There's an 'end of term' feeling in the air now, as we approach the end of the platform build. We're working on the last two sections now, which are almost complete as you can see on this opening overview from the top of the starter signal.

Both Bob and JC are on corbelling; one on the 190m section, adn the other on the 200m section, or slope. You can see all the 'soldiers' standing in line and holding the newly laid corbels down.

We're now down to the last bricks needing to be laid, so we don't want to oversupply and the word was to bring extra blues down by barrow one load at a time, and supply wherever needed. This was mostly for John S, who was busy at the back filling in the last two sections.

We're still using the materials like nobody's business, so Fairview had to pop down again - almost weekly really - and bring a fresh supply of sand, aggregate for concrete, and a whoppin' 29 bags of cement. 3 of us carried them into the container, and your blogger is now poorly with a painful back, which is getting lots of tea and sympathy at home (from Mrs. blogger, she adds). Still, every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case it's that I am released from helping to move the billiard table in our local club tonight! Phew.

So we set off to work, and here is a shot of John S at the end of the 190m section, setting out the first brick in the final row of stretchers on the rear. JC is pointing up the corbels he has just placed on the slope, while Keith and John O have a brief respite with no mortar to mix or push along.

Two of us then set off to the other end of the platform, 200m away, to touch up the two posts we planted last week with primer (a few areas being covered by sticky tape  last week) and, yes at last, top them out with the replica cast iron finials that we had specially made at a foundry in Cleckheaton. Broadway station played a part in them, as they are based on an original buried on site and discovered there while digging for bricks. So these finials have a genuine heritage.

Leaving the primer patches to dry, we returned to the other end (also 200m away...)

...and decided to have a cup of tea, while the brick layers were still beavering away. That felt good ! Note the short sleeves and shorts, it was hot in the sun today.

Last week we saw the sandbags going this way, and this week it was that. Here they are again! Unconfirmed reports suggest that the wartime event was successful, and should help start the season off with a financial boost. Great!
Having finished his row of corbelling (only one row per day, remember) JC has joined John S with infilling at the back. We of course are sitting outside the cabin, and watching :-)

This van is massively overloaded, surely? A huge pile of sandbags is on its way back to Winchcombe.

Finally, it was officially lunchtime, and here is the full gang sitting outside the cabin, corbelling completed for the day. Just two more rows to go on the slope, and that's it. Yes, Hello, we can see you too, OK already, calm down.

After lunch, the sloppy mix was made up for the top of the 190m section, while yours truly and Brian fitted another two lengths of drain pipe behind the wall, boxed it in, and filled the box with pea gravel.

Then, another 200m back to the other end to paint the two posts in dark stone.

This is what they looked like at the end of the day. Quite convincing, would you not agree? They need a final top coat, then the actual board can go on. It should fit perfectly, thanks to the identically sized former we used to set out the posts. Should...

The last activity of the day was spreading out the sloppy mix over the top of the completed 190m section.
Keith spooned it on with a shovel, while JC, Bob and John S spread it out nice and smooth. Once they have finished standing behind this part of the wall, the final length of drain pipe will go in here.

 
Having finished the penultimate section, time to sign it off 'officially' on our list back in the cabin.

This is always a proud moment for Bob, and well deserved too. Hope your knees hold out to the end, Bob!

We won't be working next Monday (bank holiday) but Tuesday was being considered as an alternative, last I heard.