A twist in the tale.

Friday at Broadway.

An interesting morning, much of it spent talking to a local joiner who came to give us a quote for the shaping work required on the timber for the footbridge. It turns out he used to live locally, and in the 1950s his mother cycled to Broadway station to take the train to go to work in Cheltenham. So we got off to a good start straight away.

This is some of the timber involved, a big pile of 4.5m 6x3s currently given temporary accommodation by C&W. More is stored elsewhere, so it's no small job. If we get a friendly quote and a little bit of budget, we ought to be able to relieve C&W of this large encumbrance very shortly.






Meanwhile, on the road...

A Chinook flying low is always an occasion. This one was at tree top height, heading for Broadway. They're tricky to catch on camera, as you get very little warning and then they are upon you. No doubt this is good training for an event where unfriendly people might be shooting at it, and we mean with guns, not cameras!

Broadway Friday morning saw a new arrival - another bracket signal. You can read all about its installation on the S&T blog; this picture was taken off the end of the platform.

After the agreeable meeting with the joiner we got down to work, although the painters were a bit reluctant as it was freezing up there on the footbridge.

It was a northerly wind, and it fair whistled though the opening under the dagger boards, right where your legs were while painting.

Neal made brilliant progress with the treads. He's about two thirds of the way along the centre span. We just need to move that pile of tongue and groove boards - again!

After that, maybe down the other side? It is possible that the timber for the sides will be ready soon, now that we are looking at paying for it to be done. Neal can then start making the joints that allow it all to connect together.










Saturday at Didbrook.

Well, for some. Yours truly spent the morning in a meeting at Winchcombe.
Nice and dry. With biscuits and slides. Heating on...

Meanwhile, out in the real world, 10 brave men turned out in near freezing temperatures, knowing that heavy rain was also forecast.

Before even starting, we had to check out a reported warning light on the dashboard of the blue Landie, with a suspected low oil level.

It needs two to lift up that bonnet - it has a socking great big spare tyre fixed to it on top.

The oil level looked OK, but better to have checked.

Warmth - please!

Two Landies then set off to repair a twist at Didbrook, which had a Temporary Speed Restriction on it.

Notice the upturned collars and hats of these two (Dave and Neil) in the Landie. It's cold out there, and rain is coming soon. Neil has his hands over the warm air vents, in the vain hope of catching some relief from the still cold engine.

Due to the half day meeting, yours truly was unable to take working pictures from the Didbrook twist. But, as they do in the Dailies, we have some stock pictures of this activity, as sadly it is an annual event.

Jacking and sighting at Didbrook in 2007.

These pictures are by John Lees and were taken in 2007, 12 years ago.  We've posted some more of them, which you can see here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73536293@N02/albums/72157664738875108/page12

The weather on that day - 27th September 2007 - was rather more acceptable, pleasant even.

Having jacked and sighted the track, you can see two members of the gang packing it with kangos, powered by the portable generator. We still use the same one today.

It also powers a kettle on the Permaquip....

 Diesel shunter D2182 came out to the site once it was packed. That's the C&W shunter today, with that pretty 'copper cap' chimney you may recall.

D2182 had a rake of 6 Dogfish in tow. We used the same ones building the Broadway extension.

It's the Cotswolds side that keeps dipping, so if you keep packing it every year, eventually you're going to need more ballast.

This is the result of the drop in 2007. Today we did the same packing, plus a slew to get the curve back where it should be.

The gang then returned to the mess coach at 12.30, soaked to the skin. A lengthy, tea fuelled lunch was held. During this time the rain hammered down on the roof ceaselessly. We checked the weather forecast and a radar image, and the best that could be hoped for was another 2 hours of the same, before it got dark.

We decided to call it a day. We had wanted to do more (another twist at Gotherington) but it really wasn't on today, the third Saturday with heavy rain in a row. But we did get something done, and had the satisfaction of removing the TSR.

Better luck next time, we have quite a list of jobs like this one.

Search and Rescue

Friday at Broadway.

Damp but warm - working on the footbridge was actually quite pleasant. Tomorrow the storm!

While having our tea in the mess hut this large helicopter flew overhead.

With a bit of research on the internet, we found an identical example, but belonging to the Norwegian Air Force. The type looks like at AW101 Merlin. Norwegian? At Broadway? Surely not.

Anyone know any more? The tips of those blades look interesting. Other helicopters don't have them, what are they for?

The heli flew off in the direction of Tewkesbury, a well known flooding area. Maybe there was a job for it there?

We continued with painting the centre span roof, and cutting treads to size for the P1 upper landing.

We had a special in today, but it wasn't Fire & Drive, it was a shareholder's special for shareholders of Dinmore Manor Ltd.

When it had gone again, Neal carried on with the treads. The last one on the landing is a bit too wide, so we see him here shaving a bit off the side. The wood is very hard and would make beautiful furniture, such is the colour and quality. It makes you want to slap some teak oil on.

After lunch the shareholders came back for a second go. There were quite a few of them. Wish we had that many for 76077, we could do with more. Please help and become a shareholder if you want to see our Pocket Rocket up and running.

You can help here:
 Help our Pocket Rocket 76077

 The last picture, as 7820 emerged under our footbridge, is a bit of a curate's egg:

Composition: Good.
Colour: Good
Exposure: Good
Focus: Errrr.... must have been very excited when the shutter was released, the picture is blurred due to movement of either camera or locomotive.Well, locomotives do that.

Sorry about that.




Saturday at Winchcombe

Today the storm!

It wasn't that bad actually, it was worst first thing with heavy rain and gusts, which drove us indoors to study tea and, for once, a very large supply of doughnuts, about three each at a rough telling. Can't eat all them! Got through them in the end though, even if it took till lunch time.

All the water that came down made the Isbourne rise up somewhat, visible here upstream of the tunnel under the line by the B4632 bridge.

You can see streams of different coloured and muddier water coming in from feeder drains, left, and right from the direction of Churchward House.

On the downstream side the contractors had started to lay in the large diameter pipes that will form part of a bridge across the stream.

The 2 downstream ones are weighed down with some ballast, while the two upstream ones are out of the water.










By lunch time all 4 pipes had been taken out of the Isbourne again

What if I pull this lever?

Round about 10 am the rain ceased, and we set off for Toddington to check out reports of a non-working turnout in the loco yard.

Pulling the lever quickly revealed that the mechanism wasn't locking.




Then the reason why became evident - the stretcher bar was bent, and the blade no longer closed tightly.

The turnout had been run through, while it was set for the other direction.

Luckily this hand operated point was simpler than the one run through at Broadway (no locking bar, or other operating paraphenalia around it) so Bert Ferrule gave it a hearty tug with a bar to try and straighten the  stretcher.

This simple cure was a bit too simple, but we had come well armed - a trip jack soon persuaded the stretcher bar to return to its original shape.

By straightening the stretcher bar the blade was able to fit tightly again, but the locking mechanism continued to be a little reluctant to lock.

Close up of the locking mechanism.

By a miracle of clever design it is possible to move the blades in alternate directions, but always with the same pull of the lever.

With a little adjustment we were able to  adjust the locking mechanism, and we then did a quick tour of several other turnouts, which Mark from the loco dept, pointed out had worked a little loose.

We had anticipated that too, and brought adjustable spanners. Problem soon sorted.



Prior to returning to the mess coach at Winchcombe for lunch, two of us had a quick look at the new mess room extension of the goods shed going up.

This is the view from the unloading road.

The floor (ceiling) is in, and work has started on the first upper floor. Initially this is in concrete blocks, with a brick skin to follow.

Three windows frames are now visible on the southern end.

To compare with a view taken a few blog posts ago, we took the same view again from the signal box steps.

Concrete blocks have reached the tops of the windows here, several being prepared with temporary frames along the Cotswolds side.

With a bit of luck they should look like the goods shed windows further to the right, when finished.

Also on the unloading road is this trench, dug out last week. A cracked rail was reported here, but with the crack running along, and not across, the rail. That is unusual.

Crack running left to right.

Here's a close up.

The yard rail is the oldest we have on the railway, and was well past its sell by date even when we got it in the early 1980s. But in 40 years of volunteering we have never seen a crack running along the head of a rail like this. Very odd.

Of course this is only the unloading road, little used and even if so, only at very low speed. A replacement rail has been sourced at Winchcombe and now awaits bringing up to Toddington by rail.

Here's that point mechanism sorted out, and ready for use again. The stretcher bar is now straight.

Today was the second to last day of regular trains on the line this year. Still reasonably full, we were pleased to see.

Here Dinmore Manor has just returned the section token to the Toddington signalman. There's a bit of hope in the sky too, maybe we could do something this afternoon?

We returned to Winchcombe for lunch.

With the rain still holding off at the start of the afternoon, we decided to have a go at recording the turnouts at CRC. To do this, and not needing any heavy tools, we thought we'd take the train.

My tape measure's gone 'phut'...

The half hour waiting at Winchcombe station was fruitfully spent obtaining takeaway drinks from the Coffeepot.

You gotta take them when you can.

Prior to our train south arriving, we saw Dinmore Manor roll in from the south.

We boarded our train, headed by Foremarke Hall,  shortly afterwards and headed for CRC. There we took the short walk down the trackbed to the northern turnout, which we measured up while darker clouds started to form.

Looking at our watches, we reckoned the 90 minutes we had between the trains was just enough to do both northern and southern turnouts, so after completing one we hurried to the other.

Now it started to rain again.

We finished the southern turnout at CRC as the rain got heavier, and our train home appeared on the horizon. Brilliant timing.

The Growler growled into the station, and we thankfully boarded the train to get out of the rain at last.

With the wind now much reduced as well, we were able to change into our civvies in the Winchcombe car park, while more or less dry. Despite the 'heavy rain and strong gusts of wind' forecast, we had a very satisfying day.

Next week - we deal with the twist at Didbrook - for the nth time.

All day, and all of the night.

Rain!

But first, a few words about work at Broadway on Friday.

There was certainly rain at Broadway on Friday, but nothing like what was to come on Saturday.

John and yours truly continued with painting up in the air, on the centre span roof. It's breezy up there, with sleepy cluster flies.

Neal further shaped the 20 timbers prepared by C&W, here seen rounding off the edges.

John concludes the top coat on the supporting ironwork, Cotswolds side

We can work in the rain, if there isn't too much wind, as water does enter the footbridge as soon as there is a breeze. On Wednesday John arrived to paint, but could not as there was condensation on the underside of the steel sheets.

Remember, Wednesday was the day with all the mist. It condensed on the slightly colder corrugated iron.

On Friday it was dry underneath - less so outside - and next to John's dark stone on the ironwork, the sheets in the centre got their first layer of light stone undercoat. The two ends (5 out of 7 sections) are now done.

Friday saw a fire and drive train arrive, a silver experience and hence the only one of the day. There were 2 last minute vacancies, so you could always add your name to a standby list and maybe get a bargain?

Or maybe it was the weather.... note that the cab roof sheet is deployed, it must have been grim reversing up to Broadway, over the long embankment. Not that you'd notice, it's quite thrilling driving a steam locomotive, rain or shine.

Helpfully, there is always a whistle somewhere near the Caravan Club, and when we hear that we drop the paintbrushes and have a look.

These are the last days of 2807 before overhaul, so do come and have a look at her.









Saturday at Winchcombe.

This was the big day of rain, which started the previous evening with strong winds to boot, and which carried on all day Saturday.

We were due to go out recording the turnouts at Cheltenham, and also repair a defect at MP 16 1/2, but the heavy and persistent rain drove us all indoors, with the exception of gallant track walker Dave.

This was the view of the B4632, within minutes of setting off for work.

As the rain continued non-stop all day, we decided to return later via the heights of the Cotswolds edge, rather than drive through this ever deepening lake.

Due to the weather, work on the track was cancelled for today. Instead, we spent the morning 'usefully' chatting over several mugs of tea. A face to face meeting is always better than an email.

Our new visitor 9466 was out today, believed to be its first day of revenue earning service.

Here it is just coming off Chicken Curve.

9466 entered Winchcombe yard in decidedly damp conditions, with passengers huddled in their seats and looking out at mad people standing in the rain, from behind misted up windows.

It wasn't so bad, folks, we've got wet weather gear, you know!

It was a sort of 'tank engine day' today, but without the eponymous character. 4270 was the other contender, here seen passing a large puddle at Winchcombe. A final player was the DMU, not a tank engine, but hey-ho.

One more week and a weekend to go, then it's a month of peace and quiet for repairs here and there, before the busy month of ho-ho-ho.

Food Fair activities

Friday at Broadway

Painting, Painting.... at least it's topcoat now. We're doing the structural steelwork in the roof at both ends, with the middle to do when we have moved the T&G stored there for the time being.





Also watching Neal attach the treads to the P1 stairs.

The treads are reamed out on the platform, then taken up for drilling new holes

The wood is of a very hard quality indeed, so Neal has to get his back into it.

Finally coach bolts are used to attach the treads. Neal showed one coach bolt where the head had come off on tightening. Didn't know that was even possible!

Although only 'showers' were forecast today, it actually came down in stair rods over lunch time. There was wind too, flapping the trousers as you stood up on top, painting under the roof.

The rain water sat on top of the angles...

 Here is Neal on his third tread of the day.

And almost at the top now - just two more to go in this picture.

At the end of this very wet day Neal had got to the top! Yeah ! Now to sort out the landing.









Saturday at Winchcombe and at Gotherington.

 It was Food fair day today, with 4 trains out and about.

Wish we had some food...

Doughnuts and tea this morning were soon gone. We had more attendees than usual (at least recently) and we were 'doughnut poor'.

The Food Fair preparations meant that there were 4 trains out today, of which 1 DMU shuttle. Here is the class 26 outside our mess coach, in the process of picking up the third rake.

The Sulzer engine has a slow and rather pleasing relentless throb, with a tickover speed of just 250 rpm. The absolute red line, we heard, was a mind boggling 750rpm. A bit like slow cooking, or slow TV. Potentially boring, yet somehow fascinating.

While part of our team stayed behind to write risk assessments, the main gang repaired over to the southern Winchcombe turnout in order to carry on recording our track assets.

We soon had to stand aside to let the first steam hauled train pull out of the station. The camera angle, obliged by the position of the team standing aside, was full into the sun, but the effect was actually quite good.

 It was 2807, said to be counting down the days when she would be taken out of service for an overhaul, so enjoy.





This was the first service south, so largely empty, but certainly worth filming as the loco climbed up the hill to the summit of the line.

 Next was the class 26, which paid a fleeting visit while running round its third rake, extracted from the sidings, to head north.

After measuring up the point, and with the main traffic now north and south out of Winchcombe, we went over to the other end of the loop through the station, where we fitted two tie bars. Track walkers had noticed that there was some movement in the chairs here, a sign that the timbers need replacing. We will order new ones.

After fitting the first tie bar (which is insulated, to avoid interfering with the track circuit) David measured the gauge. Normal gauge is 1435mm of course; here, in the curve of the turnout a slightly wider gauge of 1445mm is required. It was interesting to see the gauge slowly contract as we tightened up the tie bars.

While at Winchcombe, we broke for an early lunch in the mess coach.

Lunch is followed by the graveyard hour, as any teacher will tell you.

The team arrived at Gotherington north turnout for measuring once more, but a little less enthusiastic.

Being at Gotherington, we happened to coincide with the place where trains were crossing today.  This saw Foremarke Hall piloting the new arrival 9466 from the WSR. This was its first outing with us, and we presumed a test trip with a reserve loco, in case of trouble. It did allow this fine shot of a double header on the railway, not something you see often in normal service.

Pannier 9466 and Hall 7903 were waiting for the down train, here headed by our veteran 2807. This time the gang took shelter on the correct side of the track - for the camera, in any case.

Now you can see why the fireman of 2807 was hanging out of the cab - the signalman at Gotherington was waiting on his little platform to make the token exchange.

While half of the gang measured up the northern turnout, 4 of us addressed a dropped joint pretty much outside the signal box, right under the bobby's eye.

With the down train gone, and its token available for heading north, the double header set off for Winchcombe in front of us.

This is the best shot of the Pannier we got today. There must have been an occasion when, heading south, it was at the head of the train, but we didn't see it. At lunch, or in transit, whatever. So content yourself with this. We'll be seeing a lot more of 9466 over the next couple of years.

7903 and the new Pannier pulled away and through the station, while Dave seems to take a sunbath by the lineside.

As you might have guessed, we're more professional than that, he was guiding Pete in the foreground on the bottle jack to get the lift right for packing the joint.

Job by the box done, the 4 of us joined the other gang measuring. This was the second turnout of the day, the third would be further south, at the other end of Gotherington loop.

How does this signal work then?

What's this bit do, Pete?

Before moving to the other end of the loop, via Manor Lane, we let the next service train past.

This was the class 26, the slowly thumping Sulzer.

We then measured up the southern turnout of Gotherington loop, and that was it for the day. Now there is just CRC to do, one last day's work.

November is a non running month, and work is scheduled on Stanway viaduct involving the removal of several panels of rail. We might be asked to assist with that.