Out with the old…

Out with the old…
Cropper machine cutting old track

A big part of getting the Dartmoor Line ready for regular passenger services is renewing old sections of track.

A cropper machine is used on longer sections of track where the track is being scrapped. The machine is quicker than burning or cutting sections of track. Above is a video of it snipping up the track like a giant pair of pliars.

Here’s the result once the cropper has finished its work:

Cropped track
Cropped track

The old track panels are then removed, and the track bed is dozed and prepared.

This video shows how the track bed is levelled and excess material is removed:


The ground is then compacted using a Whacker:

Whacker
Whacker

Here is the finished scene, ready for the track laying machine to lay new sleepers and rail:

Track bed dozed, prepared and compacted