Track Laying Passes the Half Way Point!

On August 4th 2012 another milestone was reached as track laying passed the half way point of the branch line as a remarkable 240 feet (72m) of track were laid before lunchtime.

35 volunteers turned out to help lay track around the curve at the end of the long straight. We were joined by Mountsorrel Parish Councillor Mick Lemon who came along to spur us on with words of support.

Since the end of June over 280 yards (250m) of track has been laid and the head of steel is only 350m from the Wood Lane bridge.

Further rail will arrive in September to allow track laying to continue. In the meantime ballast laying will be taking place over the first part of phase 2. This is thanks to a donation of ballast from Lafarge and the GCR who will be laying the ballast. Volunteer work in the coming weeks will focus on bringing our newly laid track up to operating standards as well as preparing the Bond Lane cutting for base ballast to be laid ahead of track laying early next year.

Trackbed Tours are a Resounding Success

Over 70 people attended the recent tours of the Mountsorrel Railway. These were run by project volunteer Robert Turlington as part of the British Festival of Archaeology.

Those on the tours were able to walk along almost all of the Mountsorrel Railway that is in the process of being restored and to see the work undertaken by the 120 community volunteers that regularly give their time to the project.

The tour started with the completed section of the branch line close to Swithland Reservoir and progressed through the different phases of restoration towards Mountsorrel.

Attendees also learnt about the history of the line and how the restored railway will operate as a linear museum, bringing both educational and recreational benefits to visitors.

There was also the opportunity to see the wide range of ecological work alongside the line that has been undertaken over the last five years by both project volunteers and over 600 local children. This includes the creation of new habitats, a large number of bird boxes, hedge laying, tree and hedgerow planting as well as the large scale planting of native wild flowers.

We would like to say a big thank you to Robert for putting together such an informative and interesting tour that was enjoyed by all those who attended!

Due to the success of the tours we may run a further tour again later this year. If you would be interested in attending a future tour, or if you would like to book a private tour for your club or group you belong to, then please contact Robert by email at turlington2008@yahoo.com

Tours cost only £3 per person with all proceeds going directly to the project fund.