CRMR History

Recent Developments
(September 2002)

As noted previously, the track bed for phase 1 of the project (comprising some 500 feet of running track and associated sidings) has been excavated. This has entailed digging by hand a trench 150mm deep and 600mm wide (up to 1200mm in places), setting of concrete edging stones or limestone retaining walls, laying in of landscape fabric and back-filling with 6mm limestone chippings.

Only a limited amount of track has been laid, starting from the workshops / engine shed. The diamond crossing on a curve was a pig!

Enjoy some photographs at last.

	Track bed preparation is well advanced on this western section looking towards the 'triangle'. In the back ground is the purpose built workshops, engine shed and carriage storage area.
	Shame about that lovely lawn. Actually it's mostly moss and weeds and by the end of August is distinctly brown in colour - parched by five weeks of sun and no rain.
	The children's swing currently occupies the middle of the triangle, a useful feature for turning engines without a turntable. The swing will make way for a signalbox in due course.
	The fir trees to the left of this picture need regular trimming but the railway is already blending in nicely with its surroundings. Just need to get that track straightened up!
	A view from the back of the Shed. The curved piece of track is a bridge section which fits across a pathway to the right and connects the steaming bays to the railway proper. The messy bit will form the station area with platform to the right.
	The view looking the other way, just coming over the level crossing at the station throat. That diamond crossing on a curve took ages to construct.
	Another view of a distant trackbed section, ready for levelling, track laying and top ballasting.

If you have any comments, suggestions or enquiries, email comptonridge.rly@virgin.net