at the lack of genuine engagement with shareholders and members. There are lots of competing demands on personal finances and some heritage railways (large & small) are doing a great job by using technology to stay in touch, inspire, and squeeze every penny from people. I have no connection to the Yorkshire Wolds Railway but I mention them as an example of how PR could conduct itself, with regular updates, a chat forum and some modest but realistic appeals. In fact I made a donation!

    On a related matter, I’ve seen a copy of a Plc letter to a shareholder that was sent in reply to some AGM questions submitted to the Board. I will see if I can post the edited highlights. It makes for depressing but not unexpected reading.
     
  5. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Who let summer out of the bag

    Started Monday morning
    repairing the dropped door on the darley wooden loc cupboard as it had been letting water in which is never good, after much rebuilding the door finally shuts and the triangular lock works now again. Also took the opportunity to remove the wooden additions on the side for the cable accesses and put some better cable access covers on lower profile too which should make Jan a happier person now it looks more like a proper lms cupboard, it still needs a repaint and annoyingly today would have ended up being perfect for that

    Then off to riverside to do point gauging and oiling and greasing , also had to remove an inch thick block of ice out from under the fire where it had poured down in the storms , and with the box being damp as heck I got the fire going to dry and dry everything out and also bleached down the mould That’s had formed on the dampness
     
  6. Rail Rover

    Rail Rover New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2009
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    40
    Thank-you so much for this comment - it's really good to hear that our efforts are worthwhile!
     
    Vulcan Works likes this.
  7. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2018
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    711
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I wouldn’t normally indulge myself by answering my own posting, but I’ve heard that PR’s appeal has achieved about £22k. All gratefully received of course, because people have so many demands on their finances at the moment. The funding will help the regime to limp along for a little longer but it does fall a little short of the desired £250k.
     
    Great Western likes this.
  8. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    How exactly does PR continue to survive (seeing as what has happened to Llangollen)? £22,000 is less than 10% of the desired amount.
     
    Great Western likes this.
  9. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2020
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thameslink territory
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not having money is orders of magnitude less bad than owing other people money you don't have.
     
    sycamore, Great Western and jnc like this.
  10. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    E89CC6D4-2276-42BA-9709-0759DAF45B88.jpeg 92822216-0402-4486-BD49-18E9A1F2D257.jpeg A9D0F8A6-2826-488B-8C25-EF6990208EF9.jpeg BEA21667-023B-4A91-9853-86C141352941.jpeg EC2AC638-0BB1-48DE-99B7-235706C53A09.jpeg E89CC6D4-2276-42BA-9709-0759DAF45B88.jpeg Good evening folks, called into Rowsley today to find work on 5553 fixing little snags, Eustace forth was in steam Having been looked over and the pway like myself Were Working lineside between darley and riverside tidying up and doing inspections, Harvey’s been reupholstering and John was checking over locos n things.

    I called In at riverside to do some wiring works to put an isolator between the different supplies from the solar panels and the batteries but apart from that ended up spending most of the morning straightening the box foot where someone had tried to break in, the security door had done it’s job but that aside we’ve added some extra security bars across the door today as well as the other measures we put in place years ago.

    Finally there was enough time to call in at darley Dale and put some moss killer down to stop the stuff spreading on the tarmac, Itl be done again plus the platforms next time

    Oh and I repainted the wooden loc up too.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
    bobw754, ilvaporista and Bluenosejohn like this.
  11. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    979
    Likes Received:
    1,470
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    How close is 5553 to steaming? I didn't realize she was in a complete enough state to be fitting cab controls!
     
  12. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,034
    Likes Received:
    7,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    50044 Exeter, bobw754, ykin01 and 9 others like this.
  13. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    979
    Likes Received:
    1,470
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  14. daveannjon

    daveannjon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    1,059
    Likes Received:
    372
    Location:
    Waiting for the Right Away
    jnc likes this.
  15. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Yes she’s very complete . Just snagging stuff , minor leaks here n there. Bit like my kitchen radiator and I can see why folks hate plumbing , gotta luv pushfit connectors (at home anyways)

    pic of the old tpws gear that was previously installed in her, it’s not operational. 1DF02F9A-AEE1-4845-885C-BB60D5E45A1E.jpeg CA9EF8F0-4AD2-412E-A3CB-114A27C8E81B.jpeg A69DEC81-A638-43E8-94C5-D4D216229D40.jpeg CA9EF8F0-4AD2-412E-A3CB-114A27C8E81B.jpeg A69DEC81-A638-43E8-94C5-D4D216229D40.jpeg
     
  16. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Riverside box inside has had a repaint again after being in lockdown long enough for the damp air to let mould form, apart from that track circuits were attended at riverside and also the walkways sprayed down with Jeyes

    Speaking of Jeyes fluid, the moss on Darley up platform has also been sprayed again , and seems to be working , managed a quick chat with Pete and Andy before continuing upto Rowsley to help out with some sleeper and rail works, the pway were about and the class 50 lads were working on one of the locomotives roof sections and some Repainting work, I didn’t get a chance to chat with the HST gang or the shed gang but Eustace was having a good washout.

    The cast letters for Rowsley box have now been deposited with our friendly sign builder so in a couple of weeks we should be able to fit the box signs.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    The goods shed at Millersdale has started having its doors fitted and a concrete floor is being laid inside.
     

    Attached Files:

    Johnme101, Bluenosejohn and bobw754 like this.
  18. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    Spent part of the day at Rowsley where some repair work on the station end window beading was undertaken where an obvious sign of water ingress was spotted, a nee piece has been fitted and primed and caulking and painting will be the next job.

    Then upto datley with Andrew and john, whilst doing some maintenance in the loc by the exchange I noted some verdigree and the white furry was usually associated with emerging problems in old cable blocks so after Andrew and myself sourced some suitable replacements we swapped
    Over the cable blocks and cables and low and behold the obvious tracking to earth crack became visible

    Whilst undertaking some final testing we found a life expired core feeding the dolly off indicator so it looks like our next job is to replace as the ten metre loc to box cable and do some spot rewiring in the box loc whilst there

    Another 08 shunter was offloaded today requiring a bit of a shunt and thus a good photo opportunity with the weather to get some all diesels together pics

    Station wise darley was being tidied up and also Rowsley where there are more holes for lamp posts to finish the setup off and also the old fish van (aunty wainwright’s) is being moved and a display carriage put next to it to add to the visitor experience at the station.
     

    Attached Files:

    bobw754, ax1709cjm, Johnme101 and 2 others like this.
  19. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    “The class 37 is having its cylinder linings removed for overhaul, a job held up when covid occurred, last week it was in the heat of the engine room and this week it’s in the cold of the same , you can’t win, not an easy job. “

    “Lineside work continues around darley to red house and pway timber renewals at Rowsley”

    44F7700B-8C38-4D4B-92AE-9AD8541FAD02.jpeg 54DE1EBA-5304-4B8E-9CC7-242BD3F2437A.jpeg

    S and t


    Spent most of today with Andrew carrying on with rewiring darley Dale interlocking, it had a part rewire a decade back but the original wires are now being replaced as they’ve served the last 25years well, also a good tidy up as the old middle trunking needs to be bigger than what’s there so once the final wires are removed they’rl be more slack to cut the old trunk out and also renewed some of the terminal blocks at the same time while we can to get rid of the verdigree on the old blocks as the old blocks being phenolic are prone to causing earth tracking to the rear with damp and electricity being present.

    This so far is day number two and there’s still about another two hours work replacing the fusing wires in the rear to complete, plus all the cable ties to fit once done

    The next job after that will be to replace the mechanical Point detector as that’s also been in service since the railway opened and seems to be getting some resistance in the reverse lie, the old recovered (brand new) ex north yard detector has come home to be cleaned up and checked over and thatl be swapped over on Friday

    The final job will be to replace the many multi core cables between the location and the signalbox wiring cupboard on the frame as that’s flagged up whilst testing and would be prudent to put one cable in its place instead of the four ten core cables currently in, not a hard job as it’s only ten metres long but never less takes time to fit and test out

    So busy busy busy , all that and then get home to find it’s snowing it down
     

    Attached Files:

    jnc, bobw754, Macko and 3 others like this.
  20. kestreleyes

    kestreleyes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    935
    Occupation:
    signal engineer
    S&T

    Bit of a busy couple of days in the department, the old trunking in darley da2 loc has been removed and replaced and a couple odd faults sorted out during testing, also up at Rowsley the box has started to have its path laid out, need to either go over or remove the concrete slab that’s the end of the old go cart track as that’s in the way now, but thanks to Gordon for recovering us the pavers for the path, the box has also gained a water butt for our use thanks to a kind neighbour, that’s tied into the down pipes now and also the old cut down scrub has been bagged up and taken away to be disposed off needing the rail trolley to get it shifted as it filled a one ton sack easily, oh and the window repainted on the shed end too in maroon

    Loco and carriage

    The bullion coach is now in maroon undercoat and Harv’s been busy painting one of the coaches up in maroon, bit of a maroon theme going here folks

    Loco wise Eustace Forth and 5553 have had a steam test also.(pic A Civil)
     

    Attached Files:

    ax1709cjm, jnc, Johnme101 and 2 others like this.

Share This Page