(Baldrick) - Get the door.

The last missing GWR lamp post on Winchcombe, P1.

Friday was the day we took the last 'garden centre' post on P1 out, and replaced it with a genuine GWR example. Winchcombe got a little more authentic as a result.

 

 

This post, near the south end of P 1, was once the southernmost one, until the platform was lengthened, and another one was added. That one became the first genuine GWR post on the whole station. Two others eventually followed by the toilet block, and this is the third and final one. Now they are all genuine along P1, and match.

 

 

 

This is what the 'garden centre' post looks like. Short, with sticky out arms, and a 12 inch lantern, insted of a 16 inch one. They have a little door at the bottom.

These were put up in the early days (late 1980s) when cost was an issue.

We have a programme of gradual replacement with the real article, as donations of GWR posts allow.

Have you got one in your garden you'd rather see on a real railway? Get in touch via the Blogger contact form. We'd love to have it. 

Because an extra post was placed to the right, the cabling route of this now penultimate one was a puzzle. Here is Ian digging out behind the wall, to see where the cable is exactly.

 

It was diesel Driver Experience day, so here is the class 24 sputtering by, with a happy lady punter at the controls. She waved and tooted at everyone she could see.

FoWS bring up the GWR post.

 

 

 

The post we are using is one of the two we saw on 'Junk and Disorderly', standing in the garden of one of Henry Cole's contacts.

Together with a sponsor we were able to buy them, the owner being in the reclamation business. 

 

 

 

 

We eventually ascertained that the cable feed was not from behind the wall, but from a conduit running in parallel under the platform. However, the extended feed to the new post did go under the wall. To open all this out we needed to dig a hole that was much larger than normal, and there was an awful lot of concrete down there, much more than we thought. It took ages to free the main concrete block from the rest, but a bit after lunch time we got there.

With the top off, a bar down the side and a good shaking we managed to introduce a wobble factor, and here it is, now loose. Phew !

 

 

We didn't like to remove the post from the block, as it acted as a handy lever to move the block around.

With the block finally wobbly enough, we took the old post off. It really is quite small, compared to the real thing. It had been attached to a second layer of concrete on top of the lower one, which itself still had some of the original threaded bar pieces in it. So a big concrete block down there. 

 

Later we were joined by Mike from Construction & Maintenance, and after trying, and failing somewhat, to cut the block in half with hammer and chisel, Mike offered us the use of a Kango.

That did the trick! 

 

 The quick video is just to give you an idea of what that sounded like.

Ian standing in the hole, once the block was removed.

 

The Kango ate through the block in seconds, and it was soon out and heaped up in pieces, left and right.

 

 

 

 

As it happened, after the block was out the hole was pretty much the right size for the GWR post, 22 inches deep.

Before back filling Ian and Mike spent quite some time re-routing the cables - one the supply from a conduit under the platform, the other the extension to the further lamp post on the platform extension. We put in a new conduit under the wall, and a junction box out of sight, behind the wall. 

 

 

 

We got a lot of help from the FoWS, who took a great interest in this novel activity.

One lamp post remains in stock, lantern already purchased. It awaits agreement from the FoWS committee to make a start on replacing the 'garden centre' lamp posts on P2. We need 4 more, so if you have one you'd like to donate, do get in touch.

In this picture Norman is watering the infill around the post to make it settle. In a month or so we'll give it a topping of tarmac. In the meantime the FoWS will clean and paint the posts, and put the new lantern on. As pioneered by Broadway, the glass will have the name of the station in it. 

To keep the (very shallow) hole away from the public we put a bench in front of the new post. If the post looks crooked, that's because of the wide angled camera lens. We spent ages staring at it, to get it right!

Once the infill has settled a bit we'll give it a tarmac covering. 

 

 

And a couple of extra pictures from Winchcombe:

 

 

 Any thoughts?

 

 

 

Saturday, out with the gang.

Seven of us today, a modest figure, maybe due to the heat (which was ongoing)?

The job was siding 2 at Toddington, so we loaded up the Transit and drove along the line, stopping short of Toddington yard, where our work site was. 

 

 

On the way we met the first down train, bound for Cheltenham.

We saw the smoke first, it needs a keen eye to realise what is coming. You duck the van off the haul road and into the weeds, acknowledge the whistle when it comes.

The sun is not with you at this time of day though. 

 

 

 

The first job on siding 2 was for STEVIE to bring in the economy sleepers (ex Didbrook) that we are using to replace life expired wooden sleepers from the 1980s.

Unfortunately the job was hampered by two external events. 

This was the first: yard shunting. Betton Grange is pushed this way and that by the 03. It meant that STEVIE couldn't get to the refuelling point.

 

 

The second was the slow speed of the diesel pump.

Dave D spent ages up there.

Eventually we wandered up to ask why it was taking so long.

The fuel pump is making the diesel foam, Dave said.  75L seemed to take about half an hour.

 

 

At least the rest of the gang was being useful - they were loading STEVIE's trolley with economy sleepers on the Parlour Road, ready for collection as soon as STEVIE was ready.

At last STEVIE could move round to the Parlour Road and pick up the sleepers.

On Wednesday this space had been cleared of sleepers and ash ballast over three lengths. 

 The first replacement sleepers are laid out, in pairs.

After a while we had quite a few laid out, but it was hot. People would press themselves tightly against the tenders on the left, where there was a tiny bit of shade.

 

 

 

We laid in the rails for the first length. It was a bit hard to line it up properly, as there was a big pile of ash ballast that spoiled the sighting line.

Nick embedded two bars in the ash, and this gave us an idea of where to aim for. 

 

 

Here is the pile of ash, as we lay in the last sleepers of the section that was clear.

Next to 2807 we also had the Standard visitor to keep us amused. To our surprise the carriages were fairly well occupied - perhaps with people who were not so interested in galas?

With rails laid in on two sections, we had a bit of a 'tweak' to get the new track to point in the right direction.

This 'tweaking' is not one of STEVIE's strengths. Alarms kept ringing, apparently because the weighted back was heavier than the front, with the jib retracted as in the pictures. 

As Nigel and Dave D 'tweaked' the track, the others sat in the shade, phew !

Mid afternoon the class 26 'McRat' ran by, ready to attach to the Broadway train.

This is as far as we got on Saturday, basically filling the gap dug out on Wednesday. Not bad for what was a half a day, with a very delayed start.

To do next is removal of the ash pile, and digging out the last of the three lengths. Then we can do the turnout. 

Tea time was at Winchcombe as usual. We put the tools back, but this time into the new containers down in the yard. That was indeed a lot easier than climbing up the steps, and carrying everything uphill into the GUV.

Monday under the greenhouse.

Two of us at Toddington on Monday. Neal has listed what still remains to be done before we can lift in the canopy at Broadway, and it's a long list. One thing is painting all the components, wood and metal, in primer and an undercoat. 

 

 

 

Neal has already painted hundreds of dagger boards, but there is more.

On Monday Neal painted steel, while Yours Truly painted chunky planks and mouldings with white primer. Together we were strong !

 

 

 

 

The stanchions are ready to go to Broadway, and were put to one side, next to this hooded monster. Hope they don't get eaten...

 

 

Next we had a visit from a lorry with a HIAB. This brought a second 40ft container, which will join its companion in front of the loco shed.

The two containers will be used to store loose parts arising out of the heavy overhaul of several of our locos at once. 

 

 

 

The weather was rather uncertain, with passing showers that mostly didn't quite hit us. In the end we got quite a lot done, but there is plenty more, and not enough room to lay it all out. We need to get as much done beforehand as possible, in order to avoid months of expensive scaffolding hire at Broadway.

Neal has already been to see a quarry, to get a quote for the cap stones for the store room. That was quick, but the chairman is behind this request, so it had better happen.

The day we intend to lift in the canopy has been fixed, providing we can get a crane on a Monday, when we have no services. The month in question is August, slightly earlier than intended before. That will give us more dry days to paint topcoat on everything.

Finally, the Black 5 was looking good in front of the loco shed, with rods down, just right for a photograph.

 

 

 

Tuesday under the greenhouse.

 

Three of us on Tuesday, making a determined assault on the paintwork required before the canopy is lifted in. We want as little as possible needing doing once it's up, to limit the expense of ongoing scaffolding. 

 

The forecast mentioned intermittent rain, and thunderstorms. We thought we'd give it a try, maybe it would stay dry if there was no wind.

Neal did steelwork, John priming and Yours Truly was on light stone (mouldings and structural timbers)

 

We did OK during the morning and got a lot done. It then started to rain, but we hung in there, despite the cascade of water off the roof right next to Neal. The whiter concrete below shows how the cascade washed away the dirt on the ground.

We raced to the mess room during a brief lull and ate our sandwiches. When we came back we ended up in the heart of a thunderstorm. This brought with it the wind, and as a result everything got wet. No more paintwork possible like that, so we broke off the day at about 3pm.

We did have a quick look at the platform extension works. The tarmac is off, the slabs removed, as well as some of the brickwork.

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

A full complement again today - but next week they will be three, as Your Blogger has a few days off. It's allowed. 

The day started wet, but in our new hut we can now sit in the (almost) dry. We still need to do the lead flashing around the chimney, and fit a door.

 

 

A door.... oh yes, that's right, we need a door. Dave has a large supply of good quality second hand timber at home, so we are going to make the door out of whatever he brings.

Unfortunately there was no STEVIE going by today, so we had to hump it all up the trackbed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Down below, Julian was waiting with the timber, which had already been roughly laid out in the shape of the new door.

These are chunky pieces of timber, that door is going to be very heavy (and vandal proof). 

 

 

Services were normal today, so we were blessed with MANSTON and 2807 going by. On board were lots of school children, as well as a coach party. Good business, it seemed to us.

2807 approaches, but rather cautiously.

It's the done thing for us to wave, as our passengers always wave at us. Maybe they'll think we are enjoying ourselves, and come and volunteer as well?

After the train had gone we got down to the serious business of door making. Yours Truly was on painting duty, as you can see below. The building is now almost all uniformly black, as it would have looked. They used Creosote in the day, and we are using fence paint, but the look is the same.

Door discussions, and a black lineside hut.

Then came another downpour, which caught Julian and Dave in the middle of sawing a length of timber to length.

If you look carefully, you can see streaks of rain all over the picture. 

 

 

Once they had run inside, the corrugated iron roof really let go with a steady stream of water rivulets.

 

We need a gutter here! 

 

 

 

 

Making the door was paused, and, with a blue sky in the background, we nailed a plank along the end to act as a fascia board to support the gutter.

 

The other side still needs painting - that's for Julian next week.

MANSTON then came by again, with a cheery Steve waving to us from the cab

 

You can start to see how the platelayer's hut fits into the scene, with a train going by, and the tunnel mouth in the background.

 

Here the gutter is on, and is being tested by Dave with a bucket of water from behind. It pours out beautifully, straight into the track drainage system, but also at the other end. So we need a stop end there. Also a downpipe, to prevent blowback when it's windy. But the gutter itself is a good start.

 

There was an interesting wind effect today - the smoke blew back out of the tunnel, which it does not normally do.

Mid-afternoon the basic door was ready. It proved to be very heavy, needing three people to lift it. We'll need some chunky hinges for that.

We have cut a small window in it to start with. The finished door will have a window three timbers wide, and with wired glass.

Julian, Paul and Dave were having a lot of fun with that. 

 

The last picture shows how the platelayer's hut looks like now, and how it fits into the environment.

It looks rather like something from a model railway, don't you think? 

 

 

 

Wednesday on the PWay.

The gang continued at Toddington, relaying siding 2. Pictures by Tim, Paul and Walt, with thanks.

 

 

Walt was out early with STEVIE, and back filled the two lengths laid last Saturday with the ash ballast pile that was deposited at the end. This freed up the next section for relaying.

 

 

Economy sleepers from the pile by the former garden centre were then lifted in, as other volunteers spread out the ash ballast to make everything neat again.

 

 

 

 

 The sleepers were carefully lined up, before the adjacent rails were laid back in.

 

 

 

 

The second (and final for today) rail going in. The ballast pile is still there, but it's a different one now, and a bit nearer the camera.

 

 

 

 

The scene at the end of the day. Saturday should see this part of the job finished, although we'd still like to change the turnout by the stop board.

 

 

 

During the earlier part of the day (while STEVIE was collecting debris from the platform extension team, and spreading out the ash ballast on siding 2) the rest of the team was on a short sleeper renewal session at Gretton.

 

The volunteer's boot here is standing on one such candidate that's up for replacement. They were second hand when laid in the 1990s.