Barmouth engineering works, November 2009

During the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of November, track renewal work took place between Barmouth loop and Llanaber halt. This required four ballast trains (each of 10 autoballasters and a Seacow), and the use of one Class 37 on each, plus one on the rear of one of them to negate the need to run round. 37510 was left spare on Bescot in case of any problems, and when 37607 failed at Wellington, 37510 rescued it and took the train forward, with 607 dead in tow.

37401 having arrived at Machynlleth with the 6W91 16.50 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train. 968x648 211109-002.jpg	37259 sits on the sidings at Machynlleth having arrived with the 6W94 18.45 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train, and having brought 37425 up with it, now detached and sat on the Tank sidings. 968x648 211109-003.jpg	37602 sits at Machynlleth having arrived with the 6W93 20.27 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train. 968x648 221109-002.jpg
Er... A station shelter at 01.54. 968x648 221109-003.jpg	37607 worked the 6W92 20.27 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train as far as Wellington where it promptly failed, and the standby loco 37510 was summoned to rescue it. With 37607 restarted, the pair detach, 37607 was then dumped in the sidings at Machynlleth. 968x648 221109-004.jpg	37607 worked the 6W92 20.27 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train as far as Wellington where it promptly failed, and the standby loco 37510 was summoned to rescue it. With 37607 restarted, the pair detach, 37607 was then dumped in the sidings at Machynlleth. 968x648 221109-006.jpg
37607 worked the 6W92 20.27 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train as far as Wellington where it promptly failed, and the standby loco 37510 was summoned to rescue it. With 37607 restarted, the pair detach, 37607 was then dumped in the sidings at Machynlleth. 968x648 221109-007.jpg	37259 sits at Barmouth having arrived with the 6W94 18.45 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train. 596x890 221109-008.jpg	37259 sits at Barmouth having arrived with the 6W94 18.45 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train. 968x648 221109-009.jpg
37401 having arrived with the 6W91 16.50 Bescot to Barmouth ballast train. 968x648 221109-012.jpg	A general view of the worksite close to high tide, showing the atrocious weather conditions. 968x648 221109-013.jpg	37401 proceeds across the freshly-laid track at Llanaber, having dropped the first lot of ballast. 968x648 221109-014.jpg
37401 proceeds across the freshly-laid track at Llanaber, having dropped the first lot of ballast. 968x648 221109-015.jpg	37259 proceeds across the freshly-laid track at Llanaber, having dropped the second lot of ballast. 968x648 221109-018.jpg	37259 proceeds across the freshly-laid track at Llanaber, having dropped the second lot of ballast. 968x648 221109-019.jpg
Getting desperate now, due to the lack of light! 37602 proceeds across the freshly-laid track at Llanaber, having dropped the third lot of ballast. 968x648 221109-021.jpg