W/e 4th

With the assistance of Ian and his mini-digger, the Toddington NHS ground frame is finally 'planted'. After weeks of cutting, drilling, bolting together and the minor fettling, together with a generous coating of the usual paints, all the fruits of this hard work are finally coming together. Firstly the four concrete legs are set square and level into the ground, followed by the careful lowering of the frame into position by the mini-digger. The frame is then bolted to each leg and again checked for level and square before backfilling with fine ballast around each leg, topped off with a layer of standard ballast. By the time that this ground frame is in use, the weather will have helped to compact the ballast to hold the frame firm.  

A little further up the line, a concrete stool was dug into the ballast on top of which has been placed an angle crank, part of the mechanism to drive the trap point at the exit from the NHS siding.

Work on the point at the north end of the platforms continues with the insulated FPL stretcher bar fitted, the FPL cast positioned on the gaugeplate and holes drilled through the gaugeplate and the wooden sleeper beneath. Once drilled, bolts were fitted to fasten the cast and gaugeplate to the sleeper. The stretcher bar has been removed until after the tamping machine has finished its work.

W/e 11th

With our workshop coach temporarily moved from behind C&W to facilitate a stock move into the three new storage sidings in Winchcombe yard, Monday was taken up by assisting with this logistical nightmare. With stock moved out onto the running line, into and beyond both platforms, the movement of long term storage/restoration projects onto the storage sidings went on late into the evening. Eventually everything was found a home, and our coach parked up back in its usual place.

Tuesday again saw us back at Toddington, unfortunately on a day fraught with the very occasional heavy downpour. In between these it just rained! With shovels and pick at hand, ballast was removed from under two sleepers on the NHS siding point. Once clear, the FPL (facing point lock) casting was placed onto one sleeper, pilot holes drilled through the casting into the sleeper, the casting removed, 21mm holes drilled through the sleeper and the casting bolted into place. Onto the other sleeper was placed the FPL angle fitting and the same procedure as above followed. This angle directs the pull/push of the lever through 90 degrees from track side towards the FPL.

With the aid of the mini-digger, holes were dug alongside the Stow side of the track formation from the trap point back to the ground frame. Into each hole was placed a concrete rodding stool complete with wheel and casting. These will be leveled and aligned next week along with inserting the point rodding.

Final job of the day was to fit the three levers to the ground frame. Although these were fitted back at Winchcombe to ensure a correct fit, a small amount of re-drilling of the frame was required to get a snug fit.

Maintenance was required during the week to signals and points at the approach to Cheltenham Racecourse station. Firstly, adjustments were made to detection blades on the FPL (facing point lock) on the point outside the signal box; secondly, adjustments were made to the tension of the signal wire to signal T4, on the bracket at the station approach, and the length of the downrod on signal T25 at the end of platform 1.

W/e 18th

Again at Toddington in between very heavy downpours, the day was taken up with the leveling and alignment of the rodding stools. As we progressed, the point rodding was pushed through each casting and bolted to the previous section. Eventually we had a complete run that gently snaked its way back to the ground frame. With the trained eye of Malcolm Walker at one end, each concrete stool was gently pushed back and forth to gain a gentle curve along its length. A few shovels full of fine ballast was put around the foot of each stool to ensure nothing moved before we returned next week.

At Winchcombe, more preparation of parts for the extensive work under Toddington 'box continues with wire brushing/cleaning and repainting of six Repeater Block Angles and twenty ½" bolts. These were then transported to Toddington 'box for fitting along with other work, including the fitting of an extended top bar, vertical angle iron, and locking tray brackets. Once these were in position and bolted to existing frame work, then the last locking tray could be fitted. Standing back (as far as you can in a cramped place) the results of many hours of preparation, etc. can be seen.

W/e 25th

At Toddington, finally a noticeable landmark is reached. With the aid of the road/railer, signal posts T4 and T20 are planted approx. 80 meters north of the Stow road bridge. Once upright, each post was lowered onto the four bolts protruding from the concrete pad cast back in April. The base plate levels were adjusted with packing pieces and bolted up tight. Scaffolding was then erected around T4 ready for 'fitting out' to commence next week.

At the ground frame, final adjustments are made to the point rodding before the last section is cut to length and bolted in. Once this was achieved and given the O.K. then each stool was back filled with ballast. Over a period of time and with some of our usual wet summer weather, the ballast will compact around the base of each stool to ensure no movement occurs during operation.

At Winchcombe, 50 new tappet blades purchased from Emsea of Tewkesbury via Carl Smart are marked, punched and drilled with ½" holes….a very time consuming job. Each is then cleaned of any burrs and edges filed smooth to ensure clean operation within its guide.

Templates are made from timber for setting the bolts into concrete bases for the two dummy signals at Toddington. And the lettering on a new 'Train Staff' sign is picked out in white on the black background….a job for a steady hand!

W/e 1st August

Again, Tuesday saw us at Toddington, and this time on a much drier day! Myself, Carl Smart and John Morley apply all the fittings to the new signal T4 (Malvern side) north of Stow Road bridge. First on is the finial, followed by the pivot casting, lamp bracket, spec plate and signal arm. At the bottom of the post the balance arm and weight are loosely fitted whilst the down rod is connected between spec plate and balance arm. Once the correct height and alignment are found, then the balance arm is firmly bolted to the post. On removal of the scaffold tower, the ladder is lifted into position, bolted to the top of the post and set in a concrete pad at the base. Job done!

After a quick lunch break, the scaffold tower is transferred to Stow side and erected around signal post T20. And we start again. Unfortunately / fortunately (whichever way you look at it) as we got to the point of attaching the signal arm, No.7903 Foremarke Hall was in the process of running round its train and as she approached our signal it was found that clearance between the two was insufficient. Ooops!! Measurements were hastily taken and the offending arm removed. Now what? Do we move a two ton block of concrete 18 inches further away from the track, or make a new block? As luck would have it, within the assortment of fittings back at Winchcombe was a Centre Pivot Arm made for times were space is limited. Just needs some TLC and a spot of paint.  

While this was going on, Neil Carr busied himself jointing cables run from Toddington 'box into a cabinet next to the 'E' switch, and Malcolm Walker fitting the new FPL mechanism and stretcher bar.

During the remainder of the week, the task of restoring and customizing fittings for Toddington continues. Two signal lever handles have been trimmed by approx. 5 inches. These will eventually operate electrical relays releasing signals for trains approaching Toddington from Broadway. The appropriate lever frame blocks and lever guides associated with these handles have been ground and drilled to fit the frame extension.

The above mentioned centre pivot arm has received minor repairs, original paint removed and undercoated and glossed over four days ready for fitting next week (hopefully reported in the next issue)