Northampton and Lamport

Bridge 11 update
Phase 1 of the work on Bridge 11 will be completed today, ready for track laying to begin on Sunday.
The last couple of weeks have seen the concrete slab completed, painted with bitumen sealant, and reinstatement of the ballast/footpath.
Our wonderful volunteers have put in a Herculean effort to complete this challenging and vital stage of the work on time and slightly under budget (despite the weather interfering at times), allowing the Brampton Valley Way to re-open across the bridge this afternoon.
The 2nd phase of works will see localised re-pointing and brick stitching to the external walls of the bridge, to be completed in late summer.

The photos below were taken on 29th June (applying the sealant) and yesterday (with the fill material reinstatement nearing completion). Photo credit: Phil Bignell


Please continue to donate to help us complete the extension and have it open in Spring 2020.
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved with the railway please visit our volunteering page here: https://www.nlr.org.uk/volunteering-and-memberships/volunteering-nlr/

Thanks

 

Well done to all concerned!

 

Bridge 11 update
Sorry for the lack of updates recently.
The relaying of track across Bridge 11 (and the completion of the fencing along the footpath side) was completed in early August.
The attached photo (taken 3rd August, credit: Roger Jeyes) shows the view looking north from the south end of the bridge.

Whilst this major and vital part of the work has been done, the job it by no means complete. In the next few months we will need to undertake some extensive brickwork stitching to the lower sections of the bridge, to remediate the damage caused by years of water ingress. In the meantime, work gradually continues on the new platform at Boughton.
Watch this space for further updates.

Please continue to donate to help us complete the extension by Summer 2020.
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved and join our friendly team of volunteers, please either let me know or just come along to the Railway any Sunday and speak to one of us.

Thanks

 

The NLR Autumn Gala is on 19th/20th Oct
Line up will include 2 steam locos ('Eustace Forth' plus a visiting loco, TBA) and 2 diesel locos (resident 47205 and 31289)
Tickets can be pre-booked here: https://nlr.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/24659?catID=21010&

Boughton Platform update

There's been positive and steady progress, with the first 2 full coach lengths now completed and ready for coping (which should arrive shortly). Blockwork is complete for the next 2 full coach lengths, ready for brick facing to be constructed.
The turnout into the bay platform headshunt (at the southern end of the station) has been extended slightly to allow wagons to be loaded straight from delivery lorries with either construction material or track ballast.

Fundraising
So far we've raised over £3,500 towards the £18,000 of match-funding required.
Please continue to donate to help us complete the extension by Summer 2020.
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved and join our friendly team of volunteers, please either let me know or just come along to the Railway any Sunday and speak to one of us.

Thanks

 

I look forward to the gala, it will also be my first visit to the railway. Is it known what the visitor will be, either industrial or BR

 

Boughton Platform update

The first platform coping slabs were laid on 6th Oct (see 1st photo). We should have the first 3-coach length of platform wall fully complete in the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime, work continues on extending the platform wall north, towards the signal box. The 2nd photo is taken from level with what will be the north end of the platform and shows materials stacked ready for construction.

Bridge 11
The final phase of works to repair water damage to the underside of the bridge will commence next month (Nov). This will involve drilling roughly 160 holes into the brickwork and pumping in new mortar. Further updates will be provided here.

Fundraising
So far we've raised over £3,600 towards the £18,000 of match-funding required.
Please continue to donate to help us complete the extension by Summer 2020.
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved and join our friendly team of volunteers, please either let me know or just come along to the Railway any Sunday and speak to one of us.

Thanks

 

P

 

Good to see further progress.
Hasn't there been some new talk about reinstating the Market Harborough to Northampton line.....?

 

I guess there's an election in the air

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/...om-northampton-to-market-harborough-1-9120150

Jon

 

NLR Winter Gala - 25th/26th Jan. Please see the NLR website for more details and our full 2020 events guide - https://www.nlr.org.uk/whats-on/

Fundraising
So far we've raised over £4,000 towards the £18,000 of match-funding required.
We now looking for a final big push to complete the extension during 2020. Please donate today!
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved and join our friendly team of volunteers, please either let me know or just come along to the Railway any Sunday and speak to one of us.

Thanks

 

Is it definitely January 25th/26th? The NLR website seems to suggest its the 8th/9th February. Cheers.

 

Sorry for the confusion. The NLR Winter Gala is on the 8th/9th Feb. The website is now all correct

Thanks

 

Boughton Platform update

The platform ramp at the northern end of the station is taking shape (photos taken 29th Dec 2019). Blockwork is now virtually complete for the full length of the main platform wall, with brickwork following along behind.
Work on the bay platform is hoped to commence later in the Spring.

Thanks

 

Booking Office Restoration Appeal

Prior to the closure of the Northampton to Market Harborough railway in 1981, the signal box at Lamport Station had been a prominent local landmark for over 100 years, guarding the level crossing where the Harborough Road (A508) traversed the railway in the valley between Lamport and Maidwell.

Following closure by BR, the top section of the ‘box was rescued by the fledgling Northampton and Lamport Railway and recovered to Pitsford and Brampton Station.

Today the ‘box stands on the station platform, immediately adjacent to the main entrance. Until recently it had been used as the Booking Office, providing a warm welcome for visitors and giving the public access to this piece of local history.

This also gave the building a useful purpose until such time as the NLR is hopefully able to re-instate it back close to its original position at Lamport (when the railway gets back there).

Unfortunately, the building had to be closed for health and safety reasons in early 2018, as its structural timbers had experienced significant deterioration.

Work to restore the building is quite significant and includes providing a new hardwood corner post, hardwood main beam, floor joists and floorboards. Estimates to date price the work at £23,000. This is because of the need to use hardwood and the requirement for specialist bespoke carpentry. Without intervention the deterioration will only continue to the point that restoration is unviable, meaning that the old ‘box could be lost forever.

As a result, the NLR is urgently appealing for £10,000 (roughly 50% of the cost) to be used as match-funding against grants we are applying for.

We are excited to announce that this project is being supported by Tesco Bags of Help!

You will be able to vote for the project in various Tesco outlets across Northampton between 1st Jan 2020 and 31st March 2020.

If you would like to donate you can either:

• Donate securely via our Golden Giving page at: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/booking-office-appeal

Or

• Send cheques payable to ‘Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO’ to: Booking Office Appeal, Northampton and Lamport Railway, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

Thank you in advance for your kind generosity

 

Going off on a tangent - is there any update for 3862? The website's last restoration update was October 200o...

 

The NLR Winter Gala is on 8th/9th Feb
Line up will include 2 steam locos ('Eustace Forth' and 'Swanscombe No.4') and 2 diesel locos (resident 47205 and 31289) with a mix of passenger and freight.
Demonstration freight trains will operate over the yet-to-open extension to Boughton.
This is anticipated to be Eustace's last appearance at the NLR, before she moves on.

Tickets can be pre-booked here: https://nlr.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/26238?catID=21010&

The NLR will be running a photo competition for the best images taken during the gala. Further info will appear on the website and Facebook/Twitter soon.

Here's some images from the Autumn Gala 2019, to give a taster:


For details of the full 2020 events guide, please visit - https://www.nlr.org.uk/whats-on/

Thanks

 

Nothing anyone can comment on? http://www.3862.co.uk

5967 whilst slow/steady provide updates through their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/bickmarshhall/

 

I see that the N&L are advertising on the "Indeed" website for volunteer staff in many areas - including footplate crew..... with training provided. It is good to see that they are working towards a busier future!

 

I'm trying to contact the owner of 3862. I'll post an update on here when I hear from him.

 

Boughton Platform update

The photos above were taken on Saturday (11.01.20) and show the blockwork for the main platform wall completed and the brickwork now almost half completed.

We now looking for a final big push to complete the extension during 2020. Please donate today!
You can donate via our fundraising page here: https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/boughton-extension
Or send cheques payable to 'Northampton and Lamport Railway CIO' to: Southern Extension Appeal, Pitsford and Brampton Station, Pitsford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8BA

If you'd like to get involved and join our friendly team of volunteers, please either let me know or just come along to the Railway any Sunday and speak to one of us.

Thanks