| On this day a volunteer team led by Brian Rowe (Cambrian Railways Trust Vice Chairman & Volunteer Liason Officer) began clearing the railway from Gwern y Brenin overbridge 54 further towards Oswestry. Here pictures include the head of clearance at the beginning of the day and the head of clearance by the end of the day. I firstly did a Track Inspection walk of the line all the way to the A483 Level Crossing and found the railway virtually clear of undergrowth except two to three places where it's beginning to be unwalkable. I find it's very weird on a lot of disused lines where in places the track is heavily overgrown and others it looks as though a train only ran on it yesterday. From the head of clearance by the day's end, there's a long straight section of track all the way through to the A483 and a lot of this has concrete sleepers which means good news for the railway. The rest is wooden sleepers right through to the A483 level crossing itself. Most of the wooden sleepers look in very good condition. However, some will need replacing. Apolagies for the lack of updates on the Cambrian front recently. This doesn't mean no work has taken place. If anyone wants to know the work done before this update then please email me alun.evans7802@tiscali.co.uk and I'll add you to the unofficial online newsletter. |
A view of the Gwern y Brenin overbridge 54 looking towards the A483 Level Crossing and Oswestry. It's further on where clearance has begun. Our main focus of attention recently has been to clear the line behind this view towards Llynclys. However today we began to clear the line in the other direction towards the A483 Level Crossing and Oswestry. 2592x1944 |
We're now walking to the head of clearance at the beginning of the day. 2592x1944 |
We're now approaching the head of clearance at the beginning of the day. 2592x1944 |
A view of the head of clearance at the beginning of the day. Picture 1. Look at Picture 2 to notice the difference after clearance. 2592x1944 |
Picture 2. A view of the cleared railway. Look at Picture 2 to notice the difference before clearance. 2592x1944 |
We now see further views of cleared line. Most of the stuff cleared here was a mixture of self setting twigs (small trees), nettles and brambles. 2592x1944 |
Although much of the line beyond here has been cleared in the next few yards, more work will be needed here soon. Look beyond and you'll notice that the line itself has a clear patch before another section of overgrown railway. 2592x1944 |
A view looking back towards Gwern y Brenin overbridge 54 & Llynclys along the cleared railway. 2592x1944 |
We've now walked a few more feet towards the A483 Level Crossing & Oswestry and can see that brambles and other self setting twigs (small trees) have been removed from the railway. From here onwards for quite a distance the track is concrete sleepers. The end of the day's head of clearance can be seen in the distance. 2592x1944 |
A view of the transition from wooden to concrete sleepers. To the left is to Llynclys whilst to the right is to the A483 Level Crossing and Oswestry. 2592x1944 |
A view showing the head of clearance by the end of the day. This view is looking towards the A483 Level Crossing and Oswestry. 2592x1944 |
A view from the end of the day's head of clearance looking towards the Gwern y Brenin overbridge 54 and Llynclys. 2592x1944 |
