Laying the floor.

Saturday on Didbrook 1.

Ten of us on Saturday, another good team. We got plenty done.

 

 

 

 

As we are only running one rake of carriages at the moment (the other train is a DMU) it is crowded at Winchcombe, and getting our tools out - all very heavy - is now very tiresome. Everything has to be transported down this narrow corridor, and beyond, to one of the trucks. 

The place of action was a run of wooden sleepers on the approach to Didbrook 1 bridge. These are almost certainly the original sleepers laid by the GWSR pioniers in 1984, and were second hand even then. Now some are at the end of their life.

We brought replacement sleepers to the site, also second hand. They don't make them like this any more.

 

 

There was a lot of digging on Saturday then. 12 sleepers were dug out and then back filled after replacement, and another 3 were prepped (also dug out).

The ballast here is very shallow, and the old sleepers were resting on a bed of gravel that had become hardened like concrete.

Braveheart and the 3 car DMU ran the services on Saturday. They looked quite well filled, we were pleased to note.

Here's our little gang, inn the middle of the day. Sometimes we had to stand to have a breather. Old sleepers were piled up against the bridge parapet, and the replacement ones were dragged into their beds with the nips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We chose this one to represent the sort of sleeper that we were removing. It looked OK from on top, but that is the art of the track patroller - spot the sleeper that is bad underneath.

 

Come the end of the afternoon - with a sharp shower added for good measure - and we were stacking the old sleepers on the forks of the Telehandler. They then went on to a growing pile in the yard at Winchcombe.

Nick and Steve still have a bit of energy left at the end of the day.

At the end of the day we had our traditional mug of tea outside the Coffeepot. At 10 past 4 the trains cross here, and that is always interesting to see.

 

75014  BRAVEHEART trundled in alongside platform 2. It's still got that melodious whistle, we were pleased to hear. And a loud clank.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Alex was beavering away inside the C&W shed, making things beautiful.

We're going to have a lovely GWR freight train for our gala, don't miss it! It's on 12th - 14th May, the Cotswolds Festival of Steam, with Pendennis Castle.

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

A very wet day, with non-stop rain all day long. Three lucky Usketeers worked indoors on the floor and finishing off an interior wall; the fourth, unlucky one stood outside and made mortar. The three inside wanted a lot of that.

 

 

On arrival  we were greeted by the B&R tamper parked under the signal box.

It wasn't long before its crew arrived. It was started up and set off through the tunnel, to work on the section between Bishops Cleeve and Cheltenham.

A few additional pictures can be found at the end of the Usk report.

Inside the Usk hut -we're talking 08.20 here, they don't hang around - Jules was on some snagging jobs. Here you can see him finishing off the interior stone wall above the fireplace, so that it meets the underside of the roof.

 

 

Paul and Dave resumed laying the flagstone slabs. 

 

 

 

 

Last week, you will recall, they did the first row, so that has now gone off and is safe to stand on. We promptly moved the table on to it. Later we moved the table off that row, and even later still, we moved it back on again. Tsk !

All those slabs to lay - we did 15 today, with about 10 still to do - that takes a lot of mortar, so yours truly was busy outside with Maxie in the rain. Maxie did OK providing you kept her on half choke all the time - not ideal. Dave will look into the jetting, she's not getting enough fuel we think.

In the foreground is the dry cement. Well, sort of dry. It not only got rained on, but the big oak tree overhead had great big drops of water run-off coming off it. The little depression with the brick in it filled with water between jobs.

The first row didn't take very long to lay, pauses for tea and biscuits excepted. Paul is doing a magnificent job, on his hands and knees all day. And he's no spring chicken.

Here is is starting the second row.

There were moments when Jules and Dave couldn't help, so they sat on last week's hardened strip and made useful comments. Well, they thought they were useful.

We have a small problem with the sash locks. We've got one original installed, but the second is missing its counterpart (whatever that is called).

We bought a new one, but it's too small. (top right)

A supporter gave us two of those second parts, but they are also smaller, and on top of that the locking triangle is too wide. It should be long and thin, and fit the triangular shape seen in the original below.

Has anyone got any more of these for us to try out?

Around lunch time we finished off the third row (second of the day) and here you can see Paul and Dave fit the first slab of the last long row, before we have to make allowance for the fireplace across the corner.

 

 

 

 

Of course we have to select the slabs in such a way that they overlap, and we can't have one joint opposite another.

 

Next to the third row Paul laid the start of a fourth, leaving a triangle in front of the fireplace.

Now we can see what sort of a gap remains in front of the opposite wall.

Here we're looking the opposite way. We brought all the remaining slabs in and laid them out dry to see what would work. Then we stacked them in the corner, ready for next week.

Finally, at the end of the day, we got this far. Ten more to lay then, plus a few odd bits around the edge. Next week then we will have a much larger area to stand on when it's gone off. It was a bit cramped in here today, with all the new slabs on green mortar.

There was a discussion about the interior today. Some want to limewash the interior, leaving a few of the larger stones on display. Others prefer all of the stones to be seen. When we demolished the hut the inside was lime washed, but that wasn't necessarily done when it was new.

What do readers think?

Here are a couple of pictures of the interior, just prior to demolition:

Tamper on the line.

Paul sent us a few picture of the B&R tamper on our line yesterday to share with you:

The tamper at work on the newly relaid section at Didbrook.

 

Sidewards detail of the tines at work.

 

A lovely shot of the tamper just completing the 4 panels at Hayles Abbey halt.

 

 

Finally, a reminder that the GWR Trust, our supporting charity, has launched an appeal to raise funds to waterproof and repair Stanway viaduct.

Stanway viaduct is one of the larger viaducts on a heritage railway. It has no fewer than 15 arches! It was built nearly 120 years ago now, and there are clear signs that the waterproofing on top of the arches is no longer doing its job. When was it last waterproofed? No one knows, but bear in mind that the railway closed in 1976 and you can bet your bottom dollar that it has been at least 50 years since it was last done.

 

Take a look at the white streaks in this picture. They bear witness to water percolating through the structure, and that is bad news when it freezes. It's not going to fall down tomorrow - we have it inspected regularly - but if you don't do something now, the problem will get a whole lot more expensive soon. So it's time to act. Just look at the broken bricks on the corners, that is frost damage. 

Yours truly will help remove the track, and help to put it back again, and of course make a donation. Will you help us make it possible? We'd be very grateful.

The Trust website tells you how to help. Being a charity it will also make your money go further through gift aid. Isn't that great?

https://www.gwrt.org.uk/donate/stanway-viaduct-appeal

Thank you!

Two special trains.

Saturday at Stanley Pontlarge.

Two jobs today, at Stanley Pontlarge and at Toddington. But we managed only the first, as there was more work at Stanley Pontlarge than expected.

 

 

It was David's birthday today, and he very kindly treated us to a pretty nice chocolate cake.

We had 15 regular doughnuts for 10 volunteers, as well as 6 luxury ones, so that made about 30 pieces of cake etc between us.

They all went....

 

 

 

 

 As we ate and sipped our tea there was a strange whistle outside.

You had to be quick to get a short glimpse of BRAVEHEART with the ECS for CRC. Saturday was its first outing.

 

We piled into the crew cab Transit and the new Ranger, together just about big enough to take all 10 of us.

On site at Stanley Pontlarge we set out the jacks to address a mysterious hump that had appeared by a tree. Strange, normally trees cause a depression, by sucking moisture from the ground.

You can't beat down a hump in the track, but you can lift the area around it, and  make sure that it does not develop into a twist.

 

 

 It wasn't long then before 75014 came back with the first train from CRC. It looked quite well filled.

 

BRAVEHEART negotiating a hump in the track.

You can just about make out the hump in this picture, with the high part under drivers by the tree, and the two low parts just ahead of the bogie, and under the tender.

 

 

The doughnuts didn't all get eaten straight away, and we were amused to find some in the ranger on the central console.

It's a recent news item that certain airline pilots aren't allowed to do this...

 

 

75014 then came round a second time, leading to a similar picture as the one earlier.

The sky was rather threatening, although we managed to dodge any significant rain until we were safely under the canopy outside the Coffeepot at the end of the afternoon.

 

 

Besides removing the hump, for which a fair old time was spent with the Robels, we replaced four sleepers which had been marked with a cross.

The digging did us good. We think.

 

 

We had intended to change some sleepers at Toddington as well, but the Robelling of a couple of panels of track, inside and out, on both sides, took rather longer than anticipated, so we had to call it a day mid afternoon, after changing those sleepers as well.

As we were packing up we received a visit from the DMU. This was well patronised, but depending on which way it was going. There was clearly a pattern to the traffic, we think towards Broadway in the morning, and back to CRC in the afternoon. The balance workings then were less busy, it seemed to us.

 

 

We dropped back into the yard to put away the tools, and caught the C&W shunter moving wagons from our goods train around. 

That looked quite authentic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then holed up outside the Coffeepot to still our thirst, and wait for the traditional crossing of the last trains in front of us.

 

75014 eventually trundled in, while blowing its rather magnificent whistle. It was very different from a GWR one, but we liked the change.

Standard 75014 draws to a stop at Winchcombe.

Our new visitor paused at Winchcombe in the evening sun.

 

 

As we turned around the DMU came in. It was in bright sunshine, but under stormy clouds over the hills.

Look how nicely the Usk hut fits into the scene!

 

 

 

The DMU has to stop to exchange tokens, while steam engines can roll gently by.

 

Here the signalman is just handing over the token for the next section. It's always an enjoyable scenario. 

Monday - out with a ballast train.

A special on Monday, made possible by a non-running day.

The tamping of the Broadway extension had lifted the track in places to the effect that there was now insufficient ballast in a small number of areas. Monday's train was marshalled to alleviate this.

We set off under a rather gloomy sky with two senior members of our infrastructure team, who went to check out a cutting.

Approaching Stanway viaduct, looking out from the balcony of the Shark.

 

 

The class 37 then pushed the two Dogfish and Shark brake van along the extension to the first drop site, an area at Peasebrook farm that was a bit short of ballast after recent tamping.

Prior to doing the drop, we took a static picture of the short little ballast train at Peasebrook.

On the way back your blogger was allowed in the cab of the class 37, which was a first.

This was a case of noisier outside than inside, we found. We like the sound of the Growler bellowing, but it's not very audible inside.

Approaching Stanton Fields, just past the site of Laverton halt

Stanton Fields bridge, a dead end.

Stanton aqueduct.

We had a quick trundle back down the line to Stanton, where Usketeer Dave was waiting with the Telehandler to load up for a second drop. Some of us have several hats on...

Back at Stanton Dave loaded us up. That takes about 30 minutes per Dogfish, so we had at least an hour to kill for each replenishment here. Biscuits helped to kill the time...

Then we were off again, being pushed up the line by the class 37.

More drops were made at Laverton (the picture though is from Peasebrook), so that we pretty much used up all the fresh ballast that was available to us. But we also achieved the back filling of most of the proud standing sleepers that were there.

Finally we trundled back to Toddington, now in steady rain.

In the picture you can see the train approaching the viaduct at Stanway.

A couple of sundry items of interest noticed during the day were:

A pigeon basket, such as were used at Broadway many times in the 1950s. This one was seen at Toddington, and the gang there did well to find it. Wish we had some at Broadway, to re-create the famous picture of pigeon baskets with the Cornishman behind.

 

The other item was Peckett 'John', out in the yard for once.

It looks almost complete here, but the parts have been assembled to allow travel and to save space.

The bottom end has had a lot of work done on it, and attention now turns to the boiler. It also has a new smokebox frame for the door, which looks impressive.

Tuesday - out dropping rail.

Another special PWay train ran on Tuesday. We're doing all we can while the timetable is weekends only. This time we were dropping off rail, to replace older worn out stock. We had a small crew - 3 PWayers, a guard and two diesel drivers in the class 47.

About to enter Greet tunnel.

 

 

We set off from Toddington yard, picked up Paul at Winchcombe, and headed off for the far end of the line.

 

 

From the Shark brake van you get a different view of the line for once

Coming out of the gloom and back into sunlight at Greet.

The curve coming out of the tunnel, by the Royal Oak pub.

Gotherington station, seen from a rail supply train. We trundled through at 10mph, but once trains raced through here at up to 70 mph!

Arriving at the RDA - picture by Paul in the class 47.

 

 

After a long and very draughty journey we finally arrived at Southam, where we met Walt in the Telehandler by the RDA crossing.

Our lifting beam was on top of the rails, but it was the wrong way round for this site. Walt very elegantly manoeuvered the Telehandler round and round, until the beam was in the correct position for him to insert the forks, and then, finally, lift a rail off.

How to lift the rail off, at the RDA ? Picture by Paul.

The ELK wagon had both FB and Bullhead rail on it, but the one we wanted was under the other. That led to more Telehandler wizzardry, until we were finally able to lift a FB rail and put it on the ground. 

The train was then reversed to the curve just before Southam Lane bridge, where we dropped off a second rail. Matt, guard for the day, and Paul, walk to meet Walt and to discuss the MO here.

As the line changes sides here, the lifting beam was the wrong way round - again!

One of the reasons we are replacing rail is when you find wear marks called 'squats'. These have the potential to become cracks (over many years, mind).

In the picture a precautionary clamp has been attached to the spot where the squat is.

The next rail was dropped off just short of Two Hedges Bridge at Bishop's Cleeve.

Here we discovered an interesting oval cover in the recently cleared undrgrowth. It is held down by no fewer than 12 substantial bolts, and carries a works plate on top of it, unfortunately almost illegible due to its age. What could it be?

The next stop was at Gotherington Skew, at the start of the Dixton straight. You can see Three arch Bridge in the background there.

You won't get through here with that beam like that, Walt!

As we had two drop offs in quick succession, we left the lifting beam attached to the Telehandler. That is possible, but it makes for an awkward drive, like a dog with a very large stick trying to get through a narrow door.

Just joking though - Walt didn't really have to go under Three Arch Bridge, the dropping off point was just there in front. 

Paul's drone captures the drop offpoint at Three Arch bridge.

The foregoing took most of the day (particularly the preparation of beam and rails at the RDA crossing) but by 3 o'clock we were trundling back to Winchcombe, with one more drop to do at Chicken Curve.

On the left is the site of the former navvy town for building the tunnel. Trees have been planted here by our lineside people, you can just make out the stakes. It's part of a larger programme of greening the railway. Another large spinney is being planted on the Cotswolds side of Chicken Curve.

The last pictures shows the last of 6 rails dropped off on Tuesday. This one is at the end of Chicken Curve and it's starting to get dark.

Bye bye from the crew on Tuesday. (Picture by Paul)

 

 

 

Time to go home. The next job will be to actually use these rails to replace the worn out ones in each spot.

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

A lovely warm day! Spring is here. All 5 Usketeers were there, and we got a lot done.

 

Paul and Jules ponder the next step.

 

 

 

 

Last time we started with the floor sub base around the outside. Today this had gone off, and we continued with the middle.

Dave waited patiently for Maxie to do her stuff.

 

Under the oak tree Dave kicked Maxie into life and made a mix for Paul and Jules inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An early grey sky soon turned to glorious sun, and we took the executive decision to have a cup of coffee. Outside of course.

Dave treats us to a smile, while Paul dreams of weak mix recipes.

 The bag of doughnuts went round, and also some cupcakes from last week. A bit dry, but still cupcakes.

 

 

 

 

Today we had a visit from C& W across the tracks, who very kindly agreed to make the window boards for the hut.

This is what the big window looked like without.

 

The original hut didn't have window boards as such, but some windows had makeshift planks across them. Ours are going to be a bit more purposeful.

Here you can see the main one being tried for size. It isn't easy fitting a window board to the old stone hut, as everything inside is jagged rocks and not at all straight. The board went back to have 3/8ths trimmed off, but then it was good to go. Thanks guys! We will do a final fit with some mortar underneath in due course.

 

Outside Dave and John pondered how to get Maxie going again. She still sputters from time to time after the long winter hibernation.

Should we hit her with a stick like Fawlty, or maybe a shovel.....?

Then Fairview came with some long awaited cement. We need a lot in the floor.

Small world - the father of the driver was a relief signalman in the area, and the pictures he took from various boxes are featuring in 'The Cornishman' magazine.

Thanks, John!

The sub floor was coming on great, and with the extra cement we were able to keep going.

Paul and Jules inside drew the floor level, using the outer rim we poured last week.

Around lunch time we completed the sub floor. Dave spooned in the last few shovelfuls, and then all that remained to be done was for Jules to write 'Welcome' in the wet cement.

(You won't see that of course when the floor is finished)

 

 

 

Finishing that went faster than we thought, and at lunch we mused about what to do in the afternoon.

We decided to go for it, and start laying slabs. The start would be on last week's section anyway, and that has hardened.

We started with a small slab in the corner, to get the height correct.

 

On the other side of the room Paul put in another section of slab, which is temporary. This will act as our guide that all the slabs will be the same height, by the use of a cross level.

In this next picture you can see Paul making sure that the second slab is level.

By laying a plank edge-on across that and any other slab, you can check the level of the floor you are laying.

Another trick that Paul had up his sleeve is to coat the underside of the slab with a slurry of cement. This makes the slab sticky, it adheres better to the mortar that goes underneath.

At the end of the day we had laid one row of slabs under the big window.

Jules is standing on a white conduit that we laid across the room, so that an electrical cable can be passed through it discretely.

On the window cill is a cardboard roll. This was brought in by a volunteer who was involved with retrieving and rebuilding the Henley in Arden footbridge at Broadway. It contains a copy of an original GWR drawing of the complete footbridge.

This is what it looks like unrolled. The copy was ordered from NR at some expense, and is printed on high quality paper. The scale is 1/2inch to the foot.

 

If anyone is interested in acquiring it we will let it go for a donation. Send us a message via the contact form on the right at the top of the blog.