To start the new year, we got a tip-off from the operations department, complaining of a broken bolt on the gates at Asher Lane. The van was dutifully loaded up with some appropriate tools, and we drove around to the level crossing to inspect the problem. As it turned out, someone had managed to hit the latch mechanism with enough force to snap the handle clean off, and bent the supporting plate.
As the nuts are welded in-place to discourage tampering, we ground back the fastenings until they could be removed, and took the assembly back to the workshops at Ruddington. There, the handle was welded back on, the base-plate flattened, the whole lot scrubbed clean of grease and paint, then given a coat of oxide primer.
Meanwhile, and over Christmas, work has been progressing on the north door from Hotchley Hill. Since I last wrote, A sheet of steel, and another of plywood have been sourced and cut to fill the opening that was originally glazed. The logic behind this is that a glazed door is almost impossible to protect against our nocturnal visitors from East Leake. It is also unnecessary for the signalman's view of the line, so we decided the loss of a little daylight is preferable to endless and unheralded repairs!
With this panel screwed firmly into place, the toe-rail riveted-on, and the straightened hinges reattached, the door is rapidly coming together. Today, we bought a new lock, and carefully filed-out the slot in the door until it would fit. The door seems to have been converted from the original Crittall fitment to standard mortise locks, probably by BR. This means that although we have lost the originals, it is relatively easy to find replacements. I say 'relatively', because the only decent locks we could find have anti-drill plates attached to either side, making them fractionally thicker. This causes them to catch when slotted into place, and even after fettling, the one we got is within a hair's breadth of not going.
Still, it /does/ fit, and we are happy that the face presented outwards by the door is both secure, and in-keeping with the building's design. All that remains is to cover-over the inside of the hole (which isn't security-critical), and to give the whole lot a coat of paint, prior to fitment.
That's only the first of half-a-dozen doors on the building, all of which need repair or replacement. We hope to get through the others bit faster though - if nothing else, because they haven't been bent as this one was!
Oh, and we haven't forgotten about tidying-up, by the way - but repairs come first, and carting everything down to Fifty Steps is a job for a full day. We'll get there.
