A second drop at Dixton

Monday at Broadway

A bit of a dreary day, but dry enough to work, and especially, paint.

 

 

 

Now that the gala is over and peace has descended on Broadway again, we are taking down the trial fitted boarding so that it can be grooved, and then treated against rotting and painted.

 

 

 

 

Neal has taken down the boards from the first section, after numbering them all, from 1 to 55. There are lots of them, and the same down the other side as well.

On his workmate he has set up a jig, which will enable him to push through each board and that will apply a groove to them.

Mid morning Neal was more than half way up already.

Yours truly, feeling very low after a booster and flu jab on Sunday, gathered up two barrow loads of dagger boards prepared by the Broadway maintenance gang for the last part of the P1 canopy. They all need another application of light stone undercoat, a nice little job up on the centre span.

As it's getting a bit crowded in our centre span workshop, John set up a subsidiary operation under the steps, where the boards removed and grooved by Neal were getting a coat of fungicide on the newly exposed areas.

In other heritage news, these finds from the embankment by the Broadway goods shed are being transferred to the RATS for future exhibition. Most of the items that were uncovered there in several digs were pretty smashed up, but some like these were almost complete. They will have been thrown away at St. James if even slightly chipped, and survived miraculously in the ash when everything was dumped down the slope by the goods shed.

The pint glasses came from the collection of the former landlord of the Bell in at Willersey, where our earliest preservation society meetings were held. They are all stamped 'GWR'.

Tuesday on a rail supply train.

A second rail drop took place on Tuesday, firstly in the Dixton cutting, and then a second half at Manor Lane. It was a great day, especially with a Growler at the head of the train.

 

 

 

We met up in the cutting at Dixton, where the train hauled by 37 215 was already waiting. We had a big logistical problem, in that one of the increasingly numerous road closures has been stuck on the road from Greet to Gotherington. But that's where we wanted to go!

The road closure panel didn't say where exactly the road had been blocked, but we guessed that it was by the new housing estate just north of Gotherington, leaving us the room to turn off at Skew Bridge. And so it was.

Here Walt is just picking up the lifting beam, placed upon the next lot of replacement rail, 14 of them. They're all second hand, but of good quality, and with none of the 'squats' that have been found on ours.

After picking up his lifting beam, Walt soon got into the swing off it and was lifting rails off in pairs. After each pair, the loco would head off for another 60ft.

We had a show of supporters in the guards van (you had to pay during the gala, but if you volunteer, you get your ride for free) and occasionally they suffered for their viewing, as the class 37 struggled to get its 1750Hp on to the rails in a gentle manner, leading to a stop to 5mph speed in the guards van of a fraction of a second.

We dropped off 9 rails at Dixton, which should take us to about 1/5th mile. Very shortly we will be laying these in, with the old ones coming out and taking their place in the cess. A 360 digger to do this is on the horizon for the job.

To take this picture the operator of the little flail seen last week very kindly mowed this area, so that we could take a shot of our special train from above.

The Queen Mary brake can be seen in all its glorious length, being nearly as long as the bogie flat with the rails.

The remaining 5 rails were then taken to Manor Lane. Because of the road closure, the PWay gang, with the exception of Walt in the Telehandler, got into the Queen Mary, and we were soon bowling along the line. Here we are, just passing under 3 Arch Bridge, on the approach to Gotherington.

We then passed through the station itself, with a merry toot to owners Bryan and Savita, who came to salute us on the way back.

We parked the train at the Manor Lane entrance, and waited for Walt. And waited. And waited. After a while a phone call from Andrew in charge confirmed our fears that Walt had been unable to bluff his way through the road closure (in his yellow construction vehicle, after all) and had to go back to Greet, and then the (very) long way round via Teddington Hands. All that in a slow Telehandler, no doubt with a queue of angry cars behind.

Finally we heard the loud clanking of loose forks, as the machine with Walt bounced down Manor Lane. He received a rousing cheer from the assembled gang - it wasn't particularly warm, standing there in the wind, with the coffee in the vacuum flasks reaching dangerously low levels.

Here is Walt in the Telehandler, just coming into our site. The jubilation was short and quick, we wanted to get on with the job.

The first of the 5 rails was dropped off there and then.

The train then moved off to the next drop off point, after another long wait, during which a discussion took place out of sight as to where the roomiest place was to drop the last 4.

The rails were wanted by the foot crossing, but there was no room on top of the embankment there for the Telehandler to reverse, so we decided to drop them off short, and the promised 360 would have to move them along on the day.

We then all piled back into the Queen Mary, the only shelter from a chilly wind, leaving poor old Walt to drive all the way back again, round the road closure. 

The Pway gang was dropped off, with tools, by the spot where we left off in the morning, and where our road transport was parked. You can see that the rails we dropped over two Tuesdays stretch into the distance.

Our final picture shows the PWay train from the side of the cutting. Shortly after snapping the picture, the Growler bellowed and a column of smoke shot out - we missed that moment. Oh well.

It looks like the next PWay activity will be to actually place these rails. In the winter shut down period we will be working on replacing two turnouts as well. It's going to be busy!

 

 

Wednesday with the Usketeers.

A dull day of drizzle, but the damp was good for laying blocks. One is meant to have them really damp, indeed one instruction was to hose them down for an hour before using mortar on them. That proved to be difficult in the summer weather, as they dried out even as you hosed them.

So, a good damp day for the blocks, while the 4 of us wrapped up warm and went to work anyway.

Paul continued with the upper part of the fireplace, while Dave started laying the double row of blocks on the corner nearest the camera, prepped last week.

John was among the baskets of rough blocks, looking for any more dressed stone. Are we getting a bit low with them? It almost feels like it, or is it because we are well over half way up the walls?

 

 

Before Dave could do the double row of blocks, he had to seat the two quoins on the ends.

Here is the corner one, upended, with a bed of mix on the corner. Its opposite number by the door is still loose, will they come out at the same height?

Paul can be seen working on a tricky bit, where the top of the fireplace turns into a chimney flue. The fireplace is oblong, while the steel chimney flue we are going to use is round. How to convert one to the other?

Ideally we would need one of those plates that you get for above a woodburner, a rectangular steel plate with a circular hole in the middle. But we don't have one of those.

Paul here is making a plate out of spare slates. Just after the picture was taken, he abandoned that idea, preferring to raise the square chimney a little higher in bricks.

 

 

The drizzle then got a little more persistent (although a dry-ish day was forecast) so we decided to seek shelter in the tin hut and explore Mrs. Dave's excellent fruit cake with Brandy. If only she would bake some more!

Note how low the cloud has dropped - the ceiling is barely above the valley floor. There'll be no C130s at treetop height today!

Just before lunch, Dave managed to finish off this corner, which he has got very nice and level. We need a lot more backing up, but our chief backer-upper Jules can only come occasionally, and we miss him.

Due to unforeseen circumstances we had to finish early today, but next week looks like similar, warmish weather, so we ought to be able to resume then.

 

 

 

 

An appeal for Bridge 8, the B4632 road bridge at Stanton

This bridge, for which the railway is held responsible, has been the subject of weight restrictions for a number of years now, and as you may know is currently single lane, enforced by a traffic light.

The GWR Trust has now launched an appeal to raise money to repair the bridge, and issued the following appeal letter from which we quote:

You will be aware that there have been temporary traffic lights on Bridge 8 (on the B4632 near Stanton) for a considerable time. This is because we were advised by engineers that there had been some deterioration to the steelwork of the bridge and that a weight limit should be imposed until it is repaired.
When the founding fathers set up Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) and bought the redundant railway line from British Railways, it came with a caveat that GWSR also had to take on legal responsibility to maintain all the bridges which cross the line. For the last forty years, inspection, maintenance and repair of all 46 bridges and 51 culverts has been a major factor in influencing how GWSR raise and spend their funds.
Work on establishing what needs to be done to Bridge 8 was inevitably delayed by the pandemic; we had previously established that when services such as water and gas were laid across the bridge many years ago, the original waterproof decking was damaged and this has allowed water to seep through the earth verges and damage the structural steelwork. Those utility companies responsible have long since been privatised, changed their names, amalgamated and essentially disappeared so it is impossible to pursue them for a remedy. We are left to do it ourselves.
This year, GWSR arranged for the verges to be cleared of vegetation and then be laid with tarmac to waterproof them and hopefully allow the structure to dry out. A scheme of repairs to the structure has been devised but the work needs to be done as soon as possible to avoid further deterioration and GWSR does not have the funds available. Furthermore, the line will have to be closed while the work is being undertaken so GWSR needs to avoid doing it during the running season if at all possible.
There is a window of opportunity to do the work during January and February 2022 so (we are) appealing to you now for your help in raising the £200,000 required in two months. This is a very tight timescale but your response to previous appeals gives me confidence that you will rise to the occasion again. All monies (including Gift Aid, where applicable), will be ring-fenced by GWRT and released to GWSR on submission of invoices for the work.

New tarmac verges to stop water infiltration

The underside of bridge 8, prior to track laying in 2008

A detail of the rust damage caused by water infiltration.

(Pictures with thanks to John Balderstone).

If you are able to help, the GWR Trust would gratefully receive donations via this link:

https://www.gwrt.org.uk/Make_a_Donation/New_Donations.html

Alternatively, you can simply send a cheque payable to GWRT to the Trust here:

Churchward House, Winchcombe Railway Station, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5LD

The donation can be gift aided to increase its value. If you have already done this with the Trust before, they will have your details, otherwise a form can be downloaded from the donations website above.

 Thank you for your help!

More rail.

Tuesday with a rail train.

A cold and bright day for a the gang of 7 who assembled to join a train loaded with new (- better second hand) rail for Dixton cutting.

Overnight the temperature had sunk to zero first thing this morning, but things brightened up considerably under the all day sunshine we had. Provided you didn't stand in the shadows, where the cold persisted.

Winchcombe forecourt was crammed with production vehicles for the BBC, as was Toddington upper car park, and indeed all the way down the drive right up to the gate, both sides. Filming took place at the entrance to Winchcombe station.

'X' marks the spot, the first rail to replace. 'Saint' Robert shows us where.

A rail train from Toddington, two Landies and the Telehandler set off for Dixton cutting, starting at the northern end. We've got a short stretch of track there laid with sub standard second hand rail back in the 1990s. It's all in one area, so clearly from a batch delivered then. The rail has many 2 inch craters on top ('squats') and while these just produce a rumbling sound when the rain passes over them, it's a weakness in the fabric of the rail and could result in a break. It's held up 30 years so far, so we've had good value from it, but now we need to change it for better. 

On Tuesday then we set out to unload the first of two wagon loads, using our new lifting beam.

My measuring wheel is broke, who will fix my measuring wheel?

Full of confidence we gave Andrew our measuring wheel, but it turned out to be broken in two. A lash up with some white cloth didn't help. It needs some sort of a pipe to act as a sleeve to unite the two halves.

After a little wait on site - the opportunity for some banter and coffee drinking - the train turned up with our wagon. This whole exercise also gives the diesel department and the guards something interesting to do, so they were very enthusiastic.

On arrival the group had a site discussion on how this was all going to work. It was our first day with the new spreader beam.

In the picture Andrew is holding the sad remains of the measuring wheel.

The spreader beam came with the train, so the first thing to do was attach it to the forks of the Telehandler.

Then the first rail was lifted off. It went pretty well really, but there was clearly a learning curve, so we got more proficient as the day went on.

A worry was the room available behind the Telehandler, so the Camlocks were attached on long chains, which allowed a drop without the forks having to pass in front of the bogie wagon.

This was the view of the guards today - way back in the distance is Greet tunnel, and in between a very long and very tall embankment, the spoil for which came out of the southern approach to the tunnel when it was dug.

We also had 2 bullhead rails with us. These were dropped off 1/4 mile further north, which meant out of Dixton cutting and on top of the long and tall embankment.

Here there was a lot less room behind the Telehandler, as you can see from the position of the rear wheels. It's also apparent why we used those chains.

Lunch was taken 'al fresco' in typical PWay style. Unfortunately this restaurant was already fully booked, so we had to eat, buffet style, standing up.

Photographing the train (or indeed anything else that day) was difficult, due to the intense and low light, not forgetting the weed growth here.

 

Motive power for the day was 47 105, in its shiny new blue and yellow jacket.

It was probably nice and warm in there too. Most of us had it cold, standing in the shadows at the bottom of the cutting, where the sun didn't reach all day.

We slowly made our way up the cutting, laying pairs of FB rail, end to end. Of course we still have to place them. The ones with the squats are still good for modest use, such as the proposed carriage sidings at Winchcombe, in connection with the carriage shed that is on our wish list.

And then it was the last one, No.13. You can see here how awkward it is manoeuvering the Telehandler with that big spreader bar attached.

We measured the rail and painted a white line exactly in the middle. That was the aiming spot for the Telehandler operator.

Here you can see our work at the end of the day. 5 pairs of 60ft FB rail, with another pair of Bullhead dropped round the bend. We'll be back next week for another shipment of 14.

Such dedicated, selfless volunteers. It's called charitable work, chaps.

On the way back, we passed this remote controlled flail working near 3 arches bridge. It does a good job.

Wednesday - Loading rail at Toddington & more

This report from one of our correspondents, out with the PWay gang at Toddington, and then at Broadway.

The 'Elk' bogie, emptied at Dixton on Tuesday, was loaded again with a second delivery of used rail. 

This delivery didn't take too long as the Elk was already parked on the unloading road in the car park, and the delivery lorry had a HIAB, which was able to make use of our lifting beam.

This lot will go out, as earlier in the week, on the Tuesday.

With an afternoon to spare, the gang then went to Broadway to distribute the replacement rails unloaded a few weeks back at the bracket signal. They too faced the lunch time rain.

With two sets of iron men the rails were transported through the platforms of Broadway. One rail was carried on the cross beams, the other hanging from the chains. Two tons being moved by four people.

Lunch was held in the deserted platform under the canopy - cold, but at least dry. Everything was shut of course as there are no trains, but we do of course have our gala this weekend, so don't miss that.

After lunch the other pair of rails was moved north using the iron men. They are ingenious little contraptions, and work very well, especially in enclosed places like at Broadway.

And this is the end result - four replacement rails laid out along P2 at Broadway. While P1 was laid with new rail, as an economy measure in 2017 it was decided to lay the loop in second hand rail. A number of these rails now need to be changed, as 4 of them had defects, some so hidden only the ultrasound detector could find them.

Pictures, with thanks, from Walt.

The Usketeers brave the weather.

A lot colder last night, and when we started it was too cold to lay blocks - only 3 1/2 degrees.

It was decided to have an early coffee break, and to try and catch some of the thin, early sun that there might be (later we would hurry everything into the tin hut)

Paul brought some seasonal mince pies, and John (hot) cross buns.

A generous volunteer from the Santa scheme came and gave us £10 for doughnuts! We accepted gratefully, but will put it towards cement. We'd rather not eat up the donations, unless offered in actual doughnut coinage.

While waiting for  the slight rise in temperature that we needed, we heard an engine noise. But this is a non-running day? What the.... 

It was a rail mounted cherry picker, on its way to Greet tunnel for one of our regular inspections.

To get Paul and Dave going, we laid out this row of blocks for them (on the right).

Can you see John inside the hut? Barely - it shows how high the walls are getting now.

Here we see Dave and Paul then, actually bedding down that row shown in the picture earlier.

Seen from the outside now, Paul too is looking short. He's standing on the foundation slab inside, two courses below damp course. Dave is on planks outside.

That little row of blocks was soon in.

Paul also completed the arch over the fireplace today. Just the former to remove now (which he did later on).

It looks rather neat, don't you think?

Just as we were doing nicely, late in the morning, it started to rain. That hadn't really been forecast, so we held out in the drizzle for a while, but eventually cracked, and held an early lunch.

It was quite snug in the little lamp hut there, one man to each corner. John passed the (hot) cross buns around, and it was really a rather pleasant half hour, until the rain eventually receded again.

Here now is the corner mentioned above, completed. The frame of the big sash window can be seen poking out at the rear, we are almost at the top here. The area needs backing up though first, something we didn't do today, as our chief backer-upper Julian was sadly detained at home. Maybe next week, the temperatures look a bit warmer then too. We can't afford any frost with our mortar.

While Dave was pointing the row on the left, where he ran out of mortar at the end of last Wednesday, we laid out a new row for him on the right. There are 4 heavy ten inch high blocks in a row - got to get rid of them somehow -  and these took a lot of effort to manoeuvre up there. The row is finished with a row of 5 inch blocks, to meet the quoin on the corner.

A little news item - there is in fact quite a lot happening on the railway at the moment - is that the contractors have arrived on site between Winchcombe and the tunnel to make a permanent repair of the slip caused by the drains from the new built houses above the cutting a couple of years ago. It's being paid for by third parties, not the GWSR. Hopefully the ugly 'Lego' blocks' on our up line will then be removed.

 

Walking back from the road bridge, we too a quick snap of the Usk site, as passengers will see it in the future.

There's definitely a stone building going up there.

Shortly after that we had another visitor, from station staff this time, and he also very kindly left a donation for a bag of cement. We get through about a bag a day.

Near the end of the afternoon we found Dave here inside on some backing up to use up the last of his mortar. He had just bedded down the row facing him, on the outside.

This is our end of the day shot, with Dave working on that same row. The next heavy quoin for placement waits in the foreground. They're so heavy we need to use a little trolley to move them around.

In summary, we placed two rows today, on opposite corners of the building. The winter weather is going to start impinging on our progress now, with rain or frost potentially calling a halt. But next week still looks quite feasible, with slightly warmer temperatures again.

Shareholders' meeting, Thursday 4th November.

If you are a shareholder, you will know there is a briefing meeting in the Insurance Room of the race Course at 19.00. It's just to keep the shareholders updated on the many things that are going on.

One of these things is planning for the proposed visitor centre on the garden centre site at Toddington. It'll be quite large, with a footprint of say 750m2. With the re-routing of the approach road round the back, the new building on our Toddington site will be the first thing our visitors will see. It will be a scene-setter, and needs to say straight away: 'This is a heritage railway'. It will also be part of a heritage station ensemble, together with the original station building, goods shed and signal box. It needs to fit in. There's even talk of a turntable in a stage 2 of the project.

At this stage there is no design yet. As we have seen with the Winchcombe visitor centre, you can spoil the effect by building down to a price, using inappropriate materials such as Bradstone and plastic, or taking shortcuts with the design because 'people won't notice'. An argument might be that one facade of heritage style is enough. Nothing is set in stone yet (as it were), but we're sure we all want a building that is as convincing as Broadway, one that we will be proud off, now, and in 100 years time. 

The new design needs to convince not only our customers that we are a heritage railway, but also our shareholders. They will be asked to fund it, and a share issue is proposed. They need to be enthused, excited, keen to contribute to an authentic looking Edwardian building that will be our flagship at Toddington.

Of course if you say nothing there is no guidance from the shareholder, so do come along tomorrow and make your views known. The project team is there for you.