Tracklaying update

Thursday May 13th

Sleepers were laid out onto the branch line formation closely followed by two more panels of track.







Friday May 14th

The gang proceeded to drop ballast between the sleepers so that the new track could be slewed into the correct position and then lifted and packed. This was achieved by loading wheelbarrows and then barrowing the ballast onto the new track.

Also on Friday the hole was dug for the new branch exit signal post. The Great Central Railway's (GCR) signal and telegraph (S&T) department then erected the signal on Friday afternoon.





Saturday May 15th

We were joined today by six volunteers from the GCR's volunteer permanent way (P-Way) group. Thanks to Steve Saunders and his team for coming to work on the branch! Together with our own volunteers we had 25 people working on the trackbed at various times throughout the day. We were able to complete the lifting and packing of the last two panels. With plenty of wheelbarrows and people to help, we were able to barrow more ballast onto the newly laid track.









Tracklaying has also been mentioned on the websites of the GCR and Railway Vehicle Preservations.

We would like to thank all those who have worked on the project over this last week. This has included the GCR P-Way staff, GCR volunteers, S&T for erecting the signal, and our own project volunteers. The entire week has been a real team effort. Everyone has worked really hard to complete our first section of track. This is only the beginning though: with your help we can reach Mountsorrel!

We need a mile and a quarter of track to reach the end of the branch at Bond Lane. With budgetary cuts having a serious effect on the rail industry at the moment, potential second hand track sources are becoming increasingly difficult to come by at an affordable price. Nevertheless we have identified a potential source but we urgently need funds to secure this. Cuts are likely to continue for many years to come so this may be our last chance to secure the track we need at an affordable price. If you are able to support our track appeal please donate as soon as you can. Little and large amounts are gratefully received: whatever you can afford. Every donation takes us closer to completing the railway. We can only complete the railway with your help!

Tracklaying progress yesterday and today, 11-12 May

Tracklaying is going very well indeed so far this week. Mountsorrel Railway volunteers, led by Great Central Railway (GCR) permanent way supervisor Andy Higginson, and assisted by other GCR volunteers and staff, have been working hard since Sunday.

The aim for this week is to install the junction point, an additional catch point at the start of the branch, plus up to five panels of track beyond. This will take the head of steel on to the branch line, approximately half way around the long curve near to the GCR junction. This is a tremendous milestone for our volunteers who have worked so hard over the last two and a half years to bring the project to this point.

Progress yesterday (Tuesday 11 May)

By 2.30pm yesterday afternoon the junction point was in and packed. The shorter rails needed to close the gap between the point and the end of the loop had also been cut, drilled and fitted. Volunteers were starting to lay out the sleepers for the first track panel, to take track through the branch gates and onto the branch itself.









Later yesterday afternoon the first panel of track was laid, taking the head of steel right up to the branch gate. This was followed by the laying of the catch point which took track back onto the Mountsorrel Railway for the first time in 50 years!



Progress today (Wednesday 12 May)

There was much work to do this morning before additional track could be laid. This morning’s work focused on further lifting and packing of the the junction point and the new section of rail in the the loop. This was achieved by jacking the rails and then using shovels to pack the ballast underneath. Good numbers of volunteers helped to complete this task relatively quickly. By lunchtime the track in the loop was effectively complete although the point still needs its point blade operation mechanism installing so that it can be set to allow trains onto the branch.

This afternoon's work was focusing on slewing the first panel of branch track and the catch point, achieved by levering bars into the ballast.



Thank you

We would like to thank all those who have worked on the track laying this week, and the GCR volunteers, staff and management for their support and assistance. We must also thank Andy Higginson and Alan Brassey who have devoted a great deal of time over the past couple of months arranging and planning the work. We couldn't have done it without you.

Donating

Currently we only have the funds to buy and lay five panels of track this week. Further tracklaying depends on donations.

Would you consider donating to the Mountsorrel Railway track appeal, so trains can run again from the Great Central Railway to Mountsorrel?

Please see the Mountsorrel Railway track appeal donation form for more information. You can help by donating whatever money you can afford, for example:

• You could sponsor one or more sleepers at £15 each
• You could sponsor one or more lengths of rail at £180 each
• You could setup a standing order donation to the appeal, which would help reopen the Mountsorrel Railway even sooner

There has never been a better time to support the project! Thank you.

Mountsorrel Railway track laying has begun!

Yesterday six volunteers, assisted by many from the Great Central Railway, started removing the existing loop track to make way for the junction point. In only three hours the existing catch point, and the length of rail beyond, had been removed. Not bad considering we’ve never done anything like this before! Volunteers quickly learnt how to jack rails, remove and set chair springs, slide two-ton rails with ease, and move sleepers around.

As you’ll see from the photos, there’s no going back now!







Today a small length of rail will be cut and removed for the point to fit in place, and a digger will scrape the ballast to the correct height ready for the junction point to be craned into position. Let’s hope the weather stays fine. For the rest of the week several lengths of rail will be laid, with more to come in the future as funds allow.

Please support the project to enable further track to be installed.