The New Year stated with the normal storms predicted but fortunately the Railway didn’t suffer much from the effects of wind, rain, snow and cold and the Buildings Department managed to continue with the planned schedule of work. Teams from the Department and PWay firstly assisted with the taking down and storage of the infrastructure assembled for the successful Father Christmas and Steam Illuminations events. Following this we have had to work round the fairly continuous wet weather over several weeks.
The new storage room for the S&T Department continued with the internal fit out once the roof was made watertight. Insulation boards were cut to fit within the framing to create a dry environment together with some small background heating now installed for the preservation of the records and more delicate electrical parts to be stored here. When the insulation was complete plywood sheets were attached to provide a smooth surface finish which has now been painted and the lighting and electrics installed followed by the floor being painted.
As part of the scheme for the new extension to platform one at Alresford in conjunction with a PWay team we had to take up part of the wooden foot crossing panels at the country end in order for the new concrete base to be laid. The panels when lifted were stored in the cess on the downside of the tracks ready for relaying in due course further up the track to provide a safe walking route for staff working in that location. As the spike fencing near the footbridge will be removed in part to enable a clear section of platform to be laid all the bolts holding the panels had to be ‘cracked’ free for easier removal later in the scheme. As they had been in place for some 40 odd years they were a little tough to move.
Some wet weather workshop tasks have included refurbishing a platform trolley from Alton- it needed a new leg as well as painting. Also, we undertook repainting the bridge number plaque from Alresford footbridge following its temporary removal pending platform extension work and making some new coach stop signs for use when longer trains are in service from Alresford. Additionally a new sign was created, using a board formally redundant from the buffet at Alresford, and fitted at the Ropley MPD shed which gives passing passengers the identity of the works at Ropley and to fire their thoughts about what goes on there.
Bob Brooks
