Saturday 30th - Rain didn't stop play

 Thanks to Paul W and Robert for extra photos.

A bright start with some heavy rain threatened later on and Foremarke Hall passing with the first southbound train of the day. Thankfully the wet weather has removed the fire risk.

The replacement doors for the Queen Mary guards van were fitted today by Robert and Chris. 

[Photo : Robert] The Malvern side proved to be somewhat problematic and took some time to sort out.

[Photo : Robert] The opposite side was completely different and within a relatively short time the new door was mounted and working well. I will have a look on Tuesday with respect to any touch up painting that may be required.

Maurice is enjoying himself with his work on the weedspraying wagon and is now cleaning up and priming in oxide the sole bar on the Malvern side.

Clive meanwhile was grinding the north end of the wagon, removing both rust and the grafitti.

Alan has been making good progress with the north end of RMB 1876. The new sections of sheet metal are gradually being cut and welded in.

The Malvern side now completed.

With this coach being higher priority George has transferred from SO 4798 and is now sanding the Malvern side of 1876. We need to get that old paint sanded really flat.

Ken adds sealant to the vertical connection supports at the south end.

Phil cleans and services recess socket lights for 1876's vestibules. These will first end up on the Paintshop trestles.

John is making new pins for the Open C wagon. One has been made but needs to be thinner, so back to the lathe.

There are quite a few needed.

Andy continues the cycle of vacuum cylinder refurbishment, using the tungsten carbide scraper to remove the worst of the grime.

He later finishes the job with the grinder. The next step will be applying the black MIO.

It was just Peter and Jane in Upholstery today, stripping more seating from the FODR's fourth contract.

[Photo : Paul W]. She's always got a lovely smile. Jenny approaches with bucket, mop and other cleaning materials, ready to do the floor in RBr 1675. The coach has been stabled in the Works siding, a more convenient location for general access.

At the south end of SO 4798 James is marking the position for welding a section of z bar to act as support for a large piece of sheet metal.

Later in the day on the opposite side, Andy is grinding previous welding.

Also grinding is James, cleaning the welds after attaching the large piece of sheet metal.

It's looking good!

Moving on to, or rather into, TSO 5023, both toilet compartments need tidying up. As such I began stripping out anything that was in the way of repainting. The painted areas were then lightly sanded and wiped down.

Pam arrived and began masking up the edges of the areas to be repainted and the varnished beading.

Bob began varnishing the ends, not something we normally do, but I have often wondered why not. 

Next the Cotswold side steps to paint in gloss black. There are still a number of things to be done but 5023 is well on the way to completion.

Two photos from Paul W of Bob doing a bit of washing up. Makes a change from all that painting and varnishing.

A number of our staff are very keen on model railways. James and Robert test running on this short length of track.

Weds 27th / Thurs 28th - Here we go again

Many thanks to Gerry for Wednesday's photos and to Paul W and again to Gerry for extra photos on Thursday.

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Wednesday

Most of Wednesday's photos are centred on the continual build of the weed spraying wagon, t7oday by Bob and Nick.

Now on the RMB 1876 where Simon is continuing the rebuild of the south vestibule.

Fitting the cover for the connection slider mechanism.

Finally inside SO 4798 Rod is continuing his rebuild of the internal window frames.

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Thursday

Starting with a lengthy feature of the Indoor Gang who, regular readers will know, do a great job in the many internal repairs to our coaches both based at Winchcombe and currently in the Works.

Alan and Geoff reinstate the back panel and pull bar on the Cotswold centre door on TSO 5023.

On the north end door Roger tightens the door pull and the recently restained and varnished back panel. The south end door needs to be similarly treated, but with the bodyside varnishing taking place today, it will be done next week.

[Photo : Paul W]  Paul and the gang now moved out to the yard to Rake 3 where a number of repairs were made. Alan watches Geoff refix a loose seat top.

[Photo : Paul W]

[Photo : Paul W]  Roger supervises!

[Photo : Paul W]  For Paul it was more floor cleaning in SO 4787.

[Photo : Paul W]

[Photo : Paul W]  I love these mid 50s second open (SO) coaches. All that lovely varnished wood, warm and welcoming and so much nicer than the cold formica that followed.

Catching up with some of Chris and Robert's efforts in RMB 1876 on Tuesday. The new vertical side to the centre door frame is now clearly seen. Next to it the painted insert for the fire extinguisher, now ready to be fitted in the recess above.

At the north end Alan was back on the rebuild of the various aspects of metalwork. Replacement sections of the baseplate, connection supports, and top hat bars are now in place. Soon the new sections of sheet metal will be going in.

On the Cotswold side Ainsley uses the special sander with the small triangular pad to erase the top line and generally sand down the limited access area above the window frames.

Robert prepares more door back panels for 1876. It was a nice surprise to see him in as he normally does just Tuesdays and Saturdays, and considering he has a 160 mile round trip that shows lot of dedication.

As well as bring a member of C&W Richard also volunteers for RCS and wanted to see the progress in the kitchen and pantry in RB 1675. The new chiller unit is given close scrutiny.

The Richards in phone contact with someone. The new kitchen equipment.

Richard II tying in the router circuit for both RCS's card reader and for the remote monitoring of the inverter. The latter aspect enables the support staff and our electricians to monitor the inverter's operation.

Both bogies had initial refurbishment done and were then painted, not something we normally do unless they are very clean. Just before the coach was moved outside further essential work was done on them and as such the paintwork is now in need of repair. Jeff and Phil worked on the Malvern side of both bogies and considerably improved their appearance.

Walking back to the Barn a quick stop to capture Gerry cleaning up more of the main frame of the weed spraying wagon.

[Photo : Paul W]  Paul captures me taking the photo ...........

[Photo : Paul W]   ......... and then Roger, Alan and Geoff who were also stopping to view progress.

Gerry cleans up the strengthening support bar .....

[Photo : Gerry]  ....... before clamping it in place where he had been previously anglegrinding. This will probably be welded in place next Wednesday.

Maurice was back cleaning up the buffers and coating them in red oxide.

Earlier on in the Paintshop Richard gave everything under the solebar on the Malvern side of TSO 5023 a good vacuuming. It looked a whole lot better with all the dust removed. He later repainted the battery box cover in black MIO and whitened the box metalwork.

The area above the south connection, including the rain cover, had somehow escaped being repainted. Phil soon remedied that. The main panelling at both ends will be varnished, not something we normally do, but 5023 is turning out to be somewhat special.

Martin looked after the steps on the Malvern side and any bits of the solebar in need of a coat of gloss black.

Today it was the turn of the Cotswold side to be varnished. Ralph uses the air lance to remove any dust in corners of windows, door frames, etc.

Bob uses tack cloths to wipe over the body side.

The Great Western whistle and slow hiss of steam has us racing outside, just in time to see 2807 pass by. The Class 26 waits in Platform 2 with the  northbound train. 

Relaxing outside to watch the trains go by. 

Today was Ralph's final day with us on contract. The really good news is that, while continuing his contract work wherever his job takes him, he will also be joining us as a volunteer. 

Varnishing begins with Bob doing most of the top half and Ralph the main crimson section. The final result looked brilliant.

It rained. Real proper rain.  And after all the hot dry weather a welcome relief.

[Photo : Gerry]  Earlier in the day Gerry caught me opening a 5L tin of gloss black for Jeff prior to him doing 1675's bogie paint repairs.