Groundworks.

Groundworks

Groundworks continue at three different locations, in preparation for our two big projects: the 730m track lay at Snapper, and the building of the goods shed at Bratton Fleming.

 

 

 

 

This is Bratton Flemming, with that lovely view over the valley of a tributary of the Yeo.

The converted station is still being modernised, so that it can get a letting income until trains arrive. One annexe was removed, and here a new sewerage drainage ditch is being dug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To conform with the law the foulwater drain must now be connected to the mains sewerage system, or to a Klargester. As this is a remote location the latter option will be used, and at the same time it can also deal with the waste water coming from the new goods shed accommodation.

The original pipes would simply have discharged into the valley ! 

 

 

 

 

 Down in the valley the new culvert is progressing.

 

This is near the northern end of the Snapper length of track that we would like to lay.

The blocks are piled up ready to lay, and the footings for the wing walls are in. 

 

 

 

 

The first concrete blocks are laid down.

With two block layers on the job progress was very pleasing.

Wall ties were included for the outer skin.

This was the situation at the end of the day. A good start made on both wing walls.

This is how they got the generator and building materials down to the culvert site. A little tracked bucket - neat, isn't it !

 

 

 We also do a lot of lineside clearance, such as mowing here, also at Snapper.

 

 

This picture, taken mid-October, shows part of the 730m trackbed on which we'd like to lay our first track.

That is going to take place in 2027, providing we raise enough funds to buy sleepers and rail et al through our trackbed appeal, which you can see on our BYVRT website:

https://byvrt.org.uk/projects/making-tracks/ 

Many hands make light work, so we hope that we can count on you to make a donation to our B&YVRT charity, which can boost the funds with Gift Aid.

 

 

 

PWay trolley update. 

News from Rob, who is restoring and converting to 2ft gauge a PWay trolley and trailer. 

The Geismar EGO4 restoration is progressing well. The frame has been shot-blasted, heavy corroded or damaged sections have been replaced before being painted in red oxide. Additionally, the battery box and electrical control panel have been restored and rewired.

A lightweight aluminium-extrusion subframe now mounts the axles and wheels, preserving the original design while achieving the correct 600 mm gauge. Raising the chassis by approximately five inches required a new brake calliper mounting bracket and an extended brake linkage bell crank. The team recognised that, because the vehicle has no reverse gear, it must be physically lifted and turned by its crew, so making the use of lightweight materials essential.

The previously written-off engine has been completely stripped down and overhauled. Amazingly, once reassembled, it started after just three pulls, although many external components were unsalvageable and required replacement.

The team hope to have a rolling chassis by Christmas, with the main components refitted for functional testing. It will then be dismantled for painting and other cosmetic work.

 

 

 

 

 

On the right here is the newly fabricated frame for the standard gauge trolley. It goes underneath, and the conversion is reversible back to the original SG set up.

 

 

 

 

 

 Here is the original SG frame, now rust free and painted in red oxide, on top of the new frame.

 

The old and the new dashboard, completely refabricated.

 

Inside the refabricated dashboard.

 

 

 

 

On the left in the picture above is the new bracket to hold the Emergency (deadman’s) brake calliper which also acts as a parking brake. The new bracket is simply a 300mm length of 50.80 x 50.80mm (2”x2” in old money) steel box section. Like the bell crank, this is a non permanent modification and utilises the original calliper mounting points. Note; the brake disc and sprocket are from the original trolley and have been cleaned up. Those with a keen eye will notice the fork which originally acted as the pivot for the original bell crank - this has since been removed to make way for the modified crank.

 

On the right is the elongated bell crank assembly. The horizontal mounting bracket is designed so that the assembly can be fitted to the Aluminium extrusion on the sub frame, rather than permanently fixing it to the original frame of the trolley. The idea being that with minimal work the Trolley can be restored to standard gauge should the need arise.

 

 

For comparison here’s a picture of the original layout of the braking mechanism showing the bell crank and the brake calliper and axle in its original position. The next task here is to get the new parts painted with red oxide before the North Devon weather starts reducing them to rust.

 

 

Open ends of the extruded frame.

 

 

Rob's been using his 3D printer to make custom end caps for the aluminium subframe. The extruded sections have large openings at each end, so the caps help keep spiders and other small creatures out and give the frame a neater finish. They are designed to be a tight push fit.

 

 

 

 

 

The caps are printed from PETG-CF. PETG stands for glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate. It’s a tough plastic used in 3D printing and in products such as clear packaging and display materials. It’s related to the PET used in drinks bottles, but PETG is a modified version. The “CF” means chopped carbon fibres have been mixed into the filament. These make the printed parts stiffer and give them a distinctive matt finish; they aren’t made from solid or woven carbon fibre.

New cap in position.

New spacers made.

 

Additionally, the trailer needs spacers between the axle bearing mounts and the bearings. These would normally be machined from aluminium or steel, which can be costly and produce a fair amount of waste. We’re going to try 3D-printed spacers made from carbon-fibre-reinforced PETG. Although the material is rigid and can be brittle, the spacers will be clamped in place and should mainly be under compression. It is also oil-resistant, which makes it a promising option.

We’ll monitor the spacers during several hours of running and check for any cracking, movement or deformation. The trial may not work, and we may still need to have metal spacers made, but it’s worth testing the idea before committing to the extra cost. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

As this blog went to the presses, Rob was waiting for the fabricator to complete the floor plate that goes on top of the chassis.

November groundworks update.

 

 

 

At Bratton Fleming the new drainage ditch is being dug deeper still, after encountering a number of other services crossing it.

 

As readers might recall, one of the ugly house extensions was knocked down a few months ago as it was damp inside. The other has been refurbished, as you can see. We have to be practical here, until the restored line arrives here the building might as well earn its keep and make a contribution by being let out for holiday stays. However, until the drains are fixed and the shed work is complete we can't actually do that yet. 

 

Other works continue on site. As you can see below, a tree surgeon has come to trim and, in some cases remove, tree growth around the adjacent powerline. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One wild growth tree completely overwhelmed the power line running down the lane, and a cherry picker was used to remove that one completely. The stump was then drilled to insert pods to prevent further growth.

 

 

 

 

This one shows a trimmed tree south of the new shed. You can also see how concrete blocks and the recovered Marland bricks have been piled up inside, waiting for a bricklayer to start work on the low wall, before the cladding can go on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More details of how the overhanging trees were dealt with. This one looks alarmingly close to the new structure.

 

 

 

 

 

Culvert progress at Snapper.

 

 

 

 

 

The concrete block culvert wing walls are now complete, although the wall ties visible suggest that a facing of stone or brick is still planned by the gang.

 

Both wing walls, but with voids behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 The motorised barrow was then used to transport infill material up the trackbed to the new culvert.

 

 

 

 

 The little tracked tipper is ideal for this job, and the infill can be dropped with great accuracy.

 

 

 

 

Here is Andy arriving with a fresh load. One side is now filled in, and the nearer side awaits.

If this looks like fun, and you want to help, contact Andy Hearn via  volunteers(at)byvrt.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

That looks nice and level. Before any track laying can start, the grass and subsoil will  need to be scraped off.

 

 

Both sides infilled here.

 

 

A last look down the trackbed towards Snapper halt. This is where we want to lay 730m of track, if our appeal for funds succeeds. Currently it stands at £13.000 out of the £150.000 that we need, still quite a long way to go after 6 weeks. 

 

https://byvrt.org.uk/projects/making-tracks/ 

A similar culvert shows what sort of handrail and edges will be required still.

Lightweight track panels

 

A chance contact saw us receive a pile of lightweight track panels. These are no good for the main line track we'd like to lay, but will come in useful for ancillary stuff. They have been dropped off at Collard bridge - we have very few places with roadside access, but this is one of them - and volunteers can be seen here assembling a number for an easy to take away pile.

 

They look and feel like WW1 trench warfare panels. When you've finished with your temporary railway line, you can pick them up and move them nearer the front (if you are winning, that is)

 

 

This is looking down the field under Collard bridge. In the top right hand corner you can make out the low embankment that leads to the missing bridge over the Yeo, and then into the Scout camp.

 

 

 

 

Here is the pile! Why was it all piled up like this? Well, we're taking it to Bratton Fleming, where two arrivals are expected. 

 

The news here - betrayed by the track panel activity - is that two small diesel locomotives have been acquired, one by the B&YVRT and the second by a volunteer. They need to be removed from the seller site by the end of November, and the plan is to get them off the lorry and on to these panels, which will be lifted and relaid - Wallace & Grommet style - round and in front of the new goods shed, and then backed up into it. We will give you full details and pictures in the next blog.

 

What of 'RUSTO' and that carriage then? Well, these are still off site, and are safe there. As we have only the one shed - which isn't even finished yet - it's better to store these new arrivals, than 'RUSTO' which is already in store.

 

The diesel engines, the trolley and trailers will be needed when we get proper track laying. If we can raise the money. 

 

If all this sounds like fun, then don't hesitate to join us (email address above) or if you can't, perhaps you could help with a donation.