The Rafters – Part 1

A couple of nice days over the weekend saw the signalbox acquire a somewhat skeletal appearance as we added the rafters to the previously erected ridge beam – a string line top and bottom ensured that everything was nicely lined up end to end so that the tongue and groove close boarding that will sit on top will be nice and flat and provide a splendid base for the slates. 



On completion of this task, someone suggested taking down the string lines until some ‘wag’ suggested that the rafters might follow! So we left them in place! It may look like an unorthodox build process seeing as we have not yet completed the gables, but the slope of the rafters is required for me to accurately build the gables to profile and also to position the very large wooden purlins that will bear a large part of the weight of the roof. 



The rafters on the backside will require a little more tailoring, I think, as the original rear wall on which they will sit varies in thickness, is not perfectly straight and needs to be higher than the front wall to ensure the rafters sit correctly. 



It is very convenient that we have reached roof level at this time of year as it gives us the best possible chance of a watertight building by the autumn, so we will keep pressing our advantage at every possible opportunity and will keep you all posted. 



Location: Stainmore Railway Company, South Rd, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4LA, UK

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