|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Past Progress |
|
|
The TWI Railway Story :
The Welding Institute Railway Story is now told! See
How MWBRS Recovered a Railway.
More Rails are now "in-place" but need the ministrations of a
jim-crow - if you do not know what that is, do contact us.
|
Ransome & Rapier Revived:
|
Work
is progressing well on the Ransom & Rapier 6 ton Crane
(left)
which moved
under its own power last Sunday 11th September.
She is
one of very few of this type still in working order and
she will soon be 'working' for the Hampton to Kempton
Waterworks Railway:
The Crane renovation team
(Dave, Andy, Tom & Paul) are to be congratulated on a job
well done, and we hope it will prove a
useful asset to
the project.
October 2011
|
|
Help from Kempton Great Engines
Trust :
Our Friends in the
Kempton Great Engines repairing the
most
useful
power-saw which we use 'cutting'
jobs which can be
man-handled
into the KGE Hall.
------------------------------------>>
|
 |
|
Hanworth Loop :
The letters on the pictures below refer to approximate locations on the
Paddock/Hanwoth Loop Plan half way down this page (the track plan is only indicative)
|
September 2011
Spacer Plates Installed (N)
We are now busy
installing spacer to make sure that the gauge
remains 'just-so', here is John installing the
latest batch made by
the Sunday' working team,
which he heads-up.
|
King Point Modification
(NW):
The King Point which was lifted from The Welding
Institute,
Cambridge, who, we believe, acquired
from the National Coal
Board, has always been
rather troublesome. This was not
appreciated until several items of rolling stock
de-railed falling
between the rails; with great
care it was however useable.
Accurate measurements (not easy at a
'turnout') showed that the
rails, particularly
on the curved branch were somewhat
wide-to-
gauge. The picture shows the first
stage in correcting this by
cutting the tie-bars
so they can be re-welded slightly shorter to
correct the gauge.
|
|
August 2011 (NE)
The
track has now been laid round the N.E. corner..........
|
.......and
has been levered into place on the Station straight:
 |
|
The Main Loop Line advances round the N.E corner
--->>
.
This picture was taken on the morning of Tuesday 12th
July - but it is already out-of-date as another pair
of rails (30ft) have since been laid, and the head-of-steel is
now past the end of the footpath down to the track from the
access road.
But of course with more help (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or
Sundays) we could advance even faster!
For the latest progress on the
'head-of-steel' see the diagram lower down this
page: the track now extends well round the N.E. corner.
|
 |
|
Inspection
visit by John Poyntz :
John Poyntz, retired Major and
Railway Inspector, paid us
another visit to see our
progress on 23rd August. He seemed
very pleased with both the quantity and quality of the
track progress we had made in the Hanworth Loop
since his last visit in October last year.
Most of his visit was in the pouring
rain, but the picture shows a drier interlude as he
inspected our concrete sleeper production (under the
A316), with which he was also very impressed
.
|
 |
|
July 2011
We now have a ballast
delivery system in working order using the Loading Siding
and the End Tipper, featured last month.
|
But the means of propulsion have not yet changed - a
wagon of ballast on its way to the 'Head-of-Steel'
in the North East corner
of the Hanworth Loop.
 |
|
May 2011
The low retaining walls being built up with
old curb-stones for the re-profiled
Loading Dock Siding. ------->>
|
 |
|
March 2011
NW: The first
point lever is now installed on the point to the
Hanworth Running Shed.
|
NW: The siding now
trimmed and ballasted to "main-line" standards
- note also, in the fore-ground left, the "weighted"
point lever
for the head-shunt to protect the
main-line - more of this soon. |
|
February 2011 
|
Above: NW: New Member, Tony Clark, with his
Home-Modified
digger/Dumper clears the area north of the Loading
Dock
Siding to allow it
be slewed to allow improved access.
Left: NW: The Main Line of the Hanworth Loop has started to move
East along the North side parallel to the entrance road - once
the rail panel
is completed, the near end will be crow-barred to the left to
follow the curve of the formation. |
|
January 2011
NW: The end of the Loading Area Siding,
looks ready to
receive, in the Winter Sunshine
|
December 2010
.
NW: The jimcrow borrowed from the Bredgar & Wormshill
Light
Railway is put to first use at the start of the Loading
Dock Siding
|
|
November 2010
First we had to broaden
the formation, with extra Terram and
ballast":
NW: Then we laid the first 40ft of
track, 23rd November 2010.
It's not yet fully bolted down
or fish-plated but it is in place! |
NW: As you can see we are now making 'visible'
progress!!
|
|
October 2010
NW: The Hanworth Running Shed is lowered into
place - note the
small pile of concrete sleepers on the
left, ready to start track-laying. |
September 2010
NW: The first set of points is lowered on
to the Hanworth Loop.
|
|
August 2010
SE: Peter, Brian and Keith unload
the ballast
from Bernard's trailer......
|
.
S: ..........and the job
is done - the Terram is covered and
the base layer of
ballast is ready for track-laying |
|
The first concrete sleepers have been made
in the
production line at Kempton and the picture shows
the first
shovel full of concrete going into the mould--->>
Concrete Sleeper production is an on-going
activity and
at Mid-March 2011 well over 100 sleepers
have been
made - we need ca. 500 to complete the Hanworth
Loop
|
 |
|
June 2010
The good news is that Planning Permission has been
granted for the construction of the Hanworth Loop (shown above). While we have been waiting for planning permission we have not
been idle and have removed the turf, laid "Terram" (a special geo-textile) and
laid ballast on top - there is still more ballast waiting to be applied |
|
W. John Morsen and Robert Leadbetter talking to
the
‘locals’ as they erect the electric fence. |
W :
The
‘Team’ installing the security box for the
battery to power
the electric fence. |
|
The electric fence in place and
functioning for several weeks and we started work on ‘digging’ the Hanworth
loop, on 26th April 2010, clearing the turf and topsoil.
NE : Mich Hughes digs around the N.East
curve.
|
In three days the circuit was dug, the Terram laid and
sufficient ballast laid on top to keep the Geotextile
in
place
and (in places) enough to keep it from de-grading
in
the sun.
SE : Douglas at the South
end of the Station Site.
May 2010
|
July 2010
New Storage Container
:
It may not look much but under the A316,
in the first 'closed' bay, is a 40ft storage container which we have
purchased to organise the materials which we shall need to build a
railway, and a workshop for woodwork and the production of concrete
sleepers. The mechanical workshop will remain in the present green
container, where "Hounslow" is stored; this will be purged of items
not in that 'mechanical' genre to make working in there easier. All
this clearance has meant that the new "Crew Room" behind the Office
is now progressing fast."
|
 |
 |
The inside of the container
is now fitted out with storage racks and a
wood-working station.
Facilities for
track-work items and concrete sleeper production are
progressing
15th
July 2010
|
|
|
May 2010: |
|
Estate:
An Office which has
been established in the engine shed at the end of the original standard gauge
siding is now decorated by a Website address sign
on the N.W. gable end and
another sign on the N.E. Wall to firmly identify our location form the A316
elevated road.
New Crew Room Signage ---->>>
The new path to the N.W end, which is being converted into a
Crew
Room is also new.
|
<<< -----------The new Crew
Room, where the old
workshop used to be has been opened
for use (Sept 2010)
|
|
The whole
of the old trackbed is owned by Thames Water, the successors of the
Metropolitan Water Board, so there is at least a chance of simplifying the
process of obtaining permission to re-create a railway, as opposed to the
problem with multiple owners.
However parts of the original trackbed
passes through Thames Water operating areas and we are
unlikely ever to be allowed
to run through these operating areas, i.e. south of the
Upper Sunbury Road and west of the point where
the old line enters the present operating area of the Kempton Park Pumping
Station. Negotiations on the use of the
original trackbed and suitable ‘deviations’ are still on-going.
|
|
|
KGET Paddock :
We have
obtained agreement, in principle, from Thames Water, to create
a loop in the Paddock, i.e. just north-west of the A316
(overhead) and just south of the entrance road.
This land is leased to Kempton Park Great Engines
Trust with over 80 years remaining on the lease. This line will probably be called the “Hanworth
Loop” after the part of Hounslow Borough in which it is
located.
Below is the plan of the Hanworth Loop as shown
for Planning Application; this planning application has been
granted!
For further news of the
development of the Hanworth Loop see the <News> section
|
| |
A
stock-pile of a variety of items salvaged from the Carillion and a 20ft Sea
Container have been established in the field south of the Kempton Great Engines,
just north of the L.S.W.R. line to Shepperton; this is adjacent to path of one
of the probable deviations around the T.W. operating areas.
A ”museum”
and demonstration area have been established just to the south of the entrance
road, adjacent to the Kempton Great Engine House, see ‘Track’ below.
Storage
for various items has been established in the gauge house, which is adjacent to
the Staines Aqueduct and the bridge over the aqueduct (ex. Standard gauge line)
to the South Field.
|
Unloading
salvaged Roofing material in the South Field |
| |
 |
<<-------------The
Gauge House looking South - looks just
like a "Railway"
building should!
| |
|
|
|
| |
Track:
Lengths
of track (including some original from the
Hampton to Kempton narrow gauge line)
have been established on the museum site.
This includes a sea container established as an engine shed, for
“Hounslow” and as a workshop.
The
remnants of one of the original type of the Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway
wagon turntables has been carefully restored by Dick Scholefield: The original
frame has been repaired and a new ‘table’ created:
|
The
remnants of one of the original type of the Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway
wagon turntables has been carefully restored
by Dick Scholefield:
The original frame has been repaired and a
new ‘table’
created:
|
Here, the rebuilt
turntable is manoeuvred into place………
and given its
first test. |
The Turntable is
now installed and operational in the “Museum” Area adjacent to the Engine
House of the Kempton Great Engines.
|
|
|
The track
includes a 15ft length of 50lb/yd rail (see below)
using the new concrete
sleepers.
150 15ft lengths of 50lb/yd rail
ex. Lynton & Barnstable
have been purchased and stored under the
A316.
4 points (ex. Channel Tunnel) have
been purchased; one is
in place in the Museum/demonstration area
(see above) and
3 stored in the South Field Area.
|
|
|
Locomotive:
A
small petrol-engined/hydrostatic-drive 4-wheel
locomotive “Hounslow”, created and donated by Science Projects is currently stored
in the container/engine shed/workshop on the museum/demonstration site, where
the loco presently runs.
|
Hounslow”
before she was named. |
Rolling
Stock:
|
| |
|
Two
tipper trucks similar to the type used on the ‘old’ railway
are displayed
in the museum area with an ex. military ‘warflat’
|
|
Ex military “warflat” with a load of new
concrete sleepers.
|
|
Two 20ft Hudson bogie wagon have been bought, also from the Lynton &
Barnstable and are awaiting much needed repair.
No 292 is pictures here with bogie
removed for attention.
--->>
See
also Working Parties (& Work Schedule) |
|
|
| |
November 2009:
There is still no indication from Thames Water that they will
allow the line to be built, but they have said that the only route
they
would even consider is the one that follows close by the Shepperton branch (route 3 on the “Three
Alternative
Routes”)
|
In recent months we have
acquired two bogie wagons and a
quantity of rail. both from
North Devon. Work has started on one of the wagons (number
292) to get it into useable condition and it is pictured below
with one bogie removed for refurbishment
|
The first batch of concrete sleepers
The rail needs sleepers and after a visit to the Hayling
Seaside Railway earlier this year we decided to do as they do
and make our own concrete sleepers. To prepare for this we
made about
50 moulds for casting the sleepers and have already
made a trial batch and laid a short length of demonstration
track.
|
December 2008:
We have recently had our loco named by the Mayor of
Hounslow, acquired another piece of rolling stock and had more talks
with Thames Water.
Undoubtedly the most significant event is that Thames Water now want
to see the railway running as it will improve its public image.
That does not mean they will allow it to be rebuilt
but it probably will be if it doesn't interfere too
much with the water supply business.
There are many problems to be
solved but they are now talking to us. The
Kempton end of the original route will not be open to us
to use and
it seems that parts of our earlier proposals for a new route will
also be unacceptable.
However, we have suggested another
route which
largely parallels the Shepperton branch railway line and keeps us
well away from operational areas and hope this will be
acceptable. Its advantages to us are that it avoids a very tight
curve at one point and may allow us to use an existing bridge over
the
Staines aqueduct. Thames Water are considering all our proposals as
to a route
|
On Saturday 18th October
the Mayor f Hounslow, Genevieve
Hibbs, named
a new petrol-hydrostatic loco for the
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway
project.
The name, Hounslow, follows the
tradition established by
the Metropolitan Water Board
of naming locos after local places.
We picked a day when the Kempton
Great Engines were in
steam which assured us a good
crowd. A lot of interest was
shown and we gained some new
members.
|
The Mayor names the loco.
(Photo: Jim Hewitt) |
|
The newly
acquired “Warflat” wagon
(Photo: Jim Hewitt)
|
We
have recently acquired a new piece of rolling stock, a 4-wheeled
"Warflat" wagon from the Army base at Bicester. This will be useful
for carrying rails although we could really do with another two. The
Society did not feel it was ready make such a purchase so it is
actually owned by two of our members |
| August 2008 : |
|
The last couple of months have been quite eventful
The container is lowered into place on 10th June 2008
(Photo: Robert Leadbetter) |
|
Following the route survey in April we gained access to all the old trackbed although we are still not able to start any work.
Since then we have acquired a shipping container to act as a secure engine shed for our loco. An appeal to members raised most of the cost of buying and fitting out the container. |
| Once that was in place we took delivery of
the new loco (to be named Hounslow) and that has been run on our
demonstration line near the Great Engine House and can usually be
seen running on their steaming days. We are greatly indebted to
Science Projects for the loan of this locomotive.
In
addition to this we have been moving into store machine tools and
materials which have been donated to us. Once they is set up we will
be in a good position to undertake most jobs necessary to maintain a
railway. |
|
Unloading the loco on 24th June 2008.
(Photo: Jim Hewitt) |
|
'Hounslow' makes its first run from the container.
(Photo:
Jim Hewitt) |
|
In parallel with this there have been meetings with Thames Water (the land owners) who now seem much more co-operative. There are still many problems to be sorted out before any track laying can start and even if we were given permission immediately it is uncertain which end of the line we would start and which variation of route would be used.
During August we expect a visit from Major Poyntz (a retired HMRI inspector) who will advise us on what we need to do next.
|
|
|
| |
| |
