Saturday 8 June 2013

Saturday 8th June 2013 and to Cap it All.......

 Pat, Robin and Keith
Yes that's blue sky...
A sunny Saturday at last and 10 volunteers made the most of the sunshine.  There were 3 main jobs on the go.

Brick cleaning always seems to be left til the last in the blog posts, with an honorable mention. Not so today, 3 of the regular cleaners were present, continuing with the stocking up of reds.






Steve Roger and Clive on the line.....


On platform 2 brick laying was continuing with a team of 3 laying 350 bricks by the close of play.












The challenge of the day was to return the 4 cwt capping stone on the North East pilaster on the Evesham Road bridge. I had promised John Balderstone (GWR Bridges and Structure expert) some while ago that this would be done, and today was day.


 After careful consideration of all the risk factors, we decided to do it by the tried and tested method with block and tackle and scaffolding.  It took John Crawford, John Simms and Jim Hitchen a good 5 hours, but  by 5 o'clock the job was done.
John Crawford points up....



It was a brilliant job, much of it down to John Crawford's ingenuity and the close help of John and Jim. A small part of one bridge restored, but it gave us a warm feeling to have succeeded on what turned to out be quite a tricky task.









Back in its proper position..... Job done














Finally, and by no means least, John Blofield and Stuart Warnants took the gazebo up to the Vintage Car Show on the Green in Broadway and had a very successful day, both financially, and from a PR point of view. The vintages cars were there in abundance and a sunny day brought all the enthusiasts out.
It turned out to be busy but enjoyable day.

All in all a great day!

13 comments:

richard said...

I recall members of the team previously being allowed to dismantle, palletise and transport the bricks from a structure at Ashchurch, thus ensuring maximum useful recovery. What prevented that possibility for the Mythe? Many whole bricks are sure to be lost, first in the initial demolition, then the transport and finally being dumped. In order to reduce breakages, will the loads be slowly tipped against a soft bank rather than from a height onto hard level ground?

Neil Shepherd said...

Mythe is to Ashchurch as a block of flats is to a 2 bed bungalow. Demolishing it brick by brick is not practical.

The GWSR would be back to Honeybourne before all the bricks were recovered!

Bill said...

Cheers Neil,
I was wondering how to say it nicely!

Bill said...

Ps Richard, we will endeavour to have them tipped as gracefully as possible,but time is money to the hauliers and Costains are picking up the tab.
Thanks for your comment,
Bil

Richard said...

Hi Bill, I'm not sure why you would want to answer me other than nicely. I follow progress at Broadway with interest and admiration for what you are doing. I do not know what is involved at the Mythe or with the recovery - so I asked. Correctly infer ignorance in my question but not criticism. Next time I want to know something about your project should I stay quiet?

Bill said...

Richard,
Apologies. It was not my intention to be dismissive over a legitimate question. Please put it down a a bad day on my part and keep up your valued interest in my blog. Bill

stevebaker70 said...

You wouldnt want that coping stone landing on your big toe!

Anonymous said...

Why are the bridges and embankments of the old railway line in the Mythe being demolished?

stevebaker70 said...

Anon, the clue is in your question.

The line is disused and has no hope of re-opening. I think they also have flood relief schemes underway.

Bill said...

Specifically Severn Trent are improving the flood defences around the Mythe Water Plant and surrounding area, and the railway embankment is to be used as part the solution.

John Balderstone said...

Well done all involved in re-fixing the capping stone to the pilaster. An excellent job and a much safer place for that valuable piece of stone! It looks as though it has been there for years.

stevebaker70 said...

How did the coping stone fall off?

Bill said...

No idea!