tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post5487076145802929785..comments2023-07-10T14:18:09.980+01:00Comments on Extension Blog: A day on the KangosJo http://www.blogger.com/profile/05480195769830116100noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-77331274205284254322018-04-14T00:11:51.468+01:002018-04-14T00:11:51.468+01:00I had a look at the visitor centre at Winchcombe t...I had a look at the visitor centre at Winchcombe the other week, and noticed some cracking in the stonework above those double doors. The lintel above the doors appears to have shifted outwards slightly, too. <br /><br />I wondered if the foundations have sunk a bit on that corner, pulling the stonework out of true - or possibly causing the building's steel frame to move. <br /><br />The building is situated on the side of a low embankment, and as we know, the Great Western Railway's early-1900s earthworks are not necessarily strong and stable. If the building's foundations were dug to the standard depth (about 4 feet) it'll be sitting on the GWR's soft earth. This may be what is causing the foundations to sink. <br /><br />I just looked up a photo of the building at the foundations stage, and it does seem they were standard trenches, dug to roughly the level of the base of the adjacent platform. In fact some of the earth might actually be infill dating from when Winchcombe platforms were rebuilt in the 1980s.<br /><br />Personally, I would have gone down a lot deeper, until I was sure I was digging into the original ground, not just a pile of soft earth heaped up by the GWR's navvies - or the GWSR's volunteers.<br /><br />Here's how the foundations looked, at the trench stage. Pic from the Building Services blog, March 2017:<br /><br />https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLHDOc8wvRk/WMQ6gG0EiaI/AAAAAAAAIBw/J_1kkxCs29wnnb7YJfrlS3vVsjd5290AgCEw/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG<br /><br />.Michael Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08386451061160258935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-83984913628646436382018-04-13T19:11:33.551+01:002018-04-13T19:11:33.551+01:00Jo, thanks for taking the time to bring us will al...Jo, thanks for taking the time to bring us will all the news. Are any of the short lengths of rail for sale & are they flat bottom? They make useful anvils.<br /><br />https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=anvils+from+rails&rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB547GB547&oq=anvils+from+rails&aqs=chrome..69i57.17652j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715633779618461756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-85272629799773215632018-04-12T21:41:31.503+01:002018-04-12T21:41:31.503+01:00The metal handrails don't even look right from...The metal handrails don't even look right from a distance! They really do stand out, at least everything else sort of blends in, even if it's not right.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-2957527794803217912018-04-12T20:39:52.265+01:002018-04-12T20:39:52.265+01:00It was built at a time when things only had to ...It was built at a time when things only had to 'look right from a distance'.<br />We have done much better with Broadway. We are certainly capable of doing it.Jo https://www.blogger.com/profile/05480195769830116100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-29419419987406887472018-04-12T20:31:14.685+01:002018-04-12T20:31:14.685+01:00Thanks Jo
The Winchcombe building looks a fine add...Thanks Jo<br />The Winchcombe building looks a fine addition as a facility but we do need it to look the part for a heritage railway.<br />These comments are meant constructively, I must stress, but I agree that it would be nice to have more authentic light fittings, safety rails and door furniture. Presumably that would be low cost to rectify, and lower if got right first time?Steve Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03246751941088920565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-82014826733304718982018-04-12T19:04:25.488+01:002018-04-12T19:04:25.488+01:00The doorway is used only for exit , there is level...The doorway is used only for exit , there is level access into the building from two other doorways .Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00422542918292496253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-83663667416526996132018-04-12T09:32:07.581+01:002018-04-12T09:32:07.581+01:00And there looks to be a step up on the platform si...And there looks to be a step up on the platform side too. Is there no proper access for disabled users?Peter Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15020212199830779526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-75910728588761301812018-04-12T09:30:50.567+01:002018-04-12T09:30:50.567+01:00Thanks for the update, Jo. What's taken nearl...Thanks for the update, Jo. What's taken nearly a day's work could have been done in a couple of minutes by the tamper! Hope your repacked ballast is now doing its job.<br />What is the purpose of the ramp on the visitor centre's double doors? It looks like it still leaves a couple of inches step up at the entrance, so not really good for wheelchair access?Peter Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15020212199830779526noreply@blogger.com