Trackside Clearance (1)

We have included trackside clearance as a special project for 2008 as this year proper work gangs are being/have been established to clear the Cess (the footways either side of the track) right back to a 10 feet clearance or back to the embankments ,whichever is achievable. This involves removing many trees which have self seeded and a mass of brambles and vine whilst still maintaining a protective screen of trees between the railway and it's neighbouring properties. This is essential work for many reasons, the first and foremost being for health and safety allowing clear visibility for the drivers and guards and a clear unobstructed walkway for volunteers undertaking track maintenance. It also will help to prevent dampness building up and eroding the wooden sleepers especially on either side of Golgotha Tunnel as well as enhancing the views for passengers. This will be most evident on the Northern side of the tunnel leading up to Eythorne Station where fine views of the kentish countryside are already afforded and will only improve once work reaches that section. Also now that many of the engines and carriages have been repainted it would be despairing to have scratch marks ruining many hours of painstaking work.

The project is dividing the work needed into sections, the first being form Shepherdswell Station up to the North Bank Crossing which is the priority as all shunting work is undertaken here and clear visiblity is essential, the second will be from the North Bank Crossing up to the Southern portal of Golgotha Tunnel which will be extremelly tricky as the line runs through a deep chalk cutting and much vegetation has grown out of the banks from ground level to the top, out of the reach of cutting from the brake van. The brake van is being used to gain extra height now that Tony Larkins has successfully got Snowdown up and running to pull it. Most of the work however is being done from the ground with loppers,shears and the occasional brushcutter and chainsaw. Very labour intensive work but without the luxury of being able to afford to hire in a flail we are faced with little other option. We will regularly update this project to show the progress being made.

July 5th 2008

Shepherdswell station - North Bank Crossing

Below left shows the DMU approaching Shepherdswell Station in early Summer 2007 . It can clearly be seen the undergrowth was virtually up to the track with overhanging branches almost touching the train

What a difference a day's hard work makes by 6 intrepid volunteers, the cess has been cleared for a distance of about 200 feet, removing several trees, a mass of brambles entwined with vine and possibly the finest collection of nettles in the land !! Compare the picture on the left to the one on the right and you will see the scale of work achieved that day using several pairs of loppers,shears,1 brushcutter and 1 chainsaw. The bottom picture is taken from around the first curve looking back towards the station.

Registered Charity No. 1095790

Station Road, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent, CT15 7PD