Drains and Ants

 Week Commencing 20th April 2026

Monday

As you can see I am running out of Blog titles but onwards

Ron's back from his travels so the numbers on Monday went up to 5 .

The drains and manholes all needed a good clean out , quite a few bucket loads came out of each of the station car park ones. A smelly job 

A distance shot of Vic working his way down to the bottom of the drive treating the fence.

Another drain and another bucket full .

The taps nearest the door in the Gents toilets were dripping again , another set of fresh tap washers were fitted.

He`s here he`s there he`s everywhere Ron on the mower this time .

Wednesday

Due to the landslip being worked on during the week a different timetable was being run , a Brown one .

But no brown timetable tag, One was cut and then ian painted it up.

There had been a trail of ants coming from the outside pavement by the kitchen door , to prevent them getting into the kitchen a liberal amount of ant powder was put down and on the pavement side ant spray was used.

A slightly dampish brown timetable tag was put on its hanger for all to see , in full sunshine it should be dry bt the end of the day.

The pear tree garden had a good weed and topping up with soil.

Chris was treating the bank side of the fence .

Betton Grange was on duty today , on its trip to Broadway it needed to top up its water tank .

Problem it has is not being able to spray the embers in the ash box some getting out and causing small fires on the track bed.

Just like below when Ian and Kevin were in the right spot to extinguish so small fires after the train had left.

Trains operating on the brown table were Betton grange and the Bubblecar

Over on platform 2 , work has finished on the far end , flat roof could be finished by next Monday ,frames are being primed or undercoated at the front of the building, where the brickwork rises to the arches height .

Dave

Low In Numbers

 Week Commencing 13th April 2026

Monday

Just Kevin and Myself

We got round to fitting the toilet roll holder in the disabled toilet !

A donation to the FOB shed of a ladies push bike was dropped of , any takers ?

Talking of the shed , Kevin varnished the newly panelled doors .

Wednesday

Few more turned out today , Chris , Dave and Mark .

Mark and young Dave spent the day applying fence preserve on the mess hut fence , Chris was keeping the drive tidy , and Kevin and myself were kept busy around the gardens.

A steam 3850 and bubble car day

Dave

Another Short Week

 Week Commencing 6th April 2026

Just Wednesday

Nothing doing on Monday because of Easter

Wednesday saw just the 3 of us around. nice weather for a bit of weed  / grass cutting .

First job of the morning was to clear up around the bins !! Not saying much but what will the neighbours and visitors think !

Ian gave the Facia board one last coat of paint .

Then we all headed down the drive to give the corner a good mow and tidy up .

Over on platform 2 the window arches have been started

Locomotives on duty today were 3850 and 2807 seen below .

A quick video from little Broadway . saw a rare double headed goods train heading north .

Dave

Into April

 Week Commencing 30th March 2026

Monday

2 bright but still cool days this week . handful of volunteers around on Monday , including Vic on the station drive fence .

The drive was scruffy enough to give Billy a run out , still managed to pick up a bag full of needles and cones .

Peter K managed to get one of the mowers to go a bit better and then he fitted a bigger and also lowered the lock on the shed door.

Ian and Kevin were on the bonfire building a small retaining wall .

Wednesday

Into April and the trains are now running Midweek .

Chris and Dave had a general tidy up , Kevin was keeping on top of things and Ian helped .

Over on platform 2 and out of sight at the far end , walls have now reached corbelling height , and window arches are being put in .

An idea we have is making little Broadway a working railway , although it does work to a degree . some tight bends and point work doesn't lend itself for smooth running and some of our locos just wont run on it .An Idea is to add 2 end pieces and make it double running . work in progress .

Real trains running today were 2807 and 3850. A bit of a spot the difference competition.

Dave

Into Spring

 Week Commencing 16th March 2026

Monday

7 around today, and a nice and warm day , Spring just around the corner.

Try telling that to the weeds which in the car park garden are already showing their flowers but Chris here is on the case keeping them under control .

The sign which we put up again the previous week had been hit again,  by what who knows ?

Chris and young Dave were around too, seen below cutting the door panel .

Peter K comes in often and keeps our Gardening equipment serviced and working , except this mower which refused to go . Luckily for he has access to a workshop and if he cant get it going here he takes it away to be fixed.

Dagger boards had another top coat .

Panel cut and was then attached to the door frame.

Wednesday

Just the 4 today

A mysterious hole had appeared in the hedge !

Down to the main road to put the sign up again !

Over on Platform 2 brickwork between the windows is being completed .

Vic came today to paint the drive fence , due to the wet winter he had been unable to start his yearly job , but after a few dry days, brush in hand and off he went.

Drive way grass needed yet another cutting , as per usual I cut and Ian followed with the strimmer .

Kevin was filling the gaps between the grasses with who knows what !

Monday saw a Photo Charter visit the Station , unfortunately I had a previous appointment , so I missed it .

But anything the big railway can do little Broadway can copy .

Dave

Testing Days !

 

Week Commencing 9th March 2026

Monday

Plenty of odd jobs to do around the station for the 5 on Monday .

Another branch down , this one not as big as the last couple but the trees are still dropping on the platforms .

Some new lamps are on their way but not enough room to store them , this meant that they were moved from the office , wrapped up and taken to a place of safe keeping to be stored again.

Ian had a go at the gate leg , MK 2

Most of the benches and rubbish bins had a coating of Saharan sand on them , so Mark and I did a quick clean up

Chris was back in the car park garden , hiding behind the Yucca !

Later weeding and trimming the Hydrangeas .

Neal asked us to prime a piece of wood we ( Mark ) duly obliged .

Wednesday

A testing day for Ian, Chris , young Dave and Kevin all were due their PTS training and Exam. Of course they all passed .

Chris was back on the shed door , nearly there .

The office after the removal of the lamps had a clean up , probably more books for the shed are coming so it needed a clean out .

Dagger boards for the shed had a first top coat.

Still no Wednesday trains yet, but at Little Broadway a none stopping Hymeck is seen heading north to Honeybourne.

Dave