External renovation of the Speyside Signal Box at Aviemore continued

External renovation of the Speyside Signal Box at Aviemore

10th to 14th August,

By Colin Frost

While we are still waiting for the scaffolding to be erected, we were only able to concentrate on the lower portion of the box accessible by low ‘hop ups’.

Only Colin was available for the first three days, so work was concentrated on areas accessible from the veranda, loose putty was replaced on the windows and the window and surrounding timber-work sanded down and painted with two coats of undercoat.   Dan, Jim and Nick were available for the final two days when a great deal of progress was made with the west and east walls.

Being a live railway, train movements were observed and no work could commence on the west side until the coaching stock had been moved from the carriage shed at about 9am, and as the weather was very hot,  work on the west side was preferable in the morning.  The west and east sides and the north wall under the veranda have all been sanded down, and two coats of white undercoat applied.  

On the north wall rotten timber was cut out and new timber panels installed and primed.

All the painted areas are now ready for the final top coats to be applied, but this won’t be done until the remainder of the upper areas of the box have been finished.  Where is that scaffolding, which was ordered back in July and may not be available until mid-September!?

Work by Dan Courtier, Nick Courtier, Colin Frost & Jim Pittendrigh.