Week ending 5th December         

Monday - to start the week off, a number of faults needed to be rectified at Cheltenham Racecourse. First was to replace a bulb in signal T22 lampcase at milepost ¹⁸_/11 (a reoccurring fault), and secondly to make a repair to the signal wire to the distant signal at milepost ¹⁸_/1.  On the return to Winchcombe, new posts were erected for new speed restriction signs at Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington.

Back at Winchcombe the continuing restoration of the banner repeater for Toddington takes a step forward. A newly manufactured base plate was bolted to the lamp case. This will ensure the lamp sits at the correct distance from the main body of the repeater once bolted to the signal post. A coat of primer was applied to a balance weight casting and the electric signal motor case for signal T32 at Toddington.

Tuesday - at Toddington today, John P, Carl and myself busied ourselves with a pick and shovels burying two cables from the signalbox out to signal T25. Trenching through tightly compacted ballast is a good way of shedding a few pre-Christmas lbs!

Back at the signalbox, a new signal wire was run out to signal T19 north of Stow Road Bridge, jointed at either end and tested. Measurements were taken for six locking tray lids and bars for the lever frame.

Wednesday - the bars for the lever frame were cut, cleaned back to bare metal and primed along with a balance weight casting. Four repeater 'tombstones' were cut / modified, the wood sanded and then stained. These will be fixed to the block shelf at Toddington 'box. A number of casts, wheels and other fittings that have been restored and painted in between jobs have now been moved to the container for safe storage.

Thursday - after a visit to Screwfix and our paint supplier, a second coat of stain was applied to the four repeater tombstones. The electric signal motor mounting plate required some minor alteration with the drilling of eight new holes. The last bit of primer was applied to the electric motor cover and a vertical wheel stand.

Friday - Malcolm and John Simms at Toddington 'box working on the locking tray. Two of the top bars in 'A' channel completed, and a start made on top bar 'A' channel position 2. the electric lock connecting bar for T30 needed some slight modification.

Week ending 12th December

Monday - the final mounting holes were drilled in the banner repeater mounting plate before it was cleaned and part primed. The electric lock coupling rod for T30 was also cut and drilled ready for returning to Toddington on Tuesday.

Tuesday - fit the electric lock coupling rod, cut lock through bar slot and file to finish. Run out remainder of signal wire for signal T30 (dummy signal from NHS) from the signal box to where the last run finishes by the water tower. A further four signal wire stakes were required and these were concreted into place.

Inside the 'box the first of four holes was carefully drilled through the upstairs floor. These are to accommodate the wire adjuster linkages. Once drilled and the linkage passed through the hole and aligned with its gearbox, the adjuster was bolted to the floor. From this first assembly a more accurate measurement can be taken for the next three holes.

The six locking tray lids from Winchcombe were temporarily fitted into position and marked for slot cutting.

The remainder of the day was spent trenching the last few metres of cable to signal T25.

Wednesday - the slots in the locking tray lids were cut and filed to finish and can now be returned to Toddington for final fitting. Two small 'shoebox' cabinets, lids and door catches were given a coat of silver gloss.

Thursday - Malcolm and John Simms fit the 'B' channel top bars to the locking tray at Toddington 'box, and the final coat of silver gloss applied to the two 'shoebox' cabinets.

Friday - a morning trip with the railcar to Cheltenham Racecourse to concrete in posts for speed signs. On the return journey the speed signs were fitted to the posts at Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington.

Back at Winchcombe for the afternoon, painting T32 angle cast and two vertical wheels in black gloss. Three newly restored 'shoebox' cabinets put into storage container.

Week ending 19th December

Monday - the day started with a visit to Winchcombe signalbox to remove three lever locks that are fitted with Lock Checking Contacts (LCC), and replace with locks from Toddington (non LCC fitted). This also required the making or modification of matching lock 'thru' bars. These were then transferred to the railcar for transporting to Toddington.

Two 42" lengths of angle iron were drilled then cleaned for a large cabinet mounting. Two lengths of redundant point rodding were also cut and cleaned up for the same cabinet mounting.

Tuesday - the remaining three wire adjusters were fitted through the floor of Toddington 'box after some careful measuring and drilling. Once aligned with each gearbox, the adjusters were firmly bolted to the floor and tested for smooth operation. Only some minor tweaks to the settings were required. A long wire sling was then attached to the adjuster for signal T31 and its corresponding wire run, tested and made good.

The LCC electric locks from Winchcombe 'box have now been fitted to Toddingtons T17, T18 & T19.

Batteries have been put into cabinets T5 & T32 and connected to the relevant track circuits.

Before finishing for the day, myself and John P inspected and measured up the fencing at the south boundaries of platforms 1 & 2, around the cattle dock, Flag & Whistle and the children's play area in preparation for replacing / repairing as required by the Board as part of the 'Toddington Spring Clean 2010'. A costing will be forwarded to the board ASAP.

Wednesday - no work on 'our' line today, as Malcolm, Neil & Paul Fuller paid a working visit to the Bodmin Railway.

Thursday - three 25mph speed signs recovered from our outside storage area! were striped of paint / rust and given a coat of primer along with the angle iron and point rodding prepared on Monday. A crank cast and arm for the electric motor for signal T32 was painted in black gloss.

Friday - Malcolm and John Simms spent the day working on the top bar locking 'B' & 'C' channels.

Week ending 26th December

Monday - a very cold and frosty day spent in the MSC shed removing paint, cleaning and priming various fittings, signs, posts, brackets and other metalwork. The angle crank and arm for signal T32 electric motor greased and put back together ready for transporting to Toddington.

Tuesday - undercoat applied to the three 25mph speed signs, angle iron and rodding (for cabinet mount) and banner repeater plate. White gloss applied to banner repeater lamp case.

Week ending 2nd January 2010

Tuesday - the MSC shed given a bit of a tidy to make room for painting and hanging up of various fittings to dry. Once done, a start was made on a substantial amount of fittings painted in primer, undercoat or gloss. By 1630 the shed looked more untidy than it did 7½ hours earlier.

Saturday - another day painting in the MSC shed and the work coach. Most of the fittings now ready for use / storage.   Happy New Year…….