Part of the SRPS's Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway
It was the SRPS Steam Gala weekend, so no work was done on the North East Embankment due to the traffic. So the focus of the day was leaf clearing and a little weeding, but at least the weather stayed good for the majority of the time providing great photo opportunities for the many visitors to the station during the Gala.
68007 pulling the 08:37 freight train into Birkhill on Saturday 21st October Steam Gala (day 2).
The wagons where re-marshalled, before heading back to Bo’ness
The next phase of the construction of the 2nd platform at Birkhill has taken a significant step forward this week thanks to several of the ‘olde’ Monday Squad members fitting the first of the shutters for the construction of the retaining wall. As mentioned on the previous post the shutters where fabricated down in Bo’ness and brought up to Birkhill on the works train.
Final cutting back on both East & West side Embankments completed some raking up to do but should be good for the up and coming Steam Gala 20th to 22nd October. Next task is to commence bulb planting on the East side
Progress on the 2nd platform has been moved to Bo’ness where the Platform Wall Shuttering / Formwork build is being undertaken in readiness for the next concrete pour hopefully later in October.
The first frosts in Autumn transforms the country side with all sorts of reds, browns and golds, lovely if out for a walk but the unfortunate consequence of the first frost creates the unwanted fall of the leaves…but to help out at Birkhill we are lucky enough to introduce our new recruit who has joined the workforce just in time to make light work of the platform leaf clearance
New Recruit taking well earned rest.
Meanwhile work continued clearing the North Embankment which is almost completed and will then be made ready to plant bulbs for spring 2018 below is a view from the station looking north towards Boness
Over the last couple of weekends work has focused on clearing the overgrowth on the embankment just north of the Birkhill Station Bridge. The intent is to clear as far north as the speed signs of the main growth before working from the bridge in digging out the bramble roots to allow spring flowering bulbs to be planted. The work should be almost complete in time for the Steam Gala on 21st & 22nd October.
The complete length of the 2nd platform has now been dug out and the concrete for the retaining wall foundation poured. Additional drainage has been added also. The next step is to make up the shutters for the wall pouring exercise these are to be done down in Bo’ness and brought to Birkhill on the works train.
Work commenced on the clearing of the east embankment immediately north of the bridge in preparation for bulb planting. During spring last year, blue bells tried to get through so hopefully the deep cut back will promote growth and hopefully spread to other areas of the embankment.
The ‘Bramblers’ aka Birkhill Group where pleasantly surprised to Saturday’s first two Bo’ness to Manuel trains being hauled by class 37 37703.
Picture below is 37703 waiting to set off with the 11.32 Birkhill to Boness service.
This weekend was spent preparing for the final ‘Thomas’ weekend of the year on 9th & 10th September. Bunting hanging and grass cutting was the order of the day!
