Signal Box and Puddle Jumping Continued

Friday's Shednologists were Carolyn and Alice Bantin who worked together on the Signal Box panel 

Alice also took the opportunity to do some drawing and to try some new art materials.

After a very warm morning of mosaic making

mother and daughter had a rest in the shade before heading for home

In the afternoon Carole was joined by Kate Dyer and mosaic making stalwart Lucy Anderson. Kate worked with Carole outside on the Signal Box panel whilst Lucy braved the heat of the shed, aided a small electric fan and continued work on the puddles in Puddle Jumping.

The Young Visitors!

Signal Box - this panel had been started much earlier in the project but Carole had been saving the sky for these young visitors, who arrived with their father on a day not unlike the one in the photo above.

Lois aged 6 

and Riley aged 2

After a while Riley became more intrigued with 

the antics of Charlie Whippet,

but Lois remained fully engrossed

and didn't really want to go home!

We think they made a brilliant job of the sky 

(with a little help on the clouds from Carole!) 

What a Difference a Day Makes

Maureen Walvin and Grey Gibson continued the work on the Puddle Jumping panel. Predictably enough, the weather changed once again, the day was punctuated by heavy cloud and intermittent showers. 

but we stayed warm and dry

with a plentiful supply of tea!

Both found that mosaic making reminded them of 

their own experience of painting and quilting

and said the process was surprisingly relaxing.

Grey brought the gift of some much needed green tiles 

which added contrast to the areas they were working on. 

We are sure that the children from Priory Lower School

will be delighted when they see their puddlesome

adventure captured in mosaic form.

Hats on - Here Comes the Sun!

In contrast to the photo above - the inspiration for the Puddle Jumping panel - this was a day of glorious sunshine so we were able to work outside Carole's studio between the ripening cherries and the two budlea.

 

The unusually strong sunlight lead to 

some creative approaches to headgear 

from Sonja Wilson who niftily 

converted her bag into a sunhat

and Phiona Richards who pressed her 

Transported hat into good service.

Whilst working, we also had the 

company of many butterflies and bees

and we're happy to report that the panel 

is progressing well!

A Walk Along the Line

We were curious to know more about the NLR and Gordon Titmuss the Chairman & General Manager was on hand to give us some more information. You can find out more about travelling, visiting or volunteering on the NLR Website and read all the latest news on the Pitsford - Rail Blog. You can also follow them on Twitter

Designed and built by George R Stevenson, the Northampton to Market Harborough line was opened in 1859. It had eight stations, Northampton, Pitsford & Brampton, Spratton, Brixworth, Lamport, Kelmarsh, Clipston and Market Harborough and two tunnels; Kelmarsh at 322 yards long and Oxendon at 462 yards long on the down line (to Market Harborough) and the other bore at 453 yards long on the up line (to Northampton). 

Maureen and Charlie in the Waiting Room

The line had a staggered history, particularly in its final years. It was first closed to passenger traffic on 4^th January 1960 but was reopened to through traffic on the 6^th January 1969. It was closed again on 1^st May 1969 and reopened on 10th July 1972. The passenger service was finally withdrawn on 26^th August 1973. The complete history up to the present day can be found here 

Link to Map of the Line

Gordon giving us a tour of the Ticket Office 

Mr Bright - Stationmaster at Pitsford during the 1930s

Link to clearer image of Brixworth Station 

Link to history of the Line

Link to 1964 photograph of Pitsford Station Northamptonshire by Charlie Verrall

From John Evans Photostream

Link to Pitsford and Brampton Station 1965

Link to Pitsford and Brampton Station 1965

Pitsford Ironstone Quarries 1966

Pitsford Ironstone Quarries 1966

Link to Pitsford Quarries

Link to Pitsford Quarries

There are many tantalising photographs of bygone stations that were already in ruins in the '60's, how many still remain? You can see glimpses of the sturdy Victorian Station building in the three stations in Northampton, the station that remains today is so dull and depressing. There are very few traces left along the Valley Way, making the work done by the members and volunteers of the NLR extra special.  There will be a host of Autumn and Winter events at the station which will give people the opportunity to buy an ticket and hop on board!

July Photography Walk Northampton and Lamport Station

It was another rainy day

the clouds were ominous

the vegetation

lush, green and rain spangled.

Not the most photogenic sky

but a great day to road test wellington boots

and watch the rain making ripples in muddy puddles.

We had a wonderful time exploring the countryside

looking at the Evening Primrose and Thistles

growing wild on the railway embankment.

We found another signal box

and plenty of interesting rolling stock.

In spite of the rain there was still

 much colour to be seen.

We didn't forget to.....

before we reached the bridge on our return journey.

Slug by special request from the children!

The full set of the photographs from the walk can be viewed on the Flickr Set here where you can enjoy many of the textures and colours found on the engines and rolling stock in and around the station of the Northampton & Lamport Railway