Saturday 19th March

A report from our Western correspondent, Jes Mania, and our lady correspondent, Nora Cliski..........

The High's and the Low's............................

 

An overcast Saturday started as usual for the cast of thousands arriving at Medstead for a brief and an early morning brew. They were joined by a visitor, Nigel Thompson from the Lynton & Barnstaple railway project. Nigel works on the Permanent Way there, so was completely at home with the "Crazy Gang" and the work involved.

 

With thirteen in the mess, a fishplate oiling gang was able to be despatched early to site. Eddie, Ian R, John, Martin W, and Neil went off to complete (in three weeks) the Ropley-Alresford section of oiling. They were in for a very rare treat, when it was discovered the new Cembre impact wrench machine had arrived in the week and the boys put the virgin machine to the test. They were not disappointed, by the end of the day covering themselves in glory and no little amount of oil!

This left Corina to drive up to Alton to oil the points in the station, whilst Adrian C, Keith H, and Pete to headed up to Alton, and Ian J, Nigel T, Bill, and  Brian down to Alresford on the line inspections.

 

Upon returning to base, the walkers and Corina assembled the remaining tools and equipment needed for the continuation of the fencing wire project on the Alton section. This is located west of Chalk Dell bridge where there was an old occupation crossing. After a 1/4 mile walk with the rather heavy fencing and strimming kit (which proved to be a challenge) they reached the site. The already cut brush had been neatly stacked back on the railways side of the boundary, blocking the natural alignment for the new wires to be threaded through all 7 strands if possible.

After a lot of cursing and much effort as two reels decided to get tangled!, by the end of the afternoon, one more strand was completed, only 5 to go! 

Meanwhile Jes Mania got on his favourite task, strimming, and was very happy after completing a long overdue run through from milepost 51 and a quarter up to the Chawton Heights Hut,  where Corina was undertaking stripping back the hut sign and undercoating it.

She then went on to clean the mileposts 51, 51 1/4 and Chalk Dell Bridge number. These are ready now to be completed with the white numbering.

Jes Mania and Nigel also started to stack materials for a future bonfire, as there was enough wood lying around to make a very good fire at this new burn site.