Category: Station News

As last week’s  post, during the Santa specials season, maintenance tasks have to fit around the arrivals and departures of the Specials, but by getting to the station early we at least get the opportunity to see the Railtour stock of carriages returning from its final run of the year being pulled by Class37 37703.  Last winter we left it a little later to clear the embankment and had to tread very carefully to prevent damaged to the spring bulbs, so this winter we decided it would be a good exercise to do in-between the Santa Specials. Hopefully the spring flowers will look even better in 2018!

 

 

Four more sections of the platform foundation wall were poured this week, which leaves 4 more pours to complete plus the two ramps at either end.  Work has progressed well and all the guys involved deserve a huge pat on the back for what has been achieved to date.

 

While the Santa specials are running work along the platform other than preparing for the first train of the day is limited, so we performed a trail vegetation clearance along the meadow walk, as suspected it is mainly brambles and overgrow bracken which will hold good for clearing the rest of the area during January & February 2018

 

With approximately 20 minutes to spare before the first Santa Special of the season arrived we finally got the last of the decorations up including the long awaited 240v festoon lights which replaced the LED festoon’s used last year which unfortunately where not bright enough. The LED lights  will be put to good use and fitted in the waiting room to add extra colour.

The Monday / Civils squad had also been at work on the 2nd platform preparing for the next concrete pour.  It is now taking shape very nicely a bit like the Queens Crossing filling the gaps between the piers!

  

 

 

The Monday / Civils squad where out in force again during the week, focus was on the next pour of 4 sections one of which was to join up the two at the proposed footbridge is to be installed. Once set it will allow the footbridge foundation work to start.

Also taking place is the replacement of worn out sleepers along the loop section. The sleepers, many came from Kincardine Power Station and Livingston back in the early 80’s have suffered by the soggy conditions over the past 20 plus years.

Ground preparation & Bulb planting continued to the North East embankment and work commenced on the west side clearing vegetation from the bridge down to the embankment.

Meanwhile during the week work continued on the 2nd Platform construction, the shutters removed from the first four sections and re installed ready for the next concrete pour week commencing 13th November.

This weekend was taken up with preparing the station ready for the Santa Specials (commencing on Saturday 25th November – for further details go to the main B&KR website). Along with the ongoing leaf sweeping by the Sunday Squad and seems to be never ending this year, we are hoping the Tinsel, Christmas Tree and festoon lights will  provide a nice backdrop as the train pulls into the station.

The next major milestone was reached today with the pour of concrete into the four Shutters installed last week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work continued on the North East Embankment this weekend, digging out the bramble and nettle roots, hard work to say the least, but hopefully worth it. As the roots came out the ground was dug over and backfilled with daffodil bulbs.

Meanwhile All four shutters are now in place for the first major concrete pour for the 2nd Platform retaining wall.

Work continued Monday on the installation of the Shutters for the wall foundations in readiness for the first concrete pour week commencing 30th October.