Our brick laying gang is about to return, and work on CRC2 will resume. But - now it's my turn to go on holiday! What kind of planning is that, you might rightly say, but I planned it to be outside the main holiday season, now that the kids have left. So there you go.

So what is going to happen on our incredibly long platform rebuild?

This coming Sunday, JC and Bob will set out the next 3 sections of the second half, or CRC2b as one might call it. We have another 110m to go, but the distance from the cement mixer will get less and less. We do still have a big logistical exercise again, as all the required bricks will have to be brought down from the top of the embankment, or ferried round from the behind the fence, where we dropped a new load a few weeks back.
Another time consuming issue is that the size of the job has increased (known as 'mission creep' in the military). Brought down to 'help' with the building of the platform wall, we find ourselves in sole charge, back filling, ducting, placing lamp posts, a running in board, the slabs and probably some sort of support for the cutting side slope as well. Where does the job stop?

So Monday 1st September (at last) sees the resumption of work on CRC2. Do come along.
We will start the first courses of blue bricks on the first 10m.  A lot of materials are being delivered, including sand, cement, blocks and corbelling blues, and the two remaining bends to complete the lamppost ducting.

Depending on how well we do, we may be laying the first row of blocks on Monday the 8th. They will have to be brought down form the container area, as well as supplies of reds and blues and those blocks. Many hands make light work. I am reliably informed that a fresh supply of mini Swiss rolls is in position.

Yours truly will be up a French mountainside for 14 days. I can't blog from up there, so radio silence on this blog will be maintained, alas. I will be back on Monday 15th September, and can't wait to see how you all got on.

In the meantime, here is a picture of Cheltenham race course Station taken in the early 1960s. It's only a little preview off the internet; you can get a full sized picture from the STEAM railway museum, (www.steampicturelibrary.com) who have the rights.
Interesting are the little concrete modesty screens; remains of them exist to this day, but I never realised what they were until I saw this image. Those buildings, in the style of today's booking office, were never more than a toilet and a little waiting room. What could we put in their place, and still be authentic?

Back soon !