Chappel News Review of 2020

 

Chappel News Review of 2020

Just what has been achieved at the museum this year? The answer is quite a lot between lockdowns, as an unintentionally given active members a break from staging events. Much has progressed, the best examples being Miniature railway, Running Shed and N7 Suburban tank locomotive.  

 AGM Notice, Report and Accounts -  to year ended 30 September 2019

AGM documents

Chappel Newsletters

Museum AGM advanced notice [on Zoom 9th January 2021]	CN83 27 10 20
A picture that could say a thousand words	CN83 27 10 20
Carry on : Carrying on  Museum opening times	CN83 27 10 20
Donation of railway carriage prints	CN83 27 10 20
FUND RAISING SCHEMES	CN83 27 10 20
London Suburban tank in N7 locomotive	CN83 27 10 20
Museum Objects:  Furlough tickets	CN83 27 10 20
October 2020 workshop round up	CN83 27 10 20
Rapid progress in building the Running shed	CN83 27 10 20
The View from space Quiz!	CN83 27 10 20
Waste disposal is costing the museum money.!	CN83 27 10 20
Web based museum reporting:	CN83 27 10 20
August 2020 Chairman's statement	CN82 24 08 20
August Photo Miscellany	CN82 24 08 20
Building developments, steel skeletons and plans	CN82 24 08 20
Front of house news from Neil Temlett	CN82 24 08 20
Fund Raising schemes	CN82 24 08 20
Halstead developments [modelling in MRC public access room]	CN82 24 08 20
Photographic Charter 15th August / 30742 Charters	CN82 24 08 20
Restoration of N7 locomotive [starting the boiler lift]	CN82 24 08 20
Longer term thinking - Exhibition Hall	CN81 16 07 20
I-spy with my little eye	CN81 16 07 20
Covid lockdown 1 - eases / Furlough Planning Decision due / digest of small improvements	CN81 16 07 20
Wickham Bishops model railway model	CN80 17 05 20
EARM Photos and Quiz pages (Whatsapp group)	CN80 17 05 20
Engines of War at Chappel (photo feature)	CN80 17 05 20
Jubilee's Cambridgeshire hide-away and its vintage coach partner	CN80 17 05 20
September Beer Festival (discussion about go/no go decision)	CN80 17 05 20
Museum finances and Essex Lottery for good causes	CN80 17 05 20
Volunteers input during general site closure (Covid19 virus shutdown)	CN80 17 05 20
Curators update - Wickham bishops Trestle bridge layout - 8 boxes of Takeley station archive - New Local Lines display boards due soon	SVS168 Spring 2020
Dept. of Model railways - Open members night Mondays, but also on Thursdays	SVS168 Spring 2020
Detailed explanation of DRB restoration - Peter Martin - AEc220LX engine, Electrical problems, Body Corrosion, Monocoque construction	SVS168 Spring 2020
Drewry Gardner 838/230 "WD loco" (WD72229) purchased by the museum - History of its use and deployments - Isaac Ferneyhough	SVS168 Spring 2020
Estates - Platform 2 café toilets upgrade to an accessible facility - Car Park groundworks	SVS168 Spring 2020
Farewell to second generation DMUs in East Anglia - Marcus Teyus	SVS168 Spring 2020
Lamport works - Remove foundation ring send a way for new inner firebox - DMU body repairs and repaint	SVS168 Spring 2020
Marketing - revised logo for Marketing  Increase 26% attendances - Wear and tear on site - Catherine Harrison	SVS168 Spring 2020
Martin Gibbons - Volunteer News	SVS168 Spring 2020
Start of the Coronavirus pandemic - Editorial	SVS168 Spring 2020
The Future of Stour Valley steam - call for ideas = Editorial team [David Reeve and Darren Johnson]	SVS168 Spring 2020
Thompson bench - former Thorrington station bench restored	SVS168 Spring 2020
Thompson Green MR2 station construction - MR" loco shed, benches and power. Track cast in apron area for servicing	SVS168 Spring 2020
Updated and renumber extensions - VOIP Digital communications - Brian Mc Gennity	SVS168 Spring 2020
Engineering training at Chappel	CN 79 March 2020
Further notes on B12 locomotive donation - Clive Rey	CN 79 March 2020
P Way maintenance	CN 79 March 2020
Real Time Trains	CN 79 March 2020
Signalling course January 25th	CN 79 March 2020
The night the railway changed - 20/21st January 2020	CN 79 March 2020

Chappel Festive Cards 2020

 

Circumstances this year have been particularly strained; so while "Happy Christmas" is said, we are hoping for better to come. After lockdown there is another year to think about - which it is hoped better than restricted 2020. 

I offer some Chappel Festive Cards. Pictured are snowy scenes from 2017, as White Christmases may be a thing of the past. On the second "stamp" are images from 2013 of decorations in the Goods Shed. Thanks go to all those who contributed to the Mince Pie Specials, which have both given our visitors some cheer, volunteers their interest and our finances something useful to bank. 

 

Below is my personal interest Christmas Card to you too – featuring local artists of the Great Bardfield,  I have included some of their work with a railway theme.

Good Cheer, see you about at the museum

Regards

Phil

Reusing railway land and buildings

 

Reusing railway land and buildings 

This autumn has seen the destruction of the Marks Tey Goods Shed; since the commercial enterprises that had until recently found use for it ceased, this building was razed to the ground. It highlights the value of the museum's own shed, in a forthcoming Newsletter article these aspects shall be featured more fully.

Many Goods Sheds  have found other uses, often they are reused for industrial purposes, but also  conversions to Arts Centres, breweries, cinemas, car parks, craft markets, and housing to name a few. 

The story of railway buildings often resembles a roller coaster ride- of initial hope and aspiration in its construction, their use and over time often ends in decline, disuse and then either destruction or more happily repair and preservation. In a small way the museum helps a virtuous circle by securely holding the Railway National Heritage Awards competition entries, (featured in CN84 September 2018) for which we have received some funding for archive services.

Marks Tey's example is no longer standing, replaced by a car park extension. 

It is illustrated, starting with a photo from 1911 the unaltered shed is seen top left and below shown barriered off before destruction. (Mike Stanbury). It is highly recommended to read part of a Marks Tey village "Character Assessment" , this features the railway and shed, it was produced as part of a planning submission. 

www.marks-tey-history.co.uk/

Another local Goods Shed loss was  Wivenhoe Goods that was burnt to the ground, ending hopes of an Arts Centre conversion. It also was subject to a protracted argument about "delisting" Network Rail having to justify their preference not to repair the structure.

https://www.wivenhoehistory.org.uk/content/topics/places-buildings/wivenhoe-goods-shed

Turning towards positives, there are stories of regeneration too: 

The museum has an association with Mistley, and following Rob Boyce's excellent "Chappel Photographs" group on Facebook  -  reproduced is a photo of Mistley box being transported to site. Meanwhile back at its original location the station has recently been brought back to life - by opening up a hair saloon of character. A link follows to a November 2020 newspaper article.

Mistley Station

Witham Goods Shed donated many items and again the Chappel Photographs site has featured this in the past, bringing a story to date, Witham's window frames are being erected in the new Running Shed building.

Breaking news

Bishopsgate Goods Yard 

In recent days (December 2020) a very long standing planning row has been resolved. Bishopsgate Goods (the site of the original Eastern Counties Railway terminus in London) will be further re-developed.

A fire destroyed this site in 1964 and in the main it has been derelict for decades until the East London (EL) Overground line was built. A station box constructed for Shoreditch High Street station so development can take place above. Below is an image showing how the  "Braithwaite Arches" will be built into the design as they were listed, which caused a major cost over run and delay to the EL opening in 2010.

December 2020 goahead

Images from Bishopsgate site

These arches will be conserved and becoming a centre piece of the retail space offering. Finally another railway connection is made,  as the open space is referred to as the "High Line" . This is a reference to the successful East Side High Line regeneration project in New York, now regarded as an urban masterpiece. 

East Side High Line

Proposals have subsequently been made both at Peckham and Camden Town for similar schemes, progress as always relies on funding and the positive engagement of Network Rail to agree access and safety concerns. 

Working like Navvies along Platform 2

 

Over two weekends on the 14th /15th and 21^st/ 22nd of November, a call for action was answered by 32 members of the museum, and they did a great job and replacing sleepers along Platform 2. All were taking a rare opportunity authorised to work adjacent to the Network Rail line, as maintenance work was taking place on the Pitmore Viaduct over the River Stour beyond Bures, so blockading the line.

 Many of us could now appreciate a little more of what effort is required to work on the tracks, a tiny portion of the effort required by the original railway Navvies. Once signed in, and aware of safe practices to be followed advised by the Controller of Site Safety  Peter Robinson, the teams set to work.

 Our aim was to replace as many rotten sleepers as possible, using our own plant and with some hired-in tools. Museum P-Way leader Andrew Cullum on this occasion was required to self-isolate, however there will be many other occasions he may on hand to lead other teams.

The first action required was to  lift out both rails from each rail section. In all 10 rail lengths were taken out of the Platform 2 line, using the crane Jack Plumb, previously it was done with a crowbar and many people. Lifts were taken  under direction of Nick Proud the Slinger/Signaller, assisted with rail handling by Brian Sermons and Harry Brooks . Concentration is required when suspended loads were in involved and a range of hand signals exhibited, these subjects are  further explored in a separate posting “ the Rail Crane’s work-out “

 

Those not engaged  on specialist tasks, were to act within a Permanent Way gang. Much manual effort is required  to dig out “cribs”,  that is  the space between sleepers, then excavate further down to accommodate a new sleeper. These need  to be laid at a lower  level to avoid lifting and digging out again after placement. Excavation involved the  use of pickaxes, because old ballast is well compacted and bound together with dirt. Allan Robinson earning the reputation of the man with the golden shovel due to his high work rate

                                                                                                   Photo Phil Hubert (and edit)

Removing ballast also involved throwing stones, above your head, to platform level where it is then  placed in wheelbarrows and taken away to the spoil dump. Manhandling of sleepers from a stock pile to position and subsequent Ballast infilling is another task of the P Way gang. To  record all those who took part not dealing with specialisms noted elsewhere -  those contributed are name checked here…

P Way gang

Adam Baines,  Andy Craven,  Callum Roll,  Chris Yetman,  Ian Rushbrook,  Jenny Ball,  John Bicknell,  Lesley Pennell,  Linda Robinson,  Mark Cornell,  Paul Trowbridge,  Phil Hubert,  Phil Ainsley,  Phil Baines,  Robert Page,  Robert Varletta,  Robert West, and Vic Pitts.

                                                        Video still Peter Robinson

Wooden sleepers came from store in the set down area ,movement using the large military forklift,  removal of rotten sleepers and spoil  was done  in the main by Peter Martin. 

It was necessary to check suitability of the stock and required to fill the holes in the sleepers we received in the last supply and these plugged in the main by Matthew Cornell. I wonder if the local suppliers of broom handles were querying why customers asked for  48 then followed up by 36 more handles from the local Screwfix outlets 

Martin Gibbons loading spent sleepers onto the JCB for disposal

Meanwhile in the far south, in New Viaduct Siding, it was thought best to  replace timbers by craning off an old panel, and craning in a new assembled panel back.  Tim Rice operated our 360degree excavator, with Niall Thorogood and Bob Guest assisting in the removal of ballast.

This was done by lifting in and out the excavator into the trackbed.

                                                                      Photo Tim Rice

When new  sleepers are placed in the trackbed, they then have to be drilled and chair screws placed in position. Once gauge checked – they were screwed down, both these tasks eased by hiring in petrol driven plant. Packing ballast can then be done using the museum’s own “Cobratt” Tamper which compresses ballast at 1620 blows per minute. This team was led by Michael Sanders with Josh Fortescue as lead Track Ganger.

 It should be recorded that Bacon butties or rolls were offered by Leon and Amy from Platform 2 Cafe which were gratefully received and kept the gangs working.

 Peter Robinson has produced a YouTube video, using time-lapse photography edited down from 50 GB worth of data, you may view people running around,  as if they were ants or worker bees.  

https://youtu.be/3hpv5F--8_g

The end result is unfortunately almost an absence of any material change to just a casual by-stander ! But you may appreciate without safe track there can be no demonstration trains, and that is our  motivation. Our Museum chair Peter Martin gives thanks and writes:

 

“It must be said that we all deserve a pat on the back for everyone's efforts, where we have all achieved something more than others would have given their right arm for. As a team that have melded together to undertake what could be described as 'safety critical' work, we should pay tribute to all who have mucked in to do it in a safe fashion and are a credit to this Museum's standing. 

Credit where credit is due, it was a pleasure - nay an honour - to see it going on and be part of it. Wot a show. Let it be a lesson to others that WE can do it! 

We may be small fry in comparison to other bigger boys in the game, and perhaps we never make enough of what we do - but by 'eck, we just got on with it, so sing the song. Well done chaps”

The Rail Crane’s work-out

 

Purchased in 2012 the museum’s Plasser & Theurer rail crane has been very much in demand recently, over the recent P-Way possession in November, another 32 engine hours were clocked up including early starts at 0630 and working to darkness in the afternoon.  There has been more use in the last couple of years due to  P-way ,S&T work as well as erecting  steelwork for the Running Shed.

Crane drivers complete daily Fitness to Run inspections before use, those now qualified are Peter Martin, Jack Plumb, Peter Robinson. When working with others  a “Slinger/Signaller” is required, who looks out for the  safety of the load, persons in the vicinity, and whose hand signals  are quite complex. Representative examples (not to be taken as training material) are shown below:

 Essentially, the maximum 12 Tonne  Safe Weight Limit can only be achieved with the jib quite close to the crane. Can be extended further if the lift is over one end of the crane rather than at full slew. The maximum lifting radius is 13 meters which allows for the machine to pick up a maximum of 2.7 T over end, or 1T at full slew based on the maximum track Cant (super elevation of track) at Chappel of 100mm.

 

This means a 30ft rail can be raised, with the rail lifting beam, at any position within the cranes reach, and a longer  60ft rail with some limitations.

A photo of  the old New Viaduct Siding panel being craned out