Saturday 5th July

A report from Jes Mania, western correspondent. 

Keith H and Ian J reported for duty today and walked the Alton length. After a wet but warm walk, they shared a return journey with the 45 ton steam crane in their train, the first mixed train your scribe has experienced in 31 years on the railway. They were joined by Eddie and Neil later in the morning. As a matter of urgency, the gang were asked to attend at Alresford to clear the sight lines on signal 15, the advanced starter, and this was duly achieved by lunchtime. There followed a return to the task in hand, the continuation of replacing worn keys with new Panlocks in Sutton cutting. After 3 lengths, the rain returned in force and they called it a day, "soaked through in Sutton cutting".