Broadway Bridges - Repairs

THAT long. And I hope you loaded your car with unwanted 'infill' to go behind the Platform(s) before attending. By which, I didn't mean your OH.

Getting back to the original title, and I agree that it could be changed, I've been monitoring the Local Rag(s) and there doesn't seem to be any [continued] adverse comment other than that initially expressed by said Councillor.

Saying that, I understand that there has recently been some animosity from one of the local residents, although I'm not aware of the individual in question. For those that don't know the site, access is via a private driveway which also provides access to a small number of residential dwellings.

I do know that in the initial 'concept' (as opposed to the Planning Application) there was a desire to build a separate 'toilet block' within the 'driveway' but separate from the Station Building. However, there was an individual, whether the same or not, I wouldn't care to speculate, who was opposed to such on the basis that it would encourage 'Cottagers'.

As if the Toilet Block would remain unlocked outside of Operating Hours.

Some people just seem to want to cause controversy for the sake of it.

 

I remember about the toilet block being moved, I didn't know that was the reason though! I seem to remember when the planning permission was submitted someone tried blocking it on the grounds that they didn't want to lose their pathway, and was going to do as much as possible to stop the railway, didn't hear anything after that though...

Overall thpugh I think most broadway residents either don't kind or actively look forward to the coming of the railway, although we've got the hurdle of car park planning application to get through yet...

 

1 August 2014. A good day to remember Broadway Station 110 years ago to the day when it opened for business. At that time the Line was still being built south of Broadway.


Although I wasn't privileged to be there at the time (!) it seemed to be a very warm day and the opening attracted much interest. Most trains were specials to Stratford upon Avon on the opening day.

There is another thread on this forum entitled "True Preservation" and it is perhaps appropriate to use the new Broadway Station as an example. In August 1904 most people travelled on foot, by horse or by train and motor cars of course were very few in number. The plans for Broadway can't change that but the GWSR is trying to do its best to make the station look as similar as possible to the original, bearing in mind that the rapidly growing signal box will be platform-mounted unlike the all wooden original, which controlled the yard to the south (now a popular Worcestershire Caravan Club site). Platform sited 'boxes were a feature of the line further north however. There is no signal box in the photo as it was not built until later, initial signalling being controlled from a small box to the north of platform 2, out of shot in this photo. The new station buildings will be almost identical to those in the photo and the footbridge (ex Henley in Arden) now being prepared to move to Broadway, is of exactly the same type. You have probably already spotted the deliberate GWR mistake with this design of station. Just like Toddington, passengers have to go onto the platform to buy their tickets, thus potentially clogging up platform space. Winchcombe Station is different as it came from Monmouth (Troy) and is of a different design. This is why the plans for the new Broadway Station incorporate an entrance to the station waiting room from the forecourt. So preservation can be "pretty good" but never really "true" in my opinion, not a criticism, just my observation.

The photo is full of interest, including the "Ratio look-alike" 4 wheelers in the platform, the passengers and curious onlookers with their parasols and hats. The group of young ladies on the right who seem very interested in something, or someone. Not a Corsican Pine to be seen yet! The queue snakes down the drive to the Evesham Road Bridge, which is now, in August 2014, approaching the latter stages of its refurbishment.

Ten years after this photograph was taken, trains would have been running along what is now the GWSR to Cheltenham and beyond for almost 8 years. For many of the people in the photograph, the August of that year would change their lives for ever. Perhaps this subject warrants another post on Monday.

 

Following suggestions from a couple of members, I've started a separate thread about the station rebuild.
I suggest we continue to use this one for the bridges.
Many thanks,
Breva

 

I love the constant updates on the bridges blog.... absolutely first class building porn! Very well done all!!

 

I agree though it is amazing. I love the engineering solution - dump a load of concrete there - that'll sort it! (I'm sure it's much more scientific than that!)

Note the additional link in my signature, for the rebuilding of Broadway donations page, it really is coming on well but if the pace is to be maintained then they need more money.

Bridges offer is almost there, less than £50,000 to go, but it would be a shame if the railway had to fill that gap, as although it has the money, it could better go to funding the station or track. On the subject of track, I heard that track laying up to little Bucklands could start next spring! (note the word in bold!)

 

Thank you for the compliment ! It's very rewarding to get friendly feedback.
Although we do enjoy what we do
Looks like the next concrete pour is Monday - getting supplies on the day you want continues to be tricky, with the current boom in construction. We shall report !

 

I did ask about exactly that, actually, and there's a nice reply on the Bridges blog from John Balderstone about it:

A lot of preliminary detailed inspection work was done and our Engineers - Halcrow carried out design checks and prepared 42 detailed drawings. Then detailed specifications and tender documents were prepared and from these a contractor was appointed.

Noel

 

I've just noticed that there is a new post on the Boardroom blog which covers the extension of the track to Bucklands in modest detail.

Noel

 

Yep, a good summary, Richard has said he'll use the blog more often, I hope so, it hasn't been used as much recently.

 

Ditto when down for the diesel event the other week, hardly a 45 minutes 20 mile detour, if that's considered an inconvenience then Broadway residents must be a pretty lazy lot...

 

In fairness, I gather from what I've read that most of the Broadway residents are not fussed by the diversion, and support the railway's re-arrival at Broadway.

Noel

 

realistically there would be a couple of unhappy people, as I've said I think most either don't mind or actively support the coming of the railway.

 

True but seemingly it's the vocal minority that get the publicity, they want to try living in Shirley on the Birmingham/Solihull border, I'm sure Sidmouth can confirm how often that blasted Stratford Rd has had roadworks jamming the place up in the last 5 years.

 

Now come on. The Stratford road is lovely through shirley at the moment. Constant truck traffic to and from the new asda.

I would hazard a guess at the vocal minority live right next or on the road leading upto the closed bridges.

 

Apologies in advance if I'm posting this question in the wrong place. I have been watching the work racing ahead on the bridges to Broadway (thanks to the excellent blog, and hats off to whoever updates it so frequently!) and can see that a first-rate job is being done. What worries me is that it will only be a matter of time before the next idiot tries to drive their over-height vehicle/load under the refurbished Broadway station bridge. Can anything be put in place on the approach to the bridge to warn drivers that their vehicles won't go under the bridge?

On a related subject, is there any news on how much damage was done to the bridge at Laverton when it got hit recently, and were any repairs necessary?

Thanks,
Nigel

 

Laser guided missiles!!!
After reading the story today about vans etc attempting to drive down a road that is not wide enough for them, despite signs saying so, one wonders about the mentality of some drivers. The excuse, by the way, was that the satnav said it was OK.

 

That should do it There was talk of a camera for the Broadway bridge at one point, don't know whether that'll still happen though. I expect plenty of bright yellow signs will be put up etc. and the railway has prosecuted successfully before when a driver hit a bridge on the current running line, so we have some experience. I think some of the bridges are just farm tracks - they shouldn't pose too much of a problem hopefully, unless you get a new farmer...

 

Oh, it can get worse. Much worse. My favourite (and there's a similar one involving Italy, IIRC) is the person who set out from Brussels for the Brussels train station and wound up in... Croatia. One would have thought that driving through the night would have tipped her off that something was just a teensy bit wrong...

Noel

 

That just beggars belief some of those stories. some of the stories of Old age pensioners I can just about understand, but others are just, arghh!