GWSR Broadway Developments

Looking at the Broadway webcam today, more work is being done on the footbridge steps (canopy supports). You can mention going north but that's about it!

 

The SVR have just completed their new cafe ar Bridgenorth and a brief video is here;



The picture rail does set it off it must be said!

 

I did notice the other day during our Guards/TTIs AGM that even the Tim Mitchell Building at Winchcombe managed a picture rail of sorts!

But this week is not one for nitpicking, but for enjoying the glow of winning three awards for our achievements, go us!

 

Just received the following notification, as Alan says the results will be worth it!

Restricted parking at Broadway


There will be no volunteer or contractor parking at Broadway on Thursday 21st , Friday 22nd, Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th February as Cheltenham Surfacing are tarmacking the drive on those days.


Sorry for the inconvenience but the result will be well worth it.


Alan Miller, Projects Director GWSR

 

Has anyone a picture of the finished drive they could share.

I see the cafe now has a massive replica loco nameplate screwed to the wall in lieu of picture rail presumably. Is this authentic for the 1903 period they are trying to recreate or more like a locospotters bedroom circa 1970?

There are definitely two schools of thought here as to how the Station should appear, and have been throughout the build.

At one end of the cafe people, myself included, have gone to infinite pains to fund raise and buy genuine or recreated artifacts of the period, ie the fireplace and the hand lettered clock and the effect is magnificent. Then at the other end we have this anachronism, banged up in five minutes, and the painstakingly created ambience is shattered.

This is of course my own take on the matter and if someone can post photgraphic evidence that the GWR were in the habit of screwing redundant nameplates to the walls of their refreshment rooms I will stand corrected.

 

I have a picture of the finished station approach, if that is what you mean:


(well, almost finished, the top layer is still to go but it looks the same.)
A bit is currently missing at the bottom where the paving company ran out of Tarmac, and it was too late in the day to order any more.

Three speed humps are planned, to slow traffic which is racing downhill now that the potholes have gone, and also to direct surface water towards the gullies.
Not sure about yellow lines, but no doubt they will be used to limit parking. The official council car park under the bridge and across the road is about to open. Prices have been fixed and the machines are in place. There is no passenger parking at the station, just staff and disabled.

I suspect the people who put up the name plate didn't realise its position cuts across the picture rail.

 

Although not currently working at Broadway, I had heard that the car park is officially opening on Tuesday and the refreshment room will be used in connection with this event. I also heard that refreshment room would then be open for the start of the season. This is "second hand" information but I understand it to be correct.

 

As someone who made a modest contribution to the costs of the authentic end, I share the concern. For a start, we deserve to know who decided to have the bogus nameplate made and fitted, and why. Then, as with some building features earlier on, we deserve to know whether things can be changed or whether a dictator has spoken.

 

I suspect the people who put up the name plate didn't realise anything at all!

Least of all that they were meant to be recreating the interior of a GWR refreshment room circa 1903.

Everyone else gets it , and their magnificent efforts have been rewarded with the ultimate Heritage Awards.

So why won't they get with the programme?

 

I suspect that you are correct in saying "I suspect the people who put up the name plate didn't realise anything at all!", but that is no excuse whatsoever! There should be a 'heritage group' overseeing the project to ensure everything is done correctly.

The drive now just looks like any piece of modern roadway - doubtless it will now be 'enhanced' with ugly yellow lines painted in the gutters!

 

Yes, indeed, farcical. If they wanted a replica name plate up, a normal size Broadway Castle, Hall, Grange or Manor would suffice and not look out of place.

 

I must say that was my thought too, why not Broadway Castle/Grange/Manor.

Some compromises to the modern day are unavoidable, no hand dryers or Walkers crisps in 1904, I can understand that this is a large item which is difficult to hide. It isn’t totally unrelated to the steam age but can see why some might find it out of place.

Regards

Matt

 

Agreed, that just means you either have to do it properly or not at all.

Regards

Matt

 

I agree that the Broadway sign is a little too reminiscent of a theme park to my eye, shame. Worth remembering before pouring too much scorn on it though that some hardworking volunteer at Broadway (previously referred to on here as heros) went to the trouble of making it. A pity that someone couldn't have put forward a more appropriate suggestion for construction.

Meanwhile I spent a very pleasant day yesterday with my signwriting brushes on some reproduction poster boards for inside the cafe, copied from an original donated to the railway. I didn't quite get them finished so they won't be ready for opening day, but hopefully the picture attached shows some effort going towards some authentic signage etc.

I'd be delighted to do any similar work elsewhere on the railway if asked. (Hint hint )

 

Fantastic work FlyingScotsman 123. It shows all the virtues of reproducing a Heritage artifact, such as patience, research and skill.

It is a pity that all the patience, research and skill applied by other members of the team, who appreciate that the "devil is in the detail", have their hard work undone at a stroke by someone who is unconcerned as to how this piece of kitch undoes the authentic appearance of the cafe.

If this is the way things are going I have an old Athena print of the tennis girl scratching her bum which I can attach with Blu Tac if you like!

 

I suspect that while those boards reside in C+W at least it would probably be at least as popular as a nice authentic GWR poster... Could be fatal for productivity though!!

 

The locomotive name plate looks great; but not in its present location in my opinion.
When attempting to re-create an era or historic building there should only be one mantra: "attention to detail".

 

Oh dear you are back again with your nice positive comments