Technical issues have interfered with blog production recently but hopefully things can now proceed again.
At Medstead station further work has progressed on the barrier gates at both ends of the platforms. A picket fence design was adopted for these to be in-keeping with some similar fencing around the station, and also as part of the traditional style of the Southern Railway. The second set of gates at the country end and the new gates at the London end, seen previously are now in place. Appropriate signage was made and attached finishing off this scheme after many delays due to weather. Researching and sourcing the necessary hinges and making bespoke securing hooks and supports also took time but made a very satisfactory addition to the station.
In the workshop the construction of a porch canopy for outside the railway shop door on the station building at Ropley has progressed from a collection of parts to a partially constructed unit. The porch canopy will be erected on wooden gallows brackets and will be then clad with slates to match other parts of the building. The lantern light that was situated outside the shop had to be relocated further along the wall to accommodate the new porch and will be followed by some alteration to the hanging basket displays.
Taking advantage of a spell of good weather, although a trifle hot at times, a varied team of volunteers tackled the painting of the new temporary signal box at Medstead. This structure will be in place and operational for a lengthy period of time and in the original colours did look somewhat out of place in the station scene. Painted in the traditional Southern Railway colours it now blends in very well and the eye does not jarr at this end of the station as it did.
Over several weeks another team were engaged in the revamp of the Norman Atherden Room in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford. The room has been reconfigured from the museum-based format into the original form of a function room usable for a variety of activities. Following the transformation, the room has been used for two successful art exhibitions by outside organisations- The Guild of Railway Artists and Hampshire Open Studies. Further finishing off tasks remain to complete the work in order that the room is available for any suitable use both for inside the Railway family and outside organisations.
A variety of other tasks in the form of room decorating at Alresford station offices, display A board making, sign making and assistance to the Signal and Telephone Department with concrete troughing installation at Alresford have managed to fill in many happy volunteer hours.
Bob Brooks
