Cables Galore

Tuesday 10th Jan

Before work can start on the foundations for the new Visitor Centre at Winchcombe now that the wooden structure has been dismantled, S&T have to remove and re-route various cables which have been lying in troughing round both sides of the site. So where do we start? Good job we've got the  electrician with us who knows what's what!

We started just station side of the signal box and worked our way up behind platform 1 by removing all the concrete troughing covers and then attacked the platform and grassy sward:

      

  

Some cables have been removed completely and will be re-configured . It's amazing just how much mud and muck gets into this troughing - in places the cables are completely buried . We had to remove all the covers up to the station building to lift the cables because they could not be pulled through. The feeds to two of the lamp posts on the platform have been removed prior to re-positioning:

 

35 troughs and covers were dug out and will now be used for the re-cabling of the re-positioned pointwork motors and signalling up towards Greet Tunnel (about 70 more will be required so we shall bring some back from the ones currently stored on platform 2 at Broadway). Here's the pile taking shape with Keith L keeping fit in Winchcombe yard

One length of 30 pair cable was removed , approx 50 yards long, and dragged down the yard for cutting up by the skip. It took 3 of us to pull it. Malcolm led the procession with 2 more of us behind the camera.  It was decided to scrap this because there was significant damage to the armoured  cover.

 

And finally back in the "Workshop" an update on the progress of the wooden signal arm for Broadway, only a bit of white gloss to go now:

The frosted glass panel in the background is part  of the Route Indicator Signal destined for Broadway. It sits in front of the lamp case to diffuse the light. 

Curly

PS While all this was going on Malcolm W and Richard C went off to Cheltenham RC to fit a new signal arm and undercoat the ladder of Starter Signal 22  -  will need another visit to complete. No picture I'm afraid.