Back to Hotchley Hill at last, for an adventure in electrochemical archaeology!
Spring has sprung, and over the last month of neglect, weeds have leapt up from all the areas we so carefully cleared. Consequently, two humans and a horse had a go at cutting away the vegetation, not just to where it was in April, but all the way along the back of the building. This finally gives us complete access to the external walls.
While hacking away at the brambles, nettles, and so-forth, we made two interesting discoveries. First, we found what looks like the original power supply for the box. A length of four-core steel-armoured cable, coated in something tar-based, was sticking out of the ground, cunningly disguised as a dead branch. Although its position suggests it may have come in along the field boundary from the road, the exact connection arrangements remain a mystery.
Secondly, we found the decaying remains of at least two-dozen batteries, dumped behind the box near the battery room. Standards, it seems, were exceptionally low in the 1970s, and railway employees not above leaving sulphuric acid and broken glass within reach of animals. We dug the batteries up as far as possible, although many fell apart in situ.
Any insight into the type and origin of these cells would be welcome. We found two glass batteries (broken) with a set of dense grey electrodes. I'm almost certain these are lead-acid - although they are confusingly marked with the name of the Chloride Electrical Storage Company.
We also found a great many cylindrical cells, with a carbon rod through the centre, surrounded by a highly friable black material, which I suspect is manganese dioxide. One of these is marked either "EBC LNER" or "FBC LNER" on a flaking orange paper label. It seems very possible that some of these were held in wooden cases, judging by the number of rotten splinters surrounding them.
Meanwhile, we continued sorting the accumulated junk in the battery room for removal and recycling in the (hopefully near) future. There are still a few pieces worth saving for use elsewhere. Most of it is ferrous scrap, some is copper wire, and only a small proportion will actually have to be sent for landfill. The unearthed batteries are currently stored while we work out what they're made of, and how to dispose of them safely.
For those who were wondering, the same damp weather that has allowed the weeds to grow so vigorously is preventing us from painting the railings - so they remain in primer for the moment.
Contact me if you'd like to help out. There's always work for another pair of hands!
I think there are one or two of you who expressed an interest, but then went quiet. If that's you, and you'd still like to join in, please do say something! It's possible that your message slipped my mind, or got eaten by "the system".
The LNER(GC)HT are raising funds for repair to the fabric of the signalbox here: http://www.lnergcheritagetrust.co.uk/projects
Anything you can contribute will bring the building one step closer to being a useful part of the railway, and is greatly appreciated.
