Is Woody caged up or just a basket case?

Is Woody caged up or just a basket case? No doubt Mrs. Woody will have a view on that statement but I will avoid asking her! The cages or baskets that I am talking about are actually gabion cages or baskets depending upon which term you prefer. The end result is the same in that you put together a steel mesh cage or basket and then fill it with hardcore, rocks, stone or anything else that provides a stable and strong foundation for whatever you need to put on top of it.

At the Rocks By Rail Museum we are creating a viewing platform so that visitors can get a better view up the quarry line of the shunting action - or inaction if I am doing the shunting! I posted last week that David had started to dig out the embankment where the platform is to go and this week rather than my usual vegetational butchery, I swapped mower and strimmer for a spade which in my hands can equally be a tool of vegetational butchery! Not sure if David was pleased with my assistance but this is where we started from.

This Robin seemed appreciative of our digging going through the spoil to find food.

After a couple of hours we had both fed the Robin and created the space we needed for the cages/baskets.

The cages/baskets themselves come flat packed and they are assembled using these curly inserts that are wound in.

I'm not the only one who takes pictures!

We assembled three cages/baskets and once filled with suitable material another three will be mounted on top, slightly stepped back, and then probably another three to get to the required height. That is going to be quite a lot of material!

Meanwhile, else where on site, John was continuing his painting of Mr. D which is beginning to look really smart.

Andy had been busy working on the plant shed with the welding station which is handily on a pallet so can be moved by the CAT.

Richard and Steam John had been busy de-rusting the smoke box of 1391 in readiness for the re-tubing work. Using a needle gun to de-rust is a noisy business even in the open air, but put yourself in a smokebox and use it really tests the ear defenders! Must be like being at a heavy rock concert!