GWSR Broadway Developments

Though once the SVR clearly knew in its own mind what was the right thing to do common sense prevailed over current planning/architectural fad - thankfully.

 

I'd read about that building in the FRS mag, but wasn't really prepared for the reality of it. It's an impressive building, but somehow looks so wrong.
During my visit earlier this year I took no pictures of it, I preferred not to remember it.

 

Well you know what to do don't you? If you don't like the current leadership, then run for office!

 

I like those signal boxes as they do look a bit like one of the GWR designs, can't remember which type but late 1930s I believe. Anyway they've been there long enough to be listed now!

 

I've never been a particular fan of that argument, just because you think certain policies are lacking doesn't mean you have no confidence in the current leadership!

 

It seems to have worked for Donald J Trump!

 

I like to think we're above that!

 

Jolly good.

 

Putting the ugly cctv cameras and other foibles that have caused concern of late aside, I see there is progress at last on the bridge steps! Construction has begun! http://broadwayextensionblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/monday-update.html
As this is being fabricated from scratch how much will it look like the original steps, are there any bits of Victorian/Edwardian flair that need to be cast or difficult bits where angle steel and plate will not do the job?

 

Blimey, where to start?
Let's say the steps will be as original as possible. At the moment we are making the metal construction, basically the stringers and an intermediary little tower.
Above the stringer there was once a construction of pitch pine. How this will be replicated isn't clear to me at the moment. We did keep quite a lot of what was +/- salvageable but in the end most of it was burned at Broadway.

Here is a picture of the steps as were:



In the background the steps with woodwork; in the foreground with the woodwork stripped off. The stringers are clear to see; that is what is being built at the moment.
The cast iron columns at the bottom have been preserved but at Henley there was no canopy overhang resting on them. At the original Broadway they were taller and the canopy overhang rested on them. As the HIA footbridge was constructed too close to the new Broadway building an alternative design with new, fabricated columns of similar appearance has been developed.

 

Oh, I didn't know that, where is the footbridge now, and what is the plan for it?

We have tried to build a new Shirley SB at Broadway - should be working next year.

 

Shirley footbridge has gone to the Great Central (Nottingham) for use at Rushcliffe Halt. Last news on the LNERGC heritage trust website is that work has begun on restoring it.

 

I really do hope that is not the case and common sense has prevailed or else it will quickly become an unpopular box to work outside the warmer months. Plus higher electricity bills for the extra wall heaters sending heat through the roof not to mention the environmental irresponsibility. Signalmen have concerns it will be a cold box (a large structure and it is rumoured, a fireplace rather than a stove has been built into it if true). As many a Western signalman will tell you, fireplaces were notoriously poor at heating boxes hence why Toddington's was bricked up many years ago and a nice Romesse stove replaced it. And fireplaces were also draughty when not lit!

 

A Romesse stove, in fact an original from Honeybourne, was offered to the S&T department but to our surprise they refused it, preferring the fireplace.
The fireplace was installed by someone with little knowledge of heritage matters, and its design is early Victorian, while the box is early Edwardian in style.

The fireplace it now has is probably not draughty as it is already blocked up by a bird's nest. This will be difficult to remove (according to my chimney sweep) as if not removed immediately the nests are filled with mud which sets hard.

 

We have a splendid Romesse in the signal box at Bishops Lydeard on the WSR. I can testify to its heat producing capabilities.

Robin

 

To be honest I find the small foibles and nods to modernity are simply not enough of a detriment to any heritage station. We're in the business of pantomime, of pastiche, not 100% accuracy or I'd be here ranting about the plethora of GWR tank engines which seem to be lurking on highly inappropriate lines all over the country!

Heck, how about we moan that we've not got drafty, rainbow coloured leaking coaches on the WHR instead? With South African Motive Power now no less! The old station at Caernarfon was not conducive to visitor retention (and thus spending more dosh in the railway's coffers) at all while the new building, whatever it's faults, could hold a full train of people comfortably with a nice view of the main tourist draw to the town, the castle, while having a cuppa and a welsh cake.


Broadway station looks wonderful as is and I cannot wait to go see it myself in September, and most certainly look forward to more progress. Trebles all round to the folks who worked on it!

 

Broadway station looks wonderful because a few took the trouble to push people to go further than the 'looks right from a distance' and 'people don't look up' that was proposed by the early project management.

It is worth going the extra mile. Imagine standing in the station anonymously and hearing the compliments. We need to push beyond the mediocrity that suits the many because, as we point out to our passengers on P2 of the brochure that they all receive when they buy a ticket, 'we are not just a railway but a living museum'. We need to delight people, not just 'sell them a ticket and give them a ride', to paraphrase what one volunteer told me.

 

I recall seeing insulation being installed under the roof in the blog pictures.

 

If it was a relatively recent blog then that would have been the station building on Platform 1.