The Watercress Line Building Dept

24th August 2009:

Some recent “little” jobs done by the building group.

Recently we were asked to refurbish most of the sign boards on M&4M station,

this also involved altering the size of the boards as they were considered to be too wide.

All four boards finally painted and drying in the afternoon sunshine.

Two boards finally refitted to the Booking office and ready to receive their new posters (Due in September)

The waiting room on the down platform with refurbished boards fitted plus 2 more refurbished boards on the trolley waiting for the train to take them to Ropley.

One more seat refurbished and ready for many more years of service.

30th June 2009:   The area around the Ropley footbridge has been tidied with sets of railings made by Dennis in the Building Dept workshop at M&4M
New gate built in-house has been installed at Blake's Crossing (named in memory of Arthur Blake) ...         ... and there's progress with the railings at the entrance gates to Ropley station forecourt       Photos (30th June 2009): Tony Wood
Photos (30th June 2009): Tony Wood

From: Ian George Sent: 09 June 2009 13:25   We have been continuing replacing the time-expired wooden fencing along the edge of the Ropley picnic area with new round top metal fencing built in the Medstead workshop. Help has come from the Ropley Wednesday Gang who have cleared the shrubbery along the line of the new fence. The job is now nearly complete.   Last Sunday the gang were working on the final section: the fencing and handrails on the steps at the country end of the picnic area.   Ian         Photo (7th June 2009): Ian George

2nd June 2009:   Jack and Dennis were erecting more of their fencing near the Ropley footbridge:

Photos and movies (2nd June 2009): Tony Wood

   

5th May 2009:

Movie  (1½MB, 5th May 2009) :  Paul Grey was fitting out the new disabled suite at Ropley platform 2.  The former facility off the booking hall has had partitions removed and will become a ladies' waiting room.  

Movie (5th May 2009): Tony Wood

29th April 2009:   The ground frame hut is being refurbished. Readers might like to see if they can spot the original bit of timber....? Photo and report (29th April 2009): Dave Tilbury

14th October 2008:               A new staff walkway between Ropley platform 2 and the loco yard is ready for the tarmac
	Bob was fitting new lamps at the Town end of Ropley platforms 1 and 2         Photos (14th October 2008): Tony Wood

From: Ian Davey Sent: 01 September 2008 Subject: Sunday 31st August Tony  Yesterday the Building Group erected a new sign at the country end of Alton station opposite the platform.  A similar sign will be erected near Alresford with the word 'APPROACHING' changed to 'ENTERING'. Ian     Photos (31st August 2008): Ian Davey

22nd July 2008:     Contractors surfaced the new Ropley down platform extension this morning     Photo (22nd July 2008): Tony Wood

From: Ian George On Sunday 15th June 2008 the Building Dept gang completed the installation of the three ex-Gomshall station gates across the entrance to Ropley site.  The gang dug out the hole then concreted in the small post which will secure the small pedestrian gate. Meanwhile Dennis welded on the substantial locking bar between the two main gates.After a trial fit of the padlock the gates were declared ready for use.   The gates attracted much favorable comment from visitors who were interested to know their origins. In particular we were asked whether these were original Ropley gates we were re-installing or whether they had been specially made for our site entrance. Given that our aim with any new feature is for it to blend in as if it had always been there these were very pleasing comments. We think they look really good - but then, we're biased.  Ian

Photos (15th June 2008): Ian George

Ian George writes: On Sunday (20th April 2008) the newly-restored stove was delivered to Ropley signalbox. It took some serious manhandling up the stairs. That's Dennis manoeuvring it into final position under the watchful eye of the duty signalman. Notice that they've got their coal scuttle ready but they'll have to wait a little longer before lighting up, until we can fit that top section of stovepipe through the roof.  At Medstead, Paul has been working on restoring the phone box on the station forecourt. Paul is working on one of the interior panels, carefully re-installing the chrome surrounds that hold the numerous notices and instructions that were a feature of these boxes. Meanwhile in the box itself a black mastic waterproof base covering has been applied and a mix of new floor screed prepared ready for laying. At some stage the box will have a repaint. I don't fancy the job of painting around all those windows!
	Report and photos (20th April 2008): Ian George

23rd March 2008:   New lattice Ropley Distant signal post under construction in the Green Shed. It will be riveted, as were the originals       Photos (23rd March 2008):  Tony Wood

On Thursday, 8th May 2008 in the Building Dept workshop at Medstead, Dennis and Jack had resumed work on the new signal post lattices. The two sections of each lattice have been held with nuts and bolts, now being replaced by rivets.  After a few trials to select the best length of rivet (determines the final size of the rivet head) they set to work.  In this photo the rivet is sitting in the bottom former and Dennis is heating it with the gas torch. Jack then grabs the gas torch off Dennis, Dennis places the top former over the hot rivet and hammers it into shape. Speed and co-ordination were of the essence; you can tell this pair have worked together for many years. Result: a perfectly formed rivet.  The next stage is to bring the old signal post into the workshop to begin taking out the wasted sections of old lattice ready for replacing it with these new sections.    Dennis, as a matter of interest, is trying to find out how these lattices were originally bent to shape - were they all individually shaped as he has done with these or did the original builders use some kind of jig or formers when they were mass-producing them? Does anyone have any info?  Ian George   Two photos (8th May 2008):  Ian George

20th March 2008:   The stove is from the new Ropley signal box and was brought to the Medstead workshop in bits with many parts missing or broken. It has been rebuilt by Dennis and Jack. The new white firebricks shown being fitted were cast by Mark using moulds he made from the original broken bricks.We had quite a job working out which broken piece fitted where. Now repainted, the stove is almost ready for re-installing.

Peter is putting the finishing touches to the largest of ten new signs of various sizes that have been built in the workshop by Peter and Guy. (We have promised anonymity to the person who asked where the large sign was going to be erected!) In the background is a batch of newly completed fence posts ready to go to Alton for the start of the new platform fencing project. Judging by the number of posts Dennis has knocked out so far, we will be spending an awful lot of time at Alton this summer !      Report and photos (20th March 2008): Ian George

4th March 2008:  

Dennis Grace was cutting the concrete from the (ex-Gomshall) gateposts to prepare them for installation at Ropley and Jack Stanford was painting the gates with undercoat:   Movie  (3.3MB, 4th March 2008): Tony Wood

 P-Way latest news    
   
Loco Shed news    

2nd March 2008:   Ian George reports:   The removal of the old signal box at Ropley has allowed work to commence on the completion of the London end of the down platform. The working area starts at the foot of the new signal box steps and runs for approximately 50 feet.   Although not as lengthy a stretch as the recently completed extension to the up platform the work on the downplatform is made difficult by the restricted working area between the track and the wheeldrop shed. The signal pulleys and wires for the London end of the station also run through the site. A safe walking route is required for token exchange by the signalman.    Work so far has consisted of excavating and concreting the foundations and construction of part of the blockwork for the platform face (to be faced with brick.)
The paving area outside the new Ropley shop was laid by Paul and Reg (the Bognor Boys) assisted by Chris and Peter. A new wall screens the oil tank for the central heating now installed in the station house.The two new seats are from a batch made in the Medstead workshop by Peter and Alan: every station has received at least one of the new seats - a lift to the appearance of platform furniture.      That's John replacing life expired boards on the footcrossing at the country end of Ropley last Sunday - one of the little jobs which last all day - at least it didn't rain and we had a good view of the trains.
Photos (2nd March2008): Ian George

13th February 2008:   Station gates at Gomshall station donated to MHR, dismantled and brought back to Medstead for restoration. There are two large ornamental gates and a smaller pedestrian gate, all hung from substantial cast iron pillars. Den in action at Gomshall "loosening" the hinges ready for the gates to be lifted off the posts For their age they are in remarkably good condition. At Medstead workshops ready for clearing the old concrete from the bases of the posts, repairing the small areas of damage to the metalwork of the gates and re-forming the hinges.It will also include a repaint from the 'tasteful' shade of purple!
	At Medstead workshops ready for clearing the old concrete from the bases of the posts, repairing the small areas of damage to the metalwork of the gates, and re-forming the hinges. Also a repaint from the 'tasteful' shade of purple! Once restored they will be installed at the entrance to Ropley station.
Peter with the platform clock from Aldershot station, again donated to the railway and brought back to the Medstead workshops for restoration. It's a splendid example of a typical double-faced platform clock. The date on it is 1937.   Work so far has been to remove the mechanism and two clock faces for repair, and cleaning the wooden case of generations of pigeon poo . So far we haven't managed to find a canopy on the railway with sufficient height clearance for us to relocate the clock so it will probably go safely into store pending future developments. We have a cunning plan!   Photos and report (13th February 2008): Ian George The gates were kindly donated by Network Rail and First Great Western, and the clock by Network Rail and South West Trains.  Removal of the gates (and installation of modern replacement as part of the agreement at Gomshall) was carried out by Hackwood Building Services

5th October 2006:     Roller door fitted at the wheeldrop end of the shed           Photo (5th October 2006):  Tony Wood
	1st August 2006:   Builders were taking down the scaffolding See also   Photo (1st August 2006):  Tony Wood
23rd July 2006:     The 'country' end of the wheeldrop shed at Ropley           Photo (23rd July 2006): Alec McCloskey
You can just see the 'Town' end of the wheeldrop shed at Ropley MPD through the steam from Duke of Gloucester   Photo (in the morning of 23rd July 2006): Robin Silman

12th July 2006:   New toilet facilities under construction at Alton
	Photos (12th July 2006): Simon Wiseman (MHR Alton statin staff)

12th July 2006:       Ropley wheeldrop shed
Ropley 'up' platform extension         Photos (12th July 2006):  Tony Wood

Ropley 'up' platform (Town end) extension on 4th April 2006, 23rd March 2006 10th February 2006 24th January 2006 17th January 2006 Five photos: Tony Wood

1st March 2004:   'ere. You got it wrong on the Web that the Ropley fence is finished: said Dennis. We've got more to put in yet. There's another lot of posts due back from galvanising I like these little pineapples you're welding on, Dennis They're not pineapples, they're pine cones. I reckon they finish the job off nicely.
	Dennis Grace shows how the fence panels are constructed Photos (1st March 2004): Tony Wood

.

26th January 2004:   Work proceeds on the extension of Ropley Up platform See also
	Photos (25th January 2004): Tony Gillett

(Jack Stanford writes:)

From the inception of the Mid-Hants Railway the Building Department was without a workshop, carrying out most of the construction and repair work in the open, or in Medstead and Four Marks station goods shed. They now have a "Brand New" workshop which will make their work more enjoyable and efficient. This "Brand New" workshop is a good example of 'Preservation and Restoration' as it started life as a grain store in Alresford station car park, where it had stood for many years. In 1989 Winchester City Council took over the car park and brought it up to its present day condition. So the grain store had to go.

The building was demolished by the building group (a contradiction of terms) in 1990 and taken to Butts Junction where it was stored alongside the track awaiting possible further use. In October 1997 the sections required for the "New Building" were recovered from the undergrowth and, after stripping down to the bare frames, sent for shot blasting etc. Meanwhile a site was being prepared in the old goods yard at Medstead. A new wall was built around the site, footings prepared and concrete (15 cubic metres) poured ready for building work to commence. All the concrete was mixed by hand.

A 3-foot sleeper wall was built to give extra height inside the building, after which the framework was erected. The frame and roof trusses were erected without the use of a crane, only man (and woman) power being used. The outside of the building was clad using secondhand corrugated iron sheeting. The roof was clad using new asbestos replacement sheeting with translucent panels for extra light. The interior was lined, again using secondhand materials (which were free) the electrics installed together with a "tortoise" stove. The building was painted inside and out and the fencing completed. It is now in full use.

With the exception of the digging out of the footings (which in places are 8 feet deep) the whole project was carried out by volunteers under the direction of Mark Walden the Building Group Manager. The building is a tribute to their enthusiasm.

Grain store in Alresford station car park
	...Butts Junction where it was stored alongside the track ...
.. a site was being prepared ..	3-foot sleeper wall was built to give extra height
	It is now in full use     Photos: Jack Stanford