who: Dave G, Brian C, Steve H
where: Lower Balls Green Quarry near Nailsworth Gloucestershire
when: 26th July 2014

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A trip to the repaired tipper truck - Lower Balls Green Quarry

Steve, Brian and Dave ventured a little futher North than usual to visit a Gloucestershire Stone Quarry near Nailsworth. This was our first visit to the quarry since the controversial damage to a tipper truck by some well meaning railway enthusiasts who
wanted some spare parts for their own railway. They have since made a big effort to repair the tipper truck and we were very impressed by their efforts, after their initial mistake they have done a good job.

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After a brief talk with the farm we made our way into the quarry entrance. Here is the view looking out from just inside the quarry
entrance. A nice arch - there is also the remains of a blocked entrance nearby which seems to have been used just for people.


Here is a shot of Brian next to the raised embankment built to take a cartway or tramway


Brian points to the remains of a broken fishplate which would have been used to join the ends of two rails together.


In the upper part of the quarry near the entrance the side passages show the remains of what would have once been an extensive tramway network. The tramway was probably 2 foot(-ish) guage.


Here is a 90 degree junction


With a different view of the same junction showing the remains of its little turntable


Here is the remains of a siding


A little further in is an iron sleeper on which the rails would be placed.


Here is an example of a pillar with a sawn stone face


Steve admiring some unusual wedges with teeth. Wedges are usually used to split the stone.


A closeup of the wedges


The main passageway shows some evidence of being used both as a cartway and as a tramway.



Brian looking at the remains of a tipper truck crushed before the rock fall that trapped a line of three tipper trucks
and rails.


The crushed tipper truck


Our first view of the controversial tipper truck. It is just beyond the rock fall but immediately below some hanging death that will eventually claim the truck and crush it too.


Side view


Brian inspecting the bearings (we found some loose ones in the quarry earlier and wondered which truck they were from)


A view of the inside of the tipper truck - showing the repairs before they rust in and become less obvious


A first look at the main repair work


The gap at the ends


An indicator of the extensive backroom work done in the workshop before the fitting on the tipper truck in the quarry.
Here is the welded support for the ends.


The supporting bar.


Graffiti - 1904 - 1947


Calculations


Passageway sides sawn stone surface and stacked deads - much higher than wiltshire quarries






Stacked stones in the loading bay




The crab winch


The other side of the crab winch


Further on from the loading bay


Looking back from the loading bay


Enjoyable trip - logistics got the better of us and made sure there were only three of us. Nailsworth is pretty close for me, but not for th e others. Pleased to see the tipper truck has been repaired so well. They must have been the only group who could have done the repair - sad they had to be the ones to do the damage in the first place. But they did have good intentions. I was one who roared indignantly, but now I have seen the work put in to the repair I am inclined to forgive. Especially as it will eventually be crushed.

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Looks like an Interesting trip was had, some good photo's, thanks for sharing them.

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I know this will be highly controversial but would it be advisable to remove the rock falls, to facilitate rescue of the truck should the need arise?

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