Caught smoking!

A more modest crew in the mess coach this time, it must be the Easter holiday that does it. Still, it ensured well filled trains, which we liked to see.

The day started grey and misty, so cold that we put our hats and coats on.

Jules and Dave P had to go off to a wartime meeting, but found the time to fetch up some more concrete blocks for us.

Neil helps himself.

The first palletful went straight on to the Permaquip trolley, so we were able to push all these blocks down to where they were going to be laid straight away.

Out of the gloom came Dinmore Manor with the first train of the day, to fetch the waiting passengers at CRC. And we had only just finished chewing on our currant buns. Such luxury, currant buns and tea. Plus, extra cakes from Peter C, who has a birthday this week. Won't say no to that, some baked concoction involving sultanas and ginger, which went down very well indeed.

Peter B joined us in laying blocks today, and he extended the bottom row - there will be 7 or 8 of them in total.

The bottom row is the worst. You are either bent right over, or working on your hands and knees, like here.








At the other end Paul was showing Neil how to lay blocks. The first row goes like this, and the second row like that, see?

The pallet on the trolley is now empty, so that's 80 blocks laid out.

After a while Jim came down too, and showed Peter how to lay the blocks up to the next tower. Notice the tongs that grip a block, what a handy tool that is.

Peter is just measuring how many more blocks he can get in here.

We were working at two levels then, with Neil and Paul at the end here, and Peter and Jim somewhere beyond the middle. One lot was on the second row, the other was extending the first.

After a while second train of 8 coaches headed south - 2807 on the maroon set.

Maxie the mixer was rattling away today, not feeling very well. Her belt wasn't very tight, and she kept stopping, even though we heard her rattling away.

We found out what was wrong - she was smoking! Noooooo? Yes, look ! Cheeky thing, right behind the carriage shed.

Punishment came swift, you have to nip such misbehaviour in the bud. Dave P gave her a thorough beating and she didn't smoke any more after that. She spat out a load of muck, and we wheeled that away happily.

Lord Muck hands it out.

Dave took the barrow of muck down to the coal face, where Jules, back early from his meeting, was another willing taker of the creamy stuff. Now we had 3 block layers on the go.

As 2807 released the route back to Toddington, Dinmore Manor emerged out of Winchcombe station and took the first train out of CRC on towards Broadway. It looked pleasingly busy, although we won't know how we are doing compared to last year until at least 3 months have passed. Opening to Broadway was very exceptional last year, and this year should be more normal.

Neil was doing quite well laying the second row of blocks, so John came up with another supply of blocks, which he laid out next to Neil.

In the middle Jules found the increasingly warm sunshine dried his site out, so he applied a little water along the bit he was going to cover in mortar shortly.

At the southern end Jim was showing Peter how to set up another tower. They are just checking that it is the right distance from the rails.

That blue track gauge, made on the railway, is ancient. It appears in pictures 20 years ago at Cheltenham, when the track was laid in between the platforms there in 1998. Today it is well battered, broken in two and mended with a bit of wood and some screws. Still does the job though.

Several other members of the gang could be seen in training for track walking. Following a reduction in the numbers, we have recruited new track walkers, and they need a period of introduction, familiarisation and learning.

Winchcombe is a good place to watch trains crossing, and you can see both locos out today, passing each other and exchanging tokens with the signalman.

Looking north.

Looking south

Mid afternoon the heat (yes, the heat, what a change!) was getting almost oppressive, and several of us had to trot down to the Coffeepot to get lemonades for much needed refreshment.

As we were wrapping up, the new 30 metre platform wall was starting to become more visible. Rows of blocks one block high, two blocks and at the northern end even three blocks high were becoming evident.

The blue pipes have been cut to allow drainage from behind.

The last train of the day is diesel hauled to Cheltenham, and here it is just arriving with the class 47 in charge. One of the crew is just getting ready to exchange tokens with the signalman, who is standing on the platform behind the camera.

Here they are, the Toddington-Winchcombe token is being handed in, and the Winchcombe-Cheltenham one is being handed out, having been collected from the maroon set behind, which comes in first. All very slick.