Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos - Army Turnout 20 Exercise

Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

Turnout 20 Exercise by the Army Royal Engineers

Part 2 - October 2020

During the fortnight commencing 27th September 2020 the Army Royal Engineers are using our line for a major exercise, to train and practice their Railway Engineering skills. This is first major railway exercise by the Army for over 50 years

They are carrying out a number of training tasks which will also be of great benefit to our railway. These are:-
1. Replacement of Wensley Crossing and the slewing of the track to allow for the possibility a passing loop to be installed there in the future.
2. Relaying 500 yards of track at Harmby
3. The timber baulks on Swale bridge will be replaced with new timbers and the walkways replaced. 4. A few other small jobs.

Although the Army were doing all this as part of an exercise, there was still a lot of costs to us for material and consumables.

Photos below show some of the work carried out during October 2020.

Ref - 6405

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - Akebar in the morning, lovely place for a days work (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo

Ref - 6405

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - Akebar in the morning, lovely place for a days work (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6406

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - The Army Geotechnical team arrive at Akebar work site (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6407

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - Drilling rig being set up at Akebar - The Army are also helping out with some smaller projects to both practice their skills and benefit the railway. One of these is to carry out geotechnical surveys of a number of stretches of the line where embankments and cuttings may be liable to movement.
To allow us to understand what is happening with our earthworks bore holes and core samples are being taken to allow a picture to be built up. This will allow us to focus our maintenance effort going forward. (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6408

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - The rebuilding of Wensley crossing is also advancing well, with the old track dug out and the new track panel already installed. The next stage here will be to install the new £13,000 road deck (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6409

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 4 - The rebuilding of Wensley crossing is also advancing well, with the old track dug out and the new track panel already installed. The next stage here will be to install the new £13,000 road deck (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6443

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 4. Bottom ballast,sleepers and rail at Wensley Crossing. (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6444

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 4. There's always shovelling. (01/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6410

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - The 03 shunter approaches Wensley crossing with a short works train (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6411

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Ensuring that everything is level (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6412

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Arrival of concrete to create the shoulders for the deck beams (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6413

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Pouring the concrete (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6414

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Pouring the concrete - One side nearly complete (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6415

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Getting ready to lift the beam into place (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6416

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Ready to lift the beam (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6417

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Tractor lifting the beam (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6418

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - First beam done, crack on with the rest (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6419

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Check the beam is level (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6420

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Final adjustment of the first beam (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6445

Photo - Kev Burnitt
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 5 - A Works Train moving sleepers from Redmire to Harmby through Leyburn Station. (02/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6421

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 6 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The decking supports are now in and ready for the decking to be fitted (03/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6422

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 6 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The decking supports are now in and ready for the decking to be fitted (03/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6423

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 6 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The decking piled up ready to be fitted (03/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6424

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 6 - Work progressing by the Army on the Harmby track relaying (03/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6446

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 7. Just a small gap to fill. (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6425

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Delivery of extra ballast (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6429

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Beams in and decking going down (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6430

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The crossing looking towards Redmire, starting to look the part (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6431

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Decking components being lifted into position (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6432

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Crossing now getting more decking panels. (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6447

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 7. Kerbs set, track ballasted and tamped, Polysafe panels going in at Wensley Crossing. (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6426

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - One side of the decking completed (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6427

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Adding additional ballast (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6428

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - First of the center deck panel being lifted into place (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6433

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 7 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Track slewing the traditional way (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6449

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 7. 03 shunter and Salmon dropping sleepers at the Argill Farm relay site. (04/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6448

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 8. All panels in place, gap filled at Wensley. (05/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6434

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 8 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The deck is now in, levelled and secured. Just need to replace the tarmac edges and then re-paint the road markings. (05/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6435

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 8 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The deck is now in, levelled and secured. Just need to replace the tarmac edges and then re-paint the road markings. (05/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6436

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 8 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - The deck is now in, levelled and secured. Just need to replace the tarmac edges and then re-paint the road markings. (05/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6437

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 9 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Crossing in and looking good (06/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6438

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 9 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Compacting the crushed stone ready for the tarmac (06/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6439

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 9 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - More stone being delivered (06/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6440

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 9 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Tidying up the periphery around the crossing (06/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6441

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 : Day 10 - Wensley Crossing Replacement - Now complete (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6450

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Colas Rail 56090 at Scruton Station with a train load of ballast in support of the Army relay at Argill. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6454

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
GBRF 66718 "Sir Peter Hendry CBE" was on the rear of the train seen here at Finghall Station. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6456

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
03144 seen at Stoop House Bridge propelling the salmon wagon from Leyburn to Constable Burton Loop to pick up the Lowmac and Shark Van before heading back to Leyburn. It would be used later to plough the ballast at Argill. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6460

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
56090 at Harmby after a slight hiccup when it slipped to a standstill in the cutting. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6462

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
56090 Approaching Yorkshire Dales level crossing. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6463

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Army Volvo 360 excavator unloads 2 wagon loads of ballast at Leyburn for future projects. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6465

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
56090 (On rear) now at the worksite about to drop ballast on the Argill relay. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6466

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
66718 passing Spennithorne Station now dropping spare ballast on the return back to Constable Burton. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6467

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
A close up of the JJA Autoballasters dropping ballast on each shoulder of the track. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6451

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. 56090 at the head of the ballast train crosses Leases Road at Leeming Bar. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6452

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. 66718 'Sir Peter Hendy' (now Network Rail Chairman) pauses on the rear of the ballast train at Leeming Bar. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6457

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. 03 shunter, Flatrol, Salmon and Shark ballast plough head towards the worksite at Argill Farm to pick up the excavator. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6458

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. Loading the excavator. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6459

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. Harmby Bridge excavator safely loaded, heading to Leyburn in preparation for unloading ballast. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6461

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. Harmby Bridge, ballast train heading for Leyburn. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6464

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 10. Unloading at Leyburn. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6453

Photo - Nigel Cockburn
56090 heads 04.36 Doncaster Belmont Down Yard to Argill Farm ballast train shortly after passing through Bedale. (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6455

Photo - Nigel Cockburn
56090 is seen just west of the old Spennithorne Station with a ballast train for the track renewal at Argill Farm (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6468

Photo - Nigel Cockburn
66718 'Sir Peter Hendy CBE' approaches Bedale in what can be described as perfect light with the return ballast working to Doncaster (07/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6469

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 12. Relaid and ballasted track at Argill Farm ready for tamping. (09/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6442

Photo - Unknown Photographer
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 12. Signing ceremony at Leyburn. (09/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6470

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 12. Signing ceremony at Leyburn. (09/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6471

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 12. Signing ceremony at Leyburn, rather damp! (09/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 6472

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Exercise Turnout 20 Day 12. Socially distanced handover. (09/10/2020)
Click here to see higher resolution photo