Category: Station News

Over the last couple of shifts work has progressed well on the prep work on the Lamp Hut, temporary lighting has been installed, interior cleared completely and frame supports installed to support the upper sections of the sides to enable the lower rotten sections to be removed once replacement timbers to sourced.

During the more detailed survey at the last shift it came apparent that a minimum of 900mm around the base of the hut will need to be replaced.  As the Vertical corners where examined it was interesting to see how many layers of paint the hut has had over the years!

Over the last couple of shifts focus has been on preparing the new timbers and setting the dowels to secure the timber to each other ready to bolt to the bracketry. After today’s shift, the display is almost complete, leaving just some cosmetic tasks to complete.

Work also commenced on the tidying up of the rear of the grounded coach which had become a bit of a dumping ground recently.

Tasks for the next shift will be to complete the hutch, paint the bench to be fitted on the retaining wall in front of the display and start work on the Lamp Hut.

As the big clear out of the Lamp Hut got underway, the rebuilding of the Mine Hutch on its display area recommenced the timber purchased over the weekend is a very close match thickness wise so more will be sourced to hopefully complete the build at the weekend, leaving just touch up paint work to be done.

Apart from the lower 600mm of the Lamp Hut the rest of the structure is in pretty good order the rotten sections at its base will be replaced with new sleeper sections that happen to be almost the same size as what the original timber bases were.

 

 

Due to the forgetfulness of the author, no work was done on the hutch display today, however, work did continue on the Lamp Hut renovation with a temporary door being fitted, replacing the the old and very tired panel. While the door was being constructed, the sander was brought into action and the second bench was sanded down to its bear wood and then coated with wood preserver. While the sander was out an old bench section was sanded down, which will be installed in front of the Clay Mine Hutch display in due to course.

Plans for the next shift will be to continue on the Lamp Hut Project – clearing out the inside and if time permits rubbing down the external cladding, and of course get the Hutch project back on track!

Work commenced  on the second of the three projects outlined at the beginning of the year and just before the pandemic restrictions where implemented, – The Lamp Hut renovation, which, over the years has seen the gradual deterioration of the lower framework and outer cladding. The first task to be performed will be the fitting of a secure temporary door to replace the nailed down panel that covered the entrance. Once this has been completed then a full assessment can take place and a plan of action drawn up. More to come over the following weeks on this project. Meanwhile work continued on the Clay Mine hutch display with the fitting of some of the ironwork bracketry and the repainting of the the metal protection plate. Unfortunately only four sections of the original timbers where in a condition to be saved so it is the intent to use these for the front / platform side of the hutch and hopefully these will be installed by the next shift.

Today saw a major milestone in the completion of the Fire Clay Mine Display on the embankment of Platform 1, with the help of D&J Hiab Services (not really D & J are the first name initials of the Birkhill team) the hutch base was carefully lifted up onto the purpose laid track and too the author’s surprise fitted nicely on the tracks first time (sorry Mr. W for ever doubting your measuring skills).

The next task is to complete a retaining wall at the rear of the posts followed by landscaping the sides and rear of the garden area, fitting decorative chains to the three posts, painting the metal plate of the hutch and fit the refurbished metal bracketry ready for the fitting of the sides and ends proper.

Today’s work focused on the recovery and installation of incline pully cable and roller guides (once rubbed down and painted) to the new display along the platform embankment depicting, albeit not on an incline, how the hutches would have been moved from the mine at the bottom of the gorge up to the processing plant.

The cleaning up of the hutch under carriage commenced too most of the time was spent wire brushing the metal work and applying rust inhibiting black paint. It is expected to have the hutch shell on the track by the end of the next shift leaving just the rebuild to complete.

We also had time to sample a cup of coffee out or new Birkhill Group Mugs!

 

Today the remaining work for the display foundation was completed along with the installation of the Interpretation boards explaining the process of taking mined clay up the old incline and into the processing plant. The second board explains the geology of the formation of clay in the area.

There are few additional tasks to complete before the display area is finished, which its hoped will be done this coming weekend, it is also the intention to make a start on the cleaning up of the hutch under carriage, if the weather allows.

 

Work continued on the Clay Mine Hutch Display area, focusing on the founds for the interpretation boards supports. A little of recycling has also taken place with the repurposing of the legs from the old oval waste bins which will be used to provide a chain backdrop.

Worked continued on the Clay Mine Hutch display area on the platform embankment. The 19.5 ” track has now been rubbed down with wire brushes and coated with oil hopefully will provide some form of protection going forward. The sleepers also got a coat of creocote just to finish off the look of the track bed.

The next couple of tasks for the next shift will be the cleaning of the under carriage of the hutch and the installation of a couple of interpretation boards.