Monday 17 March 2014

This is more like it ! A dry day, with sunshine too :-). We got a lot done:
A view across the 70m section
John C spent the day corbelling. First he finished off the third row on the 50m section, which is now complete. One more behind us! On the picture above, you can see the next two sections, already up to corbelling height, with Tony just completing the backing up. John then did the first row of corbelling on the 60m section, with the 70m section pending for the moment as it is still wet from the last header course.
John finishing off the 50m section. Job done !
The logistics team of Brian, Keith and Jo then brought down more corbelling bricks for the 60m and 70m sections. Although we have stacked supplies behind the wall, there is always something missing that we have to get, and today it was 280 heavy corbelling bricks.
No, that lever doesn't start the engine, it only releases the brake... now, PUSH !
I don't what it was today, but we brought down 3 pallets of blues and reds from the top of the embankment, and we felt absolutely worn out at the end of the day.

This involves a lot of bending down for the two at the top - see picture -  and for the guy at the bottom it exercises the chest muscles, after grabbing something heavy, at arms length, for a lot of the day. We were pooped ! Time for a rest:
Smile for the camera, and look refreshed !
At the end of the morning, Fairview, long awaited, and with cements stocks down to one bag, came at last with 5 tonnes of sand, 20 sacks of cement and 70 blocks.
Given that we are at CRC, this is Irish cement.
At the end of the day, the team had laid 850 bricks, with which they were very pleased. As the Gloucester lads are expected next week, a small group will return to CRC2 on Saturday to lay more blues, so as to give the lads some backing up to do.
Duck, John !
Given that a further section (the 50m one) has been signed off, the green light was given to start a new one. Here we see John S, John C and Bob setting out the new 90m section. Tony on the right is on inspection duty. It's good to see the beginning of the platform, on which we started in September, recede into the distance. There is a growing sense of achievement.

Lunchtime at CRC was actually pleasant for once. The sun came out, and we transferred our rest period to the great outdoors. Morale was high, and Brian led us on a rousing chorus of  'They're coming to take me away, ha-ha"



4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well done guys!!

Is the gap between the platform and rail at the correct distance?
Just seems wider than normal.. Or is there copers to go on top still that will reduce the gap???

Thanks

Jo said...

Don't forget 3 courses of corbelling, and then the slabs, which stick out too. All carefully measured !

Anonymous said...

Ok thanks. Please could you explain what corbelling is?

Thanks

Jo said...

It's when you lay bricks end-on, sticking out about one third. Do that three times, and you have created an overhang of about one brick's length. See the second picture, where John adds the third brick row, sticking out. On top of that you lay a big 3 or 4ft wide slab, which also overhangs a few inches. The whole idea is to create a space underneath someone could roll into, should they fall into the path of an incoming train.