Photo: Second balustrade at Ropley footbridge
JUNE 2023Â
Following the relocation of the staff foot crossing at Alresford to better suit the position of the new Traincare workshop containers, installed a couple of years ago, we are now able to start to lay the walkway outside the containers behind the recently installed barrier rails. Good weather visited the work- up until the last few boards that is! -and this part of the scheme was completed in two days. A treated timber frame was laid onto a wooden framework to achieve the correct height and level and was then boarded out forming a stable surface. Sloped ends will be made up of ballast and chippings to accommodate trolleys and the like. moving parts and equipment along the trackside. The boards (101 of them) are now being covered with a non-slip material to continue the surface of the foot crossing boards for a safe surface in all weather conditions.
Having finally completed the construction and painting of the two replacement balustrades for the footbridge staircases at Ropley installation has now taken place. This was in a window of opportunity in between events and weekday running in order not to interfere with visitor circulation around the station. With excellent assistance from our friends in the PWay department with the road railer vehicle to do the lifting of these ungainly pieces, each balustrade was positioned and secured in a single day for each staircase- one for the upside and one for the downside. This means that each staircase has two new balustrades installed in the last three years, so that should see them sorted for many years to come.
The first of the running in board replacements for Ropley station has now progressed to painting stage. This job has been somewhat interrupted by the fitting of the balustrades at Ropley which took manpower away for a while, but things have now got back on track and the second board will start being made in the workshop annex in the new yard container. The station name letters are being made from wood, as originally applied to the boards at the station in Southern Railway days, and will have sealed edges before painting and fixing to the boards themselves- with careful spelling before the glue sets.
by Bob Brooks.
