Digging at Broadway.

Friday, checking the line.

Readers will know that we stopped running for 3 days during the heatwave, so on Friday a small team went out for a fun ride in the class 45. Sorry, that should read 'a careful line inspection'! Extreme heat, and extreme rain, are not friendly to railway line infrastructure. So a good look was due, before we started running again on Saturday.

Wednesday's rail temperature, almost off the scale.

 

 

It seems that we have a wag amongst us, as David found this car first thing, hiding in the shade, and preventing the vans from being used.

This caused some heated dialogue on the PWay WhatsApp group, until it emerged that the owner of the car was - er, David!

Yes, we have a sense of humour... it's a rather wicked one.

 

 

As is often the case, we try to combine several jobs into one on special days like Fridays ( a non-running day, unless a fire & drive has been organised.)

 

The line inspection with a Peak was combined with moving the left over spoil train from the Cleeve slip works from Winchcombe to Toddington. It looks like the contents could be used in more than one place along the railway.

Once the Dogfish were out of the way, the line inspection could go ahead. Paul very kindly sent these pictures of the day's activities. Some of the team were in the rear cab, some in the front.

Coming off Stanway viaduct, and the start of the CWR section to Broadway.

Heading north, here by the bridge to the hamlet of Stanton Fields.

Just entering Broadway station, on board the Peak.

Waiting at Broadway. Cafe closed, so no ice creams...

The inspection revealed nothing of major concern. Our CWR track held up remarkably well, a tribute to our track maintenance team.

Afterwards there was some time left to take some expired timbers to our storage yard at Working lane. This involved both the RRV and the Telehandler.

After a few hours left in the hot sun, our RRV looked like a piece of molten cheese...

(Another example of our sense of humour). 

Monday and Tuesday at Broadway.

 

Neal continued at Broadway with the stormwater drainage, aided by lower temperatures than last week, which pretty much brought the whole railway to a stop.

 

Neal's solution to the spoil that fell down the deep stormwater collector was to carefully dig out another ring, and then reach right down into it. In this way the drain was cleared. The rest of the trench was then infilled, while a branch line was dug in the direction of the bottom of the stairs. Here it will pick up the water from the footbridge steps, and the corner gutter on the canopy overhang.

 

It is hoped to erect the three stanchions next week, providing a larger digger can be hired in time. 

 

 

The Usketeers on Wednesday.

 

A nice warm day, not too hot this time, brought out three Usketeers to continue work on the platelayer's hut.

 

 

 

 

On opening the door we found this growing out of the concrete floor. Weed control is going to be an issue here. When we started work here the site was completely overgrown, with quite a big tree growing out of the back of it. We dealt with all that, but it looks as if underground root systems are still going, and throwing shoots out here and there. 

 

 

The 6 sheets of corrugated iron are on the roof OK, but we still haven't dealt with the gap around the chimney. So that was the main job today. 

 

Here is Paul working the lead to the right shape. 

 

 

 

At the end of the day the flashing was all in place, and some more mortar had been put in left over holes that still needed to be done. So that's the roof done.

 

 

 

The hasps on the door are there, but we don't have any standard GWSR locks for them yet - that needs to be organised.

Jules fitted a sturdy handle, so that the door can be yanked open (if it needs to be).

 

To be honest, we don't see this little hut in that much regular use. It's more of a heritage asset for photography. And it wasn't long before one of our photographic specials stopped here:

 

Copyright: Jack Boskett.

 

They came a bit too early, as the door was still in its original wood colour, with a temporary bar across it. We didn't want to cover it in wet paint while work was going on with the door.

 

 

So today the door was finally painted black - now it looks alright. Paul is just locking up.

 

Back next week, with more Usketeers antics. 

 

 

PWay today.

 

Three activities today. Pictures by Paul, with thanks.

 

Simon got RRV training, under the watchful eye of Walt. It would be great to have another RRV operator, to spread the responsibilities.

 

 

 

 Andy passed his operational assessment again - OK, on Friday, but you get the RRV theme.

 

 

 

The main gang was out by the Royal Oak, where there is an old length of wooden sleepers that need fairly regular attention.

 

 

 

 

Nine sleepers were changed here today, which is an excellent achievement. It is helped by those Robels, which make the packing so much more efficient.

 

That left nine duff sleepers lying along the line. They were taken back to Winchcombe for sorting, and then...

 

 

 
... two van loads of very duff sleepers were taken to Working Lane for long term storage.

 

In the background is Dave D's Chevvy, back from the levvy. These balmy days are the ones when you take your prize oldtimer out. But we're not allowed to load it up with any sleepers, they might scratch the bed, he said, firmly.

 

 

Dobbies at Broadway.

 

Great was our disappointment and frustration to find that numerous modern flowerpots had been scattered about the new station, including two hung on chains on our carefully sculpted footbridge from Henley in Arden.

 

 

 

That big replica gas lamp took 5 years to study, draw and make, to look just like the original. A blog reader and sponsor gave us £5.000 to have this beautiful replica made, and now it's got a modern flowerpot dangling in front of it. The team that built the canopy, made the stairs just like the original, fabricated and installed the replica GWR signage was not consulted. The canopy is just seen as a handy frame for someone's interest in gardening. How is this even possible? Are we not all singing from the same hymn sheet?

 

Sadly, this shows a certain lack of respect for those that built the station, and who fought so hard to make it look original. What will they do to the P2 building and its canopy? Where will it stop? There are no rules. The plc says that 'we want to be the best heritage railway in the country' and the Trust aims to be 'a living railway museum', and these flowerpots should be at Dobbies, we say. 

 

There is no heritage oversight. A Heritage Railway in the shareholders' meeting, but not on the ground. People do what they want.