DEVELOPMENT – TOP SHED EXTENSION (STEP 1.6)

Top shed extension (uploaded 13 October 2009)

This work is different from the current surge of development work, in that it is not externally funded, but funded from ticket revenue and members’ donations. It can only progress when lulls in the HoV funded development work conspire to release a body or two, or an hour or two. Despite these limitations, slow progress is being made, driven by the need to get more of our engines and carriages under cover – and the volunteers who have had to work exposed to the wind and rain. All railways have a requirement for decent accommodation. At 1200 feet up a mountainside it becomes imperative.

Left: The diagram of the left shows the situation when the Top Shed was first mooted. The original extent of the Top Shed is shown in grey. It was originally planned to extend the shed roughly northwards by some 88 feet, and this is shown in red. Examination of the component parts soon showed that it would be possible to extend the shed by another twelve feet, to bring the overall extension to 100 feet – this is shown in magenta. Since the original shed was 97 feet long, the extension will more than double the length of the shed. This is particularly useful. A BR Mark 1 coach is about 65feet long. Hitherto, on either of the two lines into the shed, it was possible to store only one such coach and perhaps a wagon or very small loco. It will soon be possible to squeeze in three coaches on each line. The various small grey structures represent ‘Portacabin City’. This was made up from the two loos, Eric’s Emporium, the model railway and the tearoom, together with the two occupied by Greenlight Training. These are shown in their original positions. There has since been a major shuffling around. The lavatories remain in their original position, but the Tearoom has been brought much closer to the passengers by being sited between the fence and the back of the extended Top Shed. The lavatories and Greenlight buildings remain in their same positions, but there are now three model railway cabins, which now form a horseshoe.

Although the number of images will increase shortly. We present just one to get this page started

Left: Although the shed will be extended backwards by about 100 feet, in order to even out the requirements for cash, the extension backwards will be undertaken in two chunks. Here the side wall stanchions are receiving attention. Three 1m cubes of concrete form the bases for each of the three stanchions. In order to maintain the same profile as the original shed the stanchions have had to be extended, and for this purpose three stubs (in red oxide paint) have been bolted into the concrete. The stanchions are bolted on top of the extension stubs, and the second one is seen been lifted into place using the Manitou all-terrain fork truck. In the back ground lies BR Mark 1 BCK No21034. This vehicle has seen some work, but has been ousted in favour of other more important jobs, and is now forced to wait its turn in the restoration queue 0379 – 11 Oct 09

Progress (uploaded 18 November 2009)

With fabrication, and in particular, welding, on the Hinckley footbridge made difficult by a prolonged spell of wet and windy weather throughout late October and early November, our small fabrication team turned their attention to the extension to the top shed. The need to get our coaching stock under cover, and the general shortage of facilities for working on rolling stock has made the top shed extension very desirable.

Looking south, and with three stanchions up, strong winds endangered the unsupported structures, so in a brief quiet period, the opportunity was taken to attach one of the cross trusses. Here the Manitou is at full stretch holding the truss in position on one of its forks 0415 – 18 Oct 09

A week later, and still looking south, the second span was up and the diagonal braces in position – and two more stanchions were ready to accept the third truss. 0473 – 29 Oct 09

We look generally north this time, another week has passed, and here we see that the side nearest the camera has received its cantrail. 0567 - 3 Nov 09

Four weeks after bolting in the first stanchion, the sheet rails are fitted across the trusses, ready to receive the roof sheets. On the west side, two sheet rails have also been fitted 0576 – 9 Nov 09

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