Station 'X' - all is revealed.

Saturday at Station 'X'

Seven of us set off a second and last time to 'Station X'. It was our last day to grab as many bricks as we could, before the platforms are demolished and the crusher comes in.

Due to the delicate nature of our 2 1/2 year discussions with the parties involved, we did not want anything to get in the way at the last minute, so we kept our destination discreet.

 

Quite a few people guessed rightly that it was Verney Junction, two stations west of Swanbourne.

Swanbourne and its 800 bull noses was the main target for us, but the 10.000s of bricks at Verney Junction would be a nice added extra to save from the crusher, and useful somewhere on our railway.

Need to be careful with photography though, in case it reveals the name....

As the layout of the lines in Metroland is a bit complicated this map will help to show where Verney Junction is. Swanbourne is the next station east after Winslow, just off the map. The whole of the disused line from Oxford to Cambridge (Varsity line) is being rebuilt. Oxford to Bicester is already done, and this next bit where work has just started is the stretch from Bicester to Bletchley. It should (re-) open in 2025.

The north/south line through Verney Junction was the Aylesbury to Buckingham (and Banbury) line, and was actually owned by London Underground at one point. Traces of that are still quite visible in the area, in the form of lines of trees leading away from the junction, and bridge abutments on the Winslow road.

The station was open between 1868 and 1968, and occasional freight traffic used the line until 1993, after which it became covered in weeds. The remaining single line was lifted only quite recently.

Verney Junction lost its purpose when the Aylesbury-Buckingham line closed, and with few houses in the area it no longer had a reason to be. Hence it will not be rebuilt when the line is reinstated (nor will Swanbourne be).

On YouTube you can see a useful drone video of the site, which also shows the Aylesbury-Buckingham line joining and branching off again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOIKw7QXgaM&list=WL&index=2

Off to work at the junction then.

Despite the absence of any traffic the level crossing still has modern warning signs all over it. It is very rural though and beyond the crossing there is only a track to a local farm. If you stop and listen, you will hear - nothing.

After a 5.30 alarm at home and loading up at Winchcombe, still in the dark, the three Transits arrived at Verney Junction just after the security officer opened the gate for us. In the picture the station was on the left, together with the station master's house, which is still there.

 

Looking towards the right you can see the trackbed running straight, in flat countryside, towards Winslow, with the former line to Quainton Road branching off on the right after the bushes.

We set off again to dislodge the low hanging fruit of facing bricks and corbels.

You needed to pick your spot with soft mortar, because this clearly wasn't one!

Mortar was like concrete here, and the brick (hardly a crumbly one) would rather break in half than let go of the one underneath.

Move on to an easier spot...

John found one of those easier spots. He's not only got the three corbelling courses off, but has worked his way down the face of the platform. And what was coming off was basically clean.

BTW the stationmaster's house is top left, and there is another platform face on the other side of the lump on which John is working.

Just too much for us to take all.

Once we had loaded the three Transits again, we started piling extra bricks on to pallets at the end. The donor of the bricks is helping us with transport of this supplement and we had a useful chat with the transport manager on how this will be achieved.

In the background you can see the 360s that have already moved in for the final job.

We had an interesting chat with one of the ecologists (if that is the right word) that are dealing with the wildlife on the site. They check the site daily for invertebrates, but the trawl on Saturday was negligible, most having already been re-housed.

We already mentioned the new bat house built at Swanbourne, and this paling wall is interesting at Verney Junction. It is a new badger sett, but a wildlife monitoring camera revealed a more interesting new occupant: A Polecat! 

 

 

 

 

Despite its name, this is actually a cousin of the Ferret and after becoming severely reduced in England the animal is now recovering in Central and Southern England. So the rebuild of Verney Junction has one clear benefit already.

The Transit team, with a 90 minute journey before them, left again after lunch, loaded with a total of 4 1/2 tons of good Brindles. The other 4 team members stayed on to load up the pallets, finishing with the 7th as the rain slowly rose in intensity.

We in our Transits of course suffered not at all, as we put on the windscreen wipers and turned up the heating....

Our smugness was repaid in spades as the heavens burst open as we unloaded at Winchcombe. At least the water washed the bricks; they are all nice and clean and shiny in this picture. We got soaked. No mechanical handling was possible as we needed the pallets at Verney Junction, and the Telehandler was in use at Toddington on the unloading road anyway.

So 1000 bricks were loaded by hand, and then again unloaded by hand. But it was a successful mission, and our satisfaction at the end of the day was great.

 

 

 

To round off the Verney Junction recovery exercise, here is a picture of the station when it was still in use. If you watch the YouTube video you can see why no one ever used the station in its latter days - no one lives there, and the other railway line that crossed it was closed.

Source: Wikipedia - Creative Commons.

An eastward panorama from the footbridge at Verney Junction railway station showing wagons in the former Met exchange sidings, the overgrown Met platform and an Oxford-bound 'bubble car' Derby DMU approaching the down platform with its weed-strewn flower display. Dated 1960s.

Tuesday at Toddington

On arrival at the loco shed we found the unloading road partly relaid. More to come on Wednesday, when it may be fully assembled, but not yet packed.

There will be a concrete apron over the top, and a central Arco drain, to dry this area out a bit and keep the water away from the buildings.

After tea and a lengthy debate, we set to work on the angles that are required for this unloading road. They will keep the concrete off the flangeway.

 

All the bits of rebar with which the angle will be secured to the concrete need bending in different directions first, before welding. 

John on the left is welding the rebar on, while Neal and yours truly have been doing the cutting and bending of the rebar triangles. That was a complicated job, as there are several planes that need to be respected, otherwise the can't be welded on.

As yours truly had to nip off the Cheltenham for a couple of hours, Neal found a way of doing the job solo, as well as an easy way of getting the angles right. Each piece of rebar has to be heated up three times.

Outside, Dinmore Manor was manoeuvering to get itself filled with coal again.

That is a spectacle easily viewed by our travelling public directly from the car park.

 

 

 

Wednesday on the Usk platform.

Rain belting down over Winchcombe

 

The day promised rain and sunshine, but it was rain straight away. Instead of milling around the cars, we all took shelter underneath the visitor centre awning.

Lord Kitchener wants - YOU !

Jim assembled the PWay troops for today, and they set off for Toddington to continue with the relaying of the unloading road.

Oops!     I didn't do it!

As the gentlemen from the Construction & Maintenance dept. are going to complete the outer edge of the stop block surround, they brought over a dumpy bag of sand on the sharp forks of the Telehandler. Half way across the foot crossing there was an ominous creak... 

You know when you're going to trip and you still manage to stagger for a few more yards before dropping what you were carrying? Well, it was a bit like that. One dumpy bag strap let go, and the rest of the bag lasted another couple of yards before the whole thing let go at the bottom of the ramp.

Nil desperandum, the sun had come out now and we soon had the sand transported to its destination round the corner with a couple of wheelbarrows.

The bright sun cheered us up and we decided to give block laying a go, having first concluded that it was impossible today.

We received moral support from Jules, who is recovering from an injury and has to stand on the sidelines for a couple of weeks.

Then the 10 o'clock from Toddington arrived, headed by our mighty Pacific. We were pleased to see that just about every compartment/table block available was filled.

We had round about 20 blocks (from Swanbourne) to lay before we got to the end of our little goods platform.

Paul is laying, while Dave is pointing here.

As we now have enough bull nosed blocks for the goods platform (the remainder is pencilled in for a turntable pit, when that project gets the go-ahead) John moved his cleaning activity to the other side of the yard, where he had a good go at cleaning the first bricks recovered from Verney Junction.

They certainly look good in this picture.

After dodging yet another shower (and nervously consulting our weather radar for gaps in the rain) we resumed with the last few blocks on the straight.

Here is Paul just tapping one down, with just 3 or 4 blocks still left to go.

INTERMISSION

There will now be a short intermission in the block laying, while the blogger takes the kit for a tower scaffold back to the Broadway footbridge, from whence it was borrowed to repaint the Winchcombe one.

Dinmore Manor and a train were in the platform as we arrived, and it was good to see a busy scene.

Even better was the erection of the spearhead fence along the southern part of P2 on the other side.

This section of fence has been sponsored, very generously, by a supporter so that we can all see that work on completing P2 at Broadway is not forgotten.

This is what it used to look like, before Broadway station was demolished:

Broadway after closure to passengers. Copyright: GW Trust Collection.

Originally the spearhead fencing extended down both platforms from end to end. Note how the running in board is leaning back. This is because the platform is on made up ground, and our today's board is busy trying to emulate this lean. Nothing escapes our drive to be authentic...

While waiting for the train to leave again, we caught the Broadway construction gang carrying the heavy fencing panels, manufactured on site by one of the volunteers, to the site of installation.

Just then, Dinmore Manor appeared while running round the train.

We hope to be able to add to the fencing some of the GWR cast iron ball topped fence posts, and we're currently talking to a foundry to make these, using a pattern that we have. If you are interested in any additional examples, we could include some with our order - send an email to: breva2011 at hotmail.co.uk.

This is your standard passenger shot from the end of the platform, but at times the lighting is rather good from here.

ACT II on the Usk goods platform

We returned the empty Transit to the C&M yard at Winchcombe, and back on the Usk platform site we found that Dave and Paul had finished laying the blocks, and were now looking at how they would fit on the wall around the stop block.

We could have a small one and a large one, back to back, or two large ones....

The bull nosed blocks on the straight piece of the platform were indeed now all laid. What a milestone! They even found a use for the rare half block that we discovered at Swanbourne. Thought that was worth taking with us....

At the end of the day the main platform was finished, with all the blocks (about 200 of them) installed on top. Next week, we will be working on the brickwork inside the stop block wall, while the men from C&M will be on the outside.
 

 

A couple of shots taken by Jules show the magnificent row of blocks, lifted just a few weeks ago from far away Swanbourne, now forming the edge of our new platform.

Having helped to lay the last block on the platform wall, Dave cited Winston Churchill as saying that this was not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning! We've still got the whole stone building to put up yet.

A look into the past

A correspondent sent us a number of interesting historical photographs of Staverton from the Steve Bartlett collection. Steve retains the copyright, but kindly allowed us to share them with you. (Note that they should not be used in magazines, articles or books for which a fee or reward is paid)

Steve's great great grandfather Edwin Bartlett was stationmaster at Staverton for 25 years, from 1898 to 1923.

This first one shows a train from Totnes entering Staverton station (now on the SDR ). The level crossing is in the foreground, together with two very relaxed employees.

This second one shows Staverton station from the side. The picture is thought to date from 1907 or thereabouts. Look at the large number of barrels on the platform! Some of these would be good to display next to the Usk hut and platform, when they are finished.

This one shows at train in the station, and about to leave for Ashburton. The picture was taken in the early 1900s. The loco is clearly No. 217 and it is thought that it was built in 1876, unless someone has more detail? Steve would love to hear.

Here is the station staff: Signalman Baker, Stationmaster Edwin Bartlett and Lad Porter Len Napper.

LH picture:

A proud stationmaster Edwin Bartlett, thought to be posing for a retirement picture in 1923. This shows the classic GWR stationmaster's uniform of the early 20th century, with double breasted jacket and pillbox GWR cap.

RH picture:

The same people as those seated in the picture above: Stationmaster Bartlett with signalman and lad porter, in 1923.

Staverton Station c1904 - a Dart fisherman on the left, former station master R. Tope (with long white beard), Porter Harry Maynard & young Station Master Edwin Bartlett. Another good view of the station buildings as then and a very early photo.

The PWay gang at Staverton!

From L to right: gangers Baskerville, unknown, Harvey and Fred Hill.

This last picture shows timber loading in Staverton goods yard in 1909. The Plymouth Loading Inspector is on extreme left, Edwin Bartlett is 2nd from the right, in front of the crane.

We hope you enjoyed these  turn of the century pictures of Staverton. If you have any similar ones of our railway we would always be interested to see them. (breva2011 at hotmail.co.uk)

Post Scriptum

Here's a picture taken from the opposite view, by a passenger in a passing train:

Copyright: David Brookes-Howells

From left to right, the whole gang (with the exception of John, who was cleaning bricks in the other half of the yard)

Paul and Dave by the wall, Jo, Jules and Bob (with the bucket)

Thanks to the passenger David for the picture, and thank you for supporting us with your custom.

Another brick from the wall

Saturday at 'X' station

Seven of us were finally able to set off to a mystery location, where there were two long platforms and a bay built of bricks that we were allowed to recover.

 

It was an early start, as the destination was some distance away, and we all had to get to Winchcombe first.

Here is our fleet of Transits, at 7am in the morning. It is just getting light. Each truck can carry 1500Kg.

And here is our destination! We can't say where it is, as we will be returning next Saturday for a second day's work.

Two days to attack this vast pile of bricks is all we've been given. A very modest, some say symbolic, gesture but we will be able to save some of them for the railway.

 

 

Jim sent us a couple of pictures he took earlier, when we first started discussing the brick recovery with those responsible for the site:

June 2020

Check out the electricity pylon in the background, this is the same view! Note also that one track was still in place, but that too has since been lifted.

This is the same view in June 2014.... we have been discussing the recovery of some, or all of these bricks for 2 1/2 years now, and in the end it came down to a quick snatch over two Saturdays, before the crushers come in.

Our first impression upon an earlier fact finding mission was that these were imperial blues, but they turned out to be Brindles, also a hard brick.

The copers had already gone, so we addressed the low hanging fruit, which was the corbelling bricks. Behind the facing bricks the rest of the platform was built generally of red or red-like bricks, something of a mixture really. Sadly none were marked, to allow us to identify the source, but undoubtedly local.

It was hard work, bashing away with bolsters and lump hammers. We gradually realised that some areas were hard as rock, while others came away in your hands, so once we had that sussed, work accelerated somewhat. It just depends on who was mixing the mortar, all those years ago.

We ate 'al fresco' on the back of one of the Transits. No chance for a pub lunch, this place was in the middle of nowhere!

After lunch, more bashing with the lump hammer, but we soon found a soft spot, where it was possible to break the bricks out with your bare hands.

At intervals there was a puzzling grille, with a channel that led to where we suspect the station buildings were. Would they ventilate the suspended floors perhaps? Similar ventilation grilles were found in the rubble at Broadway.

In the picture you can see the different colours of the bricks: Purple on the facing side, reddish behind.

Mid afternoon we started stacking the first lot on the back of the Transits. A brick came in at 4.5Kg so we reckoned we could take about 330 of them at a time. Not too many, but they are heavy, and imperial in size. If you wanted to buy them, a reclamation yard would charge you £1 a brick, and we use quite a few of them on new platforms, walls and in Lineside Drainage. We could even build the turntable pit with them.

Mid afternoon saw us load the third transit, and you get an overview of the site as we left it. We took just under 1000 bricks back to Winchcombe, and left another 1100 for stacking on pallets for next time. We intend to do another day, take another 1000 bricks, and have the rest collected by lorry, for which the owner has rather kindly agreed to pay.

A blast from the past

Rob from our Construction & Maintenance department very kindly sent us three pictures from the very early days of the GWSR:

This one shows the arrival via Mike Lawrence of 7821 Ditcheat Manor.

What is so amazing about the picture is the emptiness of the Toddington site. On the right is what is now the loco yard with water tower and GWR yard lamps, while on the left is what is now the main line just beyond the signal box, where today a train headed by classmate 7820 Dinmore Manor ran happily with 6 coaches for Cheltenham Race Course.

Haven't we come far! And from such a low start too. The pictures look to be taken around 1981/82.

The second picture shows Ditcheat Danor just about to touch those very early scraps of GWSR metal.

GWR 7821 was BR example of the famous GWR class, and has led a somewhat nomadic existence since touching down at Toddington. It was rescued from Barry in 1980, so these pictures must have been taken soon afterwards.

Currently 7821 is owned by the WSRA and, restored but out of ticket pending repairs, it is believed to be on display at Swindon.

The last picture was taken on the same day Ditcheat Manor was unloaded at Toddington, but actually shows one of our faithful and still current residents, heavy freight loco 2807.

There are just a few track panels on site so far, and the goods shed on the right is actually bricked up!

Tuesday in the loco shed

All is ready outside in the yard to relay the unloading road between the goods and loco sheds, but work hasn't actually started yet due to an issue with the levels.

Here is a supply of better second hand sleepers, and a ballast train with which to pack them.

On the new mess room / goods shed extension, heritage style lamps are being attached now that the steel platform is up.

 

 

 

The Broadway canopy team was asked to help with preparations for the unloading road on Tuesday, so we spent the day cutting and welding for that. Got to help the others out, when they ask you so nicely!

On the left are the raw materials, lengths of angle iron and steel rebar. Together, the two will form a channel alongside each rail for the wheel flanges, where the bent rebar will be buried in the concrete pad on the top to hold it into position.

At the end of the day we had done 7 strips, and the other team doing this (last Saturday) did 6. There is at least one more day's heating, bending and welding to do, but at least we have now cut all the bits of rebar to length, so the project is on the home stretch here.

Wednesday on the Usk project.

Also a day of slow progress here, this time because of the foul weather. There was incessant rain the whole day long, so we couldn't lay any bricks or blocks.

What to do instead?

As there were only the two of us on site today, we decided to position the blocks around the area where they will be used, which you can see on the left here. Others were placed on the trolley and on a pallet nearby, ready for the taking!

The idea is to put the blocks all the way round the stop block, on top of the wall, then back fill the area in front.

There was a one train service today, effected by Dinmore Manor. There was plenty of steam heating to be seen, and many faces pressed to misted up windows. Still quite a few passengers about, which is good to see.

Having laid out all the other blocks we are likely to need to finish off the platforms, we stacked the remaining ones on two pallets at the corner, handy for picking up by the Telehandler when it comes back from its current station at Toddington. The site of the hut rebuild is now clear again, but it still needs a major sweep out of the mortar chippings, and thousands of acorns.

End of the afdternoon it stopped raining. Tsk! Typical that is, but by that time we were soaked and it was too late to start anything.

See you next week then.