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GWSR Broadway Developments

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Breva, Aug 1, 2014.

  1. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Meanwhile, I am indulging in big chufferitis behind 35006 on the 12:15 from Broadway, and she looks great!

    My congratulations to all involved in making Broadway station what it is, and my best wishes for the remaining work to make it what it undoubtedly will be.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

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    On the 'economy' debate, firstly, it is a genuine issue - coal costs have increased considerably over the past couple of decades, although seem to be well below the peak now.

    I was once present when Mark Smith said that the West Somerset had recorded coal usage and 'discovered' that a Small Prairie did the job on less coal than a West Country! And no, he wasn't surprised nor was actual recording needed to discover this basic fact, but the extent of the difference needed to be measured.

    From what I have picked up, the wide firebox of the Bulleids will be a major factor, although trying to fire them with a 'Midland back-end' won't help, so firing technique (and hence crew training and familiarity) are important. Nevertheless, more coal will be used keeping even a thin fire (without hoes) across the whole of a wider firebox. These locos were designed to produce (because they use) large quantities of steam and this probably isn't necessary at 25mph for a loco of that size.

    Hence, I would expect that the GWSR will find the Bulleid heavier on coal than the GWR locos, but for 8 coach loads, the latter seem ideally suited. In terms of wear and tear, surely it is better to slightly 'overpower' so that the locos are not working 'flat out' but, that said, I have also heard a highly respect steam engineer say that a well-maintained (and hence originally well overhauled) loco should be able to handle difficult and testing work and over 12,000 miles a year without undue wear and tear.

    Steven
     
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  3. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

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    WRONG!

    There is nothing in the regulations that specifically 'forbids' brand new curved platforms being built.

    What the regulations DO say is that curved platforms should be avoided wherever practically possible (which may involve a new site being chosen for station re-openings), but if this cannot be achieved then a derogation from the approved standard (platforms to be straight and level) may be acceptable if suitable mitigating measures are applied. This could include only using stock with certain door configurations to minimise stepping distances etc

    Similarly while the regulations say platforms should be sited on level track, new platforms on gradients are not 'forbidden' - but may require restrictions like no splitting / joining of trains to take place, or stock be allowed to terminate / reverse there as mitigation.
     
  4. Bill Drewett

    Bill Drewett Member

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    Why did I add a smiley? Read the two posts again more slowly. :)
     
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  5. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    Just a small update regarding the paving & kerbing at the north end of the station.

    Several weeks ago, when leveling this area, we discovered two of the original granite kerbs and also a granite quadrant kerb, so we decided to use these when finishing the kerbing and slabbing on the forecourt side of the station building.

    We finished this area on Monday and here are a couple of photo's to show the final result. It also shows the section of spear fencing installed (all the spear fencing is made by one of our volunteers). For the time being, this finishes the slabbing, until such times as the steps to the footbridge are made and installed.

    I have no idea whether Broadway will get loco watering facilities in the future, however, a larger mains water supply was installed to service the station and houses and we did put in pipework along the platform prior to it being tarmac'd

    IMG_1589.JPG IMG_1590.JPG
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
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  6. AndyY

    AndyY Member

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    Looking good!
    Andy
     
  7. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely spot on.
    Regards,
    jtx
     
  8. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    Fantastic that you all got to include some original bits (thereby having a physical link to the original station); especially the quadrant, which looks simply superb.

    It's so mind-boggling to look at the station and think 'there was absolutely nothing there 5 years ago'!

    Noel
     
  9. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    From a GWSR Volunteers announcement today, looks like Broadway is helping with the numbers!:

    The Month of May


    First off, the figures for the three special weekend we had in May are daunting!

    The lego weekend (sorry, I should say Bricks!) produced almost 2000 passengers ( 1400 in 2017). The real ale weekend saw 2300 visitors ( 1400 in 2017) and the steam gala 3 days produced a record 5900 visitors ( 3500 in 2017).


    Add to that the first May bank holiday weekend - 2500 in 3 days ( 1300 in 2017), and of course the Wartime weekend that I have mentioned before, and our overall numbers are extremely good.


    On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate the organisers of these three weekends and also thank all volunteers who in any way assisted in the month of May's tremendous success. Shop takings and RCS income were also of course significantly up, adding to the record income for the railway - much needed to replenish our reserves.


    That's the excellent good news.


    Of course alongside that, the stresses and strains are showing in many departments as we try to cope with such a large volume of passengers..


    Looking back, all of us were excited to get to Broadway, and we all knew at the time we would get an upsurge in visitor numbers. However none of us foresaw such a large increase or that this increase would continue to at this level for so long!


    I have already explained what we are doing about reducing and respreading special events next year and reducing and re-organising the way we deal with groups but in addition to this, we are also looking at a number of other initiatives to try and make life easier for every volunteer. More details will follow in a little while, but in the meantime, thank you to everyone for all you are doing - it is really appreciated.

    Regards
    Colin Fewell
    Commercial Director
     
  10. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Running 8 coaches full to the brim, I don't think there will be much in it between 35006 and say a hall, except that you could work the MN at a lower cut off, than say a hall which is what a 6p ? which you would need to work harder to move the same weight, but what business are we in? pure commercialisation, or the good day out variety? pure means, you don't run anything over what you need, but then theres no excitement big engines attract interest, so its a balancing act,
    you accept slightly higher running costs and increased passenger numbers to pay for it, we are once again going over old ground here, whilst you may need more coal to light up a MN, and cover the grate, fired on the little and often method and with correct boiler management , I don't expect the cost per mile once you add in the maintaince costs over say a 12 month period, will be that much more, and lets face it, if you want to be an accountant over this, you would not run steam in the first place.
     
  11. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    A bit of an extract from the Directors blog: (link: http://gwrboardroom.blogspot.com/2018/)

    "The cash from operations has arrived just in time as, for the Board, the recent bridge strike at the Broadway bridge, where a lorry loaded with an agricultural baler crashed against the side of the bridge leaving the baler broken in half in the road, was the last straw (pun intended)! We have now ordered a bridge crash protection beam system for erection in August to protect this vital bridge from further damage by reckless drivers.

    Also welcome is the steady progress by Wychavon, mostly behind the scenes, on the development of the car park on railway land adjacent to the Broadway station which we anticipate being open by the start of next season at the latest. I think the above passenger numbers show that the decision by Wychavon to invest in the car park in support of tourism was, indeed, a good decision."

    and:

    Visitor numbers to the end of May

    The massive increase in visitor numbers since we opened to Broadway shows how important this extension is to our line, and is a reward to every volunteer who put in so much hard work to make it happen.
    Overall, the total number of passengers who travelled with us on service trains up to the end of May has grown to over 40,000 as against 26,000 last year. The most spectacular increase was the May Day weekend where our numbers more than double last year's total.
    April and May are always very busy months with not only our Wartime in the Cotswolds weekend, our bricks event, the real ale weekend and most recently our fabulous steam gala all of which produced record numbers of visitors.
    What is clear from analysing the figures is that passengers are now, more than ever, using our railway to "get somewhere" rather than use it for a round trip. Just look at the numbers getting on at Toddington or Winchcombe who are travelling to Broadway for lunch and shopping and you can see what has changed.
    As always, thanks are due to all the volunteers who not only made this happen but are now facing the "marauding masses" on a daily basis. We are going through exciting times
    Colin Fewell
    Commercial Director
     
  12. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Having seen the number of travellers for myself on the first May bank holiday Monday, I can see why things are looking up, Broadway Station, even in its unfinished state is a gem, and when completed will be a very good fitting entry point to the village of Broadway, what better than an authentic station as your entry point, and as you say, people were using it to go and explore Broadway, to shop , eat Drink, you now have an designation end point, that will attract people, and of course, at the other end you have the racecourse again, this on race days will be an attraction, I do wonder, if your Race day trains started at Broadway, as well as Toddington, would that tempt some of the same clientele to visit Broadway on another date? As both I would say attract a market, for whom the railway could make money out of, im thinking along the lines of first class travel, morning coffee etc, into Broadway for Lunch, Afternoon tea on the afternoon departure all pre booked, best china at table service etc does the railway have any FO coaches , or coaches it can upgrade to a similar standard?
     
  13. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    When we work on non operating days, we have lots of people who come to see the station and ask if the station is now being used. We hand out quite a few timetables!

    A couple of our volunteers live in Broadway and I was told on Monday that several business' in Broadway are hiring additional staff as a result of people using our railway and travelling into Broadway to shop, etc.
     
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  14. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm not sure whether starting race trains at Broadway is necessarily a good thing. On the plus side there are longer platforms for trains (Toddington 2 of the 8 coaches are off the platform now) but Toddington's easier to get to from the motorway and even when we get the car park at Broadway parking will probably still be better at Toddington. I suppose it might give us more opportunity to sell booze! We do have one FO and I think we could utilise it more, but as ever it's the volunteers to run such a coffee service. Plus that coach is needed just as a normal running coach at the moment we're so busy! Middle of the day trains aren't so bad though.

    What's certain is that we've definitely got room to grow on the race day market. We currently run 2 8 coach train each day, and that accounts for 1% of visitors to the racecourse over the week. I believe next year we hope to run 3 trains, and Chris Evans has made our marketing department very happy this last couple of years by telling everyone all about it on the radio!.
     
  15. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    As I understand it you hire the operation out to a third party, so it would not impact on the GWR , do race go'ers arrive by car, or by coach, if by coach I dare say the coach firm could offer a Broadway option, but then I suppose having 8 coaches unloading in the station approach will create its own problems, but with careful handling it may be possible if there is somewhere else the coaches can park up after their passengers are off? away from the station ? .
     
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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  17. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    I'm pleased to report that the order has been given to construct the replica slate fireplace for the cafe. It's from the source pointed out by a forum member.

    This was all made possible by a handful of kind donors from this forum :)

    The fireplace company sent us this progress report a few hours ago:

    New fireplace.jpg

    We're looking at the surround here, the bit people sponsored as 'the fireplace'. In fact there is also a grate, and a hearth which will also be covered by the money donated. We've still to make a final choice of the grate, but should be able to find something that resembles the original (which is no longer available). We have also ordered a slate hearth, the piece of floor that goes in front. Finally there is a pressed steel fender to go on top of that, and this will be an original found buried on site. We've just had it shotblasted, so that is on its way too.

    The rest of the cafe is making progress too, albeit more slowly. The lighting has been fitted, and the interior part painted. Counter and kitchen are still to go.
    The little pop up cafe on the platform during the gala showed over 3 days that the demand is there, so we are now all on side.
     
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  18. Gloucester Boy

    Gloucester Boy New Member

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    Yes, I believe they took over £500
     
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  19. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    I think it was nearer £400 a day, just with tea and coffee from an urn. The staff need a certificate to handle food, that's one of the reasons for the slow opening of the cafe.

    The wainscoting was being undercoated today (in a rather lurid shade of green, the topcoat should be a matt olive colour) and it was pleasing to see the lights were now up.

    What sort of lights to choose? Broadway never had a cafe, and probably had oil lamps for most of the rooms. We went for something that was plausibly gas lit (and not too expensive, budgets are an issue at the moment) so here is what it looks like now:

    IMG_20180608_095228033 comp.jpg

    The electrician insisted on the emergency lights, so I guess there is nothing we can do about these. But the 'gas lit' ones look quite good, nice colour too.

    The frame at the back is part of the modesty screen outside the kitchen.

    A small detail added today was the second part of the door plates on the booking office and refreshment room doors.

    IMG_20180608_111856089 comp.jpg

    It's the word 'ROOM' on the right. Unbeknownst to your scribe the double doors to the booking office and refreshment rooms were ordered narrower than a normal GWR station. So special reproduction 'BOOKING OFFICE' door plates, sourced at some expense, wouldn't fit on the day. Surprise !

    What now? It was decided to split the word into BOOKING and OFFICE. That would fit. Back to the foundry, can we have it split into two equal halves? BOOKING and OFFICE duly came back (we thank Procast for their patience and kindness) but OFFICE wouldn't fit - we forgot the doorknob!

    REFRESHMENTS was too many letters for one (narrow) door plate, so we went for REFRESHMENT and ROOM. The ROOM had the same problem, so back to the foundry for a smaller plate.

    Today we fitted the smaller OFFICE and ROOM plates. With room for the doorknob :). It's a bumpy road to a heritage station!
     
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  20. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    To be fair, if the original Broadway station had survived, it might well have acquired such lights by now.
     

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