Wednesday 3 December 2014

Wednesday, 3rd December 2014 - A Cold One!

Well the first workday in December, and the 23 Volunteers certainly new that Winter is here. The temperature first thing was hovering below freezing and everyone had to keep moving to keep warm, and hope that the predicted rise in temperature with the sunshine would allow some bricklaying to take place.

I'll start my report with the Signal Box where a full team were in attendance and ready to  move the job along. Here the door frame is returned to its correct position. This will allow the rear  side quarter of wall to be built up at the same pace as the rear wall.










There was a concentrated effort to clear the ice from the previous laid course, where careful use of the propane torch came into its own! At 11 am the starting gun was fired! A team effort from JC, Bob W, Tony and Paul set-to on the rear wall.









One of the nice finishing touches was the laying of the arch bricks over the fireplace. One of the many enjoyable challenges of  re creating  something beautiful from the past.

Whilst the bricklaying was in progress John S was busy fabricating the steel brackets that span the gaps between the trimmers and the lever frame. (see the oxide painted bars in the picture above). This requires oversize brackets to be shortened and new holes drilling. It is a painstaking task and John made good progress.

Back at the northern end of the site there was an equally frustrating wait for the temperature to rise in order to lay some more bricks on Platform 2C

Here is Roger B's report:-

Hi Bill
The following is an update from the Platform Team

Team1 We were held up Bricklaying until 11am due to low temperature.
I then completed the 3rd Row of Corbeling on Section 1 on Platform 2c.
Peter H followed me and laid backup Rows 2 & 3, completing Section 1on Platform 2c.
Peter Q completed a Row of Backup on Section 3, on Platform 2c.


Team2 Rod, Terry & Mike S, completed the Lamp Ducting and associated backfill on Platform 1c.
Rod & Terry moved 4 Dumper Loads of backfill from the Car Park and laid it behind Platform 1c.

Crazy paving? - no the Mythe spoil coming into its own as infill....

Overall a productive days work.

Regards


Roger 

Sitting Bull doesn't seem to be answering his phone...
Further north still, the removal of the  the vegetation on the eastern cutting (I have been reprimanded so often now for calling it an embankment!) Brian led the charge with the chain saw whilst the rest of the team (Brian T  Vic, Clive, Graham and Steve B) kept the bonfires fed.











Finally a couple of Jo specials:-

David and Chris do it the hard way...

Whilst the air turns blue getting the dumper started....

7 comments:

Perry said...

Hello,

I'm curious to learn how you were able to work round with the new Conservation of Fuel & Power regulations L2A that came into force in April this year, with respect to the new fireplace in the signal box.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_L2A_2013.pdf

Section 3, page 19, para 3.4 relates to insulation & building performance. Building control can be sticklers on occasion.

All the best,

Perry

Anonymous said...

To all you blokes working hard on the site, in cold weather, giving up your free time, to preserve our heritage, thanks you have my admiration. Hope you all have a good Christmas.

Chris from France

Ch\arles Helps said...

In answer to Perry

Perhaps it's because the box is exempt: Same document, Appendix C 1c stand-alone buildings other than dwellings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2
Best wishes Charles

Toddington Ted said...

Perry, I take it that you are a volunteer working at Broadway on the station and signal box? If so, you could discuss these topics with the folks working on the project. It seems that Charles Helps has the answer anyway, thanks.

Anonymous said...

Oh I hope not!

Bill said...

Perry and all,
As previously stated on the Blog we have an agreement with the Building Controls Officer that the Signal Box is a functional building operated under our Light Railway Order and as such is not considered a dwelling or building for public use. I find that the Building Controls staff very helpful and generally want our Broadway venture to succeed.

Perry said...

Thanks for the information. Very few buildings achieve exemption & I am delighted to learn about the signal box.