An early start for Adrian C and Corina, as they had to pick up the company van up at Medstead and drive to Newbury. This was to collect Neil and the 5 point oiling equipment cabinets he had made.
After dismantling them and strategically placing on the van like one very large jigsaw puzzle, the return journey was made via Alresford and the West Country Buffet for the usual breakfast baps and mugs of tea. Once back at Medstead the unloading process began. Fortunately for the guys ,or unfortunately for Martin B, he turn up just in time to help them with the mammoth task.
Once their arms had recovered, Adrian, Neil, Martin and Corina drove down to Grosvenor Lane bridge, where Martin and Neil walked a short distance down the line to drop off a replacement set of fishplates at Wanders Crossing for the oiling gang to replace. They then walked back up the line to The Grosvenor hut to join Adrian and Corina and to make a start dismantling the chimney stack. This had been damaged partly due to a very large birds nest inside causing dampness, which then led to the mortar in the brickwork crumbling through frost action. It was like the leaning tower of Pisa, so has to be rebuilt. Adrian and Neil were on top of the roof removing the bricks, whilst Corina and Martin were down below cleaning off the mortar.
Once the gang had managed to clean off all of the bricks, it was decided to finish for the day.
and the second report from our Southern correspondent, the OS Mapman on the activities of the fishplate oiling gang............
With Adrian and Corina off with the company transport to the
Newbury Concrete Co. it was left to the rest to form a work party and a track
inspection team. Bill, Brian Hi and Pete set off for Alton and would do the
Alresford walk in the afternoon.
The remainder (John, Martin W, Jamie, Matt K and
me) loaded up the trolley and set off for Wanders Crossing to continue fish
plate oiling, using a brand new socket on the Cembre!
The first thing to greet
us was a pair of plates fractured clean in two on the northern rail! John took
pics and e mailed them to Adrian, requesting he brought a couple of
replacements out on returning from Newbury. That drama over we rattled on,
making good progress despite the oil dispenser playing up. John had cleaned it
thoroughly and diluted the oil but trying to get an even flow, every time was
difficult. And we had to contend with a strong, cold NW wind sweeping across
that exposed section of the line. Bill and Brian passed us as they conducted
track inspection number 2.
We made The Grosvenor hut by lunchtime and sheltered from the
wind by Bowers Grove Wood. John received a text that the replacement plates had
been left at Wanders, so after lunch he and I walked back up to fit and lube them,
while the others carried on towards Ropley. We re-joined them and whilst taking
refuge from the passing 9F Martin made the find of the day – an old iron track
spanner, half buried in brambles on the bank. It looked as if it belonged to
one of the original navvies – who’s probably buried under the bank!
We called it a day about 12 lengths short of MP 56 in order
to get to Ropley and the 4 pm service to Medstead. Honours even between Martin
and Jamie – one sheared bolt apiece.
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