Maintenance Week !5 and were there !

 Week Commencing 24th February 2025

Monday

5 volunteers around today, doing last minute jobs to get the station ready for the opening day of the new season.

Firstly it was put the platform furniture out Over the years of putting it back out we still forget where it goes , but who knows ?

Mike had a bit of pressure washing to do by the stairs.

Vic finally got to the bottom of the drive fence with the wood treatment .

Myself pressure washed the stairs wood and steel work.

Neal fitted the new manhole at the bottom of the drive with a bit more robust version , Ian and Keith hope fully cleaned up after him.

Ian and Kevin put and refixed the barrier up at the end of platform 1 

Last week the trees that were cut down were replaced by saplings , 9 on platform 1 and 2 on platform 2 .

Jo was working on the Midland Railway bench in the old mess room.

Wednesday

I couldn't attended but those that did only had to take down the coverings off the running boards and do a bit of sweeping up.

But I think were are there ready for the new season  which starts this Saturday .

Dave

Maintenance week 14 Nearly There !

 Week Commencing 17th February 2025

Monday

Just the 4 of us on another gloomy Monday !

It was too wet for Mike to paint the platform edge so he did a spot of platform edge cleaning over on platform 2.

I changed the dodgy tap on the electrical box at the south end of platform 1.Mainly so I could use the pressure washers !

We decided that the weather wasn't going to get much better that day , so a trip to the local hardware shop to procure a tin of Vanilla paint was needed. This got Mike out of the weather and into the Station Masters office.

Mean while the sun came out ( as it does occasionally ) and time to tackle the ever growing bird poo on platform 1.

Brush and pressure washer eventually cleaned up the area . another problem around that area is the large lake in the photo that forms every time it rains . what to do ?

The reason for Mike painting the wall of the Station Masters office was it had had the clock on the wall and when it had been removed it left quite a few holes and marks . Mike soon made it like new.

Kevin moved down the drive to plant a few more plants .

Wednesday

Weather a bit better but still threatening to rain.

Over on platform 2 nothing much happening far too cold and damp.

Mike had a go at painting the white platform line , hopefully it would dry before it started to rain.

After a few dry ish days it was decided to have a go at the bonfire. It was a bit Smokey but luckily mostly steam ! 

After an intensive 2 min training course Kevin was introduced to  " Billy " The 3 of us gave the drive way a good going over.

Chris and Dave were back in the shed , still sorting the insulation out , ibis time on the side wall.

Keeping out of the rain showers Mike tackled the lamp cleaning under the canopy.

Just one week to the start of the season , weather has had its effect on what we could have achieved , but we shall be ready .

Dave

Maintenance Week 13

 Week Commencing 10th February 2025

Monday

Forget it , just Vic and myself but the rain forecasted to start at 12 o clock started early . Vic did 2 fence panels and then gave up. I kept busy in the container 2 , whilst Jo was in the mess hut rubbing down his Midland bench . By lunch time enough was enough.

Wednesday

Just as cold but not as wet !

Over on platform 2 nothing is stirring , much too cold and wet . 

Mike was over on platform 2 cleaning the platform edge .

After the installation was finished on the rear wall of the shed , Chris and Dave were re fixing the shelving back into its rightful positions.

Mike had a go at the lamps , tops and glass all cleaned.

And bless him Kevin still fighting with the clay on the garden , plants are slowly going in if they want to or not .

Hoping for a better week next week as there are only few more weeks before the new season , still more to do .

Dave

Maintenance Week 12

 Week Commencing 3rd February 2025

Monday

Just the 3 of us today . Mike , Kevin and Myself.

Kevin busied himself on the platform garden , finding out that the clay doesn't like being dugout !

Mike having finished cleaning the white line on platform 1 managed to paint 3 panels of spear fencing.

Myself was in our workshop container doing a general clear out before going shopping for necessities .

We were joined by the guys on platform 2 . John was working on the Internal block work and insulation .

Wednesday

Work carried on in the goods shed , the water heater in the café had its service , but a small group of us headed north to Pat`s " Informal celebration of life."

Dave

Maintenance Week 11

 Week Commencing 27th January

Monday

4 of us braved the cold but dry Monday .

The last of the refurbished bins was placed under the stairs , showing off its newly painted lid !

Vic was down the drive after using up the last of the wood treatment on the fence, then decided to clear some of the debris away from the last weeks storm.

Mike decided to give the platform edge a good clean off .

And Kevin was working on his edging to the small garden. Myself was in container 1 sorting out the life expired paint .

Wednesday

Down to 3 volunteers , sickness in the air .

Over on platform 2 , no brick laying , days and nights are too cold still . But Neil and Jo have been at work clearing the rear of the building and transpoting the soil into the trucks.

Mike got way past the station canopy with his edge cleaning , you can tell the difference from the photo .

Later he went back to the Spear Fencing and gave a couple of panels a coating of light stone paint.

There was a big unloading at the end of the day , the delivery of the Door and window frames, and glass  for the platform 2 building . just need to find a proper storage place until its needed !

Dave

Maintenance Week 10 and a sign of Spring !

 Week Commencing 20th January 2025

Monday

Usual 3 out on the Monday.

Over on platform 2 , nothing going on this week the wagons have returned waiting for more spoil to be dug out .

The first signs of Spring are appearing 

PRIMULA

SNOWDROPS

Too cold to do much outside , so Ian and Kevin rearranged container 1 , throwing out anything not used anymore and paint that had gone off ! , also making room for more garden tools.

Myself  headed to the warmth of the Ladies toilets to paint the lids on the refurbished bins.

Coming out of the toilet the door hit the frame ? The top hinge had come apart !! job for Wednesday .

Wednesday

First job fix hinge ! Had to remove hinge to fix it , still cant find the top cap .

4 today and Peter K popped in for a visit

Mike was way down the other end of platform 1 on the spear fencing.

Which meant Ian , Kevin and myself could make a start on the hedge .

The height on the platform side is not the same as the height on the neighbours side. Ian on this side is using the hedge trimmer with an extension . me over on the other side can cut it at less than shoulder height. Many wheel barrows headed to the bonfire area that day and we only did about a tenth of it !

More sad news. The passing away of Richard Green.

Richard worked for Fairview building suppliers , and delivered most of the materials to the station , he also helped with laying of the platform edge slabs and occasionally go on foraging trips with the other volunteers to collect useful stuff for the railway.

Our condolences to his family.

Dave

Maintenance week 9

 Week Commencing 13th January 2025

Monday

4 around on the Monday , Mike ,Ian , Kevin and myself .

A piece of poly sheet was just the right size to cover up the platform 2 running board. Time will tell if it was a good idea.

Mike was on the fence rubbing down ready for priming.

Kevin after a few weeks of volunteering has been promoted to chief ( and only ) gardener ! was at the bottom garden with Ian.

Ian had some bother with one of the sack trucks .

Wednesday

Over on platform 2 , more bricks had been laid at the rear and side ,service pipes to the building had been connected.

The installation of the rear of the shed was being done by Chris and young Dave. The books having been removed it was the shelving next.

Vic was with us on the fence.

Over the break the mess container had leaked again , so having a pile of unused corrugated sheets handy .

Ian checking that Chris was doing right ?

Mike was on the spear fencing this time with the primer .

End of the day the mess container had been sheeted , just got to wait for the inside to dry out now !

Talking of the inside , Chris fitted the final sheet to the rear of the shed , with some left over to start one of the sides. More next week ?

and finally , in case I haven't told anyone.

Dave