Ice cold today -Part II.... yesterday we dug a good chunk out of the pile of infill that we were asked to move, but there was still some left and with the digger and dumper still on hire, we pulled together a small, elite party of 3 to try and finish the job today. JC, John O and yours truly.

Once again, it was minus 3 degrees, the ground was frozen, and a bitterly cold wind blew across the L/C by the signal box.

I don't know how JC does it, but he sat unprotected in the cabless mini digger for 4 hours, mostly motionless, while he waited for the dumper to return from each of its long, bumpy journeys along the back of the platform wall. We did notice a slightly warmer hat today - a sign that the cold was getting through.

The pile of spent L/C ballast got a lot smaller today, and in front is the pile of pea gravel, also a bit smaller, as we did some more drainage infill with it today.

Here is the dumper driver's view of the road ahead, a quick zig-zag of a wriggle, and then bump along the rear of the platform. The picture shows the 'mousehole' entrance through which the 1T dumper has to pass. Can we get a bigger one? I don't think so....

Right at the back you can see a bit of orange, that is the other volunteer who was able to make it today at short notice.

We took 20 or thirty loads along here today, until we stopped at 1 o'clock and went home, the cold getting to our bones.

Here is a picture of a load of pea gravel, dumpered up today, rather than brought down the track by Pway trolley, and JC has walked down to help spread it out - and get warm with a bit of exercise. Once the gravel is in, we lift out the scaffolding boards and the surface, after compacting, is ready for another 9'' layer.

Then a strange vehicle appeared. Just when you think it's a non operating day and you are alone to use the crossing as you please, along comes this little red box. Not something your average passenger will be able to photograph.
It has a rather feeble hooter. How about exchanging it for the one that is on the van that comes to service our dumper at Broadway - that's a class 37 air horn. Get yourself some respect!

Then there was an eery feeling of being observed... somehow, from somewhere...

Clearly, here is a bunch of guys that haven't got cold enough yet ! Just how breezy is it up there? I'd like to see the cherry tree that goes with this little number!
This platform rose high up above the new race course extension being built. It is a huge construction job. Must look quite small from up there though.

A quick last look at the job at the end of the day, as John O collects his tools to make it back to the cabin. We filled in a 9'' layer alongside the yellow pea gravel strip you can see, then started a new layer at the rear. This new layer is 4 bricks from the top; the area visible being 30 yds long. Plucky John leveled out every single load of spoil brought along today - yesterday, that was done by a team of three!

To answer a question posted about progress with mice - we have 9 so far. Traps set yesterday were untouched this morning. Perhaps they are learning their lesson! We can't figure out how they get in, as the water supply pipe seems quite well sealed. Maybe under the door?

There remains enough useable spoil for back filling for another day's work, so the digger and dumper, now off hire, will be back on Monday.