This Monday, we shall move to Broadway signal box and, weather permitting, we shall be laying bricks along the rear. More brick laying there will follow on Wednesday.
For CRC2, there is no work planned in the weeks week commencing 11th, 18th or 25th August due to John C's commitments, Bob's family arrangements and a Bank Holiday. JC and Bob plan to set out the next three sections on Sunday 31st August to enable brickwork to commence on 1st September. JC has ordered bricks, blocks and cement for that day. On the first day there will be no brickwork for others to do but Bob will need support on moving materials and mixing. We have to take stock of the bricks situation - some are already down on the platform, but perhaps not in the right place, some more are up on the embankment and need to be placed along the platform works, and a further supply has recently been parked just inside the fence in the field.
While you wait, take a look at this picture. It was taken shortly after the opening of CRC, from the road overbridge, looking towards Bishops Cleeve. We think the date is early 1920s.
Things to note:
The pine trees have just been planted.
There are two very small, narrow platform buildings, similar in style to the booking office which is still there today. The two buildings have long gone.
There is a wooden signal box, rear left.
There are two lamp posts down the LH ramp, and a fence along it.
The surface of the platform is slabs at the front, and ash at the rear.
The train in the station has the loco near the signal box, with the last (nearest) coach a clerestory.
There is a queue of people all the way down the approach ramp on the left, and along the platform. How will they all get on !
Comments are always welcome. Can you say any more about the picture?
3 comments:
Hi Jo,
Another fascinating photo.
CRC was opened 12 March 1912 and this photo looks to have been taken very shortly after - everything looks shiny and new!
Also the platforms are still the original length - the down platform was extended towards the road bridge at a later date - anyone know when this was done?
The narrow buildings were mainly toilets. A water tank is visible on the RH bank - would this have been to supply the toilets?
I think the large crowd of people have just ARRIVED on the train and are walking UP the ramp - most of them appear to be facing up the ramp, look at the people nearest the top of it.
I understand the toilet buildings were demolished in 1963.
Thanks for posting,
All the best,
Fred.
Michael,
Thanks for the comment, always welcome.
While leveling the CRC2 platform infill and digging the lamp post holes, we did not find any trace of fencing. As you say, that would be strange up against a retaining wall. The traces of the retaining wall are still there, but damaged. Due to vandalism during the unoccupied years, many of the stones are missing. I don't think we can replace like with like, as the stone was a special 'slag stone' which I suspect is no longer available in the UK. This stone is visible along CRC1, but has partly collapsed (pending out of season repair) due to excess overburden, and the fact that there is no mortar between the stones.
Is there any way you can get a scan of the picture to me? I haven't heard of that one, and it would be interesting to have on file as a reference.
Got it Michael, and thank you for your trouble.
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