Time Flies By

Wednesday 4th September 2019

Time flies by in more ways than one , we are now into September , it will soon be except for a couple of months, be the end of yet another running season. years also fly by as we were reminded by a picture that Terry had found on a site linked to by one of Jo`s blogs.

The picture below was taken in June 1981 at Toddington Station during the early days.

Tracklaying at Toddington

Now fast forward to today , Terry ( 2nd left ) and Peter K are still volunteering 38 years and 3 months later !

They haven't aged one bit 

Monday saw Ron sweeping the fallen Pine cones and needles off the the drive and then to the running line doing the same .

One of many journeys that day to the bonfire area.

Pete and Dave , were in their usual place , Pete touching up the Menu / Price list Board whist Dave started the constructing of waste bin number ?

We had had a kind donation of some Knitted Tea Pot covers , so we tried them out for size.

Monday saw more removing of rubbish around the bottom of the stairs on both sides of the bridge stairs. They even used the trolley , because of  the amount they had retrieved on Platform 1 

Keith and Terry  then carried on the infilling of the gaps .

Tony gave the bench in the garden a fresh coat of paint.

Brian in the sunshine gave the new waste bin side a coat of primer , which after, was then pasted over to Dave , who then fixed it to the other sides and there is one new bin , all it needs is a lick of paint and a lid.

Bit of an accident down the drive saw Neil having to get down and retrieve parts of a broken manhole cover from down the bottom of the manhole . unfortunately a coach driver decided to pull onto the pavement and it broke the cover . one was taken from a not so busy area and replaced.

Locomotive of the day was P and O pulling the lunchtime train back to Cheltenham Racecourse.

Another Day at the Office

Wednesday 28th August 2019

No Monday volunteering this week so just the Wednesday for the volunteers ,13 turned up on a rain threatening day . but apart from one shower it held off until past 3.

 

Where they had dug a small trench and inserted the electrical cable on Platform 2 ,  It had left a very uneven surface , bricks and ballast all over the place  ( a good ankle twisting surface ) Ron took to re leveling , removing and refilling the holes . 

A small team continued with the area below the fence and stairs on platform filling holes etc. Tony giving the Posts and then the fence another coat of Paint.

Pete gave the metal work on the gate a coating of primer.

The other Pete was working on the surround for the Menu / Price list board for the tea room.

 Dave was keeping him company by finishing off,  Pamphlet holder number 2 . and to match the crisp holder a sweet and confectionery holder also for the counter in the tea room.

Later in the day a rare shot of over 5 volunteers in one place some working ,some watching and some talking !

Afternoon saw Clive, Rod , Keith and Ron started vegetation removal on Platform 2 , you know its hard work when spades are involved. Ron had the tricky job of ferrying it back  to the bonfire.

Talking of ferrying, The Routemaster was in action taking passengers from the station to Broadway village, looking good for being over 50 years old !

Another Day

Monday 19th August

Another day at Broadway Station. Four volunteers in at 8am to carry on various tasls.

Tony grass cutting in the Mini Bus waiting area and painting the Spear Fencing. Peter making small fence rails. David painting the Bin covers Dark Stone. Vic in the gardens planting and weed removing.

Jo, John and Neal came in later to work further on the Footbridge and the Scaffold Co, came in to remove their equipment from Platform 2.

Wednesday 21st August

Purple timetable today, 2 steam and 1 diesel loco.

 The Last Train

Here arriving at the end of the day for passengers from Cheltenham to Broadway have the pleasure of two steam locos. 2807 pulling and 7903 pushing.

Footbridge

There was a lot going on and under the footbridge today.

Friends of Broadway Station Shop

The shop was managed again by Julie and Steve, here is Steve putting out some of their wares.

Food and Drink Festival

This will be again taking place in October at Toddington and Winchcombe. John M calling at Broadway Station delivering some more leaflets and talking to Neal C about the footbridge.

Preparations for a Dedication

Ray busy cleaning and painting the bench in the taxi waiting area. This bench is to be dedication to one of Broadway Station early volunteers,

Station Staff

In the Café is Mike, Susan and Edna with customers admiring all the cakes.

Station Assistant training is Peter B checking the waste bins.

Two of Vic's friends also paid a visit, here in the Booking Hall prior to getting their tickets.

Bird Boxes

Several weeks ago bird boxes were installed on various trees around the station.

Vic (Broadway Station Assistant)

Sunshine and Showers

Wednesday 14th August 2019

What happens at Broadway Station it seams is dictated by the weather ! Monday after the weekend of storms was a reasonable day.

The usual sweeping up of pine needles by Tony and Ron was preceded by the emptying of a blocked drain outside the booking hall door , not blocked by pine needles but by everyday dirt !

This was the sweepings from the drive on Monday , roughly 3 feet high ( 90 cm ).

Bit low on numbers on Monday , in the afternoon we were down to 3 .

Tony gave the post a second coat of top coat to one of the posts.

Elsewhere Pat was keeping the weeds under control .and Dave made 2 small leaflet holders to complement the pamphlet holder , they just need a spot of varnish and maybe sign written too.

Wednesday . the rain was forecast and duly arrived just as some of the volunteers arrived ! Only 7 or 8 appeared , find a job indoors if you can .

Dave and Peter hid in the workshop whilst it was raining , having had a various requests from the catering staff one for a board to put the menu / price list on so people can see what we have available and two , they are trying to do away with the plastic trays that contain crisps and sweats.

A suitable board was cut to size and then painted black, a surround made ready to be fitted when the board has dried.

A four tiered / compartment crisp container came out of the workshop just after the rain stopped , off now to be varnished.

Even before the rain had stopped Tony and Peter K started fitting the spear fencing by the bridge gate.

2 large panels bolted up and the small panel fitted between the end posts , which leaves one panel which needs some adjustment.

Above shows what they had achieved , then it was the turn of Rod, Terry and Keith who turned up with Pen ,paper and ruler to measure the size of slabs to cut to finish off under the fence.

The trains into Broadway station are still topping and tailing , but lucky for us the King came in pointed the right way , with lots of steam in the miserable weather.