Well things have been pretty busy what with one thing and another. The new volunteers who have joined the Department have certainly made a difference in us being able to work through the schedule of jobs and also respond to the jibs that just crop up.
The platform extension scheme at Alresford has involved the Department in sorting out supplies from the existing stocks and getting materials to site. Also, we have been tasked with installing a new train watering supply and electric charging power points to accommodate the additional carriages at the country end of the new platform. A water supply was taken from the downside of the tracks at the Traincare accommodation and piped across the track to an adapted short length of fence at the end of the bay siding. Temporary back boards were made and installed on the fence to accommodate both train watering points and electric sockets during the Flying Scotsman event and then permanent boards were fixed. Another electric socket was installed at the country end of the platform extension to supply that work area. A hose trolley was purchased to allow for neat storage and ergonomic manoeuvrability during train preparations.
Another follow on task from the new platform extension scheme was the construction and installation of a new barrier fence and restricted access sign positioned in front of the relocated signal post at the country end of the platform.
At Medstead the new external door to the S&T storeroom has been painted and fitted and finishing work carried out to the cladding and guttering. The technical records and S&T parts will now be slowly relocated into the extension which has CCTV and alarm systems installed.
In between the larger tasks, new notice boards have been made in the workshop to replace decayed ones at Alton and Medstead stations. New replaced posters will be applied when they have been installed to add colour to the platform scenes at both stations and complement the repainting that has been done by station maintenance teams.
At Ropley the pump cabin roof has been replaced and re-felted together with a tidy up of the insulation to the water pipes. This makes the cabin housing the electrical supply and pump for the loco watering system to be more watertight. New limited clearance signs have also been installed following the re-roofing work. This also improves the previous well worn appearance, especially during visitor access during events to the yard tours and activities.
