Barnett Engineering have been assembling the water tower. Singled Out

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Cora Barker
5 years ago
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Over the last month the Dee Valley has been subject to so many changes in the weather that movement around all but the main roads has been a trial.

However, no matter what the Atlantic gales and Arctic snow clouds have had to offer, the Project Team has been hard at work completing the west end single platform, installing spear top fencing,

1 Over the last month the Dee Valley has been subject to so many changes in the weather that movement around all but the main roads has been a trial. The main photo shows snow covering the Berwyns, whilst other photos in Barnett Engineering have been assembling the water tower. Singled Out Last month's edition of the newsletter showed progress on the west end. Since that report further work has been done including the addition of the GWR spear top railings. Engineer's (Womble) Train overlooked by the snow on Foel y Gwynt Photo : Ran Matthews this month's edition are clearly taken in sunshine. However, no matter what the Atlantic gales and Arctic snow clouds have had to offer, the Project Team has been hard at work completing the west end single platform, installing spear top fencing, moving material from the Rhyl Spur, building a small embankment retaining wall and making a start on the footings for the platform 1 wall. Off site Page 1 Spear top fencing in place on the single platform Photo: PR Attempts were made by the team to find original GWR spear tops, but those offered presented considerable problems in their recovery. In the end new rails and spear tops were sourced from Brooks Forgings from Cradley Heath in the West Midlands. Viewed from Green Lane this

installation makes a clear statement about the railway's intent of creating a new station. little downside to all this quality, the old Mk2C JCB is finding the going rather tough on its aged joints!

It is hoped that additional infill from the Rhyl Spur can be added to this area in order to offer a little more space for the up track in platform 1.

work putting in the foundation trench, ready to receive the concrete. The recovered material is being taken away to infill the single platform gap.

2 installation makes a clear statement about the railway's intent of creating a new station. little downside to all this quality, the old Mk2C JCB is finding the going rather tough on its aged joints!! Retaining Wall A small retaining wall has been built at the foot of the North Batter (embankment) parallel to the pumping station's new roadway. It is hoped that additional infill from the Rhyl Spur can be added to this area in order to offer a little more space for the up track in platform 1. JCB Mk2C with John Mason at the controls makes a start on Platform 1 footings Photo: PR Concrete sleeper retaining wall at the foot of the north batter The photograph shows the old machine hard at work putting in the foundation trench, ready to receive the concrete. The recovered material is being taken away to infill the single platform gap. This will offer the opportunity for adjusting the line of the track when the platform wall has been built. The extra width also offers an increased safety margin for loco crews needing to get off their engines for any reason. Second Footings A little break in the weather has offered the opportunity to start setting out the footings for Platform 1. Although the surface layer has got rather muddy, digging down a few inches has revealed a hard dry, well compacted sub strait a credit to the time and care taken to build the embankment in the first place. However, there is a Page 2 (L-R) (1)Tank and access ladder (2) Tank with swan neck sector plate and water valve (3) Pedestal and tank (4) Steve Barnett, MD of Barnett Engineering (L) and Corwen Station Project Manager Richard Dixon-Gough

Water Tower progress During last year (CCNL Dec Edition) some photos were published to show the basic construction of the water tower tank and pedestal.

plate and access ladder. The tank top had to be removed to allow for this other work.

(LC&DR) was responsible for building the original station. Stationary Columns Column on the left almost cleaned and primed.

3 Water Tower progress During last year (CCNL Dec Edition) some photos were published to show the basic construction of the water tower tank and pedestal. Last month these two sections were joined together at the premises of Barnett Engineering, the company responsible for the work, along with the newly fabricated water feed valve, swan neck sector plate and access ladder. The tank top had to be removed to allow for this other work. Over the next few months fitting out will be completed including rust proofing the inside of the tank and initial painting. The final coat will be applied when the tank is delivered to Corwen. (LC&DR) was responsible for building the original station. Stationary Columns Column on the left almost cleaned and primed. Note original London paint Photographs show details of the columns as received at Corwen and in place at Blackfriars prior to the rebuild of that station. Close examination of the tops of the columns shows that the scrolled decoration has been cast separately and is retained in place by large countersunk screws. Capital detail - these were added after the main casting had been completed Work has started to select and clean six suitable columns to support the canopy roof of CorwenCentral. Readers may recall the Project recently took delivery of 13 columns, once used to support the roof at London Blackfriars Station. These cast iron artefacts are thought to date from the opening of the station - 10 May when they were used to support the original station roof. The London, Chatham and Dover Railway Page 3 Blackfriars Station in 2000 prior to the major 2009 rebuild. The columns in their home colours can be seen clearly. Photo : Archive

Some of the scroll work has been damaged, but it As shown on the accompanying graphic, the it hoped that the damaged sections can be replaced Tenner a Tonne appeal has now reached the half using

4 Some of the scroll work has been damaged, but it As shown on the accompanying graphic, the it hoped that the damaged sections can be replaced Tenner a Tonne appeal has now reached the half using pieces from the spare columns. way stage. It has been widely assumed that Corwen Central will have no buildings on the island platform due to space limitations. However, CCNL can now reveal that suitable drawings have been prepared for a single structure offering passenger facilities including toilets and a baby changing area. Funding and Lucky Numbers Lucky Numbers This month's winning number is 79 This month's winner of Lucky Numbers is Paul Whitton long time member of the Corwen Project work gang, with Number 79. Congratulations go to Paul on his win. Project Treasurer, Paul Bailey, writes that as from March there are two vacancies in the Water Tower Raffle. If there are any readers who would like to take up these numbers then he would like to hear from you. Tickets cost 30 each ( 3 per month over the remaining 10 months of 2018) with a chance to win 50 in each monthly draw. Page 4 However, the target is still 10,000 and in order to move this along, Paul Bailey has launched a new appeal, a development of the Tenner a Tonne. This time it is Five for Fifty 5 tonnes of spoil for 50, but with the added incentive of 2 return tickets on the first doubled headed special in to Corwen Central when the station opens in 2019 all being well and with your continued support! Further details and a Five for Fifty donation form can be obtained from Paul Bailey at the usual address or via his facebook page or on page 6 of this issue Please make cheques payable to CCRD (Corwen Central Railway Development ) and send to Mr Paul Bailey, Dolwen, Bryneglwys, Corwen, Denbighshire LL21 9LY. Offers of materials can be made via the LRT by phoning or via at info@llangollenrailway.co.uk

End Piece many thought that the number of mountains exceeding this height ( 3000ft/914metres) was around 30, rather than the nearly 300 that he listed After the publication of the last edition some

5 End Piece many thought that the number of mountains exceeding this height ( 3000ft/914metres) was around 30, rather than the nearly 300 that he listed After the publication of the last edition some eagled eyed and inquisitive readers got in touch to enquire about the Marilyn in the caption to the photo of Moel Famau! Never heard of this, What is a Marilyn?? Is this Marilyn Munroe... how does she get in on this???. The answer is that the Marilyn of the Munroe is a cheeky punning and contrast with the Munro designation used for a Scottish mountain with a height of more than 3,000 feet (914.4m). Thus Marilyns are mountains or hills in the UK, Republic of Ireland Ben Hope, Sutherland 927metres- from Loch or Isle of Man with a prominence of at least 150 Eriboll - the most northerly Munro Photo : Squiddy metres (492ft), regardless of absolute height or other merit. All this was linked to the growing trend for people to move out from the industrial towns and cities of the UK into the countryside for exercise and relaxation. The last quarter of the 19th century saw the emergence of a strong middle class with more money to spend on recreation and travel. Journeys to the Highlands of Scotland, for example had already been signposted by Queen Victoria. The SMC recognises six peaks in England, fifteen in Wales and thirteen in Ireland that would be Munros or Munro Tops if they were in Scotland. These are referred to as Furth Munros, i.e. the The aforementioned Moel Famau is a Marilyn Munros furth (outside) of Scotland. James Parker because its summit is a least 150 metres higher became the first person to complete the Furths by than its nearest rival. There are currently 158 of climbing Tryfan (Snowdonia) on 19th April them in Wales. The original list of Scottish 1929.Over the years Marilyn and Munro Munros was compiled by Sir Hugh Thomas bagging have become considerable causes for Munro, 4th Baronet ( ) in Munro mountaineers and hill walkers fastest clearance was an avid hill walker and founder member of the of each list, youngest climber/walker, oldest and Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) (1889). so on. The world gets even more dissected when Corbetts, Donalds, Grahams, Hewitts and Munro's list caused much surprise in Murdos get included, let alone the Furths Happy mountaineering circles, as until it was produced Climbing everyone!! Cairn at the wooded summit of Marilyn - Mynydd y Cwm metres, Clwydian Range Photo : Richard Webb Page 5

6 CORWEN PLATFORM APPEAL FIVE FOR FIFTY I would like to donate 50 for Five Tonnes of infill for the Corwen Station Island Platform and claim my 2 Tickets on the CCE (Corwen Central Express) Please make Cheques payable to Corwen Central Railway Development or CCRD and send to Mr Paul Bailey,Dolwen, Bryneglwys, Corwen, Denbighshire LL21 9LY Contact Details Name :... Address :... Phone E/Mail :... Page 6

to hold the rail in place scaffolding has been erected to start work on

to hold the rail in place scaffolding has been erected to start work on Who can believe that we have arrived at mid year 2018? Where did that time go? Who noticed it edging away? It has taken quite a while for the Dee Valley to emerge from its Winter slumbers, although given