Great Western Coffee Shop

A couple of times recently I have stood waiting for a train at Newbury and looked at the dates on the track.

I was interested to see the through main down is dated 1970. Waiting on Platform 3 yesterday I realised that the track in the bay platfrom is chaired so started to look for a few mins at the dates. Most were marked BR(W) 1970 but I was interested to see one marked NS&D 1924.

I wondered what the oldest piece of trackwork (rail or chair or sleeper) is  that is carrying FGW passenger trains with passengers on. I start the bidding with 86 years.

I can honestly say that I've never noticed that track is dated.  Will have a look on my journey today and let you know if I find anything older!

Depends on the type of track. on newer track held down with clips you can sometimes find the date on the side of the rail. The older track held in cast iron chairs has the date and railway company next to the bolts which hold it to the wooden sleeper.

the gunnislake branch probably has to be in with a shout? then again during diversions the yeovil cord is probably quite old? or is that cheating

Ten years ago, someone told me they saw a Liskeard & Looe Railway rail chair in the sidings at Liskeard.  I've never been that side of the fence to have a look, but it's not likely those sidings have been renewed any time in the recent past........

The good news is there has been a lot of renewal of track on all the Devon & Cornwall branches over the last six or seven years.  They are probably in their best physical condition for many decades.

 Some of the rail chairs down at Paignton by the South crossing date back to 1955.
 Probably a lot older on the Paignton-Kingswear branch.

 What I  used to look for was the name of the manufacturer on the rails, i.e. Workington BSC was quite common.
 Bit disappointed, looking at the recently replaced main-line at the Newton Abbot, that none of the rails seem to bear
 the name of British steel works anymore.  ( ? Italian )

Much of the track at the south end of Paignton & into Goodrington Sidings was laid when the yard was expanded in the 50s.