Track Weeks
The winter period in November and January to mid-February, when the trains are not running, provides the only opportunity during the year for large scale renewals of the railway track or focussed consolidation work. Volunteers are encouraged during these times to help with this labour-intensive task through the organisation of one or two "Track Weeks".
In these weeks, which last nine days from Saturday to the following Sunday, usually a long section (up to 450 yards/412 metres) will be lifted and re-laid using new sleepers, track fixings and ballast along with new rail if required. Occasionally two shorter relays may be completed during the week rather than one big project.
The "week" itself will take in the full relaying job, depending on the size of the project. Firstly the old track is lifted and it’s a case of many hands make light work removing the rails from the sleepers and lifting the old materials clear.
Then contractors are bought in with machinery to clear the track-bed of the old ballast and levelling the bed ready for the track to be put back in. New sleepers are laid down and spaced correctly before the rails are laid down and connected together with fishplates. The rail is fixed to the sleepers and the track then roughly aligned (pushed into the correct position) before everyone’s favourite job starts – ballasting!
This is a particularly labour intensive task and everyone dives in with a shovel to put the granite ballast down around the sleepers. Once enough ballast has been put down the track is set to the correct level by lifting it using bottle jacks and pushing ballast under the sleepers using electric packing hammers. More ballast is put down during this process (called packing), and even more once the packing is complete to give the neat appearance that we forever strive to achieve. Other jobs may be done during the track relaying process depending on the project, from putting in additional drainage to cutting back and burning vegetation.
All this hard work does lead to workers building up quite an appetite. In the past, and for many years, several individual Society members provided pies and/or hot-pot lunches etc., for staff and volunteers during track weeks. Lunches are now provided by the Company, although there is nothing stopping you bringing additional food and drinks.
For several years the Society has sponsored an evening meal at the end of each track week, which have previously also included presentations and slideshows.
In addition, the Railway’s Foreman can apply annually for a grant of £500 from the Society to buy track-work equipment, to be used by both staff and volunteers. Through this scheme, the Society has funded:
- battery operated impact wrenches (in 2007) to help with fishplate greasing,
- a replacement diesel engine to power the flail mower,
- replacement impact spanners (in 2009),
- and a contribution to the purchase of the Ferrari lineside cutter (in 2013-14).
Preservation Society members taking part in "Track Week" can stay in the Society accommodation, Heywood House, which enjoys a friendly atmosphere during Track Weeks.
So why not join in? You can learn about how to keep “The Best Little Railway in the World” in tip top condition, enjoy working as part of a team, and have the immense satisfaction of riding over a bit of track and thinking “I helped to lay this”.
Contact the Volunteer Liaison Officer for more information.