At Alresford the replacement doors and some of the frames for the booking hall and West Country Buffet (originally from Lyme Regis station) have been installed with glazing and final painting now completed. The work was carried out during the non-running period to allow staff and public access for when the buffet re-opened in mid-February for meals and refreshments. Much of the original door furniture, locks and bolts were re-fitted to the new doors after being cleaned of decades of rust, dirt and old paint. Some original hinges were re-used on the booking hall doors which were stamped with LSWR from when the station was built in the 1860’s. The new buffet doors, and frames particularly, should prevent the ingress of rain water we have experienced in the past.
Also at Alresford we have re-hung the refurbished and re-lettered the external signs outside the Old Goods Shed ( originally built 1873). Previously these did not accurately reflect the changes to the facilities in the building that had taken place inside over the years. They now look fresh and attractive and primarily give directions to the new Railway Museum on the top floor of the building which houses a large display of railway artefacts and interactive items.
At Ropley a fine but chilly day saw the installation of the posts and fence panels that had been fabricated in the workshop on the sleeper wall near the T Junction catering outlet. The fence covers the front of a viewing area where visitors can consume their refreshments at picnic tables whilst watching the activities in the loco yard on the other side of the tracks- they can access the yard on most days to get a closer look at the locomotives.
Also at Ropley further sleeper walls are being constructed by the team who are engaged with the remodelling of the picnic area / T Junction. These edge the small embankment at the front of the T Junction which will be planted out to give a vegetation border to the area and also the front of the ‘locomotive’ playground. A further traditional sleeper wall is also being built along the Restoration Route path near the Burnham signal box in front of another embankment that also contains a recess for a donated bench seat. The whole of this part of the station site is progressing well with the remodelling of the facilities and layout to better meet visitor requirements and experience.
Also at Ropley, the posts and electrical cabinets that were fabricated in the workshop have been erected in the sidings for the Traction Maintenance Depot. These will provide power distribution along the tacks to enable work to be carried out in this location rather than moving diesel locos into the loco yard, a lotmore efficient. Additional lighting will be installed using the backboards made at Medstead to illuminate the equipment and walking routes that are in the process of being laid out in the area.
Yet further at Ropley, the better weather has enabled work to be started in earnest on the refurbishment of the Burnhan on Sea signal box. This has involved the removal of all the old roofing slates and boards and new support timbers, shaped barge boards and breather membrane fitted. Reclaimed slates will be used to cover the breather membrane to give a traditional look to the structure. All the old paint on the wall tongue and groove boards is being removed by heat gun and scraped back to bare wood to allow any filling and repairs to be made before treating and painting with aluminium primer. The windows will require some repair work as well as the frames seem to have been installed incorrectly and will require realignment before refurbishment of those takes place.
Bob Brooks
