Ballast Tamping Locomotive

[HM181]

Originally Posted by Preston Pilot 47472

The results achieved by the tamper on the line at Clitheroe are quite remarkable. We live close to Horrocksford Junction and the heavy cement trains from Castle Cement, which use this stretch of line, appear to have caused the rails to sink quite deep into ballast. To the point where the ballast was covering the sleepers and almost up to rail top level on the outside of the rails. The tamper corrected and realigned this problem within a few minutes.
Speaking of the cement trains, the class 66s which pull them work extremely hard to get them moving off the falling gradient and are most impressive. I would dearly have loved to see and hear a 9F do the same - the pyrotechnics and audio would have been fantastic.

If it was a choice I would use 66's as museum pieces, and bring back the 56/60's as the 66's maybe new but cant pull 38mgrs loaded out of Hunslet East in one go.
The 56/60 had no problems, but that called progress.

[saxokid]

Originally Posted by John H-T

We have had a tamper on the EVR all this week to tamp the section from Idridgehay to Duffield (5 miles). It is due to finish to-day. Here are a couple of photos from Wednesday near milepost 136 between Shottle and Hazelwood.

Nice pictures John

[John H-T]

Originally Posted by saxokid

Nice pictures John

Thanks Saxokid. The line seems to be holding up quite well.

We have nearly finished other work which HMRI requested to be done this summer, including transposing badly side cut rail on the continuous welded section between Idridgehay and Shottle. We can now transpose 240' lengths of rail (80 meters in new money) in one go! It is amazing what you can do with 8 men, rail turners, crow bars and track jacks. Will post some photos when I have downloaded them.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Silver Fox Phil]

Nice machine and thanks for posting some pics John H-T.
Does anyone have any video footage to share of one in operation that I would find interesting.
Thanks in advance
Regards
Phil

[John H-T]

Sadly I don't have any video. It is a facinating process to watch.

As promised here are some photos of transposing 240 feet/80 meter lengths of rail weighing nearly 4 tons, with just rail turners, crow bars, track jacks and 8 men, well 7 while I was taking the photos!

best wishes,

John H-T.

[Silver Fox Phil]

Thanks John, good crew working hard be the look of it.

[saxokid]

Good team work i see!! great pics.........

[Ploughman]

Was it long welded rail with joints or CWR Continuous welded rail were you need to stress the track and weld it back in place?
With the curve on the line did you have to install a closure rail to take up the discrepancy in rail length?

[John H-T]

Thanks folks for your comments.

We will need to put in a closure rail when we do the last section. We have decided to abandon the continuous welded. To start with it is being plated in 240' lengths and allowed to settle. Then we will cut it into 120' sections.

The cost of maintaining and restressing CWR is proving too high. Cost to do the job we are doing is £3,500. Cost of totally restoring CWR and restressing £10,000 plus and then ongoing maintenance. We have the labour, see photos, but not the money!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Silver Fox Phil]

Big difference in cost John can understand why you go for the sections rather than the CWR. Anyway I prefer the sound of the bogies giong over the joints as it was before CWR came along!
Keep up the good work to all the crew, thanks
Regards
phil