Really must get back on form with this blogging. Here's some of the results of the logging train, where a load of cheery chaps (and maybe some chapesses) go off down the line with some flat trucks and some serious hardware to tidy up the lineside, chop the timber into useable sizes, and load it up to use at the station, on the bar fire and elsewhere. Saves much money, reduces fire and falling risk along the line.
Well, yes, it's a footplate, but being a dedicated heathen I have no idea whose or why.
Yes, I reckon I recognise this reprobate.
And his friend...
And I fear that's the reprobate's papa.
7511 being prepared to travel to Kidder, having been completed inside. See www.svr-rollingstocktrust.org for more info.
She'll be a beauty when she's outshopped.
Catch Me Who Can will be in steam at Bridgnorth Station during the SVR Spring Gala on 6-8th March. Adam spotted Dave Reynolds doing some more work to Trevithick's little engine.
And now to the news.
Adam's report from 7 February.
For a start, today is the first time since we've been back at Bridgnorth that I haven't been loaded down with a certain block of exam coursework, which helps to make the day more overall enjoyable, I hope.
The little team started out getting the platform cleared with shovels - plough type rakes from snow, which to us might seem like a heavy snow fall since we rarely see any realistic snow at all at Christmas. That ended up taking half to three quarters of the morning.
After that we undertook to replenish all of the kindling and wood stoves around the station - signal box and waiting room platform two. For this it was a case of two containers over to the yard and chopping up any smallish wood bits from the wood pile (for lighting up). We got interrogated by a couple of rota guys about abducting their wood; we didn't exactly take it all, they've still got a few chunks left.
After lunch it was tidying up the gala tent from over the winter. General tidy up and a damp cloth and bucket were in full order. Tables, planks, the works needed cleaning of month old crud which turned the water black quickly. It looked much better for it being done anway, which helps. Got several bench parts cleaned, laid out, prepped for priming. Later attached a grovelling note to the pieces for week WW gang to under and top coat.. very grovelling..
When it soon after reached half five, we downed tools, got washed, and headed for a well earned pint (cheering thought).
Richard's report from 21 February.
Work in progress with yet more painting and railing chipping and priming.
1055 Work on undercoating the bench panels with smooth paint and brush work in no time, well you get the idea.
1210 Wire brushing and painting - we managed to finish two panels. Once one panel was done went to lunch.
3.30pm. Finished work on the wooden bench frame and the chocolate coat will be added, so there will be more places to sit on the platform.
Adam's report from 28 February.
Today again was mainly painting, not much of a change there. Hopefully we'll have the current four benches completed in a month or so.
Although not done by me, we also got the bench feet attached to the metal legs today (courtesy of Chris and Steve).
Later after lunch it was putting the top chocolate gloss coat on the plain wooden bench frame; it was time consuming to say the very least.
Towards the end of the day once there was no more to paint, we endeavoured to replenish kindling in the waiting room trunk. Not long before we'll be selling bundled kindling for station funds?
Patrick's update 1/3/09
ReplyDeleteI went up 1/3/09, unannounced and unplanned, as a last minute thing. Spoke to Chalky and Anthony (and Brian) and cleared what to do
I helped Di Malyon assemble her compost bin, which freed Chalky to do other things
The railings panel that the lads started chipping yesterday is finished. I didn't red oxide any as the platform narrows there and there were a few passengers about - one for the midweek team? Di politely requested I sweep up where we've been chipping, so I have!
I've sanded and wiped down all faces of the 10 bench timbers in the hut, and got paint onto the 'back' faces of six of them before the light went
All tools etc back in the hut
Patrick's update 15/3/09
ReplyDeleteAt Bridgnorth station yesterday were eight Officer Cadets from the Defence Helicopter Flying school at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafshawbury/. As I understand it they have an annual community day for Shropshire, and the RAF approached the railway to see if we could make use of them.
They were put to use in two gangs, chipping railings on platform 1 and breaking concrete on the barrow crossing north of the station. They seemed to have a good time by all accounts.
With at least 5 other volunteers working on the station itself, plus RAF gang on the platform, a tremendous amount got done. A bench frame and 14 bench timbers were painted, a bench touched up in situ, four panels of railings chipped and another half-dozen painted. The Wailing Wall Construction Company was out and about and there was concrete being laid in the yard, and I gather they shifted a lot as well.
Patrick