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Friday, November 29, 2024

Rocks by rail - living up to its name and 'Trust me, I am a mechanic"!

Rocks By Rail is a museum recording the history of ironstone quarrying. What it has not done for years is actually transport any rocks by rail! However that changed on my last visit and this is the reason - a platelayers trolley.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Taking a step back, the source of the rocks for filling the gabion baskets/cages that I posted about last week, at the moment is old cement bags that have set. These are on top of the loading dock and require breaking up into rocks. Half an hour saw me turn this pile into ..... 

Rocks by Rail Museum

this.....
Rocks by Rail Museum

Then they were wheel barrowed over to the edge of the loading dock and dropped over the side before being put onto the platelayers trolley. There are ten wheelbarrow loads on the trolley which despite John and David indicating that it was hard work to push was actually a lot easier then wheeling ten barrow loads up and down to the site.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Once pushed up to the quarry the trolley was unloaded into the gabion baskets/cages.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Three trolley loads saw one and a bit gabions filled.

Rocks by Rail Museum

Alex and David looked very happy with the days work. Just the last one to fill and then two more go on top which will need more rocks by rail!

Rocks by Rail Museum

Meanwhile, this years prize for innovation goes to Andy who needs to lessen the angle of the ridges to go on the plant shed roof. Rather than struggle with bending bars and hammers he just uses a gas bottle to roll over the ridge slightly flattening it!

Rocks by Rail Museum

Meanwhile, all was quite in the restoration shed where the re-tubing work has temporarily stopped.

Rocks by Rail Museum

However it did give me a chance to take a close up look at the existing tubes, all of which you should see daylight through! I can see why they need replacing!

Rocks by Rail Museum

As I left I noted this hanging up on one of the tool racks. A mechanics stethoscope! Brings a whole new meaning to, 'Trust me, I am a mechanic!'.

Rocks by Rail Museum






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