Tuesday was the day that replaced the very wet Monday yesterday, and what a beautiful sunny autumn day it was too. Bob and four others managed to get down to CRC and advanced the wall quite a bit. In fact, this is a two-in-one report, as Bob also came down on Saturday with John O, and together the valiant duo got two courses of blues on the 140 and 150m sections, meaning that we could continue with the blockwork today.
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| Bob 'in flagrante'. |
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| Each brick is carefully checked for level. |
In the picture above, you can see that the back up team was faster than Bob last time (he was working on a different section) and have laid 'red' bricks higher than the blues in front. Today Bob laid the first row of corbelling here on the 130m section (the last of the first three started after the half way mark). behind Bob is the site of the platform 2 shelter, which we have now well passed.
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| Tony confided in me last week that he didn't really like laying blocks, and here he is again! |
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| Feet up, and crack open a beer tonight, Tony. |
These two pictures show Tony and Pete finishing off the concrete blocks on the 140m section started last week, and then on the 150m section as well. A row of blues has already risen in front of them. Red brickwork can start here next time.
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| 150m section in front, 160m section behind. |
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| Mortaring in the joints between the blocks - Tony, Pete and John S. |
The picture above with the signal box shows just how much (or little :-) ) distance there is to go before we get to the end. How much more manageable the project seems now, than on day one with the start of the first 10m section way, waaaay back at the other end.
John O once again valiantly mixed mortar all day long, not only for the bricks, but all the liquid brown mortar that needs to be stuffed down between the newly laid blocks. Well done, John. At least the journey is getting shorter. He worked so hard that we have again run out of sand and cement, so need another delivery next Monday.
We had two pleasant visitors on site today - Andy P, and 'Father P' .
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| The joy of S&T. |
They were removing some kit from CRC box, ready for use at Broadway. Isn't that robbing Peter to pay Paul, Andy ? Oi !
Nice to see preparations for our Broadway box !!!
11 comments:
Jo.
Reading elsewhere that Stevie is going to be committed at CRC 'repairing' the crossing, are we to presume that the new Stand contractors, Kier was it, have finished?
I can remember back that they had a Financial benefit from crushing the clean waste and moving it to the north car park for use as infill, rather than the transportation costs of sending such elsewhere.
I won't ask if they have contributed to the repair of the crossing because, well, it's a rhetorical question. The cost of the 'benefit' surely vastly exceeds the cost of 'repair'. Although perhaps Nigel + 'mob' might consider otherwise, through gritted teeth.
In essence, has Kier left sufficient clean material (from the demolition of the Old stand) to finish the infill, or will there be a need to source such from elsewhere?
Sorry Ken, I don't know the answer to any of those questions.
The crossing was certainly very heavily used by earth large moving equipment over several months.
Lovely bricklaying. Could the team when they get to the end of the platform continue a few yards and transform that horrible structure, with all the charm of a municipal public lavatory, into a GWR Signal box?
I understand they are paying fully for the crossing
Paul
Paul.
Thanks for the clarification.
I plan to be there Friday helping Steve
I was amused to read your comment about "picture above with the signal box shows just how .. little .. distance there is to go" - I'd had the exact same reaction on seeing that picture!
It will be exciting to see this finished; both because it's a significant accomplishment in its own right, and because the manpower can then be re-deployed at Broadway (well, I assume most of it can), causing that to advance even faster! :-)
Noel
Indeed Noel.
But don't forget we are not just building a wall. It has to be back filled, and lamp posts and ducting laid. The they have to be wired up.
Heavy slabs have to be laid along the whole 210m stretch. At Broadway, we might do 12 or so a day. Unfortunately, we still don't have a source for these slabs at the moment. Finally, the whole platform has to be surfaced.
I understand that at the moment it is intended that passengers leave the platform by the ramp at the signal box end, although future plans are for the southern ramp to be used, and a footbridge. Will we be involved in that as well? Time will tell.
Dave, what's the problem with the Signal Box? It looks like a signal box and does the job of a signal box. I grant you, it's not an Edwardian style blue & red brick signal box (the original CRC box was of all wood construction and usually "metal sheeted" over its windows as it was only open on Race Days so we don't really want the original back - it would get torched) but the GWSR may well replace it one day. I'd chip in, would anyone else? However, priorities are to run trains into 2 platforms at CRC.
Hello another comment,
CRC signal box.........does look a bit gaunt, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Maybe at some later date when all the rebuilding of Broadway and CRC platform 2 is complete a planked wooden over lay might be considered, or wooden cladding.
at least it could then be painted by those who don't like its current appearance.
Just a thought.
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