Weekly Progress Report from 20/1/14

A rather wet end to what has turned out to be a mainly moist week.

Thursday saw the Permanent Way team in action connecting up the right hand side of the loop with the mainline again. The line was connected up and tested with a light wagon but wasn’t properly re-gauged due to the torrential hail storm that hit Wirksworth, closely followed by snow. Re-gauging was to be completed at the next available work day.

Today was blessed with torrential rain that persisted throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. It did allow for some time during the morning for a major clear up of the internal environment also known as the loft, this turned out to be a worthwhile venture as many things that were thought to have been lost were found! As the rain eventually did stop in the afternoon it was decided that ZM32 should be pushed out to see if a small leak of Diesel could be located. The Motive Power Engineers in charge of the loco started the engine and within a matter of minutes found the leaking bleed screw, this was tightened and the engine run up again to test it, fix successful. The locomotive was cleared for a test run up the incline; the loco was coupled to Manrider 102 and the test train did a return trip from Steeplehouse to the passing loop above Recreation Ground Station.

The line reconnected at long last

 

ZM32 and Manrider 102 finally make it to the loop

The test train pauses at Recreation Ground Station



Weekly Progress Report

Yet another week has passed at the SGLR, heres a low down on the work that has been going on at the railway.

Thursday last week saw Permanent Way reconstruct the second point needed for the loop above Recreation Ground Station, this was completed and ready for fitting the following Sunday. On the Sunday the point was propelled up to the work site and laid down on the sleepers, as it stands now both points are now fully bolted down, just in need of tamping and ballast packing which will be completed at a later date. The remaining track needed to connect the point to the rest of the right hand track was then sourced, and altered ready for fitting this coming Thursday, where hopefully one side of the loop will be connected up and the other side can be properly ballasted. The first part of the loop was really put to the test yesterday as at the end of the day as the light was fading, ZM32 propelled Manrider 104 up and round onto the loop, now the facing point from Recreation Ground has been tested by both our large 16 seat manriders.

Sunday also saw the return of the Motive Power Department, who during the week had the injectors for ZM32 sent away to be refurbished at Key Diesel of Burton-Upon-Trent. They provided a full refurbishment of the injectors and got them back to us later in the week. This enabled the fitting of the injectors back on ZM32 and test runs to be performed. Injectors fitted and the system bled for any air in the maze of pipework, with a push of the start button ZM32 fired up after a few turns of the engine and ran very smoothly. After the engine covers and panels were returned the engine was warmed up and the locomotive was took out on its first test run, where it ran the entire length of the line, the injector refurbishment had proved a great success, and major thanks must go to Key Diesel for the refurbishment. In other news, Hibberd 4008 was having its fuel tank attempted to be fitted but needs slight alterations to allow it to be fitted in snug on the inside of the cowls. 

Rolling Stock that is currently under repair or refurbishment currently is manrider 101, one of our small Ladywash 4 seat manriders is currently under going a complete repaint, at this moment it is ground down to the metal work ready to accept treatment paint.

A very hectic but productive week, bring on this week!

The chiefs behind keeping ZM32 running on the SGLR

Laying the second point for the loop

Mixed traction ready to depart

The late afternoon test train



Weekly Progress Report

Great strides have been taken during the course of this week at SGLR. With work being carried out by the Permanent Way teams and the Motive Power Department.

Permanent way have been carrying on with the laying of the loop above Recreation Ground Station, currently the only part missing to complete one part will be the point nearest Sandy Lane Crossing, the other point has been tested and no problems found. Once the other point has been built up and fitted, work can commence with levelling and ballasting the track bed where the other section of track with go.

Other work the permanent way has attended to is repairing the road on Sandy Lane between our rails, as the hammer of 44 ton lorries is starting to show once again. This was dealt with and has been repaired to a good standard.

Motive Power has been seeing to ZM32, with the battery removed from the locomotive to have an effective re-charge, the valve clearances were re-set and after all of that the injectors were removed, ready to be sent away for refurbishment. This locomotive with be out of traffic for the remainder of the time the injectors are away. Whilst the locomotive is having some down time, some of the little jobs on it will also be looked at, including the possible installation of a battery isolation switch. Also, Hibberd 4008's restoration is another project not to go without notice, with the engine covers being fitted after the radiator showed no signs of leaks, so a good sign and a positive end to the week.   


Laying the top surface on Sandy Lane

Greenbat waits in the loop





 



Un-plumbing the maze of pipework

The cylinder head with the injectors removed.

 

Hibberd 4008 - the front half.

 

 

Weekly Progress Report

As Christmas and New Year are now over with the work now begins. Both Permanent Way and Motive Power were in action today doing various tasks along the line.

Motive Power undertook shunting in Porter Lane Tunnel and in Dark Lane Quarry to release Manrider 104 and Manrider 105 ready for inspection, also to move the Metro-Bug into a place of shelter under the tunnel.




Motive Power shunting in Dark Lane Quarry with ZM32

 

ZM32 propels Metro-Bug, tippers "NSC" and "Leonard"
and the small mining tub above Porter Lane Tunnel

 

 

 

 

  Permanent Way continued with work on the loop above Recreation Ground Station, laying a temporary section of track onto the first section of point work, enabling the new point to be tested properly.   

 

The section of temporary track added onto the first set of points.



 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!