Week ending 6th February

Monday - first job of the week was to take the railcar to Cheltenham Racecourse. Two new speed signs were erected on the approach to the station, and a replacement bulb fitted to T22, the outer home. On the return journey, the remaining speed signs were erected at Gotherington.

During the afternoon time was spent at Toddington 'box filing/drilling and fitting the remaining new tray lids to the new locking tray.

Tuesday - After the p/way team had replaced the point work at the site of the old south ground frame with plain rail, we moved in with our trusty old rail drill to renew the track circuit bonding wires. For a change this went well with only one broken drill bit. Once complete our attention turned to the fitting of two six foot long concrete blocks to the base of signal post T2 which was lying on the ballast.

After lunch, more bonding wires were drilled and fitted from signal T32 on the south side of the viaduct, across the viaduct to the distant signal on the north side. Barring any more work by the p/way team, this now completes all the track circuit bonding from Cheltenham Racecourse through to the distant north of Toddington.

Now that the route indicator signal has been taken out of use (replaced by bracket signal), the redundant cables and concrete troughing were removed from site for use elsewhere. While this was being done, Neil Carr completed the wiring up of the bracket signal.

Wednesday - work at Toddington continued under the 'box, with Malcolm and Richard Collier putting some finishing touches / adjustments to various guide bars and electric locks. A signal wire for dummy signal T31 at the bracket was jointed into the 'box and a support leg for T5 wire adjuster was cut and fitted into place. Late in the afternoon a small problem was found with the electric locking of signal T21, - first job for tomorrow.

Thursday - back at Toddington 'box to rectify problem mentioned above. Once sorted, the bottom bars in 'A' & 'B' channels of the old locking tray were fitted with the help of John Simms.

Friday - Toddington, and with the JCB and its trusty driver Steve at our disposal, the post for signal T2 was planted a number of track panels south of where the south ground frame originally stood. In good time there will also be a dummy signal sited here once p/way have installed the new points for entry to the yard and siding 1.

Week ending 13 February

Monday - due to p/way having severed the running line at Toddington, a collection of tools and fittings were transported from Winchcombe to Toddington by road. An extension plate was made and fitted for signal T1 lever lock/contact box.

Tuesday - scaffold tower erected around new signal post T2 in readiness for fitting out. As the railcar was trapped in the yard because of p/way work, the various fittings were transported to site via John P's 4x4. Although a bitterly cold and windy day, all fittings were attached by lunchtime and the scaffold removed. After a late lunch and warm through in the 'box, a hole 4' x5' x 15" deep was hand dug opposite signal T2 and two 3' concrete blocks buried. A large steel plate was then bolted to the blocks and a double wheel mounted on top. This then allows the two signal wires to turn thru' 90 deg. and under the track to the signal post. The vertical wheel under the 'box was also fitted. While waiting for the kettle to boil for the last time today, the glass front of the track/signal diagram was removed to allow an updated version to be painted.

Wednesday - Toddington - the signal wire that originally served running disc T1 was extended and jointed to the new T2. (7 time-consuming joints).

Thursday - Toddington - bolted down the vertical wheel for signal T2, jointed in signal wire and tested for correct operation. The couplings for T1 electric lock were made up and fitted with new pins.

Friday - work continues on the old locking tray, this time 'C' channel.

Week ending 20th February

Tuesday - Toddington - plenty of concreting today. First off was to create a pad of concrete at the base of the new signal T2 for shunt signal T6.  While here the foot of the ladder was buried in six inches of concrete for stability, and a small 'shoebox' cabinet was fixed to the post. Also, the track circuit bonding was removed and new track circuit feed pins inserted in their place.

A short way down the line to signal T24, the foot of this ladder and the legs of the adjoining cabinet were also concreted in. 

The scaffold tower that had been used to fit out signal T2 was put onto the railcar trailer and repositioned at the north end of platform 1 in readiness for fitting the banner repeater.

Wednesday - work under Toddington 'box today centred on T23 locking. Four lengths of threaded bar were cut to attach the large lock. The modified support leg was then attached before the large lock was offered to and attached to its timber support. The lock lid was then cut and drilled before fitting.

Thursday + Friday - more fitting of locking in old tray. By end of day, only 3 bars/8 locks to go!

Week ending 27th February

Monday - Malcolm made a start on the new diagram in Toddington 'box starting with the new track layout at the north end. Once the correct position of track and points was established, then the signals were drawn in and lettering/numbering carried out.

Tuesday - a very cold morning saw us inside Greet tunnel with floodlighting powered from a generator, the rail drill and bonding equipment loaded onto one of the railcar trailers. The task for this morning was to replace the track bonding on approx. 15 joints left by the contractor after the welding exercise earlier in the month. Two out of every three joints have now been welded to reduce maintenance and tyre wear. And while the kit was out, we re-bonded the crossing outside C&W due to this having been replaced with rubber matting.

After a late lunch, a trip to Toddington to remove shuttering from around our concreting carried out last week, install a new cable under the running lines at the north end of Toddington platforms, and erect the scaffold tower around the signal post at the north end of platform 1.

Malcolm somehow found himself in the warmth of the 'box painting the remainder of the new diagram.

Thursday - the lettering/numbering and position of signals were finished on the diagram. All the lever leads were numbered and between Malcolm and Neil all the plunger and lock operations were tested.

Friday - Malcolm and John Simms finished the locking (D & E channels) in the old tray. Everything was tested and only a slight fault on T26 was found which was quickly rectified.

Monday will see the final testing of all the signalling at Toddington, but being the first of the month will be reported in March newsletter!