Network Rail's track renewal train was replacing the rails and sleepers on the up Great Western Main Line between Uphill Junction and Worle Junction in Weston-super-Mare, the south and north ends of the Weston-super-Mare Loop respectively. This photograph was taken from the footbridge that crosses the railway between the the Old Mixon crescent industrial estate and the Old Mixon playing fields, about a third of a mile north of Uphill Junction.
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This photograph shows the southern (rear) end of the train, in the bottom of the picture is the rear of the crane that supplies the new sleepers to the conveyor (seen in the centre of the image) on the wagon behind that lays them, and collates the old sleepers and the transport crane that conveys them forwards. The wagon behind this swaps the sleepers and rails, while the wagon behind that secures the new rails to the new sleepers. The penultimate wagon appears primarily to be a staff support vehicle, and I was unable to work out a purpose for the rearmost wagon - although I'm sure there must be one!
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The swapping of old and new rails can also be seen on the right hand side of the train.
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Photo by <a href="mailto:cmckenna@sucs.org?subject=rail-photo at railfaneurope.net">Chris McKenna</a> 20/11/2006.<br>
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