Tarmac at Winchcombe

The platform extension was finished on Saturday with a nice top coat of Tarmac. An attempt planned for Wednesday had to be abandoned due to a technical problem, and the very cold weather.

GWR 5542 was in operation today, and we took the opportunity to show off the new platform surface together with the train returning from Cheltenham. What a lovely scene in the sunshine, cold but bright!

The new platform extension was immediately in use, as a passenger wandered up, and then down it! At the end he found the reinstated GWR trespass notice attached to a length of rail. Still left to do are the completion of the block wall to retain the lawned slope up the back of the old stationmaster's house, and the planting of one more lamp post. This is on order, as part of the larger order to the foundry from Broadway.

As today was a mixed traction day, we will not withhold from you another view of the newly tarmaced platform, this time with the 3 car DMU just heading off for CRC. It fits in very nicely.


At the other end of the station the barrow crossing was also finished yesterday, thanks to help from Andy and Stuart from lineside drainage gang. A picture of that work appears on their Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gwr-lineside-drainage-management/

Next week the B&S gang will be starting on repairing the footbridge surfaces. Some reorganisation of the C&W yard is also taking place. The picture below shows the progress already made.

Accumulated debris has been cleared from in front of the stock in the three isolated sidings visible in the middle top of the picture, and the pile of CRC2 slabs by the gate will also be relocated, some of which to Hayles Abbey Halt for use on the new platform there. This yard will look a lot roomier and neater soon.

Further work at Hayles Abbey has been suspended for a short while. The platform will be built off the levels of the track, and with the tamper due in the area very shortly, the team preferred to wait until the track was definitely in the right place and at the right height, before any block laying starts. The tamper has now been, the track is correct, so work should start within the next week or so.

A water tank has been brought to the site, and a site container has been found and is also due to arrive as soon as transport can be arranged.