Here, there, and everywhere.

A record turnout today - 20 volunteers! Whaaat? What brought that on? Sun, food, half term for kids, and a fun project, those must be the factors.

Here's what we did:

Team 1 went to Toddington to replace 4 sleepers in the area just outside the station. This is the first area to be relaid back in the 1980s and some of it is now firmly due for replacement.

Team 2 had a huge debate about the location of the Usk building. Its future location was changed so often we have finally decided to put the building on rails, and then we can move it around from time to time to please everyone.

Team 3 continued with completing the siding move.

After tea and doughnuts team 3 got stuck in straight away. It was a question of sorting out the bits we didn't do last week - drilling holes in replacement sleepers, putting on the fishplates, and keying up.

Team 2 had a huge debate about the location of the Usk building.

One huge debate? Several !

Here they are looking at the distance from the rails, as now moved back 6 feet.

The original suggested location for the new 'Goods Office' was here in front of the tree. But that spot was very tight for any traffic passing behind, so the spot decided on by HODs was behind the tree, in the distance.

This, however, was felt to be a bit out of sight of the public.

With the moving of the siding we suddenly had an extra 6ft of space, so a plea went up to revisit the proposed location.

Today it was then agreed the Usk building could be built in front of the tree after all.

Huge debate again.

It was suggested it be moved 3m towards the white hut here.

More debate, arm waving, pointing.

Finally, it was moved back again by 1m.
Everyone now happy at last. Phew!

Those few that had not joined the Usk building debating society bravely continued with sorting out the siding.

Here we are putting back the final pair of fishplates. Isn't that siding now nice and straight?

Trains ran today too - Dinmore and the DMU. With the early morning light you can get silhouettes like this one.

The trains looked pleasingly full too. That would be the half term effect, there were lots of children on the trains. What to do with the little monsters when they are at home, off from school? We can help. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

With the main part of the siding now all bolted down tight, it remained to a small group to key up that panel that was only de-keyed, but not dismantled. Unfortunately Stevie moving that first panel by a few inches had filled the gaps in the chairs with debris, and it was very difficult to get the rails to sit in them again.

Each chair had to be dug out of the mud and debris and have an area cleared around it. Then the debris was poked out from behind with a bit of old wire.

This was a hands and knees job - you could get your orange overalls dirty here.

It took all day to do 18 sleepers (36 keys) but we got there at last.

Meanwhile the Usk hut location debating society had finally agreed on something, and 4 pegs were knocked in. This momentous occasion deserved a cup of tea.

Once the exact spot had been agreed by all, the more serious job of marking out the location and the area of the foundations to be dug out.

Jules here is making up some location boards, which will be attached to posts hammered into the ground.

The siding fixing team now turned its attention to ballasting. A PWay trolley was loaded on to the new track, and filled with ballast by Doug in the Telehandler.

An interesting fact also emerged today - it won't move if you have the handbrake on, no matter how many knobs and levers you jiggle...

The bucket full was then trollied down to the stop blocks (will they receive a coat of topcoat?) and the ballast spread into the centre and Cotswolds side of the track. The Malvern side will be ballasted once the platform foundations have been dug.

Three bucket fulls got us about half way. This hand ballasting was surprisingly successful, as at this rate we should be able to complete it next week. With the ballast around the sleepers, Stevie will be able to drive his digger down the track to dig out the channel for the foundations.

Up above the setting out of the building's foundations was completed. We now need to make up a drawing giving the dimensions and thickness. With that drawing agreed, we can ask Steve to dig the hole.

Errrrr... ice cream, or a piece of shortcake? Ummmmmmm...

Afterwards we all seemed rather thirsty - it was hot again today, after a cold start - so there was general agreement that a tea party would do the job.

Here we are outside the Coffeepot. Will you be mother?



Hayles Abbey halt.

As reported earlier, we were one of 6 rural projects to be given a CPRE award this year. The railway got a framed certificate, and there was a plaque for the shelter.

Neal of Broadway canopy fame made the plaque a beautiful turned base, and with this the plaque was put in a discreet position inside the shelter.

Here it is, our first award. We are still hopeful of an award for Broadway station, but these mills grind very slowly. Fingers crossed.

Outside the Hayles Abbey shelter another award had been made - a dog mess in a pink plastic bag. This was left in flinging distance from the neighbouring bridle path, used by many dog walkers.



Broadway bit

It takes a surprisingly long time to get heritage kit together, and we are still working on several bits to complete the equipment of the station. You can't just go out and buy it in your local DIY centre, samples have to be found and replicated, or if you are lucky, you can pick up an original in an auction.

In the short term there will be at least 2 more V boards. One to read REFRESHMENTS for the cafe, and the other to read WAY IN and BOOKING OFFICE underneath it. This will go above the front door under the little canopy (which itself is considered too small, and if we ever have the time, will be widened to its original designed width).

Today there was a pleasing little milestone, as the 4 inch letters for the V boards were delivered from the Procast foundry in Cleckheaton. (a little plug for them, yes, but they have been very helpful).

These letters were almost all cast from originals that we have assembled over the last 6 years. This is a slow process. You have to be lucky at auction, and sometimes people come forward to help and offer you 2 or 3 that they had, and were happy to pass on. After quite a time you have almost an alphabet. You can then give an original to the foundry and they will cast you copies from it in Aluminium. We also did this for the running in boards for BROADWAY and HAYLES ABBEY halt. The castings are much more durable, and more authentic, than the plywood letters used up to now. These delaminate in just 3 - 4 years.

Notice the pointing hands at the bottom right - they are for the board that will say WAY OUT, this way. They were done from a 'brass rubbing' taken at a friendly neighbouring GWR railway. Thanks, guys. We have found nothing but friendship at other railways, heritage is a common cause.