| This collection shows a few photos over a weekend of spot sleepering on Kincraig curve. The aim is to introduce new sleepers within the track to extend it's life until it is relayed in the next year. The sleepers within the panels will remain in the panel when the other sleepers are changed. This is the second weekend of spot sleepering this summer replacing a total of 25 timbers. We historically relied on this method to upgrade the line before we started relays. A relay is far more efficient as as many as 84 sleepers have been changed in a day, using the phases shown in the "Relay" gallery.
Despite poor weather 13 sleepers were installed in a day. This was during an operating day and evening, meaning all works had to be at a suitable stage to allow the train to pass. It is much slower than when the line is shut to traffic allowing the dismantling of a large section of track. |
A sleeper installed. |
All packed with ballast and the trains pass at normal speed. |
All the tools for the day. |
David loads the tools onto the back of his Ford Ranger pickup. |
For the first time we used an Atlas Cobra petrol packer which eliminated hours of tedious shovel packing. |
Kincraig Curve |
Sleepers deposited by the trackside ready for installing. We installed 13 in one day. |
The Murder Mystery train stopped at the work site at the end of the day. This provided a source of heat and light refreshments. |
The weather was not the best during the day. It got worse in late afternoon after Callum and Craig left. This left David and myself to install a further 7 sleepers. This photo was at the end of the day at around 20:30. |
