Replacing Tracks with Network Rail

Network Rail invited me down to Whitstable in Kent to show me what goes on when a section of the railways is closed, and the team of orange descend onto the tracks to work non-stop to replace rails that are almost fifty years old.
There's more on Network Rail's fleet of vehicles, including their RRV's (Road Rail Vehicles) here: www.networkrail.co.uk/running...
My thanks to Chris from Network Rail for the invite and access. Thanks also to Daren Smith, a Construction Manaager also with Network Rail.
Richard's channel (with his RRV Cab videos!) is here: / @sierra4x4sc
Please Note: To see how I'm working during this strange times please read: geofftech.co.uk/safe.html

[@MattBidewell]

"Can you do a Bane impression?" "Noooooo" Underrated moment.

[@edwardalexander9486]

Yes, actually not too bad an impression...

[@peterweatherley7669]

Only half a second long but that was hilarious :p

[@kicksledkid]

I officially love Chris. Just so happy about everything

[@tallthinkev]

Lots of beer!

[@Randomstuffs261]

I'm glad that this is official

[@Hendrik-jan-de-tuinman]

The man should make his own channel

[@kicksledkid]

@@Hendrik-jan-de-tuinman Honestly, I'm shocked Network Rail hasn't decided to produce their own videos

[@pewattsuk]

@@kicksledkid Plenty of NRs own videos floating around on KZbin. Their time-lapse videos are particularly good.

[@uzaiyaro]

I remember when I was waiting for a train on one platform with trackwork on the other. They had just replaced the old wooden sleepers with concrete ones. A side effect of this is that you cannot have gapped rails-the shock from the train will damage the sleepers over time. So anytime you see concrete sleepers, the track is necessarily continuously welded, or CWT I believe it's called. Anyway, I showed interest in what they were doing, and they brought me down to have a closer look. That wasn't the best part though. The best part is that they let me do a weld! They basically attach single-use ceramic pots to the track ready to be welded, then fill the pots with thermite. They light the thing with a huge torch (can't remember if it's propane or oxy acetylene, though) which I got to do, which melts the whole thing and leaves behind a big chunk on the rail. The ceramic pot is smashed off with a big sledgehammer and you're left with a big chunk on the rail. This is cut off and the surface of the rail ground smooth with a rail grinder, although it still takes several months of track wearing and probably several grinder passes in order to completely smooth out the bump after welding has been complete. Track grinding can sometimes be done while the line is operational, or at least overnight. There are some high speed rail grinders out there which will do the job at something like 60-80km/h, while the line is operational. But long story short, I got to do a weld on a main line that has had thousands of trains go over it since, and probably even a million passengers. It hasn't caused a derailment yet and this was a good decade ago, so I'm guessing I didn't screw it up, which is nice. What an experience though. Even in "winter" (Australian winter, so maybe like 5-10c), the heat from the torches and the welding was enough to keep you relatively toasty. Was a pretty awesome experience as a kid.

[@SebisRandomTech]

That is absolutely awesome. It must be an incredible story to tell people about.

[@QPRTokyo]

Thank you.

[@ianhenderson4560]

I've got nothing else to say other than what a thoroughly excellent, informative and well-explained film this is.

[@00networker]

Hi mate im a network rail track maintenance engineer im glad you came to see our world and show people what we do thank you

[@mishimamaster1845]

What has your experience been like? Thanks

[@one4all126]

Based on what was said by Chris at 4:18, the "clay" seen and handled at 2:49 may not have been clay...

[@gilles111]

Great video. As ProRail employee (The Dutch Network Rail) I recognize the pride of these guys. These works aren't seen much by public but it is really great to see all the plans made in advance work out so very well in just a few days. All the machines, trains and people operating like a giant ballet performance. By the way, Geoff, congratulations on 200K subscribers!

[@Alto53]

Chris is very good at explaining things. Love to hear more from him!

[@andylee9977]

Richard the RRV op is a top bloke and I have worked with him for years railway brotherhood.

[@TDlovestrains]

Congratulations on 200k. You deserve it

[@JordannaMills]

Was great to meet you out on site during the renewal! Awesome video, hope to see you at future projects!

[@chrisdenham9086]

@@geofftech2 Also waves!

[@ianjones4116]

Spoilt buggers, we did all that by hand. When I were a lad lol. Loved working on Pway. Nothing like ducking, as the Efluvia was flushed as the train approached at 75mph. Passengers never appreciate any Pway work . Great vid Geoff. 👍

[@musiqtee]

Watching trackbeds being constructed, rails and sleepers aligned, yellow (they always are) engineering trains rolling slowly by just two feet away... It just never gets old, or what? The complex profile geometry between wheelsets and rails is poetry in motion...! 👍

[@iamdarrenfrazer]

1:42 Workington 1972 - My hometown! My Grandad worked at the steelworks so he could of made that piece of track.

[@RobRidleyLive]

My parents were from Workington. I always look out for Workington made rails. Back in 2005 a colleague said he wanted to show me something, drove me about six miles out from the office we worked at to a remnant of an abandoned line, cleared a length of rail and sure enough there was the stamp of the Workington steelworks. The thing is, this was on the Laguna Indian Reservation in the New Mexico desert, 50 or so miles west of Albuquerque, and about 5500 miles from Workington.

[@dahliagreen5919]

Increasingly rare now, except on the quieter rural lines. There was also Glengarnock and Colvilles rail, before BSC, Corus and TATA rolling mill impressions replaced them.

[@gh1851]

0.49 that magic click from normal clothing to PPE. That is genius Geoff 👏👏

[@johnmurrell3175]

From what I remember of Ballast Sampling there was little if any biological material - the bacteria have destroyed it. As one of the people from Thames Water said when I was working for Metronet the ballast is very similar to what happens in a Sewage Farm the surfaces are coated with bacteria and eat the human waste quite quickly. The danger was the other materials in the dust - lead, phenols and remains from ash from coal trains amongst other things

[@stephensaines7100]

I'd tend to agree with this, as the problem is just as great if not more so on North Am railways, and perhaps it's lax health and safety regs (whether they'd be state/provincial or federal would be a good question, as most mainline rail is regulated federally in both Canada and US) but I've yet to see masks used for sanitary purposes in that application. Only reference I can find, and it's from the UK! [Effluent is just as much of an issue for the rail industry as for any other industry sector. Contaminated with cleaning chemicals, fuel and lubricants from rolling stock maintenance and human waste from trains, this wastewater can pose a hazard to the environment, as well as to health and safety, if not correctly treated.] www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-Industry-Focus-/eliminate-rail-track-pollution-and-protect-your-railway-ballast-and-our-environment- And for Rails to Trails: (North America) [...] Types of Contaminants The type and extent of contamination along rail corridors fall into two general categories: residual contamination that may be found along any stretch of corridor and contamination associated with industrial uses alongside it. Before and after acquisition, you should be aware of the following potential contaminants: Railroad ties, usually treated with chemicals such as creosote Coal ash and cinder containing lead and arsenic Spilled or leaked liquids such as oil, gasoline, cleaning solvents, etc. Herbicides Fossil fuel combustion products (PAHs) Roofing shingles (asbestos) Air compressors Transformers and Capacitors Metals [...] www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-building-toolbox/acquisition/environmental-contaminants/ Curious...

[@nicklaylandguitar]

Love a fresh Geoff Marshall vídeo to cheer up my afternoon (in Brazil)

[@otterylexa4499]

Very interesting look at what is going on when the railway is closed for track work. Would have liked a question about how much of that removed material gets recycled (or even a whole video).

[@underwaterdick]

That sounds like an interesting topic for a whole video. Maybe starting with quarrying the new material, then its transport to site and the removal of waste followed by its recycling.

[@SeanBZA]

I would guess the old fill goes to a dump site as "suitable cover" for the daily operations, as it is otherwise classed as hazardous waste from the bacterial counts. But on a dump perfect to cover the current working layer.

[@dan30308]

Good questions. Do then melt down the old rails, remove any impurities, and then recast them as new rails?

[@SeanBZA]

@@dan30308 You can do that, but the old rail is generally melted down as high grade steel scrap, and might end up as new rail, though it is far more likely to end up as reinforcing steel, a vehicle body or as part of a building instead. Steel is eminently recyclable, and has a large use base.

[@lewis8983]

Some insider knowledge here : ) all the ballast and spoil that is removed during works like these is taken away and recycled and used for other projects in the country. Things like creating wildlife reserves, building up embankments that sort of thing. A number of things can happen to the rails, switches/points. They could be melted down and resused if appropiate, donated to railway charities/trusts that run their own private tracks, sold on to make some money back or used in sidings.

[@ednorton47]

The still functioning mainline rail in my old college town (where we walk the track on football Saturdays to get to the stadium) bears the date "1938."

[@beeble2003]

Boggles at the concept of "functioning mainline rail" and members of the public walking the track...

[@JuliosStuff]

Yay! Congrats on 200k, Geoff!

[@thesteelrodent1796]

When I was little I always thought it was scary when you "flushed" the toilet and could see the tracks fly by underneath. Didn't help that my older siblings told me stories about how you could get sucked down through the toilet when the train went fast. In Denmark they started rebuilding the train toilets in the late 1980s to use a contained system instead of dumping it on the tracks, but that meant there were still a lot of cars with the old toilets till well into the 90s.

[@driver1coach]

Thanks Geoff for a brilliant insight to the work of Network Rail, 3 trains in one possession takes some working out and needs everybody working well together

[@michaeldwyer3352]

Great excursion - and good to see bunch of engineers so enthusiastic about their project. Many thanks also for the glimpse of the facade of Whitstable Station. I've travelled through the station many times on the train, but never seen the exterior. It looks like a Southern Railway rebuild from about 1925.

[@michaeldwyer3352]

@@pj100565 many thanks for the interesting link

[@michaelpilling9659]

One thing about your films Geoff, is that in every single one I've watched, I've learnt something new. Absolutley fascinating vlog - thanks very much

[@traviss4444]

Fascinating !! Only ten minutes happly would have watch an hour or two ! Enjoyed. More please

[@ianmurray250]

What a brilliant, informative video. Wouldn't it be useful playing in waiting rooms across the country giving regular users a better understanding of what happens. Great job Geoff, there's a series here - high output ballast cleaner, tamper, flying banana, etc.

[@richardashby5644]

Right at the beginning you can see the abutments of the bridge that carried the old Canterbury and Whitstable line over the railway.

[@davidrogers6561]

Fascinating! I'm a resident of Whitstable, was a regular user of the amazing high-speed Javelin trains, but that was before the Pandemic ... so I had no idea that this was going on. Quite reassuring to know what's under me when my train is doing 140 mph.

[@UndergroundEric]

If you ever turn up on a site where im the train driver, l’ll have to let you on board for a nose around.

[@weatheroakwanderer5941]

One of your best ever......just shows all the hard work that goes into running a rail system....!

[@alanreader4815]

|That sleeper Spacer looks Amazing. Great video Geoff.

[@Ensign_Redshirt]

Congratulations on the 200k! My dad was a bridge & rail surveyor in the 70's. As rail was replaced the old rail was assesed to see if if could be used on a lower grade line or sidings. A lot of what he was working on could be relativley new as he was working on setting up the Network post Beeching which was rebuilt post war

[@mycolliesandme268]

I used to be one of those track workers. So enjoyable brought back memories. The general public have no idea of what it takes.

[@Darkest-Light]

Fantastic insight into the process; have a whole newfound appreciation of these people's glorious work! Thank you Geoff!

[@Danburybeeches]

Another fantastic video Geoff - what a huge job! Thank you to everyone involved for all your work, and great to see Chris again!

[@TheChipmunk2008]

I love this so much. Thank you Geoff, and thank you Network Rail for allowing him, and therefore us, access to the behind the scenes work [ex BR family]

[@rossfraser5276]

@Geoffmarshall - many congrats on hitting 200k subscribers. Your channel has provided some relief to an ex-pat Scottish family in Chicago in 2020.

[@HannahHäggAutisticTransWoman]

Here in Stockholm, Sweden they do fixing at nights and weekends when less people use public transportation, which is actually a smart thing to do. These kind of things are important. You don't trams, tube and trains to derail due to the tracks not being mentained properly. These workers are doing a very important job.

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

Same here in Australia. Always getting letter drops from Queensland Rail advising of overnight track work going on as I live very close to a line. I actually don't hear it though, I guess you get used to it after awhile.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thanks Geoff. Fascinating. The 10-yr old me was so pleased. The spider was awesome!

[@sixtysecondvlog]

Railway replacement services, although they are a pain, they are essential, and thank you for an informative video explaining it all....... and in 1972, i was born that year...

[@uktransportgames]

Congratulations for 200K! :)

[@tomdavis3942]

Thanks for posting loving watching your videos and seeing a totally different railway system (I'm from Queensland Aus)

[@WillowProductions1]

Whitstable is a lovely town! I’ve been there! It’s amazing.

[@maryapatterson]

Lovely fish and chips!

[@davekirwin]

Nice to see Chris again and meet Darren. Informative and will help those non-railway people understand why engineering work is needed and how it happens. Nice googling of Effluvia insert.

[@highmotiveltd1295]

Came across this video as recommended, glad it did! We supply the MyZone and safety equipment for this job! Thanks for showcasing our MyZones.

[@rmjm125]

What follows as a recycling operation is a topical and challenging subject for NR. Another of your very informative videos is called for.

[@irisgardener4141]

Hey congratulations on 200000! I saw the tweet earlier and checked YT a couple of times throughout the day. You made it 👏🏼

[@DanLoudShirts]

Really interesting video. Great to see what goes on when the railway isn’t running. Could sit there for hours watching them do that stuff!

[@joshuahill6153]

Kiwirail in New Zealand needs this, they are replacing this during no lockdown in Central Auckland while juggling a City Tunnel Boring for new rail in peak time.

[@Luca-uj1kp]

Very shocked to see my hometown in a video, didn`t even know they were replacing tracks!

[@spiders-tours]

Cracking vid -well edited, know the station well. I think the discontinued overbridge is to the closed Whitstable harbour station that was part of the crab and winkle railway. I normally exit the station and walk into town continuing on foot. I've not really seen this close up before, thoroughly interesting.

[@windemup5316]

Thing's to also consider the planning and preparation that goes into these jobs. It' isn't just P-Way staff, but Lineside S and T and Electrical and Plant. You have to find access points for the staff and machinery, to getting the line shut down to permits and licenses. We don't just turn up on track. 20k of track on the whole network, 2500 stations etc.

[@yeetsmate4037]

It's so interesting to see how it's really done, my local line has had works done and I was lucky enough to see the line with no tracks! Well done on 200k!

[@dorsettyke]

Always nice to see Chris in a vid'. Very informative and interesting. 🙂👍🏽

[@martijnm71]

i wish there were more Chrisses in this world, the world needs more happy people.

[@GregRobsonUK]

Things you see and have no idea what people are doing... fascinating stuff and I had never considered the effluvia when digging up rail ballast!

[@brandonreid9510]

Fun video to watch, I'm just about to finish my 12 week training to be to become a railway maintenance engineer

[@johnmehaffey9953]

I remember oh so well going to the beach at the bottom of the road where we lived and crossing over the line to reach the beach and the trains discharging the effluent between the rails plus we used to dive off the sewage pipe that also discharged the waste into the sea , it’s a wonder we survived as kids the amount of stuff we swam through and trod through, much better system now, no sign saying do not use when the train is at the station 💩

[@AustNRail]

I’ve been to Whitstable in 2000, when I escaped Sydney before the olympics, and didn’t know it had a station.

[@spottinginthewest]

Nice one on hitting 200k subs!

[@jbtv5617]

This info is priceless, just about to start a course on this. Good to have an insight!

[@PAVx_]

Wow, I learned a new word from Chris. And also, he's wearing a very nice hat at 6:03! I always love infrastrucual works, so thanks for this awesome video, Geoff!

[@beeble2003]

2:25 Most railway KZbinrs: "THRAsH AnD ToNeZ!!!" Geoff, with trepidation: "Is he about to sound his horn very loudly as he goes past?"

[@kamana6435]

That was amazing so much information on how track renewal takes place. Great work Geoff😄

[@indiamcanally4780]

That finish at the end 😂 Nothing boxed un properly, ballast all over the sleepers and fastenings

[@pj100565]

Another good ‘un - esp in my home town! Well done on the 200k! 👍

[@twyfordlion]

More very enjoyable work from you Geoff, many thanks.

[@louisemitch1]

What a fascinating video - very apt to celebrate 200K. You’re the go-to person to give Joe public info on our railways. Love it!

[@stegotron]

That rail from 1972 was manufactured where I live; we no longer have a steel industry left here that could do the same now. Always nice to see where the rails have got to though!

[@jcrailwayvideos6588]

Great video and congrats on 200K Subscribers 🥳🥳

[@notanavgeek]

Congratulations on 200k!🥳

[@johnlaw3323]

Great vlog I love seeing rail engineering projects. Many thanks for filming and sharing.

[@walkermangum56]

I really like the difference between the blue and white helmets. Here in America, a lot of drivers would need the "blue helmet" on top of their cars because they're completely incompetent.

[@markjosephbudgieridgard]

What a fantastic vidio very informative I never thought so much work went into replacing the rail track regarding renewal of all the ballast. What a great vidio thank you 👍👍

[@callumsmith895]

Congrats on 200k.:))

[@gerttherude6366]

Good vid , I'm starting my 10 week training in a week to work on the rail :) can't wait

[@christophernoble6810]

A very interesting video. Always good to see up close the bits one takes for granted. Well done Geoff. 😉

[@davidbirdsey6489]

Geoff What an interesting and informative documentary. I much prefer this to the" least used" series. Keep up the good work.

[@brunisshoshari2392]

I'm so close to achieving my PTS. Can't wait to get involved!!!

[@kinrah1711]

This was very interesting to watch, especially as I was *on* one of those replacement buses past Whitstable on Saturday 14th, seeing the ballast trucks parked in the station, and another one heading to the site once I was on the train again at Faversham. Personally I was hoping that they'd be working towards putting a new bridge over on the old Canterbury & Whistable route (abutment in the background at 1:37) but this stuff's got to be done too.

[@airfoxtrot2006]

Great video Geoff, congratulations on getting to 200,000 subs!

[@Pitbull1845]

What an excellent video, really interesting and nice to see Network Rail taking the time to explain things. Nice one 👍

[@shorv]

Peter Cushing lives In Whitstable, he goes shopping on his bicycle, you can see him buying vegetables

[@qwertyTRiG]

Thanks for the earworm.

[@mark314158]

That's quite interesting ...

[@neilbain8736]

Sadly he died a few years ago.

[@clackmannan]

@@neilbain8736 But his bench is still on the seafront

[@josephharrison8354]

The same process is happening on the Cumbria Coast line right now, I've been seeing freight trains full of old ballast and rails past my house every weekend. It's nice to see the process... well, second hand, but it's close enough.

[@theservman]

I live next to the busiest rail in Canada - probably 6 trains per hour, mostly passenger but freight as well. That rail is dated 1977.

[@john3Lee]

Always interesting to see how its all maintained - thanks

[@istheisak3529]

Only 50 years old, i have herd story's of rails on branchlines in Denmark, were i live, that were from the early 1900's, and have only been repaced recently

[@SportyMabamba]

I’ve seen rail stamped 1898, which is still in-situ, but that is in a very unique siding

[@MrGreatplum]

I think I read that the bluebell railway replaced some rail that had been there since the line was built in 1882!

[@tristansmithrailwayphotogr2730]

I watched all the (these) track renewal works at Whitstable over November

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Brilliant stuff...! The wall at 1:37 is where a bridge went over with another railway on it...

[@AdamPTrainz]

Yay Omg congrats for 200k I love your vids

[@cukuwaekele]

Congratulations on 200K.

[@robkennedy3000]

Never thought I'd miss watching this unfurl on a Saturday night, in the rain. Don't miss the shoveling however haha

[@haydenharding9284]

Really Enjoyed this Video. I was One of the Many workers out over the weekends down at Whitstable. My Job is Installing the 3rd Rail

[@Westhamsterdam]

Why did the south east install the 3rd rail in the 1930´s? There are some London BR routes around London which use the third rail as well (North London, line)

[@EandEFC]

A great video enjoyed that one and even a disused railway line bridge at the start of the video the old Whitstable line going over the current line.

[@considermycat]

What a WONDERFUL video. Though I want a follow-up showing a "bending and snaking" rail being put into place. 😁

[@jacobslater6449]

These videos are definitely my favourite types of your videos :)

[@joemiller2014]

Congrats on 200,000 Geoff. Love all the vids

[@MattCamelly]

YESS GEOFF GOT 200,000 SUBSCRIBERS

[@randomchannelrandomvideos]

I love the mechanical spider. It was impressive to me, seeing its function. WOW!

[@metropod]

When New York City Transit replaces elevated subway tracks, you can literally find them stacked on the streets before hand in pre-assembled units. A bit like someone unpacked model train tracks. They take the old sections out by crane from the street.