Saturday 28th June

The gang was split today by a considerable distance, with a party of five heading off for an away day on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway where glorious sun shine prevailed, and five on normal duties at the MHR, where showery conditions were the order of the day.

On MHR metals, the line inspection to Alresford was undertaken in the morning, to be followed in the afternoon by the replacement of rail keys in the cutting at Bishops Sutton with the more modern (and less prone to work there way out!) Panloc fastenings. Several loads of Panlocs were delivered to the road bridge over the cutting and deposited on the track below, where waiting gang members managed to replace 374 keys. This was quite an achievement whilst having to endure the inclement weather conditions.

The replacement Panloc fastenings in place.

 

The gang take shelter and lunch under the bridge.