Page 26 • The HERALD • 25th January 2024 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v A&D Morrison Builders Ltd FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS • Extensions • Renovations • Alterations • Groundworks • Roo ng • Drives & Patios 07768 599704 or 023 8194 8673 adlmorrison@sky.com Free Estimates • Fully Insured • Based in Dibden Purlieu • Cedral cladding SOLENT SKIP HIRE LTD FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI SKIPS ALSO CUBIC YARD BAGS OWN BAG COLLECTION AVAILABLE 023 8066 0123 01590 619700 • 01962 588288 Email: office@solentskiphire.co.uk ELECTRICIAN/HANDYMAN FULLY QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN (30YRS EXPERIENCE) • Mains Upgrades • Testing • Extra/Replacement Points/Lights • Outside Lighting • Sockets • Ponds • BT/TV Points • Ethernet Points • CCTV • Fire/Intruder Alarms • Basic Plumbing Repairs • Outside Taps • Showers • Heating Problems • Blinds/Poles Fixed • Flatpacks • Loft Work Boarding, Tidying etc ALL OTHER DOMESTIC WORK CONSIDERED Call Mick on 07738 166453 or email: michaelshelley80@googlemail.com DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com Hythe Pier Heritage Association’s (HPHA) project to replace the rst 45 metres of track, the points and sidings on the Hythe Pier Railway was completed during the rst week of December. Work had commenced during the summer of 2022 with the closing of the shore station platform. A temporary platform was positioned just beyond the limit of the project, referred to as Phase 1 Track Restoration. Progress of the project was subsequently delayed by an assortment of issues including planning applications centred around the removal of a nonfunctioning Victorian beam. e beam issue was eventually resolved with HPHA installing a new support beam alongside the original beam, which Unloading of rails and points (Credit: John Greenwood) Aligning new track and establishing gradient (Credit: John Greenwood) received long-term protection with several coats of a high-quality paint. e installation of the new beam allowed HPHA to proceed with the removal of the existing track and decking in advance of replacing a jumble of old and not so old cross beams and the laying of new deck boards. Before the new track could be laid, investigations had to be carried out to nd a level surface. Over the 102 year period since the track was rst laid, there has been movement in the structure, noticeable in recent times as the train approached the shore station. Concrete of uncertain vintage at the seaward end position and alignment and gradient con rmed, the task of securing it was carried out in driving rain. e new points and sidings were similarly secured. e third rail that provides the power for the world’s oldest continuously operating electric train on a pier had been shut down at the beginning of the installation, causing a temporary suspension of services along the 640 metres pier to the ferry. e third rail was subsequently removed ahead of the installation of a new rail. During this short period, train sta reverted to using the former method of transporting bulky passenger luggage and goods to the ferry by handcart, as was the way before the introduction of the railway in 1922. Long a er darkness fell, nal checks were carried out. e contract manager satis ed all was in order, the Hythe Pier Railway resumed service in time for the late a ernoon commuter rush. e whole installation was e ected in just four days. Alice Keef explained her company’s connection to Hythe, “Alan Keef Ltd has been involved with Hythe Pier Railway since the 1980’s and has developed a long term ‘soft spot’ for this unique transport system. Over the decades, we have been peripherally involved in the supply of small quantities of track materials and some specialist work on wheelsets for the rolling stock. Therefore, we were very excited to be involved in the first of hopefully a series of major track works to replace the life expired track materials with heavier rail and modern fixings to secure the long-term future of the railway”. She added, “This first stage has been a long time coming because of the delays for additional structural work. It was been good to get on to site at last. Our work, if continued up the pier, will steadily remove the audible ‘heartbeat’ of Hythe, but as each section is replaced, hopefully this will improve the overall health and strengthen the pulse of the railway for the future”. of the shore station was broken up and removed. Shuttering was put into place, housing the A252 reinforcing bars that would strengthen the C40 concrete that was subsequently poured. With the date for the arrival of the new track fast approaching, work to remove the old points and sidings followed. At the beginning of December, despite the inclement weather, the new rails, points and bu er were unloaded from an articulated vehicle and craned into position over the ticket office roof, overhead cables and pedestrian walkway, all without disruption to the ferry tra c. Once the track was in FIRST PHASE OF HYTHE PIER RAILWAY TRACK Continued on page 27
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