Permanent Way Update

by Ben Brotherwood

Summer for the Permanent Way team has been a varied challenge with the unprecedented levels of heat causing multiple problems. Not the summer of routine maintenance and odd jobs originally expected but the railway made it through still.

The fire risk necessitated spending several weeks following service trains through high risk areas to ensure no stray sparks or embers escaping the engine had started any fires in the kindling-like vegetation. Heat movement in the rail created

multiple kinks that required trains to slow down for safe passage until the opportunity to reach them and bend the rails back into alignment using our Hydraulic rail bender could be taken. When laid, a gap is left between each rail length to allow for expansion and contraction. The extremes of heat this year have unfortunately surpassed the stress tolerances of several insulated joints which are either nylon or wood based, leading to several breakages. Aside from this, the track held up well to the extremes with some coaxing over the weeks and trains were able to continue operating safely. Capel Bangor’s storage sheds have received a lot of attention, the opportunity being taken to remove and store unneeded items at another site, freeing up space to move more of the buildings stored there inside for safety and creating a tidier appearance. Time was found at the closing stages of the summer to cut back the three large embankments at Aberffrwd, Cwmdaudder and the Little Horseshoe. If left unmanaged, eventually the banks would have multiple large trees growing through which could lead to destabilisation. Hacking back the brambles also gives other plants the chance to grow through in future for variety. The extreme angle of the embankments did require some extra safety measures, using a winch and harness to safely move across the surfaces. Several of the embankments end with rather steep gullies best avoided for personal preservations sake! The view down them is impressive though and now more visible for passengers sitting on the right sides. Heading into the fall, the team is looking forward to working in the museum to lay the rail for the exhibits. Winter will see another long relay, escaping Section A, heading out from Capel Bangor into the woods to Tan Yr Allt.