The BNR (another way)

[GeraldH]

The landscaping team have been busy tidying up the cuttings on the extension. The rockfaces have been profiled, although it took two attempts to get it right. It has been so long since the engineers have dealt with this form of construction that they had forgotten the technique. The initial mix had too much water and too much pigment. The correct mix is very stiff and comprises 12 parts powdered filler to 1 part black powder paint stippled on with a brush.

While landscaping has been going on services have been restricted resulting in some unusual operating patterns, with BR's DMU services from the mainland temporarily extended up the branch. Two of the four DMU's allocated to the the line promptly derailed, fortunately no one was mortified as well say in Ballybongle .

[GeraldH]

The recent wet weather seems to be working wonders for the vegetation by the ore unloading facility at Pewsley . The 40 year old packets of Wondagrass and Peco scatter, combined with some more recent material from Javis have proved quite effective. Hopefully the strong winds forecast tomorrow during Storm Dyson will not cause too much damage!

[Admin4]

Storm Dyson

It always amazes me how much comes off when you don’t want it to, but on the flip side, if you try to remove it, it steadfastly refuses to budge.

[GeraldH]

Storm Dyson

It always amazes me how much comes off when you don’t want it to, but on the flip side, if you try to remove it, it steadfastly refuses to budge.

Experiments are being carried out with a follow up procedure to try and further secure the vegetation. A mix of diluted PVA with a tiny bit of washing up liquid is dribbled onto the surface using a dropper. If the consistency is correct the mixture flows through the vegetation and further secures it. The washing up liquid can make the mixture a bit frothy, but the froth seems to disappear as it dries.

[GeraldH]

Work has commenced on a bridge across the cutting on the approach to Pewsley to restore a public right of way severed when the line was built.

The cuttings on both sides on the approach to the bridge have resulted in rather precarious footpath along what is now quite a narrow ridge. Some fencing might be required or at least a notice to avoid the path during high winds - a bit like the ridge on the Kepler Track in New Zealand .

The bridge has been temporarily craned in place to check measurements and it seems that the engineers have got the calculations slightly wrong as it does look a little short and does not look very secure! It has already been modified twice. The daredevil on the bridge is considering possible modifications and it looks like some Linka stone reinforcement might be required to support one end.

[GeraldH]

The bridge abutment has been reinforced and the bridge should be open in time for an Xmas ramble as long as the walkers stay off the sherry and don't stray from the narrow path. Meanwhile Santa has set up his grotto at Pewsley Station - it's a shame that no-one told him that services are currently much reduced due to the construction work on the pedestrian bridge .

Various engineering works has delayed freight services and the staff in the goods yard have just finished emptying a wagon from the mainland.

Meanwhile some long overdue road repairs have been carried out at the junction where there has always been something of a hump that has caused some lower vehicles to ground in the past

[GeraldH]

There has been quite a burst of activity on the BNR of late. The Emporer has decreed that something needs to be done to tackle air quality and has suggested that the magnolia colour of the sky at Globble Island and over the Pewsley extension indicates a serious issue. Local scientists have discovered a way of restoring the sky to it's natural hue and have been injecting materials (blue emulsion and lining paper) into the sky to restore balance.

They may have gone a little too far, as the sky is rather a darker shade of blue than in other areas, but it is hoped that the beautifully clear sky will help to promote tourism from the mainland post Covid .

[GeraldH]

Now that most of the trackwork on the Pewsley extension is complete, the track gang have been able to sort out some long standing issues at the junction. After the earthquake improvements were made in the goods yard, but the modified track was never ballasted. A stock of ballast had been built up in the stores (used tea leaves) and this was fixed in place (strong mix of wallpaper paste).

It's vary rare to see the goods yard empty and so the opportunity was taken to photograph the branch passenger train in platform 2. This week it is being hauled by a preserved R1. This loco and a Pug called Desmond are visiting the line. The Emporer agreed to service both locos in the BNR's workshops in return for a Christmas banquet .

[GeraldH]

The new level crossing has been causing a few issues The gates are fine when set against the road, but one pair overlap when the road is open. Workmen have been carefully filing the gate suppports to try and resolve the issue. Fortunately there is not a lot of motor traffic on the road .

[GeraldH]

The Pewsley coaling stage is now complete and in operation. The landscaping team have also been busy and have recently taken delivery of some additional vegetation. The signal box still needs glazing and fitting out.

[GeraldH]

The preserved Bachmann/Mainline 43XX has finally been allocated a crew. Bob and Ted are rather weighty fellows which might help with traction on the severe gradients. Bob's trousers started dissolving at one point and they both had issues with their footwear making them rather unsteady on their feet. Fortunately some of the maintenance team were able to refurbish Bob's trousers and it seems that there are a load of old cobblers in the team as well .

[Ex-Pat]

Bob's trousers started dissolving at one point and they both had issues with their footwear making them rather unsteady on their feet.

Are they by any chance Bachmann crew? I ask because I had great difficulty with Jock McSlack on my coaling stage. His feet just didn't want to adhere to the platform. And when I came to, very delicately, put a bit more black on his overalls he fell to the ground!

What did you use to stick yours to the footplate? (And what caused the trousers to dissolve?)

[GeraldH]

The gentlemen in question came from

https://www.pdmarshmodels.com/products/ ... -2-firemen

They're very nice, but the paint is a bit thin and susceptible to removal while handing. The soles of the feet needed to be filed flat: Bob and Ted were then fixed in place with superglue.

[Ex-Pat]

Thanks Gerald - I tried to avoid superglue, but looks like I need it.

[GeraldH]

The landscape architects recently took delivery of some trees and other foliage and have been taking the opportunity to improve the natural environment ready for the summer season. The main focus so far has been on the hill overlooking the junction.

Another tree has been located at Station Approach which might give a bit of shelter to passengers waiting for connecting bus services.

Futher planting has been carried out on the Pewsely extension although soil conditions have been causing a few problems .