Permanent Way
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The Permanent Way team generally meet on Saturdays. The photo shows a typical day out on the line with the engineering train. A trip in the brake van, with its coal stove, and friendly banter, is an experience not to be missed, but which money cannot buy... all you have to do is volunteer! No formal skills are required. Experience the railway from "the other side" - the platelayer's view - authentic railway charm, but with modern safety standards.
The simple combination of wooden sleeper, stone, and steel, has not changed for almost two hundred years. Its maintenance is not only a physical challenge, but also a mental challenge, as it has intricacies to confound the best of us. Whatever your physical build, or walk of life, you are sure to enjoy working within our team.
If you volunteer then you are helping to maintain surely the most scenic line in Scotland, if not Britain. Come and help us realise the potential of this fantastic line.
The schedule for the coming weeks is:
23/08/08 Line walking Auchindachy Isla Bridge UB200 to Douglasbrae.
30/08/08 Line walking - Douglasbrae to Corsairtly Farm
06/09/08 Trackworks at Keith Town Bridge UB188 (last bridge towards the Junction).
13/09/08 Trackworks at Keith Town Bridge UB188
Bulletins
Summer 2008
We are currently out-and-about walking the line, and preparing for the end of the running season. During the summer period it is difficult to carry out major works.
May 2008
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In May we did various jobs including tree trimming, fencing, maintenance of equipment used over the winter, and painting. The picture shows the opened-up view from the A96 at Keith Town, now that the signal post has been painted, and trees have been cleared. The new Isla Way information board on the right, features the railway prominently.
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April 2008.
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April saw the end of the long job at Keith Town. The photos show "before" and "after" views.
March 2008.
March saw good progress at Keith Town station. This is more than a sprinkling of ballast - drainage of various types has been installed, and the sleepers sit on new ballast. We will soon be in a position to move on to other sites, and we do not expect to revisit this site for many years to come.
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February 2008.
More progress with the trackbed at Keith Town Station. The sleepers have been completely renewed. Now the problematic clay in the ballast is being dealt with. Spoil is removed by digger and a clay-proof membrane is installed under the track. The Dogfish wagon has ferried back and forth delivering new ballast to the site.
January 2008.
Volunteers installed new fencing along Towiemore Straight.
© 2007, the Keith & Dufftown Railway Association
