GWSR Broadway Developments

Thanks! A few days ago, contractors were working on the forecourt area of the station, which had been built up with layers of material since the Station's closure, in order to get the levels and water runoff correct again. Whilst observing the JCB's arm moving around behind the fencing, I noticed that a contractor appeared and approached the Gents' toilet. Dismayed that it was locked, he popped behind the wooden shed on the platform for a quick wee. He was possibly unaware of the cctv. That said, it was some distance away and he did turn away from the camera!

 

There's an update of today's footbridge steps work on the blog here:

https://broadwayextensionblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-steps-arrive-at-broadway.html

Some lovely pictures taken in the setting winter sun too.

 

Earlier in the week we were walking around Broadway and came across the S&T gang erecting a signal and cable laying on the approach to the station.

 

So good to read about Broadway and the GWRly. Such a positive group of volunteers. It puts the negative vibes associated with my railway (situated to the west of Somerset) to shame. <BJ>

 

It's so hard to wrap one's mind around the fact that nothing in that picture (signal, box, platforms, rail) was there a couple of years back. What an incredible accomplishment!

Noel

 

I took this picture of the site in 2004, before I even joined the railway:



We're looking north here.

Little did I know I would be closely involved in rebuilding it. It's been an adventurous ride, and we haven't finished yet. Only the main part of the station is up so far, the cafe is still to open, the footbridge finished, the canopy overhang to put up, all the lamp tops and fencing on P2 to go on, and finally the building on P2.

We put the other 4 stringers on today, on P1. I'll post some pictures on tomorrow's blog. They'll be much darker, it really started to rain hard at the end of the day.

 

Jo’s updated the blog with yesterday’s efforts and has included a Set of photos capturing broadway station in winter sunshine. The station looks absolutely fantastic.

 

Do you have a link plse?

 

http://broadwayextensionblog.blogspot.com/

 

Beat me to it!

 

I've just reported on the last two days' work:
https://broadwayextensionblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-stringers-go-up.html

We did well, progress continues on the relay and on the steps.

 

Thank you - a great read!

 

Oh, I know, but it's so clearly all downhill from here, as the saying goes - that must have looked such a hill when the very first work started at Broadway!

And the GWSR is such a well-organized and hardy group, there is absolutely 0.00000% doubt that they will get there!

Those stairs look fantastic! Congrats to all who did all the work, and a thank you to the GWSR finance people who agreed to release the necessary funds!

Noel

 

Wonderful work on the stairs, Jo. That must have been lovely to to be able to stand back and look at your achievement at the end of the day. (And to get out of the rain!)

 

Yes, I was rather glad to see the steelwork up, after all the crap that was thrown at us along the way.

The orange gear you buy is useless in the rain unless you spend £100s, the gloves soak up the water as do the boots, but the next day you are on the PWay with that kit. I now keep a duplicate set.

 

Looking great, can't wait to see it in the flesh in the new season.

Yes the weather has been horrible, we had to have the heating on full blast in the paintshop.

 

Just fire up an available steam loco and keep it in the workshop, gently emitting smoke and ashes, to warm things up while you paint. (Other helpful workshop suggestions available while-u-wait).

Tom

 

Well having given 4270 a quick paint job nearly 5 years ago, it’s due a proper job but such is c&w’s output that 4270 is the only loco so far thats been painted in the paint shop! The heating is such a boon at this time of year !

 

Seeing the transformation of Broadway has been an absolute treat, as has seeing Victorian/Edwardian architecture/design (which I see as superior to today's non-architecture) getting put back with modern solutions to reduce the downsides of traditional structures, like galvanising the bridge stairs for instance . I hope that the whole ethos of the gwsr will be picked up by other heritage railways and organisations who think building in traditional styles can be done to a timeframe and a budget. The only thing I think is a downside is the tarmaccing of the driveway, I loathe tarmac and to see the new Broadway council car park and its acres of tarmac with very little thought given to the tranquil country surroundings is a shame, and the impending driveway surfacing smacks of the same quick cheap job, of course I am aware that it is the cheap alternative and that money was very tight, and if given the choice between a better quality driveway that looks more in keeping or the steelwork for the stairs + canopy, I'd choose the latter any day of the week. Hopefully in the near future when the tarmac becomes full of holes as it always seems to, what should've been put in will be put in, a soft couloured resin bound driveway or even breaking up the continuous tarmac with setts on the edge where the drainage channel is, obviously full cobbles is an option too but a very expensive one, being that it's the only criticism I can come up with I think that things have gone pretty well , roll on the canopy!

 

Tarmac deteriorates mainly due to diesel spillages from vehicles. Frozen water doesn't help either of course.