Chelfham update: May 2014

Friends of Chelfham Station May 2014

Chelfham Station will be open to visitors from 10am not only over the forthcoming Vintage Steam Weekend (Sat 10 & Sun 11 May) but every Sunday throughout the year.

During the winter months the volunteers have continued the work begun last year at Chelfham - the second station owned by the L&BR. Naturally, during the shorter, colder days restoration has focused primarily on the interior of the original 1898 station building.

1. A view of Chelfham station building during winter 2013/2014.

2. During the winter the recently installed waiting room log burning stove was well used - keeping everyone warm at tea and lunch break during the colder weekly work party days ...

3. ... as John Edmonds chased electric cables into the booking office walls, ...

4. ... John O'Dell repointed the stonework between the door and window frames, ...

5. ... and Dave Evans continued with the plaster repairs and painting inside the waiting room.

6. The adopted 'Southern period' paint scheme is gradually being applied to walls and window frames.

7. John Edmonds took on the repair of the rotten window frame at the Viaduct end of the station. John removed the rot down to solid wood, inserted the repaired section, then burned off the old paint around the whole window frame.

8. By May John had completed the repairs and had painted the frames with primer/undercoat.

9. On the original down platform much tidying and removal of stored items has freed up space. Plans are in place to begin the relaying of edging bricks along the platform. We have some bricks in store but still appeal for more blue engineering bricks to complete the restoration project here.

10. Many tea breaks are held outside on the down platform by the replica concrete running in board installed last August by John Mack Smith.

11. A recent distinguished (?) visitor was L&B founder member Paul Gower who was staying at Distant Point. Paul was impressed with  the progress, and enjoyed seeing the original features returning to life again.

12. The 'Snapper Team' of Rob Sadd and Andy Hearn have now begun helping out at Chelfham. Rob did some exploratory digging to locate a section of the down platform, then on finding an original steel plate in the ground, left Andy to dig around it to expose its size.

13. This plate, located between the original railway down platform and the short siding originally had the cranks for the catch-points mounted on it.

14. Andy carries on his archaeological digging, watched with interest by the other volunteers on site.

15. A view of the station and its 1960s extension. Parking, Informative display boards and second-hand book sales for visitors all help to raise funds for the restoration materials.

16. The viaduct (now owned by the Highways Agency Historical Railways Estate - successor to BRB Residuary when it was abolished in 2013) remains gated off, but interested visitors can read details on the display board.

Chelfham Station will be open from 10am for all visitors on both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May (Vintage Vehicle and AGM weekend).

Visitors will be able to view the restoration progress both inside and outside, as well as enjoying trackbed and woodland walks. Brief guided tours and some refreshments may also be available on the Sunday afternoon.

Follow the signs from underneath the viaduct for limited parking at the station or overflow parking on the road underneath the viaduct.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson