Creation of a lorry-guide

The excavation of platform 2 at Bauche station was facilitated by the creation of a guide lorry by one of our volunteers. Thanks to this clever setup, two volunteers (a crane operator and a dumper driver), supported by two other volunteers, were sufficient for this project.

The guide lorry replaced the use of a laser or a sighting scope with a graduated pole and thus allowed the crane operator to concentrate on the excavation, instead of regularly getting down from his cab to measure the depth of the excavation.

Since the platform had to be 30 cm higher than the top of the rail, it was important to level the platform and the bed of the future track 2 at the correct levels. In addition, precise excavation saves tons of ballast, a rare and expensive commodity for an association without subsidies.

Track 1, reconstructed in 2020 based on laser measurements, served as a support for the lorry, to which a 6-meter-long horizontal wooden pole was attached, held to the lorry by guy ropes.

Two rulers, attached to the pole by chains, indicated the levels to be reached: that of the platform, and that of the track bed which is lower, namely 10 cm below the base of the sleepers.

Despite the difficult terrain, this lorry-guide allowed the volunteers to complete the work in 4 days, ensuring that they remained parallel to track 1.