Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Increasing freight capacity is important in attracting freight distribution away from the roads and onto the railway, on which freight transportation produces 76% less carbon.

Dave Golding, Asset Director at GB Railfreight, said: “These new wagons are some of the best available in the UK right now and we're continually adding them to our services. They have allowed us to move an extra 1.2 million tonnes of aggregate every year. Combined, they will remove c.400,000 lorries movements from our roads a year, leading to a huge reduction in our carbon emissions and delivering significant road safety benefits.”

Mark Wyborn, Head of Freight at Porterbrook, said: “This project demonstrates our commitment to freight and positions us well for future growth in the sector. It is testament to the strength of our partnership with GB Railfreight and Greenbrier that we've worked together and agreed ways to mitigate significant challenges.”

John Brown, Head of Sales at Greenbrier said: “In November 2022 the first JNA box wagons arrived into the UK, on schedule, followed shortly after by the first 60ft Intermodal Twin wagons. Both orders were complete in 2023 with the last wagons having just arrived.

“The positive outcome of both projects is testimony of the close collaborative working relationship we had with Porterbrook and GBRf to manage the challenges we all faced caused by Covid and the situation between Russia and Ukraine. Transparency and early communication were key throughout both projects in order to succeed. We had the contracts in place and Greenbrier were and are committed to delivery on time, every time to our customers.”

10th August 2023

Siemens Mobility to supply three-car Mireo trains to Baden-Württemberg​

Siemens Mobility is to supply twenty-eight three-car electric Mireo regional trains for the Digital Node Stuttgart (DKS) pilot project of Digital Rail Germany (Digitale Schiene Deutschland, DSD).

The Mireo train is capable of operating on steep grades and has been approved for operation in Austria.

Siemens will deliver the trains between November 2025 and April 2026.

The new three-car regional trains will contain 218 fixed seats with free WiFi service and barrier-free access. They have a high level of energy efficiency and operating reliability.

Siemens and the State Institute for Rail Vehicles Baden-Württemberg (SFBW) have signed a framework agreement which includes a ten-year maintenance contract which can be extended by a further twenty years.

The order is worth around €300 million.

All twenty-eight trains will be fitted with complete DSD equipment, which will include which includes the latest automatic ETCS (European Train Control System) and Level 2 (GoA 2) Automatic Train Operation (ATO), according to TSI ZZS 2023 with system versions SV2.0 and until 2030 with SV3.0.

This is the first order from Siemens Mobility that requires the implementation of complete DSD train equipment.

ETCS aims to harmonise cross-border travel, to facilitate, safe rail transport in European and worldwide rail networks.

Siemens Mobility is fitting the new trains with a Train Integrity Monitoring System and the Future Railway Mobile Communication System for the first time in Germany.

This digital equipment enables tight scheduling and energy-saving operations through digitally predictive signalling and driving instructions.

Existing trains owned by the State Institute for Rail Vehicles Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt Schienenfahrzeuge Baden-Württemberg, SFBW) and leased to railway operating companies (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen, EVUs) have to be retrofitted with DSD train equipment.

During the retrofits, leased trains are not available for use, and SFBW aims to swap trains and provide replacements to the EVUs while their trains are retrofitted.

The Mireos can be used as a ‘redundancy fleet' if required.

The new trains will initially run in the Stuttgart metropolitan region as part of the DKS pilot project.

They will then be used throughout Baden-Württemberg and neighbouring states.

Siemens Mobility will provide digital services based on its Railigent X application suite, which includes industry-specific apps and data services.

This service provides information from the diagnostic and operating data of the trains, in order to maximise reliability and availability.

The head of the State Ministry of Transport, Berthold Friess, said: “Baden-Württemberg is continuing to be a trailblazer in the digitization of railways. Over the next ten years, the 28 ordered Mireo regional trains will primarily serve to keep passenger operations in the state as convenient and comfortable as possible while the existing fleet is being retrofitted with DSD technology. Siemens Mobility is now the second industrial partner for integrating complete DSD equipment in our trains. This will significantly accelerate the development of a fully digitized rail system in Germany.”

Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility, said “The Mireo will give the state of Baden-Württemberg a state-of-the-art train that provides impressive cost-effectiveness in operation and a high level of comfort and convenience for passengers. The long-term maintenance contract, which includes digital services based on Railigent X, also ensures reliable operation and high availability of the trains.”

Close-up showing the soldered fish plates.

I managed to get half of all the points done.

Then I managed to burn one of my fingers on the soldering iron's barrel!

So it was immediate first aid, under a running tap of cold water.

What a pillock!

Luckily, all seems fine so far.

11th August 2023

Alstom to supply train charging equipment for Irish Rail in Drogheda​

Alstom has won a contract to provide a charging facility for Irish Rail's first modern battery train fleet.

The new Battery Electric Multiple Unit (BEMU) trains will operate between Drogheda, Dublin City Centre and beyond.

Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on Ireland's east coast, lying 56 kilometres north of capital city Dublin.

Alstom will install the charging infrastructure on two platforms and one siding at Drogheda by the end of next year.

This will enable new battery-electric DART+ trains to enter service to and from Drogheda in 2025, before the planned electrification of the line, and to be recharged while they turn around at Drogheda.

The charging equipment includes a medium voltage connection to Ireland's electricity network operator (ESB) and a traction substation which converts electricity to the voltage suitable for charging the trains' on-board batteries, which will be done through an overhead rigid catenary system and pantographs.

The substation's energy storage element will enable integration with the ESB network and improve the availability of the charging system.

The substation will supply a controlled current to trains stabled on Drogheda station's platform.

The ten-year framework agreement signed by Alstom and Irish Rail provides for up to 750 new X'trapolis commuter rail cars for Ireland's DART network, with definite orders for 37 five-car X'trapolis trains including a support services contract for fifteen year.

Thirty-one of the trains that have been ordered are battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) and six are electric multiple units.

The new trains will provide more capacity and will also help with decarbonisation, to the benefit of the local community of Greater Dublin.

DART+ is a programme to double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area rail network, aiming to improve quality of life in Ireland's capital and the surrounding counties by making public transport easier and more sustainable.

It is funded by the National Transport Authority, through its National Development Plan.

Piers Wood, Managing Director of Alstom in Ireland, said, “Alstom is pleased to partner with Irish Rail in delivering the new state-of-the-art BEMU's charging facility. Projects such as this will deliver social and economic benefits to Irish Rail passengers and Alstom is proud to be playing a part in the first project of its kind in Ireland and the UK.

Jim Made, CEO of Irish Rail (IE), said, “This investment will allow us to accelerate the benefits of DART+ to customers on the Drogheda commuter route, with a brand-new fleet and extra capacity to be provided in just two years' time.”

12th August 2023

Cambrian Railway Partnership releases its first-ever bilingual Audio Guide​

The Partnership has worked with Window Seater to provide passengers with an audio guide which will connect them to the world outside the train window​

The Cambrian Railway Partnership has released its first-ever bilingual Audio Guide for the Cambrian line in a bid to connect passengers with the glorious view from the train window.

The Cambrian Line is renowned for its stunning scenery and now passengers can learn more about what they are seeing, with information about landmarks, geography, history and culture of the area they are moving through.

The Cambrian Railway Partnership has worked with Window Seater to create an Audio Guide which was funded via the Community Rail Development Fund, Transport for Wales Challenge Fund and the Cambrian Railway Partnership.

The guide provides customers with geo-located, localised, bilingual, audio stories to passengers as they relax and enjoy travel from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and along the coast to Pwllheli.

The innovative Window Seater app is free and allows rail passengers to build connections with the view and the communities they are moving through on their journey.

It is hoped that the app will encourage those travelling on the line to engage with the local areas, supporting both local social and economic growth whilst creating a shift to rail travel for leisure, which is much better for the environment.

Everyone can enjoy the stories on the app, whether travelling on the Cambrian line or whether enjoying a fascinating insight into its history from the comfort of their own home.

To download the Window Seater App, please click visit the App Store or Google Play.

Claire Williams, Cambrian Railway Partnership Development Officer, said:

“We hope passengers agree that the use of the guide will enhance their train journey in a fun and engaging way, making for a more satisfying and sentimental experience. The guide will be available to listen to in English and Welsh and aims to promote our region's culture and identity.”

Marcus Allender, Window Seater Business Development Director, said:

“The Window Seater guide harnesses the passion and knowledge of locals into an easy-to-use app, allowing Cambrian Line passengers to connect to the people who know the stories along the railways best – getting beneath the surface of the most famous sights and uncovering hidden gems of history, geography, culture and more.”

12th August 2023

Rhyl Miniature Railway’s September gala to see four locos in steam​

On Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September, Rhyl Miniature Railway in north Wales is holding a steam gala.

The event will mark the return to steam of its 4-4-2 steam locomotive ‘Billie', which last ran at Dreamland Miniature Railway in Margate in 1979.

As well as Billie, the Miniature Railway will have Joan, Michael and Railway Queen operating, making a total of four Barnes Atlantics in steam.

Six Barnes locos were built in the 1920s in Rhyl by Albert Barnes to the design of Henry Greenly.

Four of the locos stayed in Rhyl to run the railway, and replaced the two smaller Bassett-Lowke class 10 locos, which were sold.

Two of the Barnes were sold and one of the Bassett-Lowkes went with them to each railway.

Rhyl's miniature railway ran for many years as part of the larger funfair.

It kept three engines running and one being overhauled.

The funfair closed in 1968 after the local Council refused to grant it a long-term lease for the site.

The locos and stock were overhauled and sold.

The Railway opened again ten years later, and September's gala will be the first time since then that it will have four locomotives in steam.

When the funfair closed, Joan went to Manchester's Belle Vue Zoo, before returning to Rhyl in 1980 and to service in 1984. Joan hauled all the steam services from 1987 till 1997, when the loco had a new boiler fitted.

Joan went to Windmill Farm in Lancashire and was overhauled.

Joan returned to Rhyl when the railway reopened, with the big storm tank finished in time for the 1999 season.

In winter 2008-9, the boiler was removed and re-tubed, and the following winter Joan had her wheels retyred and new springs fitted.

Joan's ticket expired in 2019 and following an overhaul, the loco re-entered service in 2021.

Michael spent several years in storage before returning for the reopening of the Railway in 1978.

Michael remained at Rhyl until 1994, while also having spells at Dudley Zoo railway.

Between 1994 and 2007, Michael was on display at Pringle's woolen mill on Anglesey.

In 2008, Rhyl Miniature Railway began restoration work, in preparation for the Railway's centenary in 2011.

The chassis was stripped and rebuilt and the wheels retyred.

A new boiler was ordered and arrived on 11 September 2010, ready to be steamed for the first time on 16 December.

The work was finished and Michael returned to service at Easter 2011.

Ten years later, it was withdrawn from service, stripped and overhauled, returning to service this year.

Railway Queen

Railway Queen was originally named Michael and ran on a short-lived Woodland Park Miniature railway, beside the shore of the Isle of Grain in Kent.

It then moved to a line in a pub garden in Cheshire. In winter 1927/28, it was sold and moved to Manchester's Belle Vue Zoo, where it was renamed Railway Queen in honour of the Queen of the annual Railwayman's Carnivals.

While at Belle Vue, it was given an American profile with cow catcher, large front lamp and taller cab, with railway renamed the Santa Fa Railroad.

When the railway closed, the loco returned to Rhyl and ran for a few seasons, during some of which it was painted black.

In 1994, it went to Anglesey for display until it returned to Rhyl when the new station opened in 2007.

Rhyl Miniature Railway began restoring Railway Queen in 2011 we turned to Railway Queen, beginning with the tender.

A new boiler was ordered in 2013 and arrived in June 2017, and the loco returned to steam in December 2017, entering active service in 2018.

Last year, Railway Queen was sanded and repainted in BVR lined green.

Billie was built in 1922 and went to Dreamland Miniature Railway, where it ran until 1979 with a few modifications over the years to create a distinctive look.

The most significant features are the unique smoke deflectors very bright paintwork.

In 1980, Les Hughes (Chair of Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust) bought Dreamland Miniature Railway and moved it to Rhyl.

Billie was loaned to Dudley Zoo for 1982 and '83.

The boiler was re-tubed in 1986, and in 1993 it was sold again, this time to a collector in Kent.

In 2018, it was sold to Austin Moss, who ran the Windmill Farm railway and carried out work to return Billie to service.

Billie returned to Rhyl on 28 June 2022 and returned to steam this year.

Billie gained a new steam ticket from the inspector in May and then travelled its first ever lap around Rhyl under its own steam.

More work was done, and Billie started to run and haul coaches during July, with Les Hughes as the first passenger behind Billie since 1983 and the first passenger pulled at Rhyl.

Rhyl Miniature Railway also has several other locos, full details of which can be found on its website.

12th August 2023

Partnership announced to extend metro network at Fort Worth in Texas​

TEXRail train in Fort Worth

A partnership that will be responsible for expanding the transit system at Fort Worth in Texas and improving the area's public transport has been announced by the network's operator.

Trinity Metro, which provides public transport in Tarrant County, has selected a partnership between Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems as the final design consultant (FDC) for its $167 million TEXRAIL extension project.

That is a critical element of Trinity Metro's strategic plan for transportation in Fort Worth.

Trinity Metro at Fort Worth

The program includes a 2.1-mile commuter rail extension from the Fort Worth T&P Station to a new station to be built near Southside Station, and the design of the new station with a 100-space park-and-ride car park.

Construction is planned to begin in 2024. Southside is in the Fort Worth Medical District which has a total of 50,000 employees.

The Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems partnership has proven leadership and expertise in rail and transit station design, and both have worked for Trinity Metro on several projects over the years.

These include TranSystems work on the TEXRail Track and Stations project, and Huitt-Zollars work on the Mahaffey Maintenance Facility.

The team has previously worked together successfully on many projects, both in Fort Worth and throughout Texas.

As the operator of public transport in Tarrant County, Trinity Metro offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region on buses, TEXRail, ACCESS paratransit, ZIPZONEs, Fort Worth Bike Sharing, vanpools, and the 34-mile Trinity Railway Express (TRE), which is a commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

Trinity Metro is also sole owner and operator of the 27-mile TEXRail a commuter rail line between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's Terminal B.

Richard Andreski, Trinity Metro President and CEO, said “This commuter rail expansion represents a crucial milestone in the development of Fort Worth's transportation infrastructure.”

“By connecting riders to the Near Southside and Medical District, we are offering medical workers, patients and visitors an opportunity to ride the very popular and very successful TEXRAIL. The expanded rail service will provide a great commuting choice many people while also offering Near Southside residents a seamless connection to DFW Airport.”

David Campbell, Huitt-Zollars vice president, said "the Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems partnership was created specifically to support Trinity Metro for the TEXRail Extension.

“We've got a great team in place and complement each other in services we provide to bring these projects to fruition,” Campbell said. “Over the years, Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems have been integral to TEXRAIL projects, such as the commuter rail line's maintenance facility and the initial TEXRAIL line from downtown Fort Worth to the Airport. This partnership brings complementary skills together for exceptional results.”

“We are pleased to partner again with Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems,” said Chad Edwards, executive vice president of strategy, planning and development at Trinity Metro. “Our previous collaborations yielded highly successful results, so we are looking forward to continued excellence for our community.”

13th August 2023

Epping Ongar railway plans nine-loco diesel gala in September​

The Epping Ongar Railway in south west Essex will hold its largest diesel event to date between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 September.

The Autumn Diesel Gala will see nine locomotives in action, including three visitors:

• Class 25, D7659 (25309), whose visit was announced in March, appearing courtesy of owner the Waterman Locomotive Trust;
• Class 14, D9516, usually based at Didcot Railway Centre; and
• Class 20, 20227, ‘Sherlock Holmes', courtesy of the Class 20 Locomotive Society.

The visiting locomotives will work an intensive three-train service, alongside Epping Ongar Railway's resident locos, 20001, 31438, 37029 and 47635.

Also appearing will be shunting locomotives, Class 03 D2170, and Class 08, 08114.

These are mainly use for shunting and maintenance trains, so the gala provides a rare opportunity for passengers to travel behind them.

Class 31 No.31438

After the event, Class 31 locomotive, 31438, will be taken out of service for essential maintenance, so this will be the last chance for the public to see it for some time.

Locomotive 20227 “Sherlock Holmes”

‘Sherlock Holmes' last visited the Railway in 2021. It carries London Transport maroon livery, which is appropriate for its visit to the Epping Ongar Railway, which which operates over a former section of London Underground's Central line.

Epping Ongar's resident 20001 is a sister locomotive of 20227, and the Railway is planning for the two locos to work in multiple throughout the gala.

Class 14 locomotive D9516, which was owned by British Rail for just three years before going to Corby to work at the now-closed steelworks, will be making its first visit away from Didcot Railway Centre in nearly a decade.

A fleet of vintage London buses will also run during the gala, providing connections between all the Railway's train services and Epping London Underground station.

Some buses will provide connections to Shenfield station.

Tickets for the gala are on sale now, with prices frozen at 2022 levels.

Marco Carrara, diesel gala organiser, said: “We're delighted to have managed to continue our tradition of providing a varied range of diesel traction for our diesel event. We're grateful to the owners of the visiting locomotives for allowing them to join the event. It's the first time we have operated this number of locomotives at one event and will provide a real showcase of diesel power as they work hard hauling trains over our challenging gradients which are some of the steepest in preservation.”

14th August 2023

WATCH: Shocking CCTV footage released of Worcestershire railway level crossing misuse​

The footage captured by covert cameras shows dog walkers, youths and parents with toddlers taking extreme risks on live rail lines​

Network Rail has issued today (14th Aug) a compilation of footage captured by covert CCTV cameras demonstrating an appalling misuse of footpath level crossings in Worcestershire.

The shocking footage captures 6 incidents showing the extremely dangerous and reckless actions, including dog walkers sitting their pets on tracks in order to get a photograph, youths doing one-armed push-ups and even parents allowing toddlers to play on live railway lines.

The footage included in the video mark just a few examples of the kind of dangerous activity which is taking place throughout Worcestershire and the West Midlands, this year already seeing 50 cases of misuse reported by drivers or captured on covert cameras.

The footage (in running order) shows the following incidents in 2023:

• 4th of April, a teenager does one-armed press-ups in the middle of a crossing whilst loud music plays.
• 14th of March, 8 seconds before a high-speed train passes, two dog walkers rush across a crossing despite a horn sounding
• 1st of April, two dog walkers take photographs of their dogs on the crossing
• 18th of May, a primary school-aged boy rushes over the crossing in front of an oncoming train which arrives only 7 seconds later
• 3rd of April, a man allows two little girls to use the rails to play on whilst he points out the ‘pretty hills' in the distance to them. This activity continued for more than one and a half minutes.
• 18th of March, two boys put ballast stones on the track to be run over by trains

Network Rail's Level Crossing Safety Teams are now carrying out visits to problematic crossings in a bid to warn people of the extreme dangers the railway holds.

The team's visits see leaflets given out which detail how to use a footpath level crossing as follows:

• Concentrate – it's easy to get distracted, especially by phones, music and conversation.
• Stop, look and listen – follow signs and instructions.
• Check both ways before crossing – if there is a train coming, don't cross.
• Understand the warnings – including lights, barriers and alarms, to find out more please click here.
• Cross quickly – keeping children close and dogs on a lead.

Alexandra France, Network Rail Level crossing safety manager, said:

“In so many of the incidents filmed, the difference of just a few seconds could have led to tragedy for those involved. I can't downplay the danger they were in – with serious injury or worse, a huge possibility.”

“No matter how well you think you know a crossing, all users must obey the rules around using level crossings every time they use it. It just really isn't worth the risk.”

To find resources and further information regarding how to cross safely using all kinds of level crossings, please click here.

WATCH:


To watch video click link: "https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/bl69wjgofl"

14th August 2023

New Locomotive for ETHNON RAIL

I have always loved the look of these locomotives.

I already have one in BR Blue livery but not in BR Green.

So I've ordered it!

15th August 2023

News Story:​

Lady Howard crossing – reopening of RAIB’s investigation

Published: 15 August 2023

Pedestrian struck by a train at Lady Howard footpath and bridleway crossing, Surrey, 21 April 2022 – reopening of RAIB’s investigation.

At about 14:49 hrs on Thursday 21 April 2022, a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured by an out-of-service passenger train at Lady Howard footpath and bridleway crossing, near Ashtead in Surrey.

The pedestrian, who was walking on the crossing with a dog and pushing a wheeled trolley bag, started to cross the railway tracks shortly after a train had passed.

She was struck by a second train, which was travelling in the opposite direction to the first.

The driver of the train involved in the accident sounded the train’s horn on seeing the pedestrian on the crossing.

The pedestrian responded by hurrying forwards towards the exit of the crossing but was unable to get clear of the path of the train in time to avoid being struck.

RAIB published its report into this accident on 14 February 2023 (RAIB report 01/2023).

Since RAIB’s report was published, new evidence has been made available to the branch concerning the accident.

The Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents has concluded that this new evidence may be significant and that RAIB’s investigation into the accident should therefore be reopened under the provisions of section 7(8) of The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

The reopened investigation is independent of any investigation by the rail industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

We will publish any revised findings, including any new or revised recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of the reopened investigation.

15th August 2023

Successful first trip for Tesco double-stacked rail freight container​

Tesco last week took delivery of a new rail container which can carry double-stacked pallets, so increasing the volume of goods it can transport by rail.

The container uses a mechanism that raises the roof to allow maximum stacking before lowering it for transit.

This makes it easier to carry up to double the volume of products compared to other container types.

Rail Delivery Group figures show that each freight train has the potential to take up to 76 heavy goods vehicles off the roads, and that transporting goods by rail produces less than a quarter of the emissions of a diesel road journey.

The first journey for the new container saw double-stacked Purina products taken by rail from Hams Hall Distribution Park in North Warwickshire to Tesco's Thurrock distribution centre.

The container was designed and built by partnered with Bootle Containers, Marine Container Test Services and Nestlé UK and Ireland, which had carried out trials in cooperation with Network Rail, Forth Ports, W H Malcolm Group and Direct Rail Services.

The companies have taken two years to develop the container, and now plan to refine it for future use as part of a greener distribution strategy.

At last year's National Rail Awards, Tesco, together with Direct Rail Services (DRS), won the prestigious Freight and Logistics Achievement of the Year award for their innovative refrigerated rail service.

Also last year, Nestlé announced that it planned increase rail freight capacity in order to help reduce environmental impact through a drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and its reliance on diesel road freight.

DRS locomotive for hauling Tesco's rail freight

Niall McCarthy, Rail Development and Delivery Manager, at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “This trial marks an important development in Nestlé's commitment to halve its emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. This initial trial will help launch stronger supply chain resilience and reduce carbon emissions in the Nestlé UK and Ireland network. Furthermore, we are proud to deliver to Tesco on this trial, a customer of ours who has been on rail since 2008.”

15th August 2023

Somerset-based Hymek locomotives pulled from service after incident​

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group has released a statement after an incident at Williton on the West Somerset Railway.

Hymek D7018 was being prepared for a static test on Friday 4th August 2023.

This was after some adjustments and checks had been made to the transmission.

After the engine was started, but still with wheel chocks and the parking brake still in place, the locomotive started to move un-commanded.

No was injured in the incident, but some minor damage was caused to the locomotive and some of the DEPG's equipment and spares.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the Office of Rail and Road have been informed, as is routine with this kind of incident.

A meeting of the DEPG Board of Trustees has taken place and a decision has been made to stop all Hymek activities whilst a review of the incident takes place.

This does mean that all the planned DEPG at 50 celebrations at the end of September have been postponed until a later date (TBC).

Neither D7017 or D7018 will now attend the SVR's Magnificent Seven event as working locomotives.

A DEPG Spokesperson said “We recognise that this will disappoint many of our fans and followers, but it will be appreciated that the safety of both the public and our own volunteers cannot be put at risk.”

The table is all set up with all the tools I need.

1. Soldering Iron
2. Soldering Wick (Copper braided wire - used to 'soak' up melted solder)
3. Long nosed pliers (used to pull fishplates off track when the solder has melted)
4. 'Helping Hands' (used to hold the points steady while de-soldering and removing fishplates)
5. Wooded mallet to assist in fitting new fishplates to points (checks to see if there is enough solder removed for a good fit)

Close-up of soldering wick.

Close-up of the de-soldered and removed fishplates.