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Permanent Way

Andrew Goodwin

Journal 118 (WWW Edition)

Since my last article just after Christmas, we have been preparing the railway for re-opening at Easter. A lot of tidying up of the new 75lb section that was laid at Christmas has now been done (Unfortunately, the new ballast show up like a saw thumb!).

Other jobs to do include the re-conditioning of two sets of points (the ones leading into Porthmadog Station, and the ones on the Farm side of the Farm Junction.

In a change from traditional practice we have also run the weedkilling train. After wrestling with the patent 'Weatherby/Holmes' (with Carter enhancements) Weedkiller wagon, we managed to do all the main line, and some sidings before running out of weedkiller. I know it's only the end of March, but the weeds have been growing in Porthmadog since February!

I am told my Nigel Hanwell that he should be coming down for a few days at Whitson (late May holiday), to do some preparation for Civils week. Anybody who wants join us should give me or him a ring.

The display outside the big shed, next to Gelert's Farm Halt. This is the first part of the shed tour that the visitors will see, and a lot of work has gone into it during the Winter period.
Photo: Dave Allan