Brockham Platform Shelter
Construction has been started on the passenger shelter on Platform 2 at Brockham.

The design of the shelter is based on the wooden platform shelters that were once common on the south's railways - and also on many small light and narrow gauge railways. Pictures of the shelters on the Ashover Light Railway in Derbyshire and local LBSCR stations - e.g. Ockley & Capel - were checked before our final design was chosen.

The platform shelter on the up platform of Ockley & Capel station on the Horsham to Dorking line. This shelter was one that influenced our thinking on the design of our shelter at Brockham.

The site on platform 2 before any work started.

The churns will go and the pointsman's hut will also have to be moved to the other end of the platform.

The whole area looks very tired and untidy.

Another view looking towards Amberley. The platform road was at this time being relaid (winter 2008).

The brick plinth soon appeared - to level off the site.

And once this had been completed, the reinforcement for the concrete floor was laid out.

It's already looking good.

Meanwhile, in the woodworking shop the uprights had been sawn to length and the mortis and tennon joints cut.

A test erection (can I say that?) was then tried.

Eric offers up one of the horizontal spas to check the length. It seems to be about right.

Robert gives a bit of assistance - we'll get you a ladder lads.

The wood was then returned to the workshops for priming and undercoating and then the whole frame was rebuilt and the joints glued and screwed.

While the glue was setting, additional bracing and a few tournequets added to keep it all square and together.

Project Manager. He appears to be testing the integrity of the joints. Now if it all goes t*ts up you know who to blame!

It was then fixed to the brick base using some very long screws. Er- don't panic, it's a vacuum cleaner hose!

The complete frame in the September sunshine.

Come the beginning of October, some large sheets of marine plywood were being screwed to the roof beams. Don't jump Eric.

The roof was later cut to size.

Rob Mitchell places the first plank of ship-lap cladding.

On a sunny day in early November, the cladding has appeared on all sides.

At last we can get an idea of what the finished shelter will look like.

The cladding on this end has been fixed up to the level of the window cill.

It rained today (Sunday 8/11) but with a tarp on the roof, work was able to continue inside.

Rob and Eric in deep conversation.

The colour of the undercoat has been the subject of some comment!

And if. like me, you miss a week at Amberley things progress and the following Sunday nearly all the cladding is on and the end window frames have been fitted.

We are now awaiting outside help for the roof which will be felted and tarred.

Just before Christmas the roof had been covered and the window frames fitted.
Sorry about the colour of the primer!

The eventual finish will be similar to the Hove Ticket Office on the opposite platform.

Please go to the 2010 News page for the rest of the story.



The Museum's Official Website is here.
© Gerry Cork & Amberley Museum - July 2009
(Updated November 2009)

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