Having taken major steps forward with the earthworks reported in the Winter ‘Oily Rag’ steady progress with laying track has resulted in it now extending to the end of the straight part of the cutting. Then it rained!

The bouts of heavy rain we experienced before Xmas resulted in the cutting becoming a flood zone where water was trapped and a sluice where it wasn’t! Worse than that the flow was severe enough to wash much of the smaller ballast downhill in the cutting and away from under the track. Our enthusiasm for pressing on clearly had to be tempered whilst we dealt with this situation. This has meant that the remaining working days in 2008 were taken up firstly tidying up in general and then digging in a land drain (an 80mm flexible perforated plastic pipe) down one side of the cutting below track level and bedded in the ballast. At the bottom of the cutting the drain turns towards the motorway under the new embankment for the return track and empties into a gully dug towards the boundary fence where water can run down into an adjacent rhine and away under the M5.

So far 50 metres (160 ft.) of pipe has been installed with at least another 25 metres yet to be dug in. Although not finished it has already proved its worth in effectively draining the track where it has been laid. Once this has been completed we can get back to re-aligning and re-ballasting the track before extending up onto the level area on the far side of the field opposite the present station. Some thoughts have been given to siting a second station this side of the field and we may put in part of this shortly to give an alternative run whilst the rest of the return track is built – but this will depend on having enough locomotives in service.

The Santa Specials on the weekend prior to Xmas were the last public trains run in 2008. Although quiet it was a dry day and we had a steady trickle of visitors who were able to enjoy rides behind Tony Gosling’s Wren and Tony Newberry’s new Class 47xx 2-8-0. Unfortunately this tended to derail going over the junction point in the return loop running in the regular direction, but stayed on when going the opposite way so everyone was treated to an afternoon’s ‘running the railway backwards’. Clearly we have some adjustments to make before the new season starts! Our thanks to the two Tonys and all our other drivers for their efforts in 2008 – that their efforts are worthwhile is reflected in the donations we are able to make to Charities each year.

Since the New Year all working parties have been concentrating on building the extension to our raised track in Vivary Park – see progress report. Once the main part has been done we can get back to developing Creech.

Mike

If any member with a 7 1/4” or 5” Gauge Loco would like to run his Loco at Creech when there is no public running, then he may do so on the second Tuesday evening of the month during the summer or alternatively, 'Rambo' has kindly agreed to open the track at any other time, provided that he is not otherwise committed. He can be contacted by Email through our Webmaster, or at Club Meetings or by telephone though any Committee members - telephone numbers on the inside cover of this magazine - to make arrangements.