Please find the latest Civil Engineering Diary from 18th December 2019, but uploaded in early January 2020.

Work has continued with various items ranging from tamping to preparing for the various YMJ projects. At Fen Bog Martyn and the P Way gang supported by the Wombles continued to replace the rotten wood sleepers with real hardwood which should last for a considerable time. As the re-sleepering progressed they brought two hoppers of stone ballast from New Bridge but couldn’t use the restored  Seacow as that was still at the MPD where they have been sorting out the brakes. As we had to have the track put back for the running of passenger trains we had to hire in a Beaver tamper to ensure the track was fit and safe to run on.

This duly arrived and was unloaded at New Bridge as seen in Bryan’s photo above and then driven up to Fen Bog, struggling a bit on the 1 in 49 gradients but it got there and after a proving run for the ALC track geometry system it started to tamp but it had a struggle with the short ramp seen in the distance in Bryan’s photo below.

Nick in the ballast regulator was providing some initial training for James.

Then more problems as the tamper then broke down needing a flywheel refitting so one of the operators then walked from Fen Bog via the Lyke Wake Walk footpath to the main road to use our vehicle there to go back to New Bridge to bring their van with the necessary tools. The van came via the forest drive onto the lineside where it promptly got stuck in the edge of the bog. After the repairs the tamper was eventually able to part finish the job before departing to Levisham after unsuccessfully trying to pull the marooned van onto the hardstanding. Eventually Kieran and Piglet came in a 4X4 and pulled it out. This tamper then had to go to another job on the South Coast with a replacement coming the next day to finish off the job, which is excellent and credit to all who worked on it in very bad weather and into the night. We owe them all our thanks.

In the meantime our S&T have been digging and laying in concrete troughing and undertrack crossings, not surprisingly known as UTX’s! We brought in a local contractor to do the digging as the plastic ducts have to fit in between sleepers. Norman helped David with supervising the works seen above with the trenches backfilled using the traditional method of big boots attached to big people. Now they have had new clean stone ballast dropped they can hardly be seen.

The great big turning chambers really need somebody inside them to help secure the rings as seen above where Ed is obviously happy with things but working out how to get out! We didn’t tell him that Ian and Nick had the step irons in their hands ready to fit but we let him get out and then go back in to fit them! These preparatory works are all for the new carriage stable project.

Our S&T also have to disconnect the mechanical signalling system at Goathland to accommodate the bridge renewal works and the of course have to put it all back when the bridge works are done and the tracks are put back! Here in the photo below, Craig, Paul and Roger are seen discussing what needs doing.

In preparation for the renewal of Bridge 27 at Goathland Martyn and the P Way gang have been replacing the rotten sleepers in the siding span as we will have to use it for access for one of the Kirov cranes and wagons.

Their work is seen above with only a few more to change. When the Running Line part of the bridge is renewed the Siding span will remain after being scrubbed up and part repainted to match the new steelwork. The photo below shows Bridge 27, look and enjoy as work starts in earnest on site on the 2nd January.

In the meantime work is starting on the scaffolding in the river and to provide a barrier, as seen below, to protect Bridge 26 which carries the road over the railway and provides a good vantage point to see the works in progress.

Please remember that from 2nd January the railway area becomes a construction site under the control of the main contractor Cleveland Bridge and only authorised people will be allowed on site after having signed in, had a daily safety briefing and are wearing the correct PPE.

And finally for now, in John’s photo above, are the new beams seen loaded up yesterday ready to come to the NYMR.

With best wishes,
Nigel Trotter, NYMR Civil Engineer.

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