MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE 

I would personally like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a great new year. Here's hoping that 2023 is good to us all.

Just a few cafe updates for you...

• The Buffer Stop cafe has been a big success this year, despite constant juggling with what and how much to offer for sale. A big thank you to all who support it, both public and volunteers. I've even been known to buy some beans on toast for my own lunch!
• The bacon rolls were a success and so a small "George Foreman" grill has been purchased for the cafe kitchen.
• I do occasionally bake a gluten free sponge. I have to be honest and say that they rarely sell well, which is a shame because they are very good, even if I do say so myself. These sponges cost a little more to produce and are therefor not financially viable. I will still bake one from time to time. I also need to look into what other gluten free things I can offer that have a reasonable shelf life.
• I mentioned before that the prices will have to be reviewed. I hope to study this before the January open day and produce the new price lists. This is not an easy task because obviously we need to make a profit, but conversely we want to give all our customers good value for money.

I hope everyone has a great festive period and new year.

See you in 2023.

Dave

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 

This wonderful poppy display was created by Kelly.

Our very clever neighbour Kelly has knitted these poppies and created the stunning display on the side of the signal box. If you are in the area do come along and have a look.

We are very grateful for the display, which helps us and our visitors think about those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

SIMULATOR PANEL SWITCHES FINISHED...

Today I finished installing the new illuminated switches. There are 15 in total and each one was a little fiddly to complete. The first problem was making the switch holes bigger for the new ones. I eventually resorted to using a cone cutter in a battery drill (should have thought of that sooner). After installing each one I tested it before moving on. Luckily it all went pretty smoothly and so we now have a panel where it's obvious when the switches are on.

Thanks go to Colin who suggested this in the first place.

Well, onto the next project...

Dave

 SIMULATOR PANEL UPDATE...

Inside the simulator panel

Work is progressing with the panel switch changing. A new wire has been installed to provide the means to illuminate the switches. This common wire will be routed to all the switches in due course.

To date I have installed and wired three new switches on the Eastleigh line (see below).

These switches show red when lit, although they look whitish in the photo. You can see some of the original toggle switches in the upper part of the picture.

Work has come to a standstill at the moment as I am awaiting delivery of some more resistors. For those non-technical amongst us, each LED requires its own resistor to limit the amount of current it draws when lit.

More news as and when available.

Dave

SIMULATOR PANEL UPGRADE...

For those who don't know, this is the simulator panel in the locking room. It's from here that we pretend to be the other signal boxes (Redbridge, Kimbridge and Eastleigh) during a demonstration. The person operating this panel listens to the demonstrator upstairs, and sends the appropriate bells, lights etc, which means a truly realistic demonstration to the visiting public.

Up until now the lights on the diagram in the signal box have been controlled simply by a toggle switch on the simulator panel. With no other visual indication as to whether the switch is on or off it is easy to forget one. Following some investigation, some new push on/push off switches with an L.E.D indicator have been obtained. These are about to be installed and wired up. This will give a very visual indication that the switch is turned on.

Dave

 LEVERS UPDATE...

The "new" signal box levers for numbers 3 and 5 have now been fitted. Thanks go to Adrian, Derek, Dick and Noah (and anyone else I've missed out).

There will be a full report elsewhere I'm sure.

Dave

THE BUFFER STOP CAFE...

The cafe is running well and proving popular with both museum visitors and the general public on open days.

From my point of view however, it is quite time consuming. As I'm sure people will appreciate it isn't just a case of turning up on an open day and selling things! There are many other things to consider. These include...

• Regularly doing stock checks including expiry dates etc.
• Purchasing new stock at the best price I can.
• Keeping everything clean, tidy and sanitised.
• Deep cleaning every three months.
• On open days prior to opening, the cafe, kitchen and toilet areas are thoroughly cleaned, fridge temperature taken and all the appropriate paperwork filled in.
• After closing more checks and cleaning is carried out.

All this is on top of buying the ingredients for the home made produce, milk and bread etc for the open day. I then spend the day before baking the cakes and sausage rolls, pasties or whatever in on the menu.

Wow! This sounds like I am complaining! I'm not! I enjoy it all but it all takes up my time.

What I am getting at is that I could really do with more help. If anyone is willing to help run the cafe on open days or do some home baking it would be a great help. Just speak to any of us and the message will get to me. For the home baking a food hygiene certificate is required, but don't worry, it's free and is not difficult to achieve.

It's all very rewarding when people make nice comments on open days!

Dave

 WORKS UPDATE...

July 2022

LEVERS.

A great deal of work has already taken place and is indeed ongoing to replace some of the levers in the signal box.

Repainting ready for installation

Many of you will know that over time before the box closed the signals were being changed from semaphore to colour light. As these were changed the lever tops were shortened. This enabled the signalman to know which levers still operated perhaps a hard mechanical pull or just operated a switch.

The plan is to restore as many as possible of the levers now operating the semaphore signals on site. Some have been changed over the last few weeks. The remainder involve much more work - watch this space for an update.

THE BUFFER STOP CAFE.

As part of the hygiene rules a regular deep clean must be carried out in the kitchen and cafe.

I have deep cleaned the kitchen and now it's the turn of the cafe itself. I moved all the chairs, tables, stools etc outside.

A thorough vacuum around was carried out, followed by giving the floor a good mopping. All the surfaces were then given a good clean and sanitising, Each individual chair, table etc was thoroughly cleaned before being brought back into the cafe.

All this takes time and can be a little tedious, but is very necessary. At least I know everything is kept clean and tidy! After all our motto is "Keep It Clean".

Dave

The Signal Box Has a Natural Spring?

Well, perhaps not a real one!

I constructed a water feature in the garden railway area recently and have been "tweaking" it from time to time.

It is a work in progress, as is the remainder of the landscaping. There are possible plans to extend the railway to the other side of the site. This would be a great attraction for the children (and me!). We need to decide exactly how this will be developed.

This photo shows a close-up of the "spring" with the water running down the stream.

I have heard children say "Oh look, there's a river" while watching James the red engine trundling around the track.

Well, it keeps me amused anyway!

Dave

This blog entry is aimed at giving you an insight into our regular Wednesday working group.

On our last Wednesday working day I took several videos and have hopefully edited them so you can see what happens. Please do have a look using the link below. If the link doesn't work just copy and paste it into you browser.

https://youtu.be/nEGxt9L_A5k

Dave

 TWO  SPECIAL  ANNOUNCEMENTS...

Sunday the 5th June Open Day

Romsey Signal Box will celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a special display entitled 

"Romsey, Railways and Royalty" 

The implications for the signalman of the passage of a royal train will be explained, with a history of the connections of Romsey's railways with royalty.

This should prove to be a very interesting day.

 THE FIRST UPDATE FOR A LONG TIME

It's time to tell you about some work that's been going on at the signal box site...

There has been quite a lot happening and the next few posts will not be in chronological order, merely as I think of them.

Several years ago I bought some cheap self adhesive vinyl floor tiles and laid them on a base of hardboard in the kitchen and toilet areas. Recently they have been looking very "tired" with gaps appearing and getting discoloured.

Just Floors of Romsey very kindly donated some commercial quality vinyl sheeting, with us just paying for the plywood base and the fitting. We removed all the old floor tiles and hardboard and took off the doors etc to give them good access, refitting them after the new flooring was laid.

New Flooring In Kitchen

The result has made a tremendous difference with the floors now looking very professional. It also has the bonus of being easily cleaned - particularly important in the cafe kitchen, where our motto is "Keep It Clean".

New Flooring In Toilet

This flooring is high quality and should last us for many years.

We have already received compliments from our visitors about the lovely clean and well presented toilet.

Next update to follow soon.

Dave

 We're Back!

May2022

Yes, we are back. The blog has been inactive for a long time, certainly right through Covid, and some time before that. Please accept our apologies but we are now trying to resurrect it and keep everyone up to date with what's going on at the signal box, which has been quite a lot.

Please come back regularly to see what's going on "at the coal face" as it were.