Thursday 8 February 2018

Brass Monkey Weather

Wednesday 7th February 2017


 The early birds arrived at Broadway to find a light dusting of snow and a temperature of -4C , but we are volunteers so nothing will stop us, well that`s what we thought.



First thing in the morning and the end of the northern platforms shows a light dusting of snow, odd that it started just after the pallets on the platform. 
A couple of jobs on the go today, mainly because the volunteer numbers only hit 15.

The footings for the staircase landing support and the canopy legs have had their fixing bolts enclosed for protection, as the photo below shows.


Now the back filling started on the landing supports.

The drainage for the staircase will go towards the canopy support and then into the previously installed underground drainage pipe. As ever can anybody remember where it is , "It's down there somewhere "


Martin and Clive's mission was to find it and dig it out. The ground around this end of the building has seen no sun for days and it was as hard as concrete. Both mini diggers were busy elsewhere so picks and spades were the only tools available.



But perseverance paid off and the buried end of the pipe was found, further bends, T pieces and  joints were acquired and the pipes joined up. The pipe coming in from the left is the drainage from the bridge roof via the previously installed drop pipes. These pipes were then covered in sand and then the area was then covered over with spent ballast to level out the area.

At the other end of the station building another team, when they could prise the frozen slabs apart!, completed two rows. These will be extended around the corner towards the front of the building at a later date.


Bob on his knees "again", Terry with maul, John S with Keith and Paul supplying them with the slabs and mix.

Completed area.
On finishing this area they reverted back to the slab laying on the platform .

Elsewhere Mike the only, painter on site, gave the running in board a coating of light stone.
Later he moved outside to painted the lamp tops with another coat of black.


Peter Q and Dave H sorted out the lettering for the said running in board, trying to work out an invisible way of fixing the lettering to the board.


Trouble is they are all not the same, some are solid, some are hollow and some are hollow with spacers. A method was agreed and next time we will see if it works.  Later they moved on to dividing plywood sheets into three, ready for the cafe area, a much simpler task.

The two mini diggers were on the go most of the day, one driven by John C filled the dumper which helped in the infilling and the leveling north of the station building, whilst the other was driven by Stevie our contractor.





Building services were also on site today, their job was the slabbing of the front of the station building. After their usual discussions and sorting of materials they had by the end of the day made a good start.


Building & Services have offered their help in the plumbing work in the toilets. They started on Monday and have made a good start on fitting out of the Gents, a row of period looking sinks have now appeared. Looking very impressive.



10 comments:

  1. The RIB letters are attached to the board by slotted screws, counter sunk into the letters.

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    Replies
    1. It could have been done from the rear using Rivetnuts into the rear of the letters. Much neater.

      Then, Allen key driven, either 8mm or 10mm countersunk machine screws through the boarding to secure such letters.

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  2. For finding pipe runs in the future maybe the company could invest in a GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) set[ the type used in archaeological digs. They are not cheap but would be of immense use for the whole of the railway when pipes need to be found without the use of the famous twins 'Trial and Error'.
    The slabbing is looking better and better as it goes on and looks like it had been there all the time!
    The lettering was originally fixed with screws and the the screw hole hidden with a form of putty.
    The Gentlemens' toilets are coming along well. It would have been nice to fit out with high cisterns but I guess you have reasons why they couldn't be used. (Such as windows in the way).
    All looking very good and it is a great credit to all of you.
    Regards, Paul.

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    Replies
    1. Or divining rods, old copper track circuit bonding did the trick for me!

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  3. It's good to see a start on the fitting out,of the toilets!.Another 7,weeks,or so,and they'll be needed!. Regards! Anthony.

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  4. In the final picture I see you have gone for a modern version of the ancient Roman communal latrine; a brave decision. Should visitors bring their own sponge on a stick or will the railway supply them gratis?! Joking aside, thank you for your efforts on a cold day. Richard

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  5. Well David there is a lot of things to still do but amazing progress in this very cold weather. Great work and team work by you all. Broadway looking the "biz".
    Regards
    Paul & Marion.

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  6. It's all coming along spendidly. How you work in such cold weather is beyond me.

    It might have been a good idea to draw a plan of where the drains run underground when you laid them ! It would make life easier ! Well, never mind that now. You do what you can when you can.

    Bravely done, volunteers !

    Peter

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    Replies
    1. We knew exactly where the end of the drain pipe was, it had been filled in for safety. This was opening the trench to connect the extra downpipes from the bridge stairs.
      Rod W

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  7. When I added a downstairs toilet extension to my 1906 house, I tried to build it in period style using recycled bricks and black/red quarry tiles - as a matter of fact, my toilet looks very much like the Broadway toilets.

    I looked into installing a period style high level cistern, but they are eye-wateringly expensive. I don't know why, since they are simply a normal cistern on the end of a longer pipe. But the prices were typically over £200. In the end I fitted a modern plastic high level cistern (an Armitage Shanks Regal) which gave me the basic style but was a bit cheaper - although at £90-odd quid still more than a normal cistern. (For comparison, Wickes do a complete low level toilet + cistern package for £45).

    I don't know how many cisterns are needed at Broadway, but assuming that each toilet has at least two cubicles I can see the cost going over £1,000 which is probably a bit much just for some plumbing components - not even complete toilets. Especially as other facilities at Broadway such as the sidings to the south of the station have been put on hold due to lack of funds.

    Still, plumbing kit can be chopped and changed fairly easily. High level cisterns could be fitted at a later date, although it would probably mean setting up a special cistern fund!

    ReplyDelete