Pushing North towards Wisbech at Speed...

This Sunday, the Civil Engineering team were out working on the railway as per usual. We had a good number of volunteers this Sunday, and managed to push further north than we expected. Having done a lot of tree clearing between March Elm Road and Chain Bridge, the section between Chain Bridge and Coldham appears to have very few trees which need dealt with, and very few brambles at the March end, it's all Grass.

This is great news, as the grass is fairly easy to get up and once the lease is obtained, it will go very easily with Weedkiller.

Some photos from the day are shown below:

While the work goes on, our chairman keeps up to date on the latest news

You wont find any gold treasure, just some rusty bolts!

Everyone having a well earned rest. Now your seated, we will begin!

Now a couple of photos to let you compare the before and after:
As you can see, lots of grass, no trees close to the line and no Brambles!

So far, the team having started at the end of August, have cleared a lot of the line. The map below show's how we are getting on


Moving forward, it's a busy week this week on the Bramley Line. Some members of the Civil Engineering Team will be out working to clear vegetation from Weasenham Lane Level Crossing working towards March. Although this is currently happening when people are available, it is the intention to start a Wisbech Mid Week and Weekend Team to work towards March, hopefully meeting up with the March to Wisbech team somewhere in the Waldersea area eventually.

So if your available this Wednesday day time, we are meeting at approx 10.30am at Weasenham Lane Level Crossing.

Also on Wednesday, it's our Wisbech Meeting being held at 19.30 at St Peters Church Hall, Upper Rooms. This is a great way to meet people who are interested in getting the Railway off the ground and finding out how to get involved.


On Sunday, October 4th, the Civil Engineering team will be taking a break from Track Clearing, to erect some more fencing at March, Elm Road Crossing. If you are interested in getting involved, we will be there from 10am until approx 4pm. All Welcome.

Civil Engineering Sundays

Another Sunday, another Civil Engineering Department day out clearing the railway. Work this week follows on from the teams great effort to clear from March to Wisbech, so far clearing between the Stop Board at Whitemoor Yard through to Chain Bridge. This Sunday, we started at Chain Bridge and made excellent progress north towards Coldham. We welcomed another new volunteer to the group, and a reminder that everyone is welcome to get involved. For more details, visit our website at www.bramleyline.org.uk

Some photos from the day can be seen below.

Simon sorting out Tea as usual.

The Line looking in a better state thanks to the team.

We're a working on the Railway....

Well, didn't we do well, even if we do say so ourselves. At Midnight last night we launched our brand new website, which better reflects the way in which the group is going, and we feel is much more professional.

Dreamers move aside now and let the Civil Engineers out. The Track Clearing team has become the Civil Engineers department which will be looking after the line once we are up and running. And we were out today, working from the farm occupation crossing north of Elm Road to Chain Bridge. A number of trees later, and you can actually see the whistle board for some distance, which was obscured by trees and brambles. Having cleared the line now from Whitemoor Stop Board through Elm Road Crossing and onto Chain Bridge, the team will be working north of Chain Bridge next week heading towards Coldham.

While we were there, we took some time to work on Chain Bridge today, removing some trees which were growing from underneath the bridge and assessing the work to be done on the Bridge. The Metal spans of the bridge are in good shape, the Wooden beams are also ok. The decking is very rough round the edges, and a good deal of this will need to be replaced. Work on this will take place once the lease has been agreed from Network Rail.

Here are some photos from today are shown below.
Photo above shows the track looking towards Wisbech before work starting, as does the photo below.

Our Chairman, Brian, gets stuck into some trees with his new boiler suit dirty for the first time

Derek pretends to be doing something for the Camera

Lots of Weeds and trees over the line being taken down by our Chairman and Vice Chairman

A couple of hours later looking back towards March from Chain Bridge, the line is looking much better.

The Railway really doesn't need trees growing up through the bridge, so we chopped this little one away, after all, we all know about Leaves on the line...
Our Vice chairman looking for his Wallet.

There is a hole on Chain Bridge, if we look down, what will we find?

Scary thought! It's our Chairman!

Removing dead wood from old trees long cut away but wedged in the boards and tested how strong the walk way boards are.

Now to show you the difference, the first photo below was taken on Friday, September 4th 2009 and the Second taken after clearing on Sunday, September 13th. This has been achieved in two Sundays, spending roughly 4 hours a day. Its with Credit to the team, and we will be keeping it from here on in, looking like the second photo.

Meanwhile, if you would like to get involved, all the details are shown on our new website at http://www.bramleyline.org.uk/ We hope to see you soon.

Work in action

Following on from Friday, the group where out clearing the vegetation north of Elm Road Crossing on Sunday. A great deal of trees and bushes were cut away between Elm Road Crossing and the Farmers Private User crossing between Elm Road and Chain Bridge.

As can be seen above, a number of weeds and trees are getting in the way. This is by far the best bit of track, and we are now aiming to keep it this way!
Below shows the work in progress and cleared line looking back towards Elm Road

Now all it needs is a train!. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us.
office@bramleyline.org.uk

Sunday, September 13th, we will be working between the Farm Crossing and Chain Bridge. Meet at Elm Road Level Crossing from 10am onwards if you can make it.

Some jobs for during the week

Following the resurfacing of the road between Coldham and Waldersea, a lot of the equipment being used was stored on the Railway crossing. This led to the old tarmac coming up, and a test of the gate was done, and found that the crossing gates would not close over the road.

Some work later, we got rid of the tarmac coming up and a test of the gate was done, some photos shown below.

Seeing the crossing over the road now, all we would like to see is a nice Green DMU or Steam Loco and some coaches going over, but lets not get carried away to soon! Having returned and locked up the crossing, we tided the area up at the side of the road and then moved on to the Bridge a Waldersea. We cut back a lot of the brambles preventing the gate from closing, and went to work on a Tree which was obscuring the bridge.

From there a walk of the line was done between Whitemoor Yard and Chain Bridge Level Crossing. A Survey of work needing done in this area was undertaken, and counted 6 sleepers which needed replaced, some vegetation which needs cut back towards Chain Bridge.

Sunday we will be working on the section between Elm Road Crossing and Chain Bridge. If you wish to get involved please come along. We start at 9.30am.