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GWSR Broadway Developments

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Breva, Aug 1, 2014.

  1. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    Training done yesterday, however, blog probably won't restart for a couple of weeks whilst they get used to doing it.

    Will probably be just factual reports to start with and things will get added as they are more confident.

    Part of the floor was laid in the signal box and a lot of general tiding up done, too hot to do much manual work in the sun!
     
  2. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Thanks very much for the update Gloucester Boy, it is very much appreciated. I know a lot of people seem to be "hanging on every word" of progress at Broadway but that's not just due to curiosity, it is also because we are all anxious to see things progressing on what should be a lovely, authentic station (I said "should be" so I'll wait and see how it goes!) and of course, many distant supporters, who can't get there to help, have provided considerable support in funding, so there is bound to be some impatience once the conveyor belt of information is shut off.

    Now I'm sure I'm not alone in visiting a number of heritage railway news or blog sites and some of them are very good indeed whilst some others don't seem to progress much. One of the latter is the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, where some aspects of the news page just don't appear to change at all. This is not a criticism of the S&CR by the way, it is quite a gem in places and has some very good heritage aspects; it just doesn't seem to trumpet them much. As for the "Galloping Gertie" new build loco project, well I presume that has only got as far as the model (but a very impressive model it is from the photos).

    There may well be much more news on other social media such as Facebook but I haven't signed up to that (which is my fault no one else's).
     
  3. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    Just to say whatever I say are my personal views only. I don't want to get involved in the discussions about the station building & roof etc.

    When the blog does get going, it will be different from Bill's, after all he had 3 1/2 years doing it so was rather good at it. But I am sure with time, the new blog will get better and better with features added, so don't expect too much at the start, (no disrespect meant to the future bloggers!). There is exciting news going forward, but I will leave it to the bloggers to give the news as it happens.
     
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  4. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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  5. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    Thank you GB, you just beat me to it.
    Please, everybody, read Bill's latest blog. I'm frankly astounded that anybody would want to demean the astonishing amount of work that Jo has, and is currently, putting in, both in physical labour and in maintaining his blogs. With the loss of Bill, and until such time as the new crew get the hang of the Broadway blog :( , Jo is our only guide to what is happening to the extension project. Given that the Company administration is, for some reason, unwilling to engage with the on-line supporters, could somebody please explain what is going on ?

    Mike
     
  6. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    There are two sides to every story. Whilst I don't know exactly what Bill is referring to, certain people have managed to upset others, probably sometimes only in the way they have expressed themselves, but other times making a fuss about the tiniest of things.
     
  7. davidarnold

    davidarnold Member

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    Then why comment?
     
  8. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Because I do know the kind of thing he is referring to, just the the specifics - if there is one - of what has actually caused Bill to publish that post.
     
  9. davidarnold

    davidarnold Member

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    What is going on is that the Management is involved in perpetuating a BIG LIE. Namely that the new Broadway Station will be authentic in appearance as a GWR station, despite its supporting roof structure being made out of a steelwork monocoque, taking its spacing from the steelwork in the walls.

    An unsuspecting BAG group were only made aware of this at a meeting on 9th May at their AGM, though Alan Bielby, Project Manager, had known of it since the outline plans were submitted in July 2013.Its his design.

    Classic Mushroom Management. Since then the project has become politicised. Bill found his position had become untenable and resigned days later because of politics. No prizes for guessing who instigated that.

    If anything the blog shut down suits the Management because it can now manipulate the flow of information and suppress any dissension or discussion. Heritage has become a dirty word, and its supporters at BAG marginalised.

    Even we humble commentators at Nat Pres are not immune. Mr Bielby accusing us of spreading misinformation, when in fact we are only going back to basics, to the plans themselves and discovering the truth.

    Now even Ian Crowder, their Press Officer, is being forced to tow the Company line. Stating in a recent blog that there has been discussion and even misinformation about the historic appearance of the new build. Who can he be referring to?

    So the BIG LIE goes on.

    My challenge to the Management is this. You can resolve this matter once and for all by publishing the CAD drawing of the new station and its canopy.

    If it " reflects the historic integrity of the original building" to quote Mr Crowder I will eat my hat.
     
  10. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    I spoke with one of those who have agreed to start a new Broadway blog today, they hope to restart next week. They are not IT guys hence the learning curve, and as said before, don't expect it to be as slick as Bills great blog or with all the bells and whistles, but it will get better as time goes on and they get used to doing it. Also, expect a day or so delay between the work days and the actual report.

    For you info today, the sheds used for sales of bric a brac are in the process of being taken down, so that the new footings for the station building can soon be dug. The information stand was moved to a new location as it was also in the way and was re-erected next to the viewing platform.

    Work was also done on the ex Henley in Arden steps in the car park area, and in the signal box I believe the floor was completed. Also, the bricks are being cleaned with a brick cleaner. It was hoped that the windows would be installed today, however, I understand that this will now happen next week.
     
  11. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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  12. collet1930

    collet1930 New Member

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    Oh dear Oh dear oh dear,seems the plot thickens with an announcement from the board that Jo has moved onto the permanent way department.Wondered why his reports on
    the extension blog seemed so cheerful and full of what lays ahead ( excuse the pun) and he doesn't want to be involved with the new Broadway blog!
    If only to have been a fly on the wall as to what actually has happened at Broadway.
    Please somebody enlighten the 45,000 blog readers then we'll know where to put our money next time!!!!!!!!!:Banghead:
     
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  13. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    I don't know Jo personally but I feel I should as he has, and does, write and illustrate some excellent blogs on the GWSR. I know Jo has "previous" on P-way experience on other railways (K&ESR for one I believe?) so I don't see a "plot" in Jo concentrating on another aspect of the GWSR extension on a topic with which he is familiar.

    I'm sure there aren't 45000 individual blog readers (Broadway is interesting but not THAT interesting) but 45000 hits (All right, I freely admit that I made several of those hits and I'm sure several other contributors to this thread have too) but I get your drift; the Broadway blog was very informative and well produced. There is to be a new one I understand and these things take time, but, in the media world, too soon isn't soon enough and people, like Nature don't like a vacuum so silence gets filled with rumour. Not a criticism, just an observation.
     
  14. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Sorry, but that's simply not correct. A new blog can be setup in 5 mins and the idea that one needs 'training' to update a blog is laughable, unless the person updating it has no prior experience of using a computer!
    I don't know what (if anything) is going on in the background regarding Broadway and the blog but there is absolutely no excuse for a replacement not being in place and for the lack of information about the project. The X number of blog visitors (some/many of whom are probably not GWSR members) that contributed to the phone box appeal, the platform edging slabs appeal, the signal box appeal, the signalbox windows appeal and the ongoing appeals for bricks, will I fear be mostly lost to the GWSR because of the reluctance to keep Bill/Jo on board, keep Broadway authentic and to keep the viewer enthused and up to date.

    Keith
     
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  15. ianh

    ianh Member

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    Not to forget the Bracket Signal, the Dumper half axle, bits and pieces of railwayana for sale to raise funds, I am not a menber of the GWSR but have been helping to fund the assorted Broadway appeals as and when funds have been requested, Since Bill retired from the Blog i have offerd to part fund any structural engineer work necessary to ammend the submitted plans and writen two emails to chairman@GWRS with no reply.

    Creating a replacment blog does not require training or two months delay, does the new BAG chairman have a voice or even an email address? happen the Blog will reappear after the floor slab has been cast.

    Ian H
     
  16. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    OK Keith, I bow to your expertise on this one. Having very little idea about what runs things like blogs (apart from electricity) and such like I always take the view that anything based on the Internet is designed, built and operated by extremely clever people some of whom just enjoy being locked in a darkened room with a set of codes (I'm not being sarcastic by the way, I really believe that anyone under 30 lives on a different, information-rich planet). I'm definitely a late in life "front end operator" and would have absolutely no idea how long it would take to set up a blog. I have not had much formal training how to use a computer either and it shows!

    I do agree however that the GWSR could be losing support and funding by not having a replacement blog in place. Some heritage railways of course, just don't seem to bother very much. Perhaps we are all too hooked on getting too much information on developments such as how many bricks were laid today at Broadway and how many coats of paint have been put on the telephone box there. After all, having a blog is not compulsory. The real point however, is in your very true last paragraph - many people (including me) have put money into projects such as Broadway precisely because people have provided a really good electronic diary of how our money is being used to recreate a railway through good, steady progress.
     
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  17. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Got to agree with Keith RE blogs. They're not much different from posting on here really. Really don't see how it takes 2 months of "training" to work it all out. I have absolutely no idea what's causing a delay. If there's someone willing to do it then it shouldn't take 5 minutes just to show them what to do.
     
  18. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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  19. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    There are a few photos of the new signal box on the Steam Loco Dept blog of Monday 13th July, link here: http://www.gwsrsteamloco.blogspot.co.uk/, it is hoped that the remaining windows will be installed tomorrow.
     
  20. GeoffS75

    GeoffS75 Member

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    Just had the Broadway Newsletter through the door which has a small update on Broadway Station including the comment that "Unfortunately, budgetary constraints have forced a rethink of our plans to have the station completed in readiness to run trains in 2018. Funds have had to be diverted elsewhere for essential engineering work, including the repair of a culvert near Laverton. The current plan is to run a service starting in 2018 with reduced station facilities in place, and a reappraisal of the project is in progress at the time of writing."

    Unless I have missed it, this is the first time it has been suggested that the station won't be completed for trains in 2018 but does take the view of posters on here in the discussion about the canopy on the main building not to rush it (and maybe get things right). Interesting.
     
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