A very cold crisp day greeted a reasonable size gang. With no line inspections needed as there are no services throughout January, the gangs started Wickham's 1 & 2.
Adrian C, Adrian N, Corina, Ian R Keith H, Brian Ha, Eddie, Pete,Tony, Martin B boarded the Wickham's, and with Eddie and Adrian N driving they travelled up to Butts Junction to collect a sleeper.
They then went down the line to Chawton Woods to replace a broken one.
This was took a lot of effort as the ballast bed had set like concrete due to being contaminated with mud running off the adjacent motorcycle track.
After approx. an hour the task was completed and it was time for breakfast. The gangs travelled up to Alton where they met up with Neil in the station cafe. Once breakfast was eaten, the gangs separated for further duties.
Corina, Adrian N and Keith H went to the Butts signal box where they attempted to remove a tree which had grown around the wrought iron work attached to the signal box. The iron work is to be saved for a future project.
Adrian C, Eddie, Tony, Martin B, Neil, Brian Ha, Ian R and Pete went down the line to collect broken sleepers which had been left at the side of the track following the changing work last Summer and Autumn. These were bought down to the Butts to put in a pile for disposal.
Paul C had by then arrived, walking out from Alton to meet up with the gangs. Paul joined the sleeper gang whilst Adrian C joined the wrought iron group, as the tree was presenting a big challenge.
At lunch time the gangs both went back to base. After lunch, Adrian N, Corina, Adrian C and Keith H went to Chawton Woods to repair a fence which had been flattened by a falling tree a couple of weeks before
.
The rest of the gang carried on with broken sleeper collection.
Around 3.30pm both gangs made there way back to base collecting chairs and keys on the way which had been left track side after being changed.
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