Chocolate, marshmallow and cherry tea cakes.

Saturday with the PWay gang.

Nine of us on Saturday - a good turnout, especially as three of our regulars were absent. We missed you, guys!

The jobs were at Laverton and in the Defford straight. Laverton first:

The Malvern side dropped, resulting in a twist as well. While Leigh on the right digs out the sleeper ends, others dig the holes for the slueing jacks on the left, ready to push the track across, back into a straight line.

 Holes dug, jacks positioned, then comes the first train, headed by 4270.

After it has passed, gone to Broadway and passed back down again, we have a decent window for working. The jacks are cranked up, and then the Robels are used to pack the voids underneath.

Simon in the foreground collects spare ballast from here and there to fill the holes left by the ballast 'robelled' under the sleepers. It's proof that they work. In fact there was a lot of shovelling on Saturday, quite exhausting.

We ticked that job off at the end of the morning, motored back to Winchcombe for an outdoor lunch, then headed up the trackbed to MP11 where there was a similar fault on the approach to an underbridge.

We couldn't help noticing the fabulous scenery. Isn't it gorgeous! This is one of the reasons people come to see us, that stunning Cotswolds edge.

Hailes Abbey was tucked in on the right - those monks always found the best places.

Here we had a dip over a whole panel length, again possibly due to the tree growth visible in the background. Jacking, then packing was the watchword here.

We even got a written compliment from one of the footplate crew the other day. That was very motivating, so you can be sure we will redouble our efforts next week.

Stepping back a few paces from the Cotswolds edge picture, we can see the gang on the Robels, with at least four of us (cameraman included, when not taking snapshots for this blog) scraping together ballast to feed the tampers, which are very hungry for material.

 

 Of course we had a lookout. Or maybe he was admiring that scenery?

If you want to join us and be part of this, you would be very welcome. Join the Trust, and become a volunteer.

 We ticked the MP11 job on the head, put the tools back and walked up to the Coffeepot, held open an extra few minutes just for us. That cup of the tea at the end of the day makes it all worthwhile.

On the way we spotted the Usk hut, looking finished for all intents and purposes. Well, not quite yet.

 

Just as we reached our tables at the end of the station building, 4270 rolled in under the hanging baskets. Winchcombe is such a pretty station, and with trains crossing here, it can feel authentically busy.

Shortly after the photograph, the Sulzer engined class 24 spluttered in, paused briefly, and then spluttered on, slightly faster, up to the tunnel.

 

This is it then, the tea!

Bert Ferrule, Ade and Adam fill the mugs. It's so good to collapse on to the trestles and taste the brew, and chat about the day's events.

 

Monday at Toddington.

A dry day, so a good opportunity to give the former Winchcombe yard lamp post a go with a tin of undercoat.

This is what it looked like after two coats of the stuff. It should now be waterproof, but of course the actual colour topcoats still have to go on.

Just to remind you, this is what it is intended to look like.

Light and dark stone, the chosen theme for Toddington.

The material to make up the ladder and platform has also now arrived, so once we have a day or two, we can resume the manufacturing process of that. You will recall that the curved handrail is already made.

And a little amusement for you:

This slightly charred firing shovel is parked at the bottom of the steps leading up to the mess room. Just a little reminder of what happens when you let go of the shovel.... Some companies always carry a spare on board, for this very event. You can't fire an engine without it, and it would be a silly reason to fail the train because of a shovel.

 

 

By the coal piles at the bottom of the car park there is now a new arrangement of gates. 

 

New main gates, and two coal bunkers.

New staff entrance.

Big gates block the entrance to the yard area now, and the staff entrance is a little side gate behind the new coal bunker. We are asked to use that now.

Outside the station entrance, yet another 'Total Road Closure', this time of the main B4077 road from Stow to Tewkesbury. Many asked, but all were told that they could not drive past the hole from the Spar shop to the station. It's blocked between the station and the roundabout, the reason being the hole in the road behind the yellow plastic barriers. Contractors came first thing and dug the hole. By the time the picture was taken (at lunch time) they had gone again, leaving only the litter from their snacks on site.

For the rest of the day the road remained blocked, with no work visible.

The works should be finished by the time you read this.

 

Of more productive things, here is a shot taken in the loco shed of one of the posts for the bottom of Broadway's P2 steps being embellished. These rings around the post are made of round bar cut down the middle. 

 

Clever stuff by Neal. The two posts already in place on P1 at Broadway have the same effect. They look very convincing.

Here is Neal welding on the strips of round bar at the top end of the box.

Another job we did was this:

The two replica castings to repair and extend the Winchcombe entrance canopy have arrived from the foundry. They got very wet in the rain, so with some ingenuity we managed to get the whole bundle inside the loco shed where it can dry out, ready for painting.

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

Wet and windy, but luckily still warm.

Dave and Yours Truly were in Devon last week, hence no update. The extra time gave Dave the chance to take Maxie to bits, and work out what was chewing up the drive belt.

Today Maxie was back, and absolutely purring! Phew! There was a slight worry that we might not be able to mix any mortar if we couldn't fix that fault. The drive belt pulley had slipped on its axle and was jammed at an angle, but now it's square again. Dave also drained the carburetter float bowl, which seemed to improve things.

'This is the apex, we'll start about 18 inches below it'

 

 

 

 

We started off with a discussion about where to start the chimney, and how to route the chimney liner.

That liner pipe was very difficult to manipulate, as it was very springy, and there was a howling gale whipping it about. It took quite a while, but eventually we had it tied roughly where we wanted it. It was bought a bit too long, but we don't know how much to cut off yet.

That gale caused the oak tree to bombard us with acorns, they were everywhere.

We had to fish them out of the sand, the mortar, the water tub... one hit us on the finger from above, and it was surprisingly painful, as if someone had thrown a stone.

Down below people from our Construction and Maintenance dept. were digging holes... what for?

Ah, some posts for a new gate.

The day was very showery, with lesser and then heavier showers coming down on us. Eventually the gang cracked, and retreated to the cement hut.

Passing round Paul's chocolate, marshmallow and cherry tea cakes. In the dry.

Later we were visited by 6 very bedraggled members of the PWay gang, who were working at Far Stanley today, and had no shelter (or chocolate, marshmallow and cherry tea cakes). They got soaked, and made an early and grateful dash for the Coffeepot mid afternoon.

 

 

 

Eventually the downpour fizzled out, and we went back to laying blocks. Paul on the front, Dave inside backing Paul up.

We seemed to be particularly productive today. In front is Paul's first row, still green, while on the left Paul is already starting a second.

The explanation is that we are working up to the apex, and the courses are now only half as long as on the full width of the building.

 

 

We had a visitor today - always welcome - and he was so impressed, he promptly put his hand in his pocket, and paid for 6 bags of cement! Thank you, Paul Sucksmith! We live a bit hand to mouth, but so far, so good, as you can all see.

A second gate post is placed, at the entrance to the site.

This picture almost shows how far Paul got at the end of the day. If we wait too long, it's covered in Hessian. The top row is entirely new, and half the course underneath.

Inside, Dave was busy backing up. This is a skilled job, requiring a good eye, and the ability to badger Yours Truly to bring him ever more blocks, even when he's really doing something else.

Two more pictures from the end of the day then. We're now running a blue timetable, meaning that the DMU is taking one of the turns. Today, Dinmore was on the other.

The DMU arrives at Winchcombe, while Dinmore Manor waits alongside P2 for the road.

 

Chris was today's driver. Here he is waiting for the 'right away'. Chris used to fire the Honeybourne banker! Now he's made the promotion to driver, but he admits to still liking the firing job almost as much.

There were lots of school children about today, and we spotted no fewer than three coaches parked outside Broadway station. Sounds good, but overall numbers are down on the good days just before Covid. Let's hope the Santa trains are a success, but sadly we are not operating the DMU Santa shuttle to Broadway this year, so that could hit the takings.

 

Exmoor Associates update.

We took a week off, to attend the next EA update meeting on the efforts to buy more pieces of the former Lynton & Barnstaple trackbed. Now that Bratton Fleming station has been secured, there are also moves to improve that, which is supported by a new trust, the Yeo Valley Trust, EA limiting itself to pure trackbed purchases. 

 

 

Outside the meeting, in the back of a car, was an original VR post box, which has been acquired to fit to Bratton Fleming station, as it used to be. That is the sort of thing the YVT would be supporting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the village hall we were given an update on the land purchases. The most recent one achieved was a not inconsiderable 489m through Budd's wood. This lies almost immediately south of Chelfham viaduct, and includes a largeish slice of woodland that the Trust will be asked to manage. Later in the day we would be permitted to walk that stretch, and see what it was all about.

Two more items are in the offing, and completion is tantalisingly close. EA won't be saying where until the deal is done - you never know. It's proving difficult at times to get to close the deal, as various last minute factors delay proceedings, such as land registry issues, or slow solicitors. However, the EA directors were hopeful of concluding the deals within a month or so, and in this way find two more pieces of the puzzle.

 

 

 

That letter box was pretty darned heavy, so stayed in the back of the car. But other items were on view inside. Last time it was the two beautiful finials for Bratton Fleming station, and this time it was an original SNAPPER HALT running in board, and two replicas (foreground). There was keen competition for the original board, which we think is a shame, as surely the owners of the halt should be the moral winners. But clearly someone wanted it for their own collection.

 

 

For Bratton Fleming a planning application has gone in for a reinstated goods shed, where an earlier one once stood. This one will have a different internal layout, so that welfare facilities for volunteers can be included. In due course an appeal will be made to fund it, if the planners give it the nod. It will also be the place where the SNAPPER HALT sign can be exhibited - it would be a shame to expose the old enamel to the weather.

Chelfham viaduct

After the meeting, shareholders were invited to look at the newly acquired stretch of trackbed at Budd's wood. We parked at Chelfham station and walked over to it, as it is just south of the bridge.

A sad sight under the bridge was the former school here. This has closed and is due to be redeveloped as a small housing estate, 15 units if we recall correctly, right next to the mill stream. In the interim the empty building caught fire.

The Goodleigh road branches off left after about 100yards, and this bridge marks the start of the new trackbed acquired, on the right. The stretch between here and the start of the viaduct, we heard, was leased. The viaduct itself is still owned by Highways England Historical Railway Estate, and looks to be in good condition.

Here the trackbed is 30 or 40m above the road, and gradually descends down towards it.

Before we set off downhill, we had a quick peek uphill, towards the viaduct, just round the bend on the left. This is private property. If you look carefully, you can make out a concrete telegraph post on the right, in line with the parapet. That has been there close to 100 years!

 

 

To start with it's quite a jungle up there, and the area is described as ancient woodland, so will need careful managing.

Then the undergrowth clears, and fortunately there are no trees growing on the trackbed itself.

The road is below on the right.

 

 

The trees below the trackbed, and above the road, could be viewed differently, as there is a risk that they could topple over and hit passing traffic. So woods to the left: ancient woodland, and trees to the right: need careful assessment by professionals.

 

 

 

 

 

After a few 100m the trackbed clears further, and there is evidence of previous wheeled traffic. We even found a mysterious car wreck, reduced to its pressed steel frame, which someone told us was the remains of - a Rover SD! Not so old then.

 

 

 

 

The new acquisition tacks on to a stretch which EA already own, and we walked that as well.

Now you can see that we are almost down to the level of the road to Barnstaple below.

 

 

And here is the road itself, and the trackbed arriving on the left. The interesting thing here is that this was not a level crossing, but a road over rail bridge. After closure this was knocked down, and the road straightened.

 

It looks as if originally the road was further to the left, then zig-zagged up and over the line in an 'S' bend, which can be imagined here.

 

This is the same area, seen from the opposite direction. The EA trackbed appears on the right just as the road disappears round the bend, and then continued through the vacant area on the left. It dived down further behind the camera, and was soon way below the road, to reach the bottom of the valley and Collard bridge (also owned by EA).

There are no proposals to reinstate the road bridge at the moment, EA limiting itself to the purchase of bits of trackbed as they may present themselves.

If you want to see the current state of ownership, EA have a map here:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1k9Gb7T52VroNJaMcXa_4B1kEucQ&ll=51.10769983191638%2C-3.993724964286602&z=14

... but the Budd's wood stretch is not yet coloured in.

After the discovering Budd's wood we reconvened at nearby Chelfham station, which was open to visitors.

Immaculate Chelfham station today.

 Tea was served, and gratefully accepted under a parasol amidst the trees. What a charming place! Immediately on the left is the viaduct, fenced off by a gate. Sadly the station is completely isolated at the moment. L&B at Woody Bay are raising funds to extend from Killington lane to Paracombe, but that is still a long way away. Bratton Fleming is actually the next station up the hill, but EA have no operational ambitions.

Notice the replica signal post on the left. A volunteer has gone to a great deal of trouble to cast the spectacles for an additional four, which could be placed around Bratton Fleming. (even without the track)

 

 

 

One of the new signal arms, and a signal post finial were on display at Chelfham.

These are all new castings, based on self made patterns.

What a beautiful job that chap has done!

 

 

Here is a detail of the spectacle plate, showing the name of the makers: Evans, O'Donnell &Co, Chippenham. The company had only a brief existence, so genuine articles are hard to find. 

They set up in 1894 and by 1903 had already been taken over by Saxby & Farmer.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally on EA, a close up of the replica signal post at Chelfham.

Not all of the necessary land around Bratton Fleming (to recreate the layout) is as yet owned, so at the moment only one of the 4 new signals could be planted there. But you can see that with little steps - post box, goods shed, finials for the roof, and perhaps an EoD signal post - the railway appearance of the little halt is gradually being restored.

 

 

BTW Next week's blog will be published on Thursday. (not the usual Wednesday)