High Level Track Replacement 2023

High Level Track Replacement 2023 - 2024

By Chris Bassett,

Brian Dale, Jeremy Bench, Dave Beaman

At a board meeting in late 2022 it was decided to replace the outer rail on the high level track. This was due to it been worn out to the central web in several area's. Chris Bassett took the leading role on working on this project. From the first few photos you can see that when the tracks are all joined at the same place, any movement due to heat pushes the track well out of line. This has caused the track to ware unevenly at this point. Rectification was done to prevent this from pushing out. The old track was made in 16ft lengths. We had no option as the new replacement was only 10ft. So we are having to stagger the joints. This should help keep our track more in line.

We started this in early 2023 by trying to take out and replace a single rail. This appeared to be straight forward. We then took out one short length then moved the next two sections of track back. This was the setting up of our plan. What we aimed to achieve was that a joint would not end up on a straight to curve section. The rail must include both straight and a curve. We are hoping this will prevent the track from pushing out at these positions

Getting ready for the first transition from straight to a curve. Rail was slightly over bent to allow for it to spring back

Unfortunately the project ground to a halt. Some local thief's decided they wanted to take our rail for scrap.

We shall continue soon. Maybe the beginning of 2024.

That's all for now...........................................

Early 2024 Re-establish work on High Level

For those of you who are wondering. The thief that stole our track has been found and taken to court. We has sufficient evidence with our CCTV. Local members and of the public who helped capture the culprit.

Now after purchasing some more rail. We restarted this project in early 2024 by trying to take out and replace a single rail. Chris Bassett generally does 2 or three lengths of track per site visit. 20th Feb 24

we have alleviated the transition from the straight section to a curve by including them in the same piece of rail. This should minimise the amount of ware at these points.

5th March 24 I think he is around the bend now. He has got to station approach going for the home run

9th March 24 Just going through the station area