Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos - Infrastructure Jan 2021

Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

Infrastructure Work - January 2021

This January the Infrastructure Department undertook a whole month of engineering works led by Toby Lampitt our Infrastructure Supervisor supported by Alex Lomas the railways own apprentice plus volunteers from both Leyburn & Leeming Infrastructure teams . A 14 tonne tracked machine plus skilled driver/operator Eddie was hired in plus a large Tele Handler for the lifting jobs. The following works were carried out:-

1. Track renewal at Argill Farm. This added eight 60ft track panels to the eleven that the Army replaced last October.

2. Replacement of Smiths User Works Crossing. Due to the bad drainage conditions in this area, a whole section of track had to be removed and the trackbed completely replaced with new drainage installed. A new section of track was installed and a new crossing surface provided.

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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Although the first working week of 2021 isn't what any of us had hoped for here are a couple of images from the works train heading to Argill farm where some finishing off work needs completing following October's exercise. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Although the first working week of 2021 isn't what any of us had hoped for here are a couple of images from the works train heading to Argill farm where some finishing off work needs completing following October's exercise. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Although the first working week of 2021 isn't what any of us had hoped for here are a couple of images from the works train heading to Argill farm where some finishing off work needs completing following October's exercise. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Works train arrived at Leyburn Peter Blacks UWC for loading of the excavator for transit to the Argill worksite. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - The railways mini digger was brought to Leyburn alongside 20166. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - The excavator was unloaded at Argill Farm UWC - space was tight. (04/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Concrete sleepers been loaded at Leyburn. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Salmon now loaded with concrete sleepers at Leyburn and to be taken to Argill for unloading. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Class 20 heading a works train transporting transporting the concrete sleepers the track relaying work at Argill farm, to continue on from what the Army did last year. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Equipment being loaded onto a works train for the track relaying work at Argill farm, to continue on from what the Army did last year. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Class 20 heading a works train over Wensley crossing. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Alex Lomax
Argil Track Renewal - Class 20 heading a works train transporting transporting the concrete sleepers the track relaying work at Argill farm, to continue on from what the Army did last year. (05/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - 20166 back at Leyburn for more sleeper loading. (06/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - A pallet load of fittings been loaded on top of the sleepers. (06/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Sleepers are unloaded and stacked up at the Argill worksite. (06/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Once all materials were on site and works train wagons left at Leyburn, 20166 and Shark Van head back to Leeming Bar. (06/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Rail been removed by the excavator. (06/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - The Flat bottom rail which was supplied by Network Rail was brand new and so new fishplate holes needed drilling by a team of two. (07/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Argill Farm looking east. Recovering old rail from down the bank at the end of the Army relay. (07/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Argil Track Renewal - The infrastructure team working on the track relaying at Argill farm (11/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Argill Farm looking west.New track in place. (12/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Argill Farm. Drilling fishplate bolt holes in the recently cut existing rail to put in the closure rails to connect with the new track. (13/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - With all sleepers and rails in, this is the view back towards Leyburn where a couple of closure rails will be still be needed. (13/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - 8 x 60' panels were laid adding onto the 11 that the Army did. (13/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - A few bad dips and alignment tweaks were Robel packed on the Army laid section. (13/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - The works train arrives at Leyburn. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Shunting at Leyburn to form up the works train with the Flatrol and Salmon. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - Winter has arrived and 20166 is back at Leyburn to load ballast. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - The JCB loader getting stuck into the ballast heap which was also supplied by Network Rail. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - The Seacow ballast hopper being loaded. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - A decent height closure rail was loaded onto the Salmon. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Passing Wensley Crossing heading to Redmire. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - 20166 is now at Redmire to collect the Dogfish ballast wagons. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - Recovering the Dogfish from Redmire sidings. (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Argil Track Renewal - The works train whilst track relaying at Argill farm (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Argil Track Renewal - The works train whilst track relaying at Argill farm (14/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Argil Track Renewal - The difference a day makes. Almost warm loading ballast into the Dogfish. (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Argil Track Renewal - A Dogfish ballast wagon been loaded and all the available ballast is now in the ballast wagons. Due to the snow the ballast has not been dropped at Argill yet. (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Andy G getting more than his fair share of daily exercise removing 4 inch of snow off the Salmon.
I did the Flatrol wagon I'm standing on.! (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Concrete sleepers for Smiths UWC deck replacement being lifted at Leyburn. These had been earmarked for Smiths for a while now. (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Sleepers been loaded onto the Salmon. (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Extra digging buckets for the excavator been loaded. (15/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Smiths UWC renewal starts by cleaning out drainage ditches. The crossing lies between the demolished Constable Burton Station and Finghall Station and is used by Constable Burton Estates vehicular traffic mainly. (18/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - These concrete U tubes were under the crossing and fully blocked with silt from water/soil from the road to the right which is uphill. These tubes have been laid on a bed of ballast and will be covered by old upturned concrete sleepers. (18/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Drainage work at Smiths User Worked Crossing. (18/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Drainage meeting points with a vertical inspection tube installed. (21/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Trackbed dug out ready for replacement. (21/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Ballast been dumped into the void. (21/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - A good wackering taking place. (22/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Concrete sleepers brought in by the excavator. (22/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - A couple of walkers crossing the worksight over the upturned concrete sleepers with a slight gap between each to allow excess water to run into the U tubes.
The official footpath should be near the telegraph pole in the background but the route seems to have been diverted officially or unofficially as no gates/stiles exist at that point. (22/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - The infrastructure team working on replacing Smiths User Worked Crossing (22/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Most of these U tubes with lids were totally grassed over and have been cleared along with extensive de-weeding in the ballast. The travelling crane jib height warning sign was reinstated as it was found buried in the grass. (25/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - One 120' rail back in. (25/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - The remaining gap was filled with good second hand wood sleepers. (25/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - All sleepers and rails in and jointed up. (26/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - The crossing area has had ballast installed and is being levelled up and packed with the Robel. (26/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - The infrastructure team working on replacing Smiths User Worked Crossing (28/01/2021)
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Photo - Andy Waite
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - The infrastructure team working on replacing Smiths User Worked Crossing (28/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - View towards Constable Burton old station site with ballast installed, jacked and packed. (29/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - View uphill with new deck in. (29/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - View downhill with the excavator having some mud removed. (29/01/2021)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Smiths User Worked Crossing Replacement - Final view towards Finghall Station with the JCB loader bringing in more ballast to finish the job off. Just a bit of tidying up left to do. (29/01/2021)
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