Morley project continued

Morley shed project continued

Update 26 May 2020

Hi all,

Once again the S&T department is making progress, in a safe and distant manner. It would be nice to be working with other people! It would be nice to have the trains going past! If for nothing else, it’s a good excuse to stop for a cup of tea. But there are not, so make the best of the time and get some work done.

The day started nice and early, to try and get the digging done before the day got to hot. Didn’t work though.

This is how it was when arriving to site, all laid out. More digging, digging and a touch of digging to do.

This is how we were looking at 11am ish. In a right mess. Holes All dug one line of rodding in. But not quite lining up! So in came Georgie, to do what most P-way workers do best!!! Put an eye to the job.

Georgie worked at on end while I worked at the other. We do like to speak to each other but to work safely at the moment, this is what is required. I got the second line of rodding into place and bolted together. While Georgie started packing and slewing up at the bridge. Taking out some of the bumps and creating a “gentle sweeping rise” in the rodding run.

Then together but still apart. Georgie’s eye on the line and myself on the jack and shovel. We worked on getting the heights and alignment correct on the rest of the rodding run. It amazing how long, tiring but rewarding this was. Three hours of lifting packing and slowing and it started to look better.

End of day results a nice straight rodding run.

So with the rodding run all connected up to the A end of the points there was one last thing to try.

It is needing a bit of adjustment yet but we have normal and reverse. Plus a working FPL on the mainline. Lock has not been cut for the reverse yet. That is still on the to do list.

Morley shed project

Morley’s project part 3


A bit of time has passed and more work has been done. There is not much really to show for it, but when working your own you realise the enormity of the project.

 Track safety is still adhered to and always ensure there is other people around if anyone comes into trouble. It’s always good to have a friendly face working at the other end of the work sit and  our Station Master working away happily painting the platform edge.

So this is how it all starts for this blog. Putting the compensator cranks down and getting the first of the rodding on. Georgie was very kind and had dug the hole and put the bench in the week before. With a bit of mechanical assistance rather than by hand.

So by the end of the day this is how it was looking both compensator cranks fixed down with two screws each and a bit of rodding on both sides. This needs to be done at the same time, to help make sure they are positioned correctly and pointing the correct direction. Needs to work well but must look good as well.

Work continued with 8 one and a half foot deep holes dug for the stools.(What the rodding sits in). The rodding is then put in place and the hard bit begins. Getting it all straight and level. Or in this case a nice steady rises up to the bridge and then level over the bridge.

Don’t know if I said in the last blog but we had to do a bit of redesigning, with the restrictions of space in front of the signal box. The crank had to be flipped over. Changing it from a pull movement instead of a push. So to account for this the final crank at the points end has had to be flipped over as well. Otherwise the FPL would never go in

This is the signal that will be used for coming out of Morley’s shed area and onto the main running line. This signal with a miniature arm, is being used because of sighting issues. If we were to use a shunt signal at ground level. The signaller will not be able to see the back of it, from the signal box. As the handrails of the bridge will obscure it.

This is the current signalling layout at Boat North.

This is what it will look like once this project is completed. Drawing is the other way round to the diagram above. Don’t get confused.












Here is a little video for you, with a walk through of the site. Done with a possession in place social distancing observed, and all rules of the railway followed.

Hear is a quick look inside the North signal box, 

I hope you all in joy looking. This is all new to me and a bit out of my comfort zone.

Morley project

Morley project part 2,
9th May 2020

Work is continuing with getting the points connected up. Work has been happening under the North box and in front.

So to get the cranks to fit on bench an extra timber needed to be added. You can see the “rails” that it lies on, this is part of the foundation’s of the signal box.

New timber in place and tied down. The stool in the picture is from the old arrangement for the trap points that was removed when the Broomhill section came in to passenger use.

Trial fitting of the cranks for the point’s drive and the FPL ( facing point lock)

Points leavers set to half way. This is for setting the cranks up.

Vertical cranks in and screwed down.

Vertical crank connected up to the leaver tail plus the connection rod to the crank outside on as well.

Cranks lined up, screwed down and first bit of rodding connected up.

Wood put in to stop the dirt going under the box when been back filled.

All back filled and tidied up for the day, still lots of work to do.

Morley Project

Morley project. Friday 1st May

So Hello, to What is my first Blog,

Work is progressing at a good rate considering it has to be done by one person working in an area alone, meeting to the governments current regulations . To bring you up to date with what has been going on, please have a look at the P-way blog.

Looking towards Morley’s shed site on the 21 April 

As per the P-way blog two timbers have been changed to house the cranks of the rodding on to hardwood timbers so should get a good 30years out of them (I hope! ).The reason we have gone for this design is because of the limited clearance over the bridge and the large drop off to the cess ,in addition to this there is just no room to put in a bench for the cranks to sit on. Stools for the rodding were put in , drive rod and FPL rods connected up...Over the bridge we go!

Work from the 21st April

Another days work done  and after several hours of digging and filling 6 stools and 8 lengths of rodding were installed on the bridge , not the easiest task with restricted width and depth to the bridge.

Work Friday 1st May

The latest part of the puzzle how to connect up this wonderful trap point. The B end to the points.

Photo taken 1st May