Back on the Brushes again !

 Week Commencing 24th August 2020

The previous days before saw yet another storm blow across the country and through Broadway  ! 

Which meant the drive was back to square one , covered with cones and needles .

So on Monday out came the Brooms, Brushes ,racks ,shovels and wheelbarrows .

We had Ian on the right

We also had Ron on the right

Peter was on the Left , Dave was on the Barrow

By mid morning half way up the drive, on wards and upwards.

All our debris headed to the bonfire , not the one at the back but the little one at the front. Behind is the lineside clearance pile from last weeks clearance !

Back on platform 1 , Ian and Ron set about sweeping and clearing up , disturbed by the many visitors wandering around.

Peter and Dave set about removing the needles and debris from the station guttering , first from the line side.

And then the drive side.

All the waste was duly sent down to Tony who had a nice fire going.

Hes in there somewhere !

Unfortunately all the regular Bloggers were missing on the Wednesday  , so who knows what went on , so I will leave it to your imagination what went on , but it wont be that hard .

Dave

Saturday 29th August

Vic on Station duties today and can add a few photos. Dinmore Manor on the first train and Foremark Hall to follow with the second train of the day. We also had the Embankment Clearance Team in today cutting even more growth. The production line for Spear Fencing is going very well.

Vic

One good day , One bad day

 Week commencing 17th August 2020

Last week saw volunteers leave early on Wednesday because it was too hot , this Wednesday we couldn't even get going because it was too wet .

At least on Monday we managed to do the usual !

As always the drive needs a brush up , Ian on the case.

Over the other side Brian is seen " Feeding the Chickens ! " no, sowing grass seeds on the bare patches, in the anticipation of a bit of rain . Little did he know what was to come.

Afterwards he joined Peter Q and Dave on wheelbarrow raking down the Embankment behind Platform 1. 

Above them Vic was tidying the top of the embankment.

After the morning  break a bit of Muscle was needed to move the finished panels to outside the signal box , roughly in the vicinity of their eventual positions between the bridge and the signal box.

Not far away Pat was on the most difficult embankment of the station site, very steep with bricks and stones underfoot.

After Lunch 4 Volunteers continued clearing the road side embankment.

Wednesday was a total different day, (you can say that again). Vic was on duty as Station Assistant (Porter) and taking todays photos. It's raining, it's pouring, I'm not sure which old man was storing!!!

Hillary was S M and Roy the BOC also present during the day was David senior SM.

The Railway Clearance Team were again at Broadway, beavering away in spite of the weather.

The loco today was Foremark Hall seen here passing Broadway Signal Box.

Peter K and Pat were both during their regular jobs, Peter manufacturing more Spear Fencing and Pat out with his strimmer. Peter in the dry, Pat replacing his strimmer cord. Next to Pat is our Summer volunteer Ron watching on.

Below a picture of Peter K in action

Finally our replacement Pine Trees are all surviving well and growing taller, also the memorial rose planted for Doreen Walters flowered very well this year.

It aint half hot mum !

W/C 9th August 2020

After the excitement of the first shakedown trains from the weekend it was back to work on a very hot Monday and very hot Wednesday.

A few volunteers Brian and Dave had wangled a ride on the first train of the weekend and were surprised by how many of our fellow volunteers came down to watch the train pull into Broadway.

Around were Peter Q and Sally, Julie from the shop , Peter K, Ian and on station duty Vic.

Back to Monday .

Ian was lopping the tree which had began to envelope one of the Driveway lamps.

Tony and Brian also on the drive generally mowing and tidying up.

Somebody , probably to get a better view of the goings on at the weekend had broke the fence , repairs were needed, to which Peter and Dave attended to.

Extra support needed , then Peter treated it with preservative.

Dave also spent the day grinding down the showing threads that had appeared when the benches had had their fastenings re tighten .

Tony also was trimming the tops of the bushes behind platform 1 , Peter clearing up behind.

That was about it for Monday it started of warm and ended up Hot , where as Wednesday started of Hot and got Hotter.

Peter and Dave planted some more Hydrangeas and gave the existing plants a thorough watering.

Take a look at Peter for a minute , and you will see that his fluorescent jacket has seen better days .After a bit of ribbing from his fellow Volunteers ,there was only one place for it to go.

After a few tears , his old friend of maybe 10 years was consigned to the bonfire.

Funny he had another one ready and waiting in the Van.

Dressed in his new fluorescent , he and Dave finished off the additional arch supports with a lick of paint , 

Elsewhere Peter K and Clive were working on the new panels .Peter welding in the container whilst Clive applied red oxide and then a layer primer .

By Midday the heat was beginning to tell on some and we began to flag , by 2 pm that was it , there was nothing that could not be saved for another day , so off we went for a cold shower and cold beer !

Dave

A Continuing Dry Spell

Monday 3rd August

It is only 2 weeks away for public trains to run again.

Ian preparing the ground for Tony to lay some bricks in front of the final lamp post. Must make it level!

Brian took over the grass cutting following instructions from Tony how to manage the beast!

Here, Brian got a rest, as visitors enquired how the railway was managing.

Peter and David went to Toddington to finish off the project they were working on last week. They arrived back at Broadway just in time for the morning coffee break.

These picnic tables are a boon. Dave was digging into a Danish Whirl.

Following our break Peter and Dave checked all the fixings on the tables.

Peter I'm sure there is a nut there somewhere!

Just a sort of PS for Monday .

The early birds Peter and Dave popped down to Toddington to finish the gas box.

With Felt in hand ! and some cement , Peter sealed the hole whilst Dave  completed the roof.

Peter gave the out going gas pipe a lick of paint to complete the job .

Wednesday 5th August

Here we are again, lots to do! First empty your car boot then into the Station. It's a barrow collection.

Peter brought in a number of (Hi Stranger) Hydrangeas to plant on the embankment down the drive. So with the help of Dave a bit of digging and plants soon in. Vic helped with the supply of water. Vic also planted some Geraniums in one of the Border Beds.

Bob W was again working on the station brickwork finishing off what he started last week.

Tony adjusted the door on our tool shed and trimmed the hedge.

The cutting were taken to the bonfire area. I think Clive found something to read?

I'm not sure why but Peter and Dave both like being behind a building perhaps it's hide and seek?

Oops there is a finger in the way.

The station had a number of volunteers from two other departments. First is the Lineside Clearance team (Pat will be pleased) the second is S&T going into the Signal Box.

Saturday 8th August

Trial runs commenced today with Dinmore Manor and P&O calling at Broadway Station.

Dave back reporting next week