05.09.02

On this day Jim was at the yard at Brixton at about 08.20am, getting some of the gear ready for the day of replacing sleepers along Rogie's Straight. Colin duly arrives a bit later and we sort out some sleepers to take down with us. Rodger and Gil arrive and give a hand loading sleepers and the rest of the tools for the day

After loading, a discussion was held as to what had to be done. Colin and Jim start off pushing the trolleys loaded with all the gear and sleepers, Rodger and Gil head off in their van. We get to the road crossing and as there has not been any traffic along the Branch line the grooves where the wheel flanges run were filled with road dust and the like, which made pushing the two trolleys hard to move. Once across the road, Colin and Jim start unloading the sleepers where Rogie had dug the ballast away from the sleepers to be replaced during the weeks before.

Once Rodger and Gil had arrived and Graeme and Rogie arrive a bit later in the morning, work begins on the removal of the first sleeper. Colin directing, as the lads had not done this sort of work before, we soon get into the swing of what is required. Wimbling the drill for the screws, and ramming the ballast. By our lunch break we had replaced three sleepers.

Rodger and Gil have to leave us due to a prior engagement. With Colin, Jim, Graeme and Rogie we finish the day having relayed seven sleepers, which is not bad for the novices. Colin and Jim push the trolleys back to the yards, which by then they had had enough for the day.

Well done lads a great effort.