Works Page Archive
This page details previous works, for details of the latest works please see our current page.
Winter Works 2007/2008
By contrast to 2006/2007 we don't have one big job planned for the 2007/2008 winter works season, instead a number of smaller tasks which will improve the overall reliability and ease of use of the railway, as ever these are documented below and this page will be updated with photos as the winter progresses:
- Additional carriage storage facility at Bentley Central with headshunt - Complete
- Removal of Bentley Central loop connecting chord - Complete
- Addition of a 5" rail to some roads of existing Horsted yard shed - Complete
- Improvements to Bentley Central Signal Box for ease of use and access - Complete
- Relaying track on exit from Bentley Central Station - Complete
25 August 2008 - The carriage storage facility now has doors and roof completed and the headshunt installed with just the S & T equipment to be fitted.
22 June 2008 - The carriage storage facility pointwork has now been laid in and partially ballasted, signalling work for the new track layout is progressing well.
22 May 2008 - The groundworks for the carriage storage facility trackworks are progressing well following a few weeks break. The headshunt point was laid in today although it still needs ballasting and connecting up fully.
9 Mar 2008 - Works progressing well, Bentley Central Signal Box was returned to service today with just a few minor items to complete. The new diamond crossing was completed last weekend and tested today, the access to the new carriage storage facility is also nearing completion.
13 Feb 2008 - An extra works party today laid the new concrete edging in around the track mentioned below and landscaped the surround as you can see below.
10 Feb 2008 - Today we finally got the missing track section reinstated, just three weeks to remove, resleeper, re-ballast and relay this length of track and point is an excellent display of teamwork by all involved. As you can see in the photos below, we finished the day with a celebratory run of the Trams "Lord Barry" and "Lady Helen" over the reinstated track section
3 Feb 2008 - Another good works day today, Lady Helen and Lord Barry are now functioning together as-one unit providing a regular shuttle from Bentley Central to Glyndebourne Wood and return whilst the track works at the exit of Bentley Central continue apace. These points have now been resleepered and the mechanisms uprated, the trackside signal box has been relocated and much of the ballast has been sorted and reused as necessary with the new trackbed taking form.
20 Jan 2008 - "Lady Helen" has now started running the winter shuttle service, currently alone due to continuing electrical difficulties. Meanwhile the track gang have been busy as you can see in the photos below, all the best winter projects start with a scene of destruction and this years doesn't fail on that front. The two points have now been removed and resleepered whilst the signal box renovations are also showing progress.
6 Jan 2008 - Work has been somewhat slow over the Christmas & New Year break, especially because of severe technical difficulties getting the two trams "Lady Helen" and "Lord Barry" to operate together electrically.
16 Dec 2007 - The new point for the revised carriage storage is now laid in as can be seen from the photo below. We also witnessed the first tentative movements of a new engine, "Lord Barry" which has been built by some club members to work in formation with "Lady Helen" and will hopefully be in full passenger service in a few weeks time. This can be seen in the first photo sequence below under the watchful eye of our guard dog!
Early Nov 2007 - the new wooden carriage storage structure is in place awaiting the internal fitments, track and doors. The connecting chord's track has be lifted with some of the new alignment starting to be visible, the existing signal box bridge and paving has been removed and new fencing and paving is starting to take shape.
Summer 2007
To provide some shelter for some of our carriages & wagons we are building a lightweight structure adjacent to Bentley Central Station, we hope to have the mainly complete in time for Weald WoodFair in September. Meanwhile the normal grounds maintenance works continue, especially in the cutting area - the below photo shows the volume of brambles and nettles cleared from a small section of cutting bank over just one weekend.
Winter Works 2006/2007
Continuing on from the works undertaken during the summer of 2006, some of the more major projects are scheduled to be completed during the winter period as we will be able to more easily operate a reduced service whilst sections of the track and platform are renovated. The main project headlines are:
- Completely remove, excavate and rebuild trackbed from Ringmer junction at return from 'extension' to original circuit through to, and including Bentley Central platform.- Complete
- Remove and replace the original level crossing (dating back to early 1980's). - Complete .
- Build new track panels to insert into revised trackbed - Complete
- Extend Bentley Central arrivals platform and remove turntable exit at entrance to Bentley Central. - complete.
Latest updates (in reverse order)
12/08/2007 - Final sections of track on the remaining link now laid, connected and ballasted.
02/08/2007 - Final sections of track manufactured.
23/06/2007 - 3 more lengths of track assembled and part-laid, only 2 to go!
17/03/2007 - Arrivals platform is relaid.
11/03/2007 - Hedging is planted and the end of the arrivals platform is excavated, full service resumes
25/02/2007 - The new line is completed and the first passenger train runs over it
04/02/2007 - The main line has been reconnected today.
28/01/2007 - 8 more lengths of track were laid this weekend.
21/01/2007 - The platform is now complete and operational, the first few lengths of the remaining circuit have now been laid. Meanwhile, work on improving the embankment outside BC platform is progressing well.
14/01/2007 - Most of the new track panels are now assembled and 90% of the platform has been relaid.
23/12/2006 - The first layer of ballast has now been laid the whole way around the new track bed and around 1/3rd of the new track panels have been assembled.
03/12/2006 - The first section of drainage is now installed and ballasted and the crossover temporarily reinstated - see photos below.
18/11/2006 - The track in Bentley Central has now been lifted and the trackbed for the whole original circuit has been excavated with a temporary station platform in place whilst track and platform works on the main station are undertaken. See photos below.
05/11/2006 - first half of the old circuit track panels have now been lifted and placed into storage. The old level crossing has also been removed as has the emergency turntable route at Bentley Central Station.
29/10/2006 - Preparatory works for the track replacement works on the original circuit are now starting with the first panels being scheduled to be removed within the next 1-2 weeks meaning that shuttle services will be offered from that point.
Update 17/03/2007 - The end of the arrivals platform is removed, extended and relaid
Update 28/01/2007 - platform is now relaid along with much of the circuit
Update 03/12/06 first track panels are now laid and track bed is taking shape
18/11/06 - Lots of work to do... the entire old circuit track and trackbed including the station area has been mechanically removed as can be seen from the photos above, ready for the new track panels to be assembled and laid.
Winter 2005 - Summer 2006
For the first time, over the 2005/2006 winter we did not close to the public for the whole winter. However, our modernisation plans included some fairly major projects, the highlights of these are listed below:
- Track re-sleepering and drainage works in the Glyndebourne Wood Cutting
- Extension of Bentley Central departure platform to allow for longer train
- Rail replacement on some of the the bypass loop at Bentley Central.
- Modernisation of the steaming bays to include revised power and storage facilities
Update 09/04/2006 - The circuit of track at Glyndebourne wood is now complete and re-opened prior to our Easter fortnight of operation. We have now also laid the first two sections of concrete on the station extension and prepared the bridge for the supports to be concreted in place.
Update 04/06/2006 - The modernisation works in the steaming bays are now nearing completions with the revised storage area now constructed and wired up. The Bentley Central bypass loop has now been lifted, the track bed is being regraded prior to the new track being laid.
Update 25/06/2006 - The new storage area in the steaming bays has now been built and the old one has been demolished. The bypass loop track bed has now been laid, most panels manufactured and some laid.
Update 16/07/2006 - The replacement track panels on the Bentley Central bypass loop have now been laid and the photos below show the first train running on it.
Update 08/09/2006 - The steaming bay power systems have been updated to operate with a larger power source with some connectors being re-energised.
The first new
track panels at Glyndebourne Wood (left) Bentley Central's new platform
in progress (right)
Completed track panels (left) station almost complete (centre) new bridge (right)
The new storage area (left), track laying (centre) and the remains of the old building (right)
The first vehicle and train to run on the replaced rails at Bentley Central
Summer Works 2005
Following on from the delayed winter works (see below) the summer of 2005 has been a busy time for our maintenance gangs with regular track maintenance to be incorporated into a grueling schedule of upgrades and renewals. The major projects are listed below:
- Construction of a new, purpose built facility for housing grounds maintenance equipment
- Refitting of the existing grounds maintenance shed to convert it into a basic workshop and storage area
- Construction of two new lines for additional carriage storage within Horstead Yard area in place of existing wooden lean-to storage
- Renewal and extension of all fencing around staff approach and parts of the steaming bays
- Revised storage facilities within steaming bay area
- Construction and fitting of a new Glyndebourne Wood signaling system to replace the existing 1998 'short-term' panel
Winter Works 2004/2005
Due
to the uncertainty regarding the railway (and indeed Bentley centre's)
future, the original schedule was largely put on hold with only
absolute essential maintenance being performed. As soon as we were
informed that the centre was apparently safe (see news
page for details), works began in earnest. With less than a month
between this and Easter (the centre's planned opening date) work
has been progressing apace with the installation of a platform water
tower (see right), removal of one steaming bay, upgrading of three
others and partial installation of a new storage facility within
the steaming bay area.
Further works are planned to take place during the 2005 summer season, including further water tower installation and completion of the storage areas, both in the steaming bays and elsewhere on the site. Details of these works will appear here in due course.
Summer Works 2004
As mentioned
below, following the Winter works preceding the 2004 operating year
a number of tasks were completed making for a very busy winter.
However, this year there are also a substantial number, of generally
smaller, projects which are being completed during the operating
season, although not necessarily during operating hours. As a visitor
you may well notice volunteers lineside undertaking or preparing
for such tasks during your trip. The sleeper replacements are being
continued periodically during the summer and are being combined
with our regular track gauging and levelling to ensure a smooth,
level ride. Additionally, various extensions to the signaling system
are being undertaken making full use of the extra capabilities made
available during the winter overhaul, such projects were the installation
of a banner repeater to enable the guards and platform staff on
long trains to more clearly see the aspect shown when departing
the platform - the photo below shows this signal in both positions.
The second such project was the installation of a bracket signal
allowing differentiation between the station approach line and the
new shunting line to Horsted Yard's new shed.
Winter Works 2003/2004
Over the closed season between 2003 and 2004 we had, as always, an extensive schedule of works to ensure that the railway was ready and raring to go for Easter 2004 and indeed the rest of the summer. The list included a large number of track sleeper replacements and the construction of a track link between the two carriage sheds which make 'Horsted Yard' not to mention re-laying the entrance to the existing 'Horsted Yard' onto a substantial concrete base and rewiring the Bentley Central Signal cabin.
All of the
concrete in front of the existing carriage shed at Horsted Yard
was laid by the end of February 2004. The five-way point was then
laid back into position with a new operating handle and mechanism.
Finally, the tracks completing the run from carriage shed to the
turntable and the new additional capacity tracks to the left and
right of the shed were installed.
The direct shunting line connecting the two sheds was completed
on the 21st March, this allows carriages to be moved between the
two sheds without interrupting the main line, this can be seen in
photo 2(below). The Bentley Central Signal Cabin rewire was completed
off-site and installed over the 12th April weekend in order to be
operational by Easter. The remaining electrical niggles were ironed
out over, or shortly after Easter and we can now report that with
the exception of the sleeper replacements, all winter projects were
completed on schedule. The sleeper replacements are now scheduled
to be completed during the partly during the 2004 running season
and the remainder over the 2004/5 winter
Above (1): The front of the existing
carriage shed at Horsted Yard
Below (2): The front of the new carriage shed at Horsted Yard, the
new link line to the existing shed is visible to the right
Winter Works 2002/2003
Over the closed
season between 2002 and 2003 have decided to continue work on our
new carriage shed, and in particular to add the tracks to the buildings
and on the approach to allow entry. Shortly prior to Christmas 2002
we completed work to add the tracks which are located within the
shed. Following much preparation work (over 18 inches of soil had
to be removed in places) we finally laid the concrete apron at the
front of the new shed in July 2003 and subsequently installed tracks
and a temporary line connection to allow us to move carriages around
more easily pending our planned permanent connection to be installed
this winter.
Amongst other tasks which we undertook over the 2002-3 closed period were the reinstallation of a section of fence between ourselves and the main Bentley complex which was completed in January 2003 and also the installation of a new point at Glyndebourne Wood Station to allow access to the bay siding (Photo 2 above shows Rachel, the first loco to enter the new Bay Platform accompanied by the Club Chairman and President).
Winter Works 2001/2002
The closed season between 2001 and 2002 were spent busily working away on site to prepare an area of the railway for a new rolling stock shed to allow for further storage of rolling stock which is required if the railway is to continue to expand.
In order to carry out this work we have had to remove the 'temporary' building which has been on site for the last 15 years. This building was affectionately known as 'The Wendy House' we have also had to construct a temporary extension to the existing rolling stock shed to take the majority of the tools and equipment which were stored in `The Wendy House'. For more info on the history of 'The Wendy House' including how it earned its name please click here.
This area has now been cleared (no mean feat in itself) and we have dug out the area and foundations. We have also laid the concrete floor and put up two of the four walls of the new building. We are now hoping to have the building nearing completion in late June. Anybody who would like to help us in this work or the many other, smaller, projects underway should contact us.
Below are a collection of pictures of us at work. Firstly showing 'The Wendy House' and existing rolling stock shed during the summer of 2001 before works commenced, secondly with 'The Wendy House' partly dismantled with the roof upturned and the chassis bare. You can also see the work continuing to the right of the rolling stock shed during the construction of the new toolshed. In the third photograph you can see the new building taking shape, out of shot we have also completed the new toolshed to the right of the existing rolling stock shed. Further updates will be posted here as works progress during the summer.
