RN 246 - Thanks to Sir Colin Flugel - by Kerry Young

14th September 2006

Ah yes indeed. My camera threw a sickie and is presently in the camera hospital where they are determining whether the sickness is terminal. Such being the case, Sir Colin stepped into the breech in the pixel picture department and I have just returned from collecting his pictures for this issue. (The pictures were transferred to a jump drive, thereby retaining them at full size.) So, what have we got? Let's see................

Well this week was concrete foundation week. The morning was devoted to final trimming and securing of the boxing. On this site, we will have four containers for secure storage. Seen here, the crew are almost finished the preparations. You know them all, but for the record from L. to R. we have, Yours truly, Graham Inwood, Jolly Roger, Ray Shearman, (not driving anything at the time) and Pete Soundy. The shovels are being leaned on in the time honoured tradition.

You will note that we are never short of a topic for discussion.

The beginning of the pour.

Sir Colin and Jolly Roger beginning the screeding.

Now for something from the efforts of the Saturday team. They have been at Firestone Tyres, recovering trackwork from a disused railway siding. The forklift makes uplifting the tracks a simple matter.

When lifted thus, a large portion of the dirt and shingle comes away. What these pictures don't show, is the work that has been done to prepare for this to happen. Undoing tracks like this is quite a labour intensive job to get to this stage.

Today, the first of the track sets arrived on site.

So easy these days. Just over two tons each these sets. Andys Castle Rock makes its appearance too. These sets are destined for the continuation of the Valley Line. Does this make you happy Peter? (Jenkinson.)

In a totally different vein;

Our Colin was with other members who went to look for artefacts out at Oxford and as it happened, attention was drawn to this early Clerestoried 'A' carriage. Quite unusual in that it was both first and second class and very short. 47 ft. did you say Colin?

Very sadly, beyond redemption.

You only have to look inside and it becomes obvious that decay is the master. What a real pity! It was written off in 1954, so the elements have had time to do their damage. Colin thought it dated from 1887 or thereabouts. Almost qualifies to go on the heritage train.

Wherever you look, the Dragon Decay has taken its toll. Leaves you feeling depressed doesn't it? The shaping of the timber there is crying out for preservation and how good it would look when finished! (They don't build them like that any more :-( ! )

So there you have it for another week. Again my thanks to Colin for making his pictures available and very interesting they were too. It's good to get out and about, to see aspects other than the workshop and restoration. Till next week it's so long from me.

Cheers, 'K'.