Wednesday 8 February 2012

Wednesday 8th February - DAY 2 of the Big Push

The Volunteers pressed on with the back fill and edging of the rear of Platform 1A. The last of the bulk ballast loading was completed and 1A starts to look like a section of the M1. Clive then set about rolling the ballast, starting at the southern end of the platform.

The next picture shows what happens when you get too close to a lamp post socket! It took Dot in the end to lift it back onto a level surface - we live and learn!

We decided to use 3x2 paving slabs as an rear edging to the platform - ballast to the front and soil to the rear. It works really well and this method will see us to the end of the platform.

Four barrows were on the go during the afternoon, shifting top soil from the signal box site to the rear of the platform. everyone work themselves to a near standstill. Here is the signal box area having the surfaced "levelled off" - just another 100 tonnes to go!

Here is the gathering of the clans on the new top surface. The Platform is  going remarkably well and all concerned should pat themselves on the back for all the effort put in today and a fine result.

Finally a YouTube link from Jo showing Steve B  shifting the 100 and something load of ballast!

Next report this time tomorrow!

5 comments:

Dave said...

Great effort and well done.

If the signal box is opposite platform 1 will platform 2 be shorter?

regards David A

Bill said...

Hi Dave,
It would be an "on the platform" signal box - we would keep the platforms the same length.
Bill

Anonymous said...

Great work, guys. I am led to wonder, what with the weight of the infill and then the mechanical packing, how does the wall resist the pressure to fracture or, worse still, fall? Is this simply due to its sheer mass or is it also strengthened within or from behind, by concrete, perhaps?

Jim Boyles said...

Hi Anonymous,

I can't speak for Bill but, as far as I am aware, there is no stress on the wall at 1A. It is on a raised embankment and has been constructed in the same way as the old "GWR" would have done it. The stress is actually falling away from it, the vertical slabs being used are simply to "contain" the infill materials.
On 1B, it's a different matter: there is a large bank behind the platform which does need to be constrained. Hence the use of concrete blocks and steel re-inforcing bars as a base for the facing brickwork.

Bill said...

In addition to Jim's comment :-
AN 18" bonded wall is extremely strong. There will be no significant lateral pressure - the biggest danger is during the compaction process when using the vibrating roller. So far so good!
Bill