Saturday 5th April

Gloomy weather conditions faced those arriving at M&FM, and many fingers were crossed that the forecast for overcast sky's without the prospect of precipitation would be accurate.

Keith H, Peter, and Martin R headed off on the line inspection to Alton, and Eddie and Martin B departed for Alresford, with Keith B, Neil, Tom, Ian R, and Adrian going straight down to the A31 embankment. There was a slight diversion for those in the Company van, who had to deliver a 'yard of rail' to the Goods Shed at Alresford Station, for use at the Railway's Volunteers Welcome Day to be held the following day (the ability to lift a 'yard of rail' to waist height was used a strength test for potential new recruits to the British Rail Pway Department up until the 1950's). 

On site, Keith B and Ian R's first task was to finish off some repairs to the fence adjacent to Farm Road bridge, adding 'Gripple' tensioners to the new lengths of wire. Neil, began glazing the window to the Pway hut, and Adrian and Tom lit a bonfire at the foot of the southern embankment to the upside of the bridge, to continue with the burning of the previously cut material. Following the customary walk into Alresford with the line walkers for breakfast, at which time the weather had deteriorated to a light drizzle, on the return to the embankment Neil fixed a newly made name plaque 'Alreside' to the track facing wall of the hut (manufactured by Neil at his Newbury Concrete Works), while the others carried on with fence and fire duties. A fire grate, skillfully made by Eddie, was also installed in the fireplace.

The new fire grate

The hut name plaque

In the afternoon, Neil began undercoating the hut window, and with Adrian and Keith H wielding chainsaws, a significant amount of undergrowth was cleared and burned by the rest of the gang, before time was called on the day's activities.