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Station Report |
June
2007
The last station report was delivered
in December 2005, just less than 18 months ago. As a result, there is quite a
lot on which to report.
Dave
Shackleford (“Shak”)
I have again to report on the loss a
Friend of the station in this report. Dave’s passing on the night of 29th/30th
October 2006 was not expected and many were shocked by its suddenness; the last
time that I spoke to him was less than two weeks before his death.
Dave began on the SVR in the early
days; I can certainly remember him during my first incarnation on the railway,
back in 1971, as a rookie TTI. He worked alongside the stalwarts of those days,
including his good friend Colin May, and was involved in the early restoration
of Arley Station in advance of the opening south from Hampton Loade.
Dave was a real character; one never
quite knew when he was going to turn up. He always enjoyed his visits to
Hampton Loade, appreciating the quiet surroundings of the station and the
company of like-minded people. He often shared his knowledge of, and enthusiasm
for, railways with members of the station staff. It has to be said that this
was so much so that it was easy to become embroiled in a conversation with Dave
to the exclusion of jobs which needed to be done! Most of all, Shak liked an
argument. Not, that is, a verbal punch-up, but a genuine disagreement about
some subject of mutual interest. As an example, I remember talking to him about
the 
Lewes
and Uckfield line (Dave’s interest in railways covered just about any corner of
the
Dave enjoyed many away-days to other
preserved railways, relishing the comparison with SVR. His other major interest
was farm machinery; this is how he came to be the SVR’s tractor driver. He
completed many jobs for Hampton Loade with this machine, most of which would
have been impossible (or at least very difficult) without it. He made a major
contribution to the completion of the long-running spear fence job on the Down
side drive, not only digging holes but helping place panels and secure their
correct alignment. Shak had no close family members and was characteristically
self-effacing and laconic regarding his own popularity: “there won’t be anybody
at my
funeral”. There was standing room only in the chapel at Stourbridge Crematorium
on 8th December.
Yours
truly makes authentic train noises (with the aid of a plastic tumbler) while
Shak
(on
the Northampton and Lamport Railway) discusses the need for fewer cycle paths
on preserved railways
Annual General Meeting and Staff
Accommodation
The AGM took place on April 15th last,
rather earlier than in recent years given pressing matters which needed airing.
The serving Committee was again re-elected unopposed.
The
issue of replacement staff accommodation was foremost in everyone’s mind given
the recent request by the GW(SVR) Association to transport 2426 to secure
accommodation elsewhere on the railway. (The latter Association is the current
owner of 2426 and not the SVR Rolling Stock Trust as I incorrectly reported in
the last issue). It has subsequently become clear that we will not be allowed a
replacement vehicle. Instead, there is a suggestion that some form of permanent
accommodation is desirable. Discussion between your Committee and
representatives of the SVR Board and the SVRA is in progress to establish
exactly what form this might take. At present the most likely (and only
realistic) location for a permanent structure is at the top of the bank just
opposite the Fruit D. The SVR(G) (operating) Company have offered a grant of
£10 000 towards its construction and the long-awaited upgrade of the
electricity supply on the Up side of the station.
Platform 1
Trees
scheduled for removal were taken down over the period April 16th to
17th and the site cleared by Steve Doc, Michael Ordway and Lee
Whittaker. There is now a huge pile of aromatic logs stored next to the
workshop, one that should keep the fires stoked for some months to come (and
one that should reduce our coal bill). Most agree that the change in appearance
has been for the better. More light will be able to reach the gardens, less
water will be abstracted by trees and, hopefully, we will see the benefits this
summer. While on the subject of
the gardens I would like to say “welcome” to new member Peter Field whom some
of you met on the occasion of the staff on-train meal last January. He has
agreed to take on the maintenance of the two northern-most beds on platform 1.
Peter works in a garden centre and is able to obtain plants at very reasonable
rates. Now that the trees have gone he has begun work to improve this area; we all
look forward to seeing the full results during the summer.
The
spear wicket gate at the north end of platform 1 has been installed since the
last report but we still await the additional short piece of curved spear
fencing required to fill in the gap between gate post and the rest of the
fence. With reference to this last item, my last report stated (and remember,
this was written 18 months ago): “As for
the infill piece, a pattern is first required before it can be fabricated.
Maybe I will be reporting on its completion in these notes in the next issue
(but, then again, maybe not)”. OK, “not” then. (So much for wishful
thinking).
Platform
2
Part of the wooden fence near the
Ladies’ toilet has recently been replaced. The toilet interior has begun a makeover
that will take another six months or so to complete. Andy Clarke has inserted a
false ceiling and Lee Whittaker’s father has carried out temporary repairs to
the plumbing (at zero labour cost, it should be pointed out, for which we are
very grateful). This will tide us over the summer period; the intention is to
replace the entire interior at the end of the main operating season, including
the dreadful strip lighting. We were recently granted a contribution of £2000
for this work from the SVR(G) Board; the balance will be paid by the Station
Fund.
The fence between the Refreshment
Kiosk and the Fruit D suffered a “vehicle strike” sometime during May and will
need to be replaced. While this work is being done the opportunity will be
taken to replace other life expired fencing on this side of the station. As
before this will be put out to contract.
Other
Jobs
Several
platform benches have been stripped down and repaired over the winter period so
that all benches on the platforms are in at least reasonable condition. Two of
the shorter types have recently been transferred to the Paddock Railway area.
In addition, two new tables have recently been delivered to the picnic area.
(They were originally delivered to the opposite side of the River, courtesy of
“SatNav” in the delivery lorry; a phone call by the driver to yours truly was
necessary to obtain verbal directions!)
Five
years ago the corrugated hut from Kingham (Oxfordshire) was transported to Hampton
Loade. The Committee finally agreed to have it sited just north of the
Parklines building and to contract the Friends of Kidderminster Station to
complete the cladding. The first steps to installation were taken on Saturday
14th April when lifting gear was hired to prepare the site. This
involved tidying up the area outside the Parklines building, lifting the
corrugated covering for the hut from behind the cycle path fence, levelling the
ground and cutting and moving the timbers for the base. We should thus see
completion sometime during the coming season.
The
external state of the signal box is giving cause for concern. It was last
painted by a contractor (Jeremy Cooper) around seven years ago. At this time
the Station Fund paid for the work. However, the days when the Fund is indeed
able to fund such peripheral activities are over. As a result, we await the
response of the Company to a request for alternative sources of funding with a
view to arranging for a contractor to complete the work.
Grumbles
The state of the barrow crossing has
also been a cause for concern. Des Shorto suffered a nasty fall here on the
last day of 2006. This necessitated a full accident report to Bewdley Office.
The plan, according to Chief Engineer Phil Sowden, is to replace the crossing
once the permanent way underneath has been given attention. At present, there
is no indication of when this might be (and, in fact, I was reflecting on this
very point 18 months ago!) We sincerely hope, however, that we do not have to
face another winter with the current uneven crossing and the risks it will pose
to those using it.
And Finally…The
Signal box lamp (the one at the top of the steps) referred to in my last notes
was, rather like the mousses’ head in one episode of “
Richard
June 2007