Dig Diary Week 15 (28 Jan - 1 Feb 2008)

This week the team concentrated on cleaning and recording the best-preserved railway on site. Many of the wooden sleepers, pegs and fastening still survived in the ground.  Historic maps show that there were numerous railway lines running through the site, connecting the various buildings of the foundry.  Some of the railways were standard gauge and some are thought to have been wagon ways and had a narrower gauge. 

Wooden railway sleeper (click on above image for larger version)

Remains of railway lines (click on above image for larger version)

Work on the Boiler Room has also started; this is known on site as Structure 11.  the Boiler Room is distinct from the Boiler Shop.  The Boiler Room contained a large boiler to provide steam to run the engines which were necessary for the machinery on the foundry to operate.  The Boiler Shop was a large building where actual boilers and boiler parts were made from cast iron.

Boiler Room (click on above image for larger version)

Boiler Shop (click on above image for larger version)