27th June 2010

Blimey its hot! Two wonderful sunny, hot days. Our level crossing has been getting worse with regards an even surface so we have got round to doing something about it. This was helped by the delivery by the PW Dept of a grampus full of loco ash for us to deal with. So it was out with the big diamond bladed cutter to cut out the poor tarmac so we could replace it with ash. To use the ash we first had to empty the wagon so, with the signalmans co-operation, the wagon was brought nearer the crossing, by hand, and unloaded onto the lineside. It doesn’t take long with Mark, Brian, Stephen, Scots Andy and Simon ‘shovelling for England’. The old tarmac is not wasted though, it will be used to fill in potholes and improve the hardstanding near the station. The crossing is now level again and cars don’t bounce and grind over it. Long term the crossing requires replacing but this will keep it trip free for a while longer.
Elsewhere, the Palvan end has received its second top coat, the side has had a second primer and the Exhibition van is now also in topcoat and looks very smart.
We have been given some primula plants and these have been planted in our lineside tubs. Although they have finished for this year, next year they should be fine.
We now have some further road pins in new orange paint and very smart they look.