The last brick!

The last brick went in yesterday ! One year and 7 months after we started this 200m long wall, the last brick was laid yesterday. What an achievement. Well done our little team from Broadway! Two jobs at once, but our labour saved the GWSR a bundle of money on contractor's fees.

I'm sorry this post is a bit delayed (I can see a lot of clicks on my blogger dashboard yesterday) but while making the marital bed on Monday night, my back went into spasm and I am 'off the road' for a few days while this sorts itself out. Problem of an old war wound, set off 20 years ago while digging out sleepers on the PWay at the K&ESR.

Due to this, and a few hols, there were only three guys at CRC2 today. We've never had only 3, but look at what they did. Here is our opening picture as they take the plastic sheets off the job. It's been raining (but then stopped) and there were high winds. There's just one more layer left to go, now on the final 200m section, aka the slope.

Johns 'O' and 'C' and Bob did the honours, and here we see Bob, having put on the last row of corbelling bricks with JC, pointing up his work. It's a bit tricky when your nose gets nearer and nearer to the deck!

After the corbelling it's the backing up, which is a bit more laborious, as it uses three times as many bricks. Here we see JC Just starting the backing up at the bottom end. This always needs plenty of mortar, so he's using two spots.

Then the last brick goes in, and it's time for a celebratory photograph. If that is meant to be a selfie, you forgot the camera, John ! All that is left to do on the wall now is a nice layer of 'slop' on top.

Oh, but they did that as well! Here it is, the new platform wall on CRC2, finished! All this while dodging the trains too, as Tuesday was an operating day, with 4270 and the DMU out on patrol. John O, on mixer duty, was put under a bit of pressure as they wanted a lot of 'slop' and they also wanted the wall finished by lunch time. This they did, and then it was time for:

What a charming cake - too good to eat, surely?

THE CAKE !

This wonderful creation was lovingly made by Bob's wife Sue. Aren't our wives wonderful? Thank you, Sue !

What a shame the men put a knife to it.. and then proceeded to eat it up too. I am informed a slice has been put in the fridge for me, next to the mouse trap bait. Ah.

Seeing the lovely cake on offer, the signalman quickly threw his levers to 'danger' and came down to scoff a slice! 

So the wall is now finished, but that is not the end of the job. 

What still has to be done? Here is a non-exclusive list:

Finish the drains at the rear, cover in pea gravel

Part back fill, then raise the pea gravel to a second level

Back fill the rest of the platform

Build a pathway to the level crossing

Reconstruct the brick catch pit by the former waiting room

Plant the remaining GWR lamp posts, set out electricity supply for them

Place the copers, over 200 of them, a major job involving a road-railer

A final top layer, then tarmac

Repair the rear wall of slagstone in the southern half

Approach ramp from the road bridge - not sure what the intention is with this.

The running in board posts need a second coat of paint, then the name board can go on. Anyone fancy a go?

Finally, we received a request to put a set of steps at the southern end of the platform.

Here on the left, this is where they will go. On Tuesday, they were able to put in the first one, at the bottom end. Must have been a hell of a walk with a 90Kg barrow load of concrete. Can you see the other end of the platform from here?