The Usketeers forge ahead.

Monday at Broadway.

No PWay work on Saturday. It's been very quiet recently, although there are two larger jobs planned at Toddington and Southam in the coming weeks.

Monday then. The camera got a bit misted up in the excitement, so you'll have to bear with, until we realised and gave it a wipe a few pictures further on.

Three of us took the refurbished Hayles Abbey Halt sign back to the halt. It's had a complete going over, after the previous paint peeled off in a major way over the winter.

Letters off, new paint, lots of sealant in all the gaps to prevent water ingress. And by design of course there is no moulding underneath, to stop any water sitting there.

That sign was heavy! We struggled a bit, had to walk it most of the length of Broadway's platform, out of the gate and on to the truck, and at Hayles most of the way down the platform, and then up, to shoulder height. But we got there in the end. It's up, ready for when any passengers alight here (not before July in any case).

With the same journey we took an old stone window sill that's been at Broadway, unused, for many years, down to the Usk project, where it will be used as a sill for the door. It's made of sandstone, so will be very suitable, and it's just the right length. We think it emerged from the rubble of Broadway station round about 2010.

Then back to Broadway, where we found Neal trial fitting the first of the T&G boards for the sides of the steps. John was primering various gaps in the paintwork, ready for us to give it another conserving coat of undercoat.

This is the first board here, so quite a moment in the rebuild of the footbridge. They are already painted (ones that 'we prepared earlier') but need the ends trimming at various angles to make them fit under the hand rails, and on to the treads.

Once he had the bit between his teeth Neal made good progress. We did have to stop several times to answer questions from potential customers. It's amazing, but they will approach a guy in working clothes, all orange and boots, and ask him where is their electronic receipt after they made an on-line booking! We did our best to help.

It was another day of sunshine and showers, the last in a series just recently. Just look at the sky darkening here, as another load is about to be dumped on us. But you do get a nice view from the footbridge.

This is what the centre span looks like at the moment. It's becoming quite the carpenter's workshop, as Neal cuts the T&G and there is sawdust and shavings everywhere. The fitting is only temporary, as we have to treat the newly cut ends with a fungicide to give the wood a longer life, and a coat of primer/undercoat each time.

Here are the boards, starting to go down the steps, with John's primering also evident. 

To remind you, this is what the sides are due to look like, with this one original panel from HIA fitted to the other side as a demo piece.

Tuesday at Broadway.

First a quickie to Toddington, where our galvanised posts were waiting for a coat of primer.

As you can see this, they've has that coat - dark stone undercoat is next.

Outside, the trains seemed a little busier, now that we have allowed people to get on at CRC and at Broadway.

After lunch, we went to Broadway to continue with the footbridge steps.

We opened up the fencing, and found 4270 chugging in with its train. One day. you'll be able to take this picture.

One of us felt that from up here, the railway seemed like a model one, so far down.

Here is the passing shot, as the loco trundled underneath the bridge and came to a halt at the platform end.

As you can see, the weather was much more cheerful on Tuesday.

Neal wasn't here for most of the day (on a mission to retrieve a milling machine donated to us) but we noticed how far he had got on Monday late afternoon. 

The first panel is almost cut. These planks have to come out again, as the cut areas need to be treated against rotting, and then painted as well.

The Broadway gang have been busy with the fencing, and that allows this more interesting shot of 4270 returning across the bridge, from behind the newly planted fence. Such a change from the weeds and wild tree growth that we found when we started here in 2008.

By the BROADWAY running in board the loco slowly rolled up to the rake and coupled on.

John gave the Cotswolds side another layer of undercoat, while yours truly fitted some more extension strips to the treads.

Wednesday on the Usk Project.

A great day, with lovely dry weather, not too hot, and good progress made, as we got to work straight away at 08.30. No doughnuts! Not for this dynamic team.

On site we were met by a sea of sandstone blocks, and more arriving all the time. Our small team of 5 split into two halves, with two laying blocks, and three cleaning and re-positioning them according to size.

In the foreground you can see a growing pile of blocks with an angle. These are for the top of the gable ends.

 

We started on the Cotswolds side, where Paul was laying and Jules was fetching.

Sadly, Jules had to leave us mid-morning for an unexpected domestic issue. Hope you got it sorted, Jules!

On the preparation team were John and Jonathan, chipping away old mortar, which yours truly then carried (or tried to carry, some were too heavy and were left alone for later) to the pallets with the different sizes.

After completing the Cotswolds side first row we paused, and watched the first train out of CRC accelerate away with the token for Toddington.

This, and the first train out of Broadway, is better filled, and reflect the freedom that our passengers want.

After the break, we decided to do the first row on the Malvern side. 

The first row we did last week, on the southern (gable end) side seems to have gone off satisfactorily. We are covering our work in hessian and sheets of plastic, but the storm we just had blew them off, despite the bricks we laid on top.

Jonathan left at lunch time, and we were down to four workers. Here is Dave with a little trolley we are using, pulling one of the corner quoins for fitting near Paul.

Dave took over Jules' role of fetching for Paul, and together they were able to lift the heavy blocks on the DPC, one by one. 

A little tap from the rubber hammer would settle them down well, or level them out if they were not quite level. We are working with roughly hewn natural stone here, so there are many irregularities, which is all part of the attraction of such an old stone building.

Our guess is that the stone came out of the debris extracted from boring the tunnel at Usk station, which is cut through the same type of rock.

 

 

Today's Winchcombe station, formerly at Monmouth Troy on the same line as Usk, is made out of the same pink sandstone material, so our new historic building will suit the main station building much better than the modern Bradstone out of which the toilet block, P2 waiting room and more recently the visitor centre were constructed.

And here is the Malvern side first row, just completed.

Peter from the PWay team has come over to have a look at what we have achieved.

Having laid an 8 inch row of blocks along the Malvern side, we added a corner quoin on the end. This will help when we place the next row.

The hessian has been laid out, ready to cover the work to protect it from excessive drying out.

We had a bit of mortar over, so added another block on the northern gable end as well. Then, finally, a second row quoin on the corner.

Here's the overview of today's work, just before we covered it all up. Although it's an 8 inch row, we have tried to use a few bricks of different sizes in the middle, as you can see. We've now got the first row on three, and some on the fourth sides. The area of the door will be done at a later stage.

The original blockwork pattern was almost random, with a few straight lines, but most rows changed in height with a step upwards or down along their length. But at the end you do have to come back to an 8 or 9 inch corner quoin, as they are all of that size.

Tricky....

Derek's steam in colour

These photographs are from the final two days of the Oxford University Railway Society visit to the West Country. The first four were taken on 19^th May 1965.

A view of Brunel's 1859 Royal Saltash Bridge. [A09.29]

Taken on board a train between Newton Abbot and Teignmouth with another train approaching. [A09.30]

The oncoming train is hauled by a Western Diesel Hydraulic, and has no fewer than 13 coaches in tow. The whole train is in maroon.

From the same train approaching tunnel. [A09.31]

This is Parson's tunnel through Hole Head, near Teignmouth. The sea is right up against the trackbed, and the cliff above the tunnel looks fragile. As part of the resilience programme, Network Rail is about to build an extension to the rock shelter on the other side of the headland.

Last picture of the day is a view through the cab of the DMU at Sidmouth Junction with a service to Sidmouth. [A09.32]

A new day, 20^th May 1965, and BR Standard 4MT 80146 is at Bath Green Park with the 1:10pm for Templecombe. [A09.33]

Standard tank was allocated to Bournemouth when Derek took the picture in 1965, so would be working up and down the Somerset and Dorset line. This Brighton built loco was only attached to three sheds - Brighton in 1956, Eastleigh, and Bournemouth in 1964. It was withdrawn on 9th July 1967 (see also below) and was scrapped by Birds of Risca in November. This newish loco had just 10 years in service.

And here's an extra little curiosity:

BR Standard Class 4MT No.80104 on the Swanage Railway spent 2017 renumbered as No.80146.

Why, might you ask?

2017 marked the 50th Anniversary of the end of Steam on the Southern Region of British Railways.

On the 18th June 1967 80146, hauled the final steam hauled passenger train on the Swanage branch.

Remember, if you want a full sized scan of any of these pictures, contact breva2011 (at) hotmail.co.uk.

Continuing on board this train it is seen here about to take the token at Bath Junction. [A09.34]

You can just make out the Standard tank heading the train, as it rounds the curve. The signalman looks as if he's going to be run over, but in fact the train will pass him on the left, after receiving the token.

Our group had split up for this last day and the next two photographs are again taken from the Bath to Templecombe train showing the approaching 11:40am ex Bournemouth just south of Radstock North. As you can see the others in the group were looking after our headboard! [A09.35] [A09.36]

The crossing train, on magnification of the picture, can be identified as being hauled by 75072, with, as Derek says, the OURS headboard on the buffer beam. Nothing like a bit of advertising!

Like the Standard tank hauling Derek's train, this loco on the crossing train was also a modern loco with a short life span, again just 10 years. 75072 entered traffic at the end of 1955, was based at Templecombe when Derek photographed it, and was withdrawn at the end of 1965, i.e., the same year the picture was taken.

The final shot is taken from our train as it approached Templecombe with a general view of the S&D facilities. [A09.37]

What a great picture of the S&D shed, with at least 4 stream locos visible, of which three in steam. One is attached to a bright red carriage, which could be a part of a breakdown train. It's also in steam, you never know!

Yours truly was once invited to tea in such a red breakdown train carriage. That was at Stewart's Lane in London in the 1970s. The biscuits had 'BR' baked into them, and the tea leaves, hot water and milk all came out of one giant teapot! Atmosphere, or what?

A day with a Standard

Thursday at Loughborough

As readers will recall we are supporters to and volunteers on Standard 76077, which is currently with LMS at Loughborough.

COVID and indeed Brexit have slowed progress a little, inasmuch that the loco was due to be re-wheeled at the beginning of the year, and that has been delayed. 

 

 

 

The good news is that volunteers may now work on the loco again, so 4 of us went to LMS last Thursday for a day of rubbing down and painting, as well as catching up with the news from the friendly team there.

 

The wheels have now been brought round to stand in front of the frames.

The re-wheeling is not far away now, and we have been promised a sneak preview of the actual date, so that we can 'help'. One of the privileges of being a volunteer on your project.

 

 

All the axleboxes have been machined now, and are as now good as new. Our component sponsorship scheme has made good progress, and in particular we have had quite a few take ups of the reverser gearbox shares. These are £140 and we need 75 of them. At the last count we stood at 33 parts sponsored, so we are about half way there. We would really appreciate a few more. If you want to help, here is the link to the support page:

https://standard76077.com/support-76077

There is a downloadable list of parts we still need for sponsoring, and an application form.

Saturday at Winchcombe

It was a quiet day on the PWay. There were two trains out, so there is not much we can do.

One outstanding item was a pair of insulated block fishplates, which we were asked to move a rail length south, to a point nearer the ground signal.

This is on a siding, and it was built out of the rejects in the 1980s. Consequently, the straight swap of plain for IBJ fishplates wasn't quite as easy as we first thought. One rail end had been fly-fished and needed holes drilling, one set of plates consisted of non-matching fishplates (hence a rummage round our stocks) and one bolt was seized and needed cutting off.

 

We got there in the end, also packing one of the joints with a noticeable dip. So we left that site much improved.

Dinmore Manor was out, on this day of heavy showers. The sky was dark and the rails were wet. At least we've got some precipitation, after a whole month of drought.

The second loco out was 4270, seen here drifting round Chicken Curve. The clouds give you an idea of the wet weather that was around.

On the way home we stopped at Toddington to see the Broadway canopy columns, which have been returned by the galvanising company.

They need a dose of T Wash, primer and dark stone undercoat, and then they are ready for placing at Broadway.

 

The galvanising company is called Joseph Ash, and is located in Birmingham.

Where had we seen that name before? That's right, on the door of the lamp hut in Winchcombe yard! Is it the same company?

Goodbye 73 129 'CITY OF WINCHESTER'

While working at Broadway on Monday we had a surprise visitor - a 7 coach train, hauled by our class 73. The 7th coach was one of the strawberry and cream SKs that are with us for a while and have returned from the NYMR.

73 129, formerly CITY of WINCHESTER, hauled the train on a test run of ecs. The loco is privately owned, and in recent years was the almost exclusive motive power for our PWay and extension trains, being the first loco over Stanway viaduct when that was relaid. Now the loco will leave our railway, to make room for a second class 20 of the same owner.

After an entrance into Broadway with this classic scene we learned that this was actually its last ever train with us, so we have filmed the subsequent departure from Broadway, which you can watch here:

https://youtu.be/rGDENddllGI

After the train left again, and with a slight tear in our eye, we resumed work on the steps of the footbridge.

 

 

Neal secured the last woodwork near the top of the steps, then cut the damp proof membrane to shape, so that it wrapped round the steelwork supporting the treads. This will help to protect it from standing water.

 

 

Yours truly spent the day fixing extension pieces to the treads - the are slightly narrower than we would wish, and these extensions allow the risers to be secured in the correct place.

The strips were cut out of spare treads that we had (HIA footbridge consisting of two spans originally)

The wood is an extremely durable African hardwood that we have simply re-used, with very little extra work. When fitted at HIA plain steel screws were used, and these have broken off or rusted through, lasting far less than the underlying wood. When fitting the strips we opted for woodscrews made of stainless steel, for longevity.

An unusual jet engine noise made us stop and look up.

Recognise this? Does the name Gary Powers mean anything to you?

Strange to see these still in use, with all the satellite imagery that we have nowadays.

Tuesday at Toddington

We had a morning testing the proposed lifting of the two columns that will support the last part of the Broadway canopy, over the bottom of the footsteps.

Our methodology proved to be workable and safe, so the lift will take place in the next few weeks, once we have made one or two last preparations.

 

Here are the two posts on trestles outside the loco shed.

They have been galvanised, and today we applied T Wash solution to take the shine off, so that we can apply a coat of primer, then dark stone undercoat.

Lunch was taken in the new mess room. It was sunshine and showers during the day, and during a sunny spell we took this picture looking out over the new terrace at the southern end of the goods shed extension. Two very well made picnic tables have been acquired. What a perfect cafe terrace for the summer this will be!

In the distance above the green 03 shunter you can see a plume of steam. That is 4270 with a now 7 coach train heading south. From the 18th you are able to join the train at both Broadway and Cheltenham, and pay on the spot, providing there is room on board (currently yes....). And we saw our first coach party! Just the one, but a sign of a slow return to normality.

Outside the diesel shed was one of the last picture opportunities to photograph the class 73, which has been sold by its private owner. It has been replaced in our fleet by a second class 20.

Back in the loco shed, John and Neal were fabricating again. We need a couple of corner brackets for the last section of canopy, so they are being assembled here, with their ends bent at 45 degrees.

We were told that you can do this by bending them across your knees - if you are strong....

Wednesday on the Usk hut

Our second day of actual stone laying. Last week we put the bottom corners on, this week we would continue with infilling in between. But what with? All the stones were jumbled up, and most of the numbers now illegible.

 

 

 

Paul explains to a sceptical Jules what size fish you can catch in the Avon

We decided to lay out 5 or 6 pallets, and put on them the stones from the pallets brought by the Telehandler according to their size.

That way we can use similarly sized stones for each course. Or pairs thereof.

More pallets of stones were dropped in the middle of the hut-to-be.

These were the stones without much of a dressed surface, which were originally used on the inside. Many were recognisable as from the interior  by traces of white lime wash.

Then it was train waving time. Foremarke Hall and Dinmore Manor were out today, with 7 coaches each. As from yesterday, people were able to book from CRC and Broadway as well. From our untrained eyes there seemed to be more passengers, but not many more yet.

Once we had some stones sorted into sizes, we were able to start on the first course, which was 8 inches high. That could be one block of 8 inches, or two of 4 inches. We thought; in practice it turned out to be one of 4 inches and one of three, as we hadn't made allowance for the extra layer of mortar.

During lunch Dinmore Manor trundled through Winchcombe station. During the existence of COVID measures the up trains use the up platform and don't stop, so that is rather interesting to see. They just slow down a bit for the token exchange. The first coach is the strawberry and cream NYMR one, which makes a nice change.

It was a day of sunshine and showers today, so here is a picture of a showery bit. It's gone dark, as Dave and Jules point up their work.

You can see one face here which has had its first course laid, from corner to corner. 

We haven't done the inside yet. The walls are thick, and there is a rough inside course still to come.

And then it was sunny again... we decided to treat ourselves to an ice cream from the Coffeepot cafe, which is open to visitors (a group of motorcyclists made use of that, for example)

For some reason (which the Foremarke Hall fireman couldn't explain either) the trains suddenly crossed at Winchcombe. Oh well, all part of the fun.

We took a picture of the token exchange, as it shows our work on the Usk hut in the background, and you get an idea of what the public will look upon, once it's finished. So it will all be visible from the platform. We're thinking it would be nice to give it an enamel sign advertising a coal trader, or a general merchant, or something like that. Put some barrels outside, and some barrows, to make it look as if something is happening.

Does anyone have any experience with firms that make enamel signs? It would have to be several feet long. Any tips / suggestions would be welcome.

Mid afternoon we got an inspection from the PWay team, who had returned early from Toddington. There were more watchers than builders - isn't it always like that?

Near the end of the day we added a few stones to beyond both ends of this face.

This one is a large quoin to raise the corner. Dave and yours truly struggled a bit but we got it on. We also put three on the side facing the platform.

It feels really great to see that old stone building rising again slowly from the mess of stones that has been in the yard for two years now. We will keep our promise!

At the end of the day we covered our work in hessian and plastic, which is good practice. This is the view from the platform, and you can see where we placed the last three stones along this second face.

A final shot for you here of the first course we laid today, covered in hessian and plastic sheets. In the foreground are the pallets with 8 inch and 9 inch blocks, on call for the bricklayers to say 'give me a 12 inch 8 inch high block, and then we scramble around to find just that from the piles we have assembled.

All great fun.

Derek's 1965 railway pictures in colour.

Still on the Oxford University Railway Society Tour of the West Country, all these photographs were taken on 18^th March 1965.

The first at Yeoford is of a Warship on the 10:55am Plymouth to Brighton train. [A09.19]

Unfortunately we can't make out the number, or the name plate.

Next is another Warship, arriving at Portsmouth Arms with the 11:50am departure from Ilfracombe crossing with our train, the 11:47am from Exeter. [A09.20]

Entering a tunnel on the outskirts of Ilfracombe. [A09.21]

..and now on the approach to Ilfracombe. [A09.22]

Passing RAF Chivenor on our return from Ilfracombe, I captured the scene with several Hunters and Meteors on view. [A09.23]

Lastly, two pictures taken from a Barnstable to Taunton train. The first shows the train crossing Filleigh Viaduct. [A09.24]

..and the second with the train approaching Newcross Tunnel. [A09.25]

Remember that you can buy full sized scans (5Mb) of these slides through breva2011 (at) hotmail.co.uk

See you next week !