At last the bracket signal has arrived at Broadway! Sound the trumpets!
Firstly a reminder of where it is going
- on these 4 studs on the concrete block adjacent to the South end points.
This is probably the last "new" signal that will be erected on the GWSR
Not without its problems - bit of a worrying moment trying to get the Vic Haines lorry reversing up the ramp from the entrance to the car park but having turned round it shot up the loose ballast on full power
And made it to the top without further incident
The plan is then to lift off the main post and lower it horizontally to the ground
Then to re-fit the two dolls. These are manageable with a two man lift to "wriggle" them back into their clamps and bolt up. securely
Now to re-sling the assembly to lift it vertically.
Luckily this hiab has got a phenomenal lift height. So taking things slowly it was manoeuvred to a vertical position
And positioned onto the four studs. It fits beautifully (the wooden template used to set the studs in the concrete some weeks ago did its job well!)
Each stud already has a nut fitted underneath the baseplate so that fine tuning to get the post absolutely vertical can be achieved - just needed a few tweaks.
The assembly that holds the four pulleys to direct the signal wires vertically has to be fitted at this stage for final bolting - this fits over two of the studs on top of the baseplate
So here we are all secure and vertical - just a matter of retrieving the two slings from up on high- out with the ladders
Job done in just over an hour. Roll of honour goes to Vic Haines' driver, Neil C, Andy, George B, Malcolm W and yours truly behind the lens.
Scaffolding required next!
Curly
Looking good - although I'm curious. Why is the left-hand doll not at the end of the bracket like it should be?
ReplyDeleteDon't know where the bracket originally came from but we have used it as is.
ReplyDeleteSaved a lot of reconfiguration and drilling. Doesn't look too bad! Will reserve my final judgement for when it is fully "dressed"!
Wonderful to see the bracket fitted at Broadway. Your comment about it being the last new signal may be pre-emptive if the extension to Honeybourne comes to fruition, but will any of us be alive then to see it?
ReplyDeleteRegards, Paul.
Could the bracket signal at the south end of platform 2 not have been used here (replacing it with a simpler single post there) or is there still the possibility of an extended loop line down to Childswickham bridge as was the original intention?
ReplyDeleteRichard
The original intention for the bracket was to control a loop. We live in hope that this may happen in future, who knows?!
ReplyDeleteLovely signal and good job. It feels unlikely the loop will happen anytime soon especially with the new signal sat in the middle of the track bed.
ReplyDeleteThat does rather put the kibosh on it!
DeleteIt would be replaced with a gantry if that ever happened. Now that would be a sight!
DeletePresumably if the extended loop were given the go-ahead then S&T would be happy to reposition the bracket signal a few feet NW. Is there still an issue with the embankment stability though?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know, but it looks pretty substantial up top with plenty of room for another track. It was also substantially soil nailed which should assure its stability.
DeleteNow that would be an excellent and unique addition to the railway infrastructure - almost worth doing the loop just to get the gantry!
ReplyDelete