Thursday on bricks
Thursday at Broadway - two of us on bricks, with Neal at Toddington on steels.
Our work day varies with the weather, as you can't lay bricks in the pouring rain.
So knowing when we might pop up on the Broadway camera is a bit haphazzard.
This time it was a Thursday, a blowy but mostly sunny and dry day. It was also an operating day, and we were surprised to see the DMU arrive, after seeing a mainline diesel hauled train arriving this time last week.
With the much shorter DMU stood exactly under the canopy, it reminded us of an earlier picture, taken in the late 1950s, of the Coffeepot running in to the same space.
The 1950s picture also allows us a glimpse of the canopy extension and bottom of the steps on P2. We will build it exactly like that. The big WAY OUT sign already exists - it's in store.
The 1950s picture doesn't show any passengers, but the 2024 DMU did have quite a few passengers. We just paused for a few moments for the picture, to show a near empty platform, like 70 years ago. But Broadway was actually quite busy on Thursday (election day).
After making a big mixer load of mortar for John, enough for most of the day for him, we continued with the job of improving the bolts on the P1 lamps. That job was completed, and then we put the glass with the extra lamp glass sticker on back.
This is what the P1 lanterns look like now.
You can just about make out the shiny stainless steel bolt heads underneath, and now two panes of glass with BROADWAY on.
Unfortunately our efforts to loosen some of the totally rusted bolts resulted in two cracked panes. These we have had remade in our local builders merchants in Broadway, and will fit next time. Then that's it for the lamps of P1.
The brick laying on Thursday was along the back of the new building. John started by the centre column, and laid a double row of blues to the corner.
Mid afternoon a Johnsons coach arrived and decanted its passengers onto our platform.
Once again Broadway looked quite busy.
The Friends of Broadway bric-a-brac shop was also inspected. This sells donated goods, and home made trugs. It generates quite a bit of income, for virtually no cost. It does need people manning it though, and we recenly lost a key volunteer here.
If manning 'Auntie Wainwright's' appeals to you, we would be very glad to hear from you. Don't be shy, you'd be very welcome.
Similarly, the Broadway cafe is looking for more volunteers. Due to age or outside circumstances there's always a gradual reduction in volunteers, so new ones would be gratefully received.
Finally for Thursday, a last look at the brickwork. John has reached the corner of the building, leaving just the store room to do.
John laid 80 bricks on Thursday. Once we are round with the first course it's the dpc to put on, then the next of the five courses of blues on the plinth.
Two more from PWay at Hayles
Courtesy of Jim, here are two more pictures of the PWay gang giving the Hayles Abbey halt a bit of a refresher.
It was a dull day, so lunch was taken 'al fresco', albeit 'in camera'. That's a 10ft bench in there, with 6 burly track workers squeezed on to it. Didn't think that was possible, but hey, needs must.
The path, with a Terram sheet under it, was given a good weeding, the platform face of 'sleepers' was creosoted, new lamps fitted (the existing ones only cost £5), and the gate post was stabilised with a length of angle, but more work is needed as it has already rotted at ground level.
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| A pensive Paul at the end of the day. |
The bench with a collapsed slat was taken to C&W at Winchcombe, where new slats are currently being painted.
The main job was the re-filling of the platform surface, which had settled close to the platform slabs. Two dumpy bags of stone had been ordered for the job, but it soon became apparent that two more were needed. These were delivered the same day by Fairview of Honeybourne, thus enabling us to complete the job, as you can see in the adjacent picture.
Doesn't it look smart again !
This little gem is so popular with photographers. It has a nice setting, easy access from Toddington, the sun on the right side, and car parking in a layby nearby.
Saturday out with the gang.
Or ganglet - just 5 of us today. Someone must have copped the met forecast, it was dire all day long. We hunkered down in the mess coach for about 90 minutes, and then a weather update said the rain would die out a bit earlier, so we packed up the Ranger and headed for Bishop's Cleeve.
On the way we noticed that STEVIE the RRV had acquired a brand new set of tyres, which is excellent.
The old ones we heard were 12 years old, so definitely time for a refresher of the wheels.
Two steamers were out and about today - 2807 and P & O, back from its trip to Swanage. It was declared a very successful trip, and the excellent mechanical state of the loco got praise there, we heard.
Our GWR 2-8-0 is seen here pulling into the station at Winchcombe, with the first train of the day. Everything was wet, but the rain was tapering off.
Jim watched the arrival from behind the pile of second hand rail.
At Bishop's Cleeve our jobs list requested that we check the gaps in the screws holding down the brackets on the two breathers.
The 'X' marks one sleeper where it was felt that the gap was a tad too big, the bolt a tad too loose.
That was easily corrected.
Jim recorded the adjustment for posterity. We checked the clearances of all 24 screws in fact, while we were at it.
The job was under Two Hedges bridge. The debris thrown down from it is rather depressing, it's what you get from an urban environment. No fewer than 6 bags of dog mess, a spent vape and refill pot, 6 footballs, a Kinder egg shell (unlikely that a child threw this on the trackbed, sadly), a sock, 2 pens, a Nitrous Oxide cannister and....
...the piece de la resistance, a ladies' undergarment, hanging from our speed restriction sign.
This was also the spot where there was a dipped joint, which we were asked to deal with.
Two jacks, two Robels, and the job was done. Move on.
We stepped aside for P&O, on its way to Cheltenham, accelerating away from the Bishop's Cleeve 15mph speed restriction.
On its way back north, P&O passed us again, heading tender first. We let it go by, and did this passing shot of the rear of the train as it approached Manor Lane and round the curve, Gotherington Loop.
Back home we put back the tools and made a bee line for the Coffeepot.
On the way we spied this 'new' wagon (not seen by us before), on which restoration work has just started. It's a GWR 3 planker, with a drop side in the middle. That'll be a nice addition to our heritage goods train.
Monday, brick laying at Broadway.
Monday dry, Tuesday forecast wet, so we worked Monday. The target was to complete the first course of blues, 'round the houses'.
Neal saw us off, then went to Toddington to work on the canopy.
John spent the morning approaching the corner, the going round it to the home straight.
After lunch the job was done - we have the first (double) course of blues down, right round the building. That's about 350 x 3.7Kg bricks laid, or about 1.3 tons in weight. More bricks were placed for the next course.
Before we start the next course we need to put down the damp proof course. We don't actually have this, it's pending a purchase order being signed.
The logistics are not always easy. We are also waiting for a bulk order of Cementone black, to get our mortar colour right.
In this picture we have part filled in the gap for the fireplace, using broken bricks salvaged from the site. So some original material from the first generation building is going back into the second generation one.
Wednesday with the Usketeers on the Toddington fence.
A complement of three today, Dave being away on hols still. We split into three functions:
- Yours truly on digging in a retaining post for the main gate, and fitting a cabin hook
- Paul on fitting uprights and rails, and
- John on digging holes. He's very good at that, and seems to be impervious to fatigue, despite being the oldest among us. Very impressive.
Before we started, we watched the B&R tamper being taken away by Allelys.
Once up on the low loader the tamper seemed very high, so we did a 'selfie' in front of it. It really is a colossal machine, once up on the trailer.
If only all road transporters were as careful as Allelys, then we would have far fewer bridge hits at Broadway. Most of the hits are caused by loads on top of lorries, not by the lorries as such.
The destination was 'somewhere near Rugby' according to the barrier vehicle crew.
We also saw the result of Neal's work on Monday.
This arched ridge purlin looks a lot more complete than last time.
In fact Neal put in another day's fabricating today.
You see him here at the end of the ridge purlin, drilling more of the innumerable holes for all those rivets still to come.
At the end of the day this purlin was complete. While we were busy on the other side of the fence he had the Telehandler out, turned the purlin on its edge and laid it on the ground, and started the next one (of four in total).
On the post and rail job up the drive Paul was fixing the first of the rails north of the double gates.
We took down the Heras fencing gates and opened the new gates wide.
Soon our first 'customers' came over to use them - these were members of a coach party. and the coaches park in the triangle behind the camera.
Then it was back to work, here fitting two concrete grandfather posts into the two holes that John had dug during the day.
That's about our rhythm, two posts per day, with the associated wooden posts and rails on top.
Nearby the C&M team were putting the final creosote touches to the old featherboard fence, which was looking tired next to the new one that the Usketeers put up.
The event of the day was the arrival of the pair of class 20s into Toddington, with an ECS working in anticipation of the diesel gala.
We had heard the whistle of the class 20 being warmed up outside the diesel shed, and waited with an eye on the station, to pounce as soon as it rolled in.
Unperturbed, John and Paul continued with the grandfather posts. On the right is a transition post, with a preliminary arrangement. The problem is that the post and rail system doesn't like curves very much, but a curve is clearly what we have here. Paul will cut the rails to shape, so that they fit better. The upright is a gauge which Paul made to get a continuous spacing of the rails throughout.
At the end of today we had 4 sections completed with 4 rails, and two grandfather posts concreted in, ready for next time.
That big tree in the middle distance is going to be a problem for the post holes !
This shot shows the pair of gates in situ, as well as the two sections of 4 rails to the left, touching the steel fence.
One gate receiver post is done, with a cabin hook, the other was planted today, and will have its hook fitted next week.
A quick look at the waiting room on P2 at Toddington shows a new, permament heritage GWR poster fitted, with a classic bicycle in front. Two more heritage posters are ready for fitting to their poster boards.
One of the two others is this one, delivered today. Most of the posters you can buy on line show holiday destinations, so we were very pleased to be able to locate this one, as it is particular to our line -
CHELTENHAM RACES 1936.
It's just the sort of thing that would have appeared on the railway station buildings along the Honeybourne line.
If you look carefully at Broadway, you will find one for Stratford on Avon races in 1933.
Second PWay day at Hayles Abbey halt.
Here are some pictures, kindly supplied by Paul and Walt from the PWay gang - many thanks, guys !
The gang spent a second day at Hayles Abbey halt, giving it a serious refresher.
Here is the path down to the platform, free of weeds again.
The grass has also been mown.
A member of thre RATs Trust painted and varnished the corrugated iron shelter too. Excellent!
Martin and Simon painted the edging stripe again, while others re-creosoted the last panels of woodwork below.
If you are standing here during the diesel gala and wonder how the halt looks so neat, this is the gang that did it.
Speaking of diesel gala, the pair of class 20s came by on a mission to retrieve some carriages from Winchcombe.
The 'new' class 20 20228, in BR blue, had its first outing, to make sure it was really fit for the gala.
At Winchcombe the pair of class 20s ventured on to the carriage sidings, and retrieved a short rake of five for Toddington.
Shortly afterwards they came through again, heading north.
Here you can see the pair, as it passes by the recreated halt.
A look over the fence - Evesham Vale.
A visit to the nearby Evesham Vale railway, 'for the grandchildren'... now known as the Valley Railway Adventure.
It was in the news earlier this year as it was taken over by the owners of the Perrygrove railway (in the Forest of Dean), so we were curious to see what, if any, other locos were on display this time.
This one for example, on the centre road under the station canopy. It's an 0-6-0 'JACK', temporarily out of service due to a leaking tube.
A chunky build - we quite liked it. Not sure where it comes from though.
This is definitely a Perrygrove one - it says so on the tender.
Looks like a baby Baldwin.
We took the grandchildren on a little trip. A promotion is that they get free tickets to the Perrygrove, so their father will be visiting that (and paying for his ticket - very clever). You get a run of a mile, on a balloon loop, with a tunnel too.
The train engine was EVR DOUGAL, a resident 0-6-0.
The train stops about half way along, to let the children out at a wooden fort, which kept ours busy for quite a while.
This original enamel advertisement was very striking. We had never heard of the 'TURF' brand, have you?
The brand seems to have been launched in the 1920s and later became part of the Carreras group.
When the train stops at the end of the balloon loop there is an opportunity to photograph it, and return with a later train half an hour afterwards.
This is DOUGAL ( A Zebedee is also reported to exist) entering the balloon loop.
DOUGAL was built by Severn Lamb of (then) Stratford on Avon, one of only 4 steam locos built by the company, we heard.
Since it looks like the canopy structural pieces will be completed well before the walls of P2 building, I wonder if it would be possible to erect the canopy structure without the walls in place? The canopy could be temporarily covered with tarpaulins to provide significant weather protection for the bricklaying. If the west wall (which I assume is largely just a plain one without a lot of openings) could be completed first, with the canopy in place, there would be excellent protection from the prevailing wind too. I hope that more bricklayers can be recruited to speed up the P2 build process!
ReplyDeleteGreat progress as usual. Something which caught my eye in the old 1950s picture was the wooden coving which surrounds the canopy exterior (where the guttering would be). I noticed it is the darker shade of GWR maroon. On the main station building it’s the lighter shade, apart from at the ends of the building. Is this something that will be done on the p2 building as well?
ReplyDelete'Turf', heard of yes but seen on sale no, and not smoked either. There were ever so many different names of cigarettes and, also, tobacco. Some coming out at the beginning of WW2, presumably, as a patriotic thing going by the names of some of them. Some names only live on on model railways where the owner has purchased them from makers such as Tiny Signs and the like. For example there was a brand of Cigarettes called 'Passing Cloud'. Have you heard of them? I think we are both old enough to remember the advertisements on T.V. for tobacco products, and sometimes the music that used to accompany the ad. Then, of course, there were the cigarette ash trays in pubs which advertised either the tobacco product or beer or spirits as sold there. There was, (could be still there), a museum of advertising at either Bristol or Gloucester docks. May be work a look.
ReplyDeleteGreat progress at Broadway, and , in the pipeline by Neal at Toddington.
Regards, Paul.
I don't want to sound too obvious, but with regards the fencing at Toddington going 'around corners', reduce the spacing between posts to either half or a third. I appreciate this adds to the cost and the extra digging for grandfather posts, but it does give a more pleasing finish.
ReplyDeleteDo you have/use a post hole grab? I have one you could borrow if you wish.
On another note, would the Heritage Group or C&M Dept. like a bag of self-levelling compound, a bag of multi finish plaster and 6x lengths of plasterboard beading, also a roll of (only used 900mm) damp proof course? All left over from a kitchen/diner project at home. E-mail me at; drainage.gwsr@sky.co.uk
If the first few courses of bricks at Broadway are laid with Class A engineering bricks, that will provide a damp proof course by itself.
ReplyDeleteThis is rarely done, because Class A bricks are expensive. A strip of plastic DPC is much cheaper, and alloows the use of cheaper bricks. But if you're already building with Class As, there's no need for the plastic strip.
Info here from Ketley, who I think are the only manufacturer of Class A bricks in the UK these days: https://www.ketley-brick.co.uk/res/Rigid%20DPCs.pdf