Brick laying like mad.

Thursday at Broadway.

 The weather is still kind to us, and we're making hay, laying bricks.

John is now on the north end, and on Thursday he worked on all three walls of this end. If only we had those specials, then we could work on the front, and build up over the windows. We are now as high as we can go along the front, without more specials.

 

Most of John's time was spent on the north end itself. He built up the corner to very close to the top, then filled in the middle. He also worked along the back for a while. But that was because yours truly was making huge clouds of pink dust, cutting bricks, and on Thursday we had a northerly wind, which blew the dust straight at John.

We had both steam and diesel on Thursday. As autumn nears, we got the impression that there were slightly fewer passengers, despite the good weather. But Auntie Wainwright's did well, it's a nice place to hang about and hear the story of the station rebuild (and maybe buy a second hand book?)

 

 

 

 

 

The second half of the back is now also getting near to the top, maybe another 3 courses to go?

 

We were curious to know how the wall would end, so below is a peep at how it went on the main, P1 building. 

  

 

On the first half of the rear John laid the first row of specials, forming the beginning of the corbelling.

We can see here, from the P1 building, that there are three more courses to go. We do have these special bricks. 

 

 

 

Friday at Toddington.

Again using the reasonable weather, we started actually painting the dagger boards on Friday.

 

 

 

They've had two coats of fungicide, and now we are on primer, the first coat of paint.

We sorted ourselves a little production line, with Yours Truly on painting the ends with a brush....

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and Neal, on painting the flat surfaces with a roller.

He laid the boards out in a line, all slotted in with the tongue & groove, so that paint would not stray into the grooves. 

 

 

We were at it all day, treating the 184 boards on pile No.1. Pile No.2 has the ones with increasing lengths, which go on the gable ends. We're about half way there as you read this.

 

 

 

Sounds of a chainsaw alerted us to a tree surgeon removing two conifers in the boundary between us and the housing estate being built next door. There is now a gap (the taller trees are unaffected).

After enquiries made we have ascertained that this is a temporary access to the area behind the featherboard fence, where the builder next door will park his vans for 9 months - and pay rent! That can't be bad, an unexpected source of income for us. 

 

 

Monday at Broadway.

Still good weather, so another day of laying bricks at Broadway.

 

A course of headers, and half a course of stretchers were laid on Monday. A similar amount remains, before we hit the top of the plain bricks, and switch to the corbelling.
 

 

 

Tuesday at Broadway.

 

Idem ditto. Just two of us again. Neal is in Kent, buying a compressor (thinking ahead for the roof assembly and rivetting) and making a tiny holiday of it, visiting a couple of railways in the area. We hope he enjoys himself - there are several GWR engines to see on the K&ESR.

 

On Tuesday John completed the second half of the rear wall of the building, as far as plain bricks are concerned.

 

We received a request from him for a corbelling cornerstone. This is it ! It is likely to go on with the next course, the bricks with the rounded off ends, and upside down.

 

As you can see on the main station building, there are two courses of these bricks, separated by a plain course, and an angular corbel.

In 1904 the roof rested on the top of this, which was several courses wide of solid brick, supported by a thick padstone. Today we can't do that, because of the requirement for insulation. So the trusses sit on a hidden frame. 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

 

A full complement of three today. It was the base of the lamp post that got most of the attention.

 

Paul and Dave replace one of the 3 x 2 slabs that were there before.

Yours Truly was dispatched to cut the second larger, then the two smaller slabs to size. He got a compliment from Paul! They fitted perfectly.

Paul, fitting the last slab around the base.

There it is, all done. Just a small bit more pointing to do next time.

 

A heritage minded PWayer in a passing truck felt that using paving bricks here would have looked better. 

On reflection, we felt that he had a point there. However, we only put back what we found (three concrete slabs) and we were rather too far down the road to change now. If only he had spoken to us last week.

 

 

While Paul and Dave were doing that, we raked out the crack on the inside of the hut, resulting from the shifting of the corner (since underpinned). There was quite a lot of space in there, and lots of loose mortar.

The bit sticking out is just a lump of mortar that was pushed in there; we will replace it with half a brick.

Next time we'll have a look at the outside. (we could see daylight through the crack) 

 

As is our wont, we had a look in the skips after lunch. There has been plenty to save in there as of late. Today it was a bunch of old telephones. Could these not be sold to raise funds?

Dave couldn't resist having a good rummage in there. (Dave is a former BT engineer). He vanished with a cardboard box full.

On our way to the Coffeepot we noticed that the door cill had been refreshed. Previously it was made out of some sort of cardboard, and had almost completely worn away. Now it is made of hardwood, and has brass, slotted screws. Well done, that team!

And a small but interesting fact: We had two coaches of school children today, and in an idle moment the driver of one mentioned that he liked coming to the GWSR, because he got a £5 voucher for our cafe. When he drove to Harry Potter he got a complementary entry ticket (worth over £50) but nothing for the cafe. That Coffeepot voucher is a good ambassador for our railway.

 

 

 

More modern plastic at Winchcombe.

Sadly, we have to report that once more, people aren't singing from the 'We are a heritage railway' hymn sheet.

The early volunteers who built Winchcombe signal box in the 1980s, would spin in their graves if they knew what we would do to their efforts years later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of years ago this modern LED was attached to the bricks above the locking room door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was followed by these CCTV cameras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a modern plastic light was screwed to the wall next to the signalman's door.

Just off camera, on the other corner, is an existing small Windsor lamp. Could those functions not have been combined in a believable 1905 style? 

 

 

 

 Then, last week, a tower scaffold was positioned next to the box.

 

 

Our mission: to be 'a living museum'

 

 

Its purpose now revealed: To screw a large plastic LED spotlight to the car park side wall. 

Could extra lighting have been added in a sensitive way? Yes, of course. Here is an example that you can buy today: 

This is a copper Windsor lamp, with a corner bracket, as used on the Toddington goods shed extension. The steam boys took the trouble to get it right.

 

And what is this, on the platform side of Winchcombe station, in full view? A modern, plastic fire alarm box has been attached.

We are not singing from the same hymn sheet here - our chairman has stated, in public, that we want to be the best heritage railway in the UK. These thoughtless, modern appendages are not part of what we aim to be.

 

 

A look over the fence - EA, and the Yeo Valley Trust.

An important shareholder meeting took place on Sunday, to vote on transferring the assets of Exmoor Associates to the Yeo Valley Trust. All former shareholders of EA will now become life members of the trust. The vote in favour of the transfer was carried by a very large majority. This move enables the YVT charity to control the assets of the company that it supported. The previous, private limited company structure needed to change to fit in with its supporting charity.

We dropped down to the meeting early in the morning, to find a wonderful scene of valleys filled with clouds in the early morning sunshine. Chelfham viaduct is just visible centre left.

The meeting took place in the Grow Forward site under the viaduct. 

Much of the damage done by vandals while the site was unoccupied has been made good, except the main admin building, which remains as a shell at the moment, after being set on fire. The site has become a nice place to be again. Grow Forward are keen to work with the local community, and this includes the preservation group looking after Chelfham station, as well as the YVT. The car park filled quickly, with cars from both EA/YVT, as well as volunteers at the station.

 

 

 

The meeting had a long agenda, and lasted for most of the day.

One item was the presentation of this clock, thought to be the original from Bratton Fleming. It was bought by a supporter, and repaired by the YVT.

 

 

 

 

There is no immediate news of trackbed purchases. Two are close to fruition, but have suffered from delays not the fault of the YVT. One vendor died; the other couldn't find the deeds! Both are now on track, and could close any day now. Several others are in various stages of advancement, but further details will not be revealed until something concrete has been signed.

Meetings have been held with Bratton Fleming Parish council, Barnstaple Council and North Devon Council, and all are very supportive of the land purchases, and the possibility of a railway returning to Barnstaple. 

Negotiations continue with th L&B Trust at Woody Bay for the YVT to take care of Chelfham station, but so far without anything positive emerging. Chelfham was bought many years ago, and is living a lonely existence, far from the current operating line, and does not seem to figure in any future plans there. A sale or lease to the YVT seems a sensible move forward to unlock the station's potential. Chelfham is pretty much in the middle of the three miles that EA/YVT have secured in trackbed purchases so far. 

From the meadow on the other side of the viaduct we were able to take this picture of Britain's highest narrow gauge viaduct. It is indeed a lovely structure, all built in white brick.

The viaduct is not in the care of the YVT though, but by the Highways Agency Historical Railways Estate (if we read this right). Sadly, although the parapets were put back in place some years back now, it was not waterprooofed, and this is now beginning to show.

The issue is the same as that of Stanway viaduct - water leakage is seeping down the structure, and is causing bricks to spall.

We also took a snapshot of the water wheel, which is now revealed after clearance of undergrowth.

Behind the main original house there is a pile of lightweight 2ft track. This could be used to install a temporary, say, contractor's style railway, to show to interested parties what the YVT is about, and what the potential is for the local community. After the vote to transfer the EA assets to the charity, the YVT will have 3 miles or so of trackbed, so thoughts are evolving what could be done with that to make it useful.

The house itself is in poor condition, and has not been addressed by Grow Forward yet.

The YVT is looking to recruit volunteers to:

- Run, or populate its website

- Raise funds for trackbed acquisitions, and in the longer term, rebuild bridges. 

- Raise the charity's profile with PR

- Run its 100 club

- Support the charity's engineer

If you think you can offer your services, please get in touch. 

Meanwhile, work has started at Bratton Fleming on erecting the good shed, just prior to the expiry of planning approval. This is now locked in.

 

The site has been cleared, and the old garages removed.

Footings have gone in, and a contractor engaged to put up the shell of the building. The sides will have 6 - 8 courses of bricks, and then timber cladding. The roof will be insulated corrugated iron. 

The YVT has, opportunistically, acquired a Ruston diesel engine, and a carriage, which will be kept inside. There will also be a workshop, keenly anticipated by the working members. 

 

The 6 - 8 courses of white bricks will be in the L&B house style, all being recovered from the demolished Chelfham parapets, which were found lying in heaps on the trackbed downhill from the viaduct.

One member has started cleaning them. Three thousand are needed, and 500 have been cleaned so far. Some help would be nice.

 

Here is a picture of Bratton Fleming station, as it was on Sunday, in brilliant autumn weather. If you want to stay here for a spell you can, but not until next year.

The original station, like Chelfham, was just a modest two room affair, but Bratton Fleming was added to, in order to become a residential home. One room, being very damp (on the left) has been taken down again, the other room (a bathroom currently) has been refurbished, and the conservatory is still in use. The whole building is getting more refurbishment, but next year it should be available for letting.

A panel of track has been put down, for demonstration purposes. The area off camera on the right belongs to an adjacent house, which has been for sale for some time now. The YVT would like to come to an agreement with any owners to split off the former trackbed. As this is at the bottom of a steep hill, it seems to have little added value for the house.

 

It was noted during the meeting that the goods shed is not yet fully funded by its appeal. That was a surprise to your blogger, so here's hoping that they can raise the difference (about £50k if we remember right)

If you want to help, you can by donating here: 

https://yvt.org.uk/donations/donate-bf-goods-shed/