Work undertaken over much of 2024

A major task for much of 2024 has been bringing Horsted Platform 2 back up to standard and making Platform 1 usable. A curious change of alignment in pre-Bluebell times caused a rather awkward track re-alignment which left overhanging coping stones. The platform face, which had been obscured for decades by the rolling stock parked there, was in bad shape. Sub-contractor MJ Padgham and his team performed much of this work.

 

Sagging wall, poor brickwork and a large overhand. Photos: – Jon Goff

Schematic of the old layout of platform 1 – Jon Goff

New coping stones on a smooth curve with a height defining rail behind. Photo: – Jon Goff

 

Platform 2 Old coping stones lifted and re-laid. Photos: – Jon Goff

 

The water column pit and lifting the water column. Photos: – Jon Goff

New cable conduits and manholes to hide the cables. Photo: – Jon Goff

Type 1 hardcore being spread out before being compacted. Photo: – Jon Goff

 

Pointing the Flowerbed and the base of the water column now flush with the platform surface. Photos: – Jon Goff

The finished south end. Photo: Jon Goff

Lifting the last coping stone into place at the north end of platform 1. Photo: Jon Goff

 

Digging out the track bed to the correct level and putting in a new drainage pit. Photos: Jon Goff