GWSR Broadway Developments

The video of the train departing has now uploaded. You can see it here:



The first steam hauled train out of the newly rebuilt Broadway station.

 

The cameraman standing in the four-foot is going to have to learn that he isn't on a building site any more, he's now on a working railway!!!

Splendid stuff.

 

Enquiry: Has the official inspection to clear the extension for opening been conducted yet?

 

Does it need one? I believe there is a self-certification process in place these days.

 

There is, but an Independent Competent Person may have been appointed for any “new” aspects. New in this sense meaning “a different way of working” rather than physically new. In saying that the GWSR already have dual platforms, overbridges and CWR track on the existing line so there probably isn’t much that is “new” to the existing operation.

Regards

Matt

 

Beautiful sight!
What a week it has been for the heritage movement- first events at Lynton, now this at Broadway. Get IN!

 

HMRI/ORR no longer carry out official inspections of new works. This is largely to avoid them 'approving' as they cannot then be the enforcing authority if something is found wanting. You now have a safety verification by an Independent Competent Person but only if what is being put to use is (1) new technology, or new to the system , and, (2) There is a significant new risk or increase in risk. I would say the answer to both of these is no so the railways change management system should be sufficient.

 

The person in question is a long standing Pway member and a director, the person to the left well?!

 

And was probably using common sense, in any case. My guess is that there wasn't another loco/piece of motive power for miles and my next guess is that, unlike me, he knew that for a fact.

 

For the benefit of those who didn't realise, my tongue was firmly in my cheek when I made my comment.........

 

We did, I counted that there were 20 of us on the signing on sheet on Saturday. The team I was working with were preparing the sub base surface of the platform at the North end ( South end already completed) and the driveway path ready for tarmacking , which will take place on Monday/Tuesday next week. Only a short section to do of the path which will be done on Monday. Hard work as all the materials were brought to where we were working by volunteers with wheel barrows and a lot of time was spent on our knees leveling the sub base level.

I am aware that at least 3 painters were working today, some more volunteers doing carpentry work, some fitting the lamps with their bulbs and Lantern (?) tops on the driveway. Also Building & Services were fitting a few more granite kerbs so we can continue with the slabbing on the forecourt side of the station building on Monday. I am sure that many other jobs were being preformed on site by others that I have missed, sorry.

When the tarmacking is finished, there is a further 10 meters of slabbing to do on the North end of the platform before the first train arrives on the 21st, lots to do, so plenty of extra days being worked by many volunteers, perhaps we should have a tented village there to save all the travelling, as the navvies did when they built the line - now that would be authentic!

 

Nice that the train is 8 coaches, I read on the blog that they will all be 8 coaches from now on (previously was 7) which is great. Hopefully they will generally be full. Would it be a struggle for smaller engines though like small praires although I know the line is generally flat. ? Foremarke Hall looking good, I remember it running for the very first time on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway after is rebuild from Barry condition.

 

Oh gawd NO!!!! You'll summon *HIM* with all that talk about running train lengths appropriate for now, rather than just prior to closing.
Quick, delete it now and pretend it didn't happen

 

Double, double 7P and trouble;
Fire burn and Welsh Coal bubble.
Fillet of a 8 Coach rake,
In the caldron a Queen Mary brake;
Eye of Annie and toe of Claribel,
Ryde to Pier and Wooton to Newport,
Linear scrapyard and rust stained tin,
Load 3 and a Terrier's fin,
For a charm the Mainline Connection,
Like a hell-broth boil and WIBN.

I'll get me coat.

 

Hahahahaaa! Excellent!

 

As the departing train went straight past a signal in the ON position, I assume that the signals are not yet in use, but that raises some questions. When is it necessary and when not for signals that are not in use to be so marked? And how are the train movements controlled at present? Is Broadway station treated at present as part of the single line section from Toddington?

 

White crosses will be fixed on the boards imminently I believe.

 

Halls were common sights on this route, even I can just remember them! Sometimes the Cornishman would be hauled by a Hall but, as you quite rightly state, Castles were the preferred motive power. the GWSR doesn't have one, yet. What's a "Duff" btw?

 

Class 47, or Brush Type 4 if you're being pre-TOPS.