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Thursday, December 30, 2021

Doing the laundry!

Well it feels like he laundry! Another day at the Rocks by Rail Museum with a barmy 14 degrees Celsius at the end of December! First we dig the ballast out, then we wash it and then we put it back just like you put the laundry away after washing!  Each stage involves shoveling and that is where my shovel skills appear to come in handy. Its back breaking work but with a great crew, some interesting chat and a few jokes it soon gets done.

The ballast is transported after washing in the Trout ballast wagon. This has discharge chutes either side and in the middle. The three white wheels on the end of the wagon each control one of the chutes although on this wagon the middle one doesn't work which is a pity as that is where the ballast is needed! However some muscle power sees the piles either side of the track spread in the middle to give a nice even spread of ballast.  

Ballast arrives....

Rocks by Rail Museum

Discharge chute on the wagon is opened with the control wheel..

Rocks by Rail Museum

Ballast is discharged....

Rocks by Rail Museum

Eager crew wait to spread the ballast....

Rocks by Rail Museum

Several hours of shoveling and several tons of ballast later we have some neat looking track!

Rocks by Rail Museum

Only another mile or so to go! That should make 2022 interesting!

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