You've been framed
After an initial visit, where 70802 and its 3 JNA-Y wagons were positioned further up the line in a less then ideal position, I decided to cycle to Southsea to get a coffee. After returning about an hour later, 70802 was positioned perfectly under the signal gantry just outside Portsmouth and Southsea station.
Four individual track projects were in progress simultaneously, 70807 near Fratton with stretches of plain line being suction excavated and re-ballasted due to track pumping, two jobs behind me; partial replacement of the crossover just outside the high level platforms and some wooden sleeper change outs in platform 3 and this job, which was replacement of the rotten wooden sleepers on the Down Carriage Siding (DCS) throat trackwork with composite sleepers and new ballast.
The 3 JNA-Y wagons were loaded with recovered wooden sleepers (front wagon), recovered spent ballast (middle wagon) and new ballast (rear wagon).
Daylight engineering wagons on Portsea Island (Portsmouth) are extremely rare, and this was probably the first visit of class 70's to the island.
Work to place the composite sleepers can be seen progressing to the right.
No less than 7 SWR Class 444 and 445 units were 'trapped' in the Down Carriage Sidings behind me.
Sunday 7 September 2025
You've been framed
After an initial visit, where 70802 and its 3 JNA-Y wagons were positioned further up the line in a less then ideal position, I decided to cycle to Southsea to get a coffee. After returning about an hour later, 70802 was positioned perfectly under the signal gantry just outside Portsmouth and Southsea station.
Four individual track projects were in progress simultaneously, 70807 near Fratton with stretches of plain line being suction excavated and re-ballasted due to track pumping, two jobs behind me; partial replacement of the crossover just outside the high level platforms and some wooden sleeper change outs in platform 3 and this job, which was replacement of the rotten wooden sleepers on the Down Carriage Siding (DCS) throat trackwork with composite sleepers and new ballast.
The 3 JNA-Y wagons were loaded with recovered wooden sleepers (front wagon), recovered spent ballast (middle wagon) and new ballast (rear wagon).
Daylight engineering wagons on Portsea Island (Portsmouth) are extremely rare, and this was probably the first visit of class 70's to the island.
Work to place the composite sleepers can be seen progressing to the right.
No less than 7 SWR Class 444 and 445 units were 'trapped' in the Down Carriage Sidings behind me.
Sunday 7 September 2025