A Fair Day

 Monday 30th May 2022

Just a short week before the Gala , which starts on Friday and  saw a small group of volunteers making sure  the station looks its best.

Dave and Pat were on gas bottle duty first thing , making sure there is enough gas to supply the visitors with Bacon Rolls and cups of Tea and Coffee.

Back at Broadway , Pat tries to solve the problem with the petrol hover mower.

Ian tackled the small garden at the end of platform 1 

Is it a weed or is it a flower ?

Peter Q was down the drive.

Tony was mowing behind  Platform 1 

Dave was on the bins , first front fitted.

By lunch time most had drifted off with some reason or another , which left only Mike who was doing a bit of touching up where the paintwork had lost its top coats and Dave with his bins.

Before we left Toddington , we had a quick look  around the yard trying to spot the visiting guest locomotives for this weekends steam gala.

Tucked up in the shed was the Sentinal 47019 , behind it 41312.

Out in the yard the other Ivatt 46521.

9F Black Prince was by the side of P and O just couldn't get the angle for a decent shot.

Eddystone hadn't arrived yet , due later in the day ?

Looks like being a decent weekend weather wise for the Gala .

Popped back on Wednesday to do a bit more and  " Black Prince  " was on the second train of the day .

Dave

Broadway Station

 Saturday 28th May.

Two items were received for our cafe. First the clock was back in working order and keeping the correct time. Thanks to Ben from Carriage and Wagon Dept for sorting it.

Secondly we had a visit from an Artist who had painted P&O at Broadway Station. Here is presenting the painting to our Station Master Mel Curnuck, It was then hung in the Cafe.

P/Way were also at the Station, checking out the points at each end and oiling. Ian was also watering the plants in this dry weather.

Vic

Mowers Out

 Monday 23rd May 2022

A just right weather wise day for the volunteers that attended on Monday , with only a threat of showers late on.

It was mowers out day ( we only have 2 , plus a strimmer ), Brian did the area behind the fence on platform 2.

Peter Q was on the driveway embankment.

Tony after finishing of behind Platform 1 headed down to the drive , and after sorting out the problem with the new engine on the mower gave the grassy area a fresh cut. 

Mike having re painting of the gate ( the correct colour paint this time ) moved onto platform 2 , and did a bit of touching up of the white edging.

Back down the workshop Dave and his small gang of Ian`s were beavering away with the waste bins for Toddington.

Dave was building the frames and Ian then applied the Primer before putting them out to dry !!!

The other Ian,  was giving the sides a coat of primer. It could be under coat Wednesday ! 

And finally a picture of the staircase , with its handrails finally finished and stair treads fixed down . Ready for opening in time for next weeks gala ?

Dave

Rain Stopped Play

 Monday 16th May 2022

The weather started off on Monday bright and warm , it wasn't going to last ! and when I arrived at Broadway after completing my gas bottle changing duties at Toddington a small group of volunteers were getting ready for the day.

Most of the volunteers do additional volunteering in other departments.

Peter Q was doing the weekly stock taking for the Catering Dept , then a bit of gardening .

First a picture of the legless hut which Peter K modified last week , its now makes it much easier to get the mowers etc in and out of it.

Talking of Gardening Equipment .

When they finally got it started, Tony fly mowed the small seating area

Then started on the area behind Platform 1.

Peter K was covering up the red oxide on the gate with Light Stone paint.

Down at the waste bin construction area , Dave was constructing the frames and sides and Ian and Peter were applying the primer.

 Just after lunch the heavens opened up so most disappeared. leaving just Dave and Ian in the workshop and  Brian doing a bit of tidying up around the driveway.

We had a donation of various model railway bits and bobs awhile back at the Goods shed , one item was this lovely model of a 4 - 4 - 2 Adams Locomotive , brand new from Oxford Rail.

We are looking for offers if anybody is interested, please let me know .Proceeds go to the Friends of Broadway.

Dave

Another Bank Holiday

 Monday 9th May 2022

Another bank holiday stopped the volunteers attending last Monday , but we had a healthy turn out today , but nobody to keep the grass and the ever growing weeds down.

Dave started his day on gas bottle duty down at Toddington, and returned to find Ian , Ron and Ray on the cutting , with what was the remains on the what lineside clearance had cut down over a week ago.

Ian carried it over to the bonfire spot and by mid morning had a good fire on the go, what they couldn't shift got piled up and burnt on the spot.

Peter Q was down the drive doing his best to keep the weeds down.

After that he head to the workshop to prime some of the sides of the new waste bins.

Elsewhere Bob did some repair work and Brian sourced a new tool for the workshop.

Our tool store for the gardening equipment had always had been on tall legs , which made it difficult for us aging volunteers to lift mowers etc in and out of. So Peter K had the task of removing said legs, here seen half way through , shed now at a jaunty angle is waiting to have its front legs removed.

There is an hope that the Footbridge might be open for the Steam Gala , so people might be able just to go up and only onto the span. ( not over to the other side) to watch the trains.

Problem is that the web cam would be access able to prying hands , so Dave set about moving it to a new position , it has now been moved but its final position is not final just yet, so bear with.

Dave