Having seizures at Broadway

 Tuesday 1st July

Our second visit to  Broadway today to sort out a few problems with the point rodding and it's associated connections. Last week we visited the signal box to check the operation of the point levers to make sure that they were functional.

This revealed some problems. A seized pivot on the exit from the tunnel under platform 2 and a seized compensator halfway up platform 2. 

So the team leaping into action today ready with the ladder to descend to track level once the first engine has run round:

Here's the replacement crank ready to go. We haven't managed to unseize the seized one yet. Although this had been oiled when installed, all the years that it hadn't been moved and being open to the elements contributed to its seizure!

Very awkward getting it to fit in between all the other cranks - John P having to crawl into the tunnel and attempt to get the nuts and spanner on underneath the steel plate:

There are four temperature  compensators in the rodding runs to the siding points and headshunt points at the north end, they are set on steel plates in pairs:

One of these is seized solid and won't move so needs disconnecting and taken back to the workshop for dismantling.

Also there is a problem with the rodding length here, so once we have re-fitted the compensator we will solve this

Got it in the barrow for wheeling back up the platform.

Back at the workshop we failed to free the seized arm - will need a good soak with release oil before we try again next week

Hwever we have a spare one so will that will be fitted instead.

Work also continues with the restoration of the parts now dismantled from the Gotherington up distant signal - here's its finial is having the old paint removed

We're never short of signal parts to clean and paint!

Curly