Volunteers have been beavering away on the GWR MOGO van with the intention of getting it back on the quayside in time for Docks Heritage Weekend in October.
High quality marine ply has been purchased to replace the knackered old timbers. This has been cut and test-fitted to the van to drill bolt holes, then will be removed, sealed, primed and refitted for painting.
Thanks to Bob for the images
A few blog posts recently have covered the acquisition of loads of second-hand concrete sleepers. This is all in aid of bringing the New Cut branch back in to use.
It’ll soon be 10 years since the track was lifted at Butterfly Junction to make way for the Metrobus Guided Busway.
The return was delayed as in early 2020, the ongoing subsidence of the New Cut wall came to a head as the wall, the Chocolate Path and the Railway all collapsed into the Cut.
The wall has since been fixed, but then came the refurbishment of Vauxhall Bridge (halfway down the branch) which requires a large amount of scaffolding blocking the track.
The aim is to be ready to commence tracklaying and sleeper replacement as soon as possible, to return trains to the station at ‘A’ Bond warehouse.
To this end, volunteers and staff, along with Larry the trusty loader, have been working down at A Bond to position the platform and track, sort through the materials and work out what is re-usable and what needs refurbishment. Hauling track out of the undergrowth is part of the challenge!
The platform has been shot-blasted and repainted to protect it.
Thanks to Chris and Katie for these photos.
Hopefully this work shows a statement of intent to the public that the branch is on its way back.
Back on the Wharf, a huge amount of hedge trimming and lineside clearance has taken place along the curve to Cumberland Road Bridge, requiring use of the Coles Crane and cage, seen here returning to the shed at the end of a running day.
The next step was the clearance of the ash pile next to the pit, which was getting rather tall. This required use of the grab and the Vincent wagon. The ashes are being used to create a walking route for trackworkers and shunters alongside the running line, where there was previously very limited clearance. Ash paths were a staple of the steam-era railway environment as there was so much of it around. More sorting and moving of sleepers and chairs was also done. The crane’s new clear acrylic roof and windscreen are very useful for this work.
More to come as work progresses….
The GWR-designed G34 MOGO van No. 65814 is the next vehicle to be getting the L Shed treatment, following on from the overhaul of the Sulphuric Acid Tanker and ex-GWR O18 open wagon.
The MOGO (MOtor GOods) van was designed to carry motor cars and as such is fitted with end doors and a tailgate arrangement allowing cars to be driven in and through the van. The earlier G31 had planked sides but in the last years of the GWR before nationalisation, the design changed to plywood on the G34.
W65814 had a spruce-up in 2014 and 2015 but the years outside (and the efforts of some lil’ rascals) have taken their toll. As it’s regularly used for Docks Heritage Weekend and photo charters, it’s time to give it some love.
Last Sunday, Henbury positioned the van next to Crane 29 outside L Shed at the end of the working day. Then in the week, the quayside and running lines outside the shed were once again closed, wooden blocks dropped into the flangeways, and the Coles Crane was able to de-rail and then pivot the van around 90 degrees to be rolled into the shed.
The volunteers have wasted no time in emptying the van and stripping off the trashed plywood for renewal. Thanks to Chris and Bob for these images!
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