Saturday 17th March
Cor! The wind did blow, extra thermals on today! Ten volunteers braved the weather and completed the tasks set out for them.
Wood Fencing
Vic set to and replaced the bars that had been removed near the telephone box. These were removed so that work on connecting the mains water supply to the station could be completed by Steve W. With everything back in place and after an inspection, Vic also added creosote where this was required.
Flowers
Some of the spring flowers are in bloom with others waiting to come out!
Vic was also preparing another bed for flowers at the northern end of Platform 1.
Bolt Holes
Not somewhere that one can dash to hide. Peter K, with assistance from Stuart, drilled a hole and fitted the special tube for the bolt on the gate to slide into. Neal C was also doing the same for the doors into the entrance hall. All it needs now is the casting of a granite threshold at the bottom of the door.
Platform Slabs
The next photo supplied by Ron shows the slab laying which was finished yesterday. Just needs the sand infill between the gaps for it to be completed.
Bric-a-Brac Shop
In the next couple of weeks we should re-erect the shop on the platform. This is the place where it will be resurrected.
Compound
Terry and Rod's team erected additional Heras fencing to prevent access to the uncoated area.
With all the planned work finished, we were able to go home early. Was there a surprise??
Blast from the Past
Station Building 2017
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
With less than two weeks to go before opening, this will be all from Blast in the Past. Hope you all enjoyed looking back at all the progress!!
Vic (The Garden Gnome)
The extended slabbed area looks wonderful. As does the front of the station.
ReplyDeleteI see that the snow missed you on Saturday, that was a bonus. We got ours - and the biting cold wind. Don't usually get that much snow in Cornwall - ever!
Yes, the 'blast from the past' was very interesting, thanks. Getting as good at this reportage as Jo!
Regards, Paul.
No snow here in the North West on Saturday. In fact, the sun shone all day ! A very light dusting of "dry" snow overnight has mostly blown away. Yes, it's cold, but not quite the dire weather which was forecast by the BBC.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with St. Blazey. Platform One looks splendid. The main thing is that it is now ready for eight coach trains and their passengers. That is a significant achievement.
Well done, everyone. Don't catch cold !
Peter
Looks like David did the post not sure with Vic the Gnome in the bottom St Blazey! But even so a great report on our new "Lady". Having seen pictures and Jo's report in the extension blog the platform is now tarmaced for the opening and looks ready for action for the official opening today, pity the security camera view is covered by snow! Hope all goes well for this. Again great work by all involved, we hope you all have a great day and enjoy it, well deserved. See you all soon.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Paul & Marion
Good news,that the bric,a brac shop,is to return!.A,useful source of income!.Will there be any speartop panels,at the north end,of the building?.Anthony.
ReplyDeleteIs there really much of a market for brick a brac? Perhaps it should move online?
DeleteI rather think Mr. Baker has a good idea here. If a bric-a brac shop, why not on line ? I do a good deal of shopping on line. Many people do.
DeleteGet with it, GWSR !
Peter
I can only comment on my experiences. We used to sell bric-a-brac for fund raising with the 2807 loco group (Cotswold Steam). We ended up with a load of railway mags and junk so eventually binned the idea. We have a similar problem with trying to get rid of some of the donated stuff with my local RAF Association. Not good, especially when it's given in good faith and then you can't get shot of it.
DeleteOf course the railway does already have an on line shop, though neither bric nor brac is to be seen. Once opened I imagine Broadway station will come under the general railway umbrella, where the proceeds of both Toddy and CRC shops go into the general pool, rather than being for those specific stations? I believe the erection of this shed will greatly detract from an otherwise superb heritage rebuild.
DeleteI have to agree with Anna T-Carr. Most especially with her final sentence. If asked, I would say No to a garden shed on Platform One at Broadway.
DeleteWould it not be better for the bric-a-brac shop to occupy part of that unsurfaced area? It would leave the new tarmac area visible and free (perhaps for some temporary seating) plus minimise the amount of Heras fence needed, which does rather detract. Just a thought. Thanks for the update and the great work. Richard
ReplyDeleteThat crossed my mind too. I came up with the answer that once sited, it might be desirable not to have to move it again when the footbridge steps are built. Wooden sheds (Which is exactly what it is), cannot be moved too many times as they begin to fall apart and draughts from cracks start and all manner of faults can occur.
DeleteHope this helps someway towards an answer.
Regards, Paul.
I understand your point, Paul, but it may be some time (years?) before finance is available to complete the footbridge. By then the shed may be of retirement age anyway. It just struck me that, with so much effort having gone in to the rest of the station area, a piece of rough ground surrounded by Heras would stick out like a sore thumb. In the interim, if the bric-a-brac store (let's call it) was rebuilt as previously, with its entrance ramp and rail, it could be sited adjacent to the edge of the paving. It would be another focal point but also serve to usefully occupy and thus obscure much of the rough ground. Richard.
DeleteYes. I agree with you Richard - IF it's going to take that long for the footbridge steps to be created. I didn't think we would see the slabs go in this early if there wasn't some move afoot to extend the canopy, and with the canopy, the footbridge steps have to tie in.
DeleteBut yes, I agree that the bric-a-brac shop would look better obscuring the un-metalled area than seeing Herras fencing.
We will have to wait and see what BAG think of your idea when they read this blog.
Regards, Paul.
The Heras fenced area remains a construction site subject to CDM regulations. This is where work on footbridge steps and the canopy extension will start as soon as finance allows. There will be no public access to this area.
DeleteActivity is on going in the area north of the station building. For safety, it is fenced off. There is nothing permanent about the Heras fencing. So, that site is not available.
DeleteIn any case, the area reserved for the garden shed has already been chosen (by whom ?) It is slightly to the north of the footbridge. Therefore, there is nothing to be gained by looking for an alternative site on Platform One. ( I have to say, if this plan goes ahead, it will be a glaring anachronism, and they can stop talking about replicating an Edwardian station. An Edwardian station with a garden shed on the platform ?)
Wiser counsels will, it is hoped, prevail.
Peter H. Wright
It's a pity that the bric-a-brac store can not be sited somewhere on or near the car park, out of view of the station also handy for the travelling public to put items straight in their vehicles.
ReplyDeleteNow there is a suggestion. Perhaps not practicable. I don't know. I would think, probably not. Sorry, Steve. But his suggestion makes one thing clear. There will be no new emporium amongst the pine trees on Station Approach. (That would require a new planning application, which would be opposed by yours truly).
ReplyDeleteThere could be no objection to the emporium in a suitable location, in a suitably railway-like structure. In fact, I would say, why not ?
But after all this talk about replicating an Edwardian railway station ? Oh dear, gentlemen, think again.
Peter H.Wright
My answer to the whole thing would be to make the bric-a-brac shed LOOK railway like, primarily by painting it in GWR colours (when rebuilt) and thus making it fit into the scene, so to speak. Wooden buildings did exist on station platforms after all. there are many photos of them online all over the country. Indeed, some station buildings themselves, were wooden constructions.
DeleteRegards, Paul.
Yes, I would agree with that, if the building looked authentic. Otherwise, all the talk of replicating an Edwardian ambience would just be hot air.
DeleteAnd it would be nice to have the ladies back again. But not in a garden shed !
Peter H. Wright
A plea to the BAG, please don’t go and spoil the look by putting a garden shed up on Platform 1. If you need some covered space for a store/Bric a brac shop why not construct a GWR heritage style iron framed and corrugated iron clad building like other railways have done.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a completely different subject, just seen the first train into Broadway for the supports & volunteers, what a magnificent sight with the chocolate and cream set, just a pity that we can't get a continuous live feed, unless we are doing something wrong! A good day for the line and Broadway!
ReplyDeleteRegards
Paul & Marion