GWSR Broadway Developments

Indeed, and you could add the platform 1/2 canopies and associated buildings at Horsted Keynes to that, built from the ground up about twenty years ago and essentially indistinguishable from those on platforms 3/4. (Compare the 1987 and 2004 pictures here: http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Horsted_Keynes_5.html)

Tom

 

To the list of Ropleys waiting room, Kingscotes down platform canopy, Horsted Keynes Platform 1/2 station building you could also add the signal box and footbridge at Corfe Castle.

What do all these New Builds have in common?

Firstly a skilled and dedicated workforce.
Secondly a desire to observe Heritage requirements to the letter.
Thirdly freedom from hassle by an artificially imposed deadline forcing compromise.

At Broadway the first requirement is met in spades as evidenced by the Signal Box. This takes its place in the list above with pride.
At Broadway the second requirement is sadly lacking, and those who champion this approach are sidelined by persons or person unknown as I shall now refer to the Management in order to avoid censure and to depersonalise things.
At Broadway the third requirement , that of time to do things properly is totally compromised by a self imposed commercial pressure to open by March 2018.

This last explains perhaps why, for example, a chimney suddenly appears that bears no resemblance to any any GWR one, but has the benefit of being simple and able to be thrown up in a day.

Until the person or persons unknown who Manage the GWSR and its special projects embrace the second and third requirements, then they will remain a second tier Heritage Railway.

 

I think the best approach is to take a leaf out of the Bodmin and wenfords book, what they have done to cosmetically hide containers looks fantastic by the way, here's some photos of broadway which show it had various outbuildings at various points in its working life which the team can try and emulate in the future!

 

The first photograph shows the former horse dock on the right, where the steel containers have been now placed on a thick concrete pad. It has made it very difficult indeed to reinstate that siding.
At the far end of the platform is what was probably the first signal box, a temporary cabin to allow trains to use the station while construction continued southwards.
Lamp posts and a running in board for the platform extension southwards lie in the foreground.

The second picture, by former Broadway resident John Diston, shows the canopy overhang as it ought to be, resting on the two posts at the bottom of the steps. The lofty riveted canopy is very clear. If you lengthen the footbridge, and bring it forward, that makes the GWR reconstruction rather awkward.
On the left hand side you can see that the inner side of the steps was in line with the building, platform side.

 

Interesting in the 2nd photo you can see the detail of the Footbridge Staircase interface to the platform awning... we have been told that the footbridge is 6ft closer to the building - if you look at the clearance between the staircase roof detail and the roof trusses you will see that there is more than sufficient vertical clearance - so design the two vertical supports as either side of the staircase ,yes the staircase will intrude into the covered area but I believe a more exceptable solution.

ian

 

Second that.

And let me take this opportunity to emphasize that I have nothing but the highest respect for the individual volunteers doing the actual work; they are all doing a fantastic job.

I'm merely responding to some of the construction choices being made - and furthermore, not on my own behalf (see below), but on behalf of some volunteers who are upset by them.

Well, I don't particularly care very strongly (although I'd probably go for the original, if forced to chose); I'm more a p/way and drains kind of person!

But that's not the point; the point is that there are people to whom it does make a big difference, some of them among the hardest working people on the project; and to them, I'm sure that every time they see the station, things like the mortart colour are going to stick out like a sort thumb. (I'm sure many people knows how that works; I have a display case on which a corner was 'cut' during construction, and everytime I see it, it's irritating.)

I'm pretty sure that it's not that there are people who (for example) really want the chimneys one way, and others who want the original, so that the decision-maker has to make someone unhappy, no matter what they decide; rather, there doesn't seem to be any good reason (e.g. in time, or money), to make a decision that does make some people unhappy.

(And I'll bet that if there were a good reason, the people to whom originality matters would be like 'well, I don't like it, but I understand why, and so I can accept it'. But that is not what's happening...)

Most unfortunate, because the whole Broadway extension project is so exciting, and such an achievement.

Noel

 

Exactly.

For example: the second loop along the embankment was shelved, due to lack of funds. I accept that, it's a good reason, we can be patient.

 

Couldnt put it better

 

I'm not sure I understand - if the staircase protrudes under the canopy, you'll be part way up the steps as you pass under the truss, so headroom becomes limited. The only solution I can see would be to shorten the canopy extension so the truss sits above the base of the steps as per the original. Or am I missing something obvious?

Andy

 

Regarding the 'third requirement', we already know that the station won't be complete by the opening date, but does the building under construction really have to complete by this date if it forces compromise? With nine months to go, I'm sure there is time to finish it externally, get the scaffolding down and complete the platform. If it isn't complete internally, so what? Sell tickets in the bric-a-brac hut, and make sure everybody knows the café and toilets won't be open for another few months.

Do it once and do it right!

Andy

 

You might find these photographs of sister station Hall Green useful, further up the line near Birmingham. Here, everything is still intact, and was even renovated quite recently.

This third one is of sister station Shirley. It shows what you get if the footbridge is removed - the two stair supports remain and hold up the canopy extension. It is roomy undeneath.
It's not difficult to go and see what it was like.

 

If headroom was a concern no doubt Jo , if he has some letters over, could fashion a pukka GWR station sign that said "Mind your head"!

 

Breva.
I am confused, these stations all have original height footbridges, are perfectly acceptable to NR, and their staircases reach to the canopy even with a landing. Why have person or persons unknown decided to raise that at Broadway to NR's new height, meaning an extended staircase that penetrates the canopy, when as far as I remember there was no mention of future electrification of the GWSR which isn't part of NR anyway.

 

I can't answer that one, sorry.

 

I've not seen recent images of Hall Green Station and it seems in remarkably good condition; indeed, I'm a little surprised that it has survived at all, let alone being cared for! The signal box now at Winchcombe was obtained from Hall Green back in the 1980s.

 

These photos of Hall Green highlight the strange nature of the Broadway project. So much effort has clearly been taken to get the details of Broadway station as close to the original as possible, whether it's the signal box, the restoration of the footbridge or the stunning recreation of the canopy. It's obviously a labour of love for many, many people who care deeply about authenticity. Yet the same project team has made other choices which suggest entirely the opposite. It's like there are two groups working on the same project but pulling in utterly different directions.

I have no knowledge of the personalities and agree that a public forum is no place for character assassination, but the evidence of the work done suggests a failure of leadership. And it's such a shame. It's hard to think of a better example of spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar.

 

You have grasped it perfectly. Alas.

 

I have followed this with some bemusement. Having followed the blog for a number of years, and been astounded by the dedication and hard work of the BAG, trekking all over the country, demolishing bridges, stables, turntable pit, etc, to obtain GWR blue bricks, not to mention the sheer graft of those who cleaned up umpteen thousand of those bricks, for use in the platform faces; I find it hard to believe that there are those who think that the details d0 not matter, if it suits their agenda.
This station, the signal box, footbridge, and the station building are going to be the Crown Jewels of the GWSR, by virtue of Broadway being what it is, namely an existing tourist magnet of very high quality. It has become obvious over the years that there are a number of talented craftsmen doing the skilled bits; the bricklaying, carpentry, site management and logistics planning. Why compromise?
I have absolutely no doubt that the brickies could build the chimneys to the orginal specs, even if one or two of the flues were dummies. Why compromise?
I had no idea there was going to be a problem with the siting of the footbridge, as a casual observer, and, again, why compromise? There was ample opportunity when siting the bridge, to make any adjustments necessary to tie in with the new building and canopy.

I am a Severn Valley man of 46 years, and I say to you; this doesn't happen often: grab it and exploit it to the max. Skimp on nothing, if you can.

All the best,

jtx

 

Post 912 included an artists impression of Broadway station. The artist originally painted that picture showing the footbridge from St Erth. During 2014, the then Chairman of BAG met the artist and persuaded him to amend the painting to include the Henley in Arden footbridge instead of the one shown in the original painting .. I thought you might like to see the revised painting as the article referred to didn't include the correct version of this painting.

 

Thanks Gloucester Boy. I printed out that picture when it first appeared, on a sheet of A4, and it has been attached to a peg board in my office since. I am looking at it when I type this. I was looking at it when I wrote the cheque for my shares.

As Martin Luther King said "I have a dream"! And this is mine, and I suspect a lot of peoples.

On a more mundane note , what news of the meeting between person or persons unknown and the Brickie re a much better Heritage chimney than hitherto.