Railtrack inspection of the Swanage Railway upgraded half mile to Motala

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 6th Sept 2002
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Andrew P.M. Wright has sent us these pictures of the inspection of the half mile of upgraded track between Furzebrooks and Motala on Friday, 30th August, 2002.

The photos show Swanage Railway Operations manager Paul McDonald (in the cap), Swanage Railway health and safety officer Malcolm Munro (orange coat and blue T-shirt) and Swanage Railway's permanent way head Tony Andrews (all in orange).

From Railtrack there is Arthur Yarney from Salisbury (left of picture) and permanent way area manager Terry Street (blue shirt and dark blue jacket) of Balfour Beatty (rail maintenance contractors) at Brockenhurst.

The group are seen starting their inspection at Bridge No. 11 (Furzebrook Sidings) before walking down to Motala and the stopblock. Malcolm and Paul are also seen with the newly uncovered Bridge 11A sign for the culvert that passes under the embankment near Bridge 11.

At the stopblock we see Tony Andrews watching Terry Street check the end of the railtrack line and then Terry Street watches Tony Andrews check the end of the Swanage Railway line. There is also ashot of Tony Andrews and Terry Street stood in the gap between the two tracks and shaking hands; Tony on the Swanage side and Terry on the Railtrack side.

Arthur Yarney and Terry Street were very impressed with the quality of the upgrading work by the Swanage Railway that had taken 13 working days from the start of undergrowth clearing to the final sleeper going in and the last piece of jacking and packing.