Due to further technical problems we have been unable to show you a fine pair of shires ploughing or the windmill slowing turning in the wind! However the blog team are now back from their late summer breaks and normal service has now resumed from the local transmitter!
While we have been "off air" much activity has taken place at Broadway and today 25 volunteers were on site to continue with the good work.
Just to give you a taste of the tasks on the cards today here is the day's work schedule.
As you see we had a very busy day ahead of us.
The southern wing wall on the Broadway side of the Evesham road bridge is being repaired by contractors and a traffic light controlled one way system is in place. To take advantage of this Graham and Mike took the opportunity to make good some damage to the paint work on the bridge which has been struck on several occasions since being renovated last year - quite incredible considering all the notices and lighting that is on it.
The BT services were re-routed last Friday and the telegraph pole that was located outside the station building has now been removed together with the overhead wires along the driveway. It really does make a tremendous difference to appearance of the station building, After several dumper loads of ballast had been moved up to the driveway this is a view of the cleared driveway looking north.
The telephone service to our office and neighboring properties is now supplied by the new pole located on the other side of the driveway
Earlier in the day the last concrete ring for the drainage inspection chamber was fitted by John C, Tony and Paul.
The ground will be made up to height when the gap on platform 1 in infilled.
Work continued on the station building and John S was the sole brickie working on it today.
John S is seen here working on the north face of the station building. Later in the day he laid a few more courses on the platform side.
Dave H, Brian and Peter Q installed more rain water pipes taking water off the footbridge roof.
Peter Q provided his expert skills and helped Brain and Dave to install the right hand drain pipe. The pipes are of cast iron and totally in keeping with the pipework that was on the original footbridge.
Up on the Cotswold side of the cutting the fencing team were hard at work installing another 6 panels and preparing the hole for the first gate post, This gate is being put in place to enable the adjacent landowner to gain access to the top of the cutting and to mow it for us.
Terry, on all fours yet again, watched by Pat and Steve works on the very difficult post.
Down in the cutting vegetation clearance continued with much enthusiasm,
Ian and Chris attack the undergrowth alongside the trackbed in the cutting to the north of the station.
And last but not least Julie was busy in the sales shed with a good steady stream of visitors. The proceeds of her sales are much appreciated by all at Broadway.
As can we seen it was another busy day at Broadway and although there was a recent break in transmission of the blog work on site has continued as normal
Post by Peter H
Welcome back. Excellent progress and blog. Seems that weather in Broadway is far better than Cornwall where we have sunshine frequently interrupted by rain - almost daily at this time of year. Regards to all, Paul.
ReplyDeleteI,hope that you blog writers,had a nice holiday!.Its great to read about your activities once again!.
ReplyDeleteVery good to have you back
ReplyDeleteYeah, great to have you back,really missed reading the blog.
ReplyDeleteThe bridge bashing seems to be continuing unabated! How about putting up a security camera to catch them in the act?
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered about a protective barrier of RSJs, exactly the same dimensions as the bridge opening, but mounted c.1 foot in front of the bridge itself, carrying all the necessary warnings, etc, so anyone over height would hit the barrier rather than the bridge.
DeleteThe utterly frustrating, infuriating, problem of Bridge strikes seems to persist throughout the country despite measures being taken by Network Rail and Local Authorities. Both CCTV cameras (they have to be very high quality with number recognition capability, so are very expensive) and protective beams, sited ahead of the bridge have been considered numerous times, by us, in the past. The former will only enable you (if you are lucky to get a clear image) to attempt to sue that one vehicle owner, but will not stop others. The latter are even more expensive needing an independent, heavy and strong support structure and foundations on both sides of the bridge. I have also been told that Network Rail had a case where the beam was dislodged and fell on the lorry cab killing the driver, so have reservations about their use.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we have recently become aware of Radar controlled height warning signs, which look very promising, but are around £45,000 for this site. We are looking to get funding support and possible Local Authority involvement, and there may be planning issues, but this does look to be a neat solution. However if we continue to have lorry drivers, who are not aware of the height of their vehicle/load, or fail to see the many clear warning signs then I am not sure how effective these will be, albeit they are 1300mm square with 4 large flashing lights and a large lettered "STOP/DIVERT LEFT (or RIGHT), message, but I am quite hopeful, if we can get them installed.
There is one of those Radar warning systems in Wooton Wawen where the Stratford on Avon canal crosses the A3400 on an aqueduct. It also covers the low railway bridge further along the road at Bearley. It seems to have been effective so it's certainly worth considering.
DeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteAs a recently retired railway bridge engineer I appreciate your problem.
I dealt with hundreds of reports from bridge examiners sent out to the aftermath of reported brudge strikes.
There are a number of sites with radar/laser operated signs, but the bridges can still get hit.
You are right about the Bridge Bash Beams. They require a substantial foundation, sometimes separate from the main structure and would have a significant cost implication.
I have seen many instances where the driver does not know the height of his wagon. Even the notice in the cab is wrong sometimes!
Best of luck finding a solution.
To be brutally honest, if you have that big a problem with idiotic truck drivers hitting the Broadway bridge, then your best option is a high resolution video camera, positioned in such a way as to record the numberplates of passing vehicles. If you find new damage to the bridge, you can replay the footage and find out which vehicle was responsible.
ReplyDeleteAt least that way, you can chase the vehicle owner for the cost of repairing your bridge - and, I would suggest, report the driver to the Police.
I realise this would be expensive, but it is probably cheaper to buy the camera and reclaim the cost of repairs than it is to keep repairing the bridge!
Being that Broadway has a by-pass, could you persuade the council to ban all large commercial vehicles passing through the village via the Evesham Road, any doing so would be easily spotted.
ReplyDelete