Works Location:- Bournemouth Central Platform 1
On October 6th work started for four weeks on track relaying projects in and around the area of Bournemouth Station. This page shows the work that was done on the first weekend.
66192 brings in the Single line Spoil handling train to Poole for run round as part of a possession at Bournemouth Central Station on October 6th 2007, the works replaced the up mainline through platform 1 and this train was used to take the spoil away.This was the first time this train had been used down here. I am also at one point talking on the phone to my mate as well, so thats where all the yeah's are coming from.
Video by 15mph Productions.
We move forward around some nine hours now and I am on the station approach road at Bournemouth. Here 66061 is sat at the North end of platform 2 on its engineering train whilst the Single Line Spoil Handling train sits fouling The north end of Platform one and the bay platform.
Taken from the passenger footbridge with in the station 66061 is seen in the background as the excavators are busy still removing spoil from the track bed on the up line.
Again taken from the footbridge but looking South Balfour Beatty's 100 ton KIROW crane prepares to lower a 60 foot track panel into place on the un-ballasted track bed. Note the new style insulation pots on the platform edge waiting to be installed on to the sleepers.
A zoomed in shot of one of the Excavators at work. These worked in three, the first two would each carry a pile of spoil behind them where the third one one lift the spoil into the single line spoil handling train and JNA wagons. The old track panels are seen on the right (at track level) and the far right on the wagons.
The Kirow Crane brings in another 60 foot track panel and prepares to lay it down on the un-ballasted track bed. Two things were strange about this piece of work. The track bed was lowered on the entrance to and through Platform one mainly due to the ride height of the Class 444 & 450 Desiro's steps being too high above the platforms as people have been injuring themselves as they get on or off the Desiro's. Also the track was laid in 60 foot track panels (around 800 foot all told). Second hand rail was used and wooden sleepers not concrete ones. Why I have yet to find out but its strange as when they relaid the down they used Continuous welded rail on concrete sleepers.
A road rail excavator sits in number one siding as 66057 sits with its train of track panels in siding number 2.
The first of 2 kops of 66's for me today 66057.
DRK81602 lifts up another 2 track panels ready for installation.
The crane was lifting two panels at a time before it had to go and get some more.
Seen across the KWA well wagon a Balfour Beatty workman is seen using a machine laughingly called a "Thracker". These machines are used in threes and are remote controlled and basicly go round leveling the track bed. The noise generated under the station roof by this machine was deafening. Really surprised some of the glass panels were not shaken loose because of the noise.
Old track panels.
Old Insulation pots on a pallet waiting for lifting away and dumping. Haven't seen any on E-bay yet!!
66006 had just finished reversing into the bay platform with 5 empty JNA wagons to be loaded with more spoil.
The JNA's getting loaded with spoil. It was hard trying to get the shot right as he was loading it. So I did about 9 or 10 in a burst mode and took one of the best ones.
Another shot of 66061.
Another shot of the loading of spoil into the JNA wagons.
Two shots of 66115 under neath Cleveland Road bridge. Waiting to bring its train of Auto ballasters onto the newly laid track.
Into the mid afternoon now and just a few more track panels are required to complete the job. Here the Kirow crane lowers another 60 foot track panel into place.
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