paul1609
Established Member
The PW team at the Kent and East Sussex Railway were privaledged with a VIP visitor today for the second day of our Autumn mini project. The project sees us replacing 18x 60 ft bullhead rails on the section between Rolvenden and Wittersham Road.
At 9.30 the reception party were standing outside Rolvenden Station (wearing clean Hi viz and polished steel toe cap boots) awaiting our visitor none other than RailUKs "The Slash". At the appointed time a red blur appeared over the crest of the hill and the the slashmobile screeched to a halt in its reserved parking space. A junior pw man "Tree Boy" had been delegated to open the Limo door.
Cups had been specially washed up for the occasion and we then adjourned to the loco dept. mess room for morning tea.
The Slash wanted to get straight to work and during the mile walk to the worksite carried out a a strict inspection of the permanent way pointing out that our line was not maintained to the standard that he was used to at the Coventry Railway Centre.
The Slash immediately took charge of the worksite and the 10 volunteers gathered there. He immediately cut out our normal working practises such as tea and lunch breaks and drove the workers to the high level of productivity that he experiences at his full time occupation.
Tree-boy who works for another rail contractor tried to rebel and lead the workers off on strike but a quick smack round the head with a duff jack handle soon brought him in to line.
As a consequence of the Slash's new regime, at dusk we were putting in the closure rail and completing the job. Exhausted we returned to Rolvenden in a Guards Van hauled by the 08.
The Slash was treated a complimentary coke in the Star public house before the truck went ahead clearing the roads as far as lewes for the slash mobile. The Slash says that we need to work harder and that he will be taking over the gang in order to bring us up to standard.
He will be back soon. To be continued....
At 9.30 the reception party were standing outside Rolvenden Station (wearing clean Hi viz and polished steel toe cap boots) awaiting our visitor none other than RailUKs "The Slash". At the appointed time a red blur appeared over the crest of the hill and the the slashmobile screeched to a halt in its reserved parking space. A junior pw man "Tree Boy" had been delegated to open the Limo door.
Cups had been specially washed up for the occasion and we then adjourned to the loco dept. mess room for morning tea.
The Slash wanted to get straight to work and during the mile walk to the worksite carried out a a strict inspection of the permanent way pointing out that our line was not maintained to the standard that he was used to at the Coventry Railway Centre.
The Slash immediately took charge of the worksite and the 10 volunteers gathered there. He immediately cut out our normal working practises such as tea and lunch breaks and drove the workers to the high level of productivity that he experiences at his full time occupation.
Tree-boy who works for another rail contractor tried to rebel and lead the workers off on strike but a quick smack round the head with a duff jack handle soon brought him in to line.
As a consequence of the Slash's new regime, at dusk we were putting in the closure rail and completing the job. Exhausted we returned to Rolvenden in a Guards Van hauled by the 08.
The Slash was treated a complimentary coke in the Star public house before the truck went ahead clearing the roads as far as lewes for the slash mobile. The Slash says that we need to work harder and that he will be taking over the gang in order to bring us up to standard.
He will be back soon. To be continued....
