Work in Progress - Thursday 4th June

posted by Martyn de Young on Fri, 05/06/2009 - 16:19

The Thursday gang today finally finished the programme of fishplate oiling along the line into Killington Lane Station, completing the work started at Easter.

The fishplate oiling involves undoing the bolts at each joint just enough to squirt the rail grease in between the fishplate and rails. During the hot weather such as that we have experienced recently, the rails heat up and expand closing up the measured gaps at each rail joint. Regreasing of the fishplates each year is necessary in order for the rails to 'slide' within the fishplate. Left untreated the rails could distort at the joints in hot weather causing a kink which would result in a track defect and a possible suspension of train services.

Four of the gang worked steadily along the final part of the line into Killington Lane Station.

Photos: Nigel Thompson