Saturday 9th - A trial fit

In contrast to the past week we had a more usual number attending.  Once again being busy with TSO 5023's roof, plus running a very enjoyable tour of the Works, I wasn't able to capture everyone.

So starting with 5023 and once again up on the airy heights of the large scaffold tower. To answer the suggestion about paint rollers in the previous post, we do have a longer version which I used today to add a second coat on the Cotswold side of the roof. With this version I could reach over half of the roof, in effect covering what was done on Thursday by both Phil and myself.

It was a mass painting session on the Cotswold side today with Richard and Bob painting windows and the intervening panels. Martin concentrated on the unpainted parts of the top panel.

Later in the day having now reached the remaining central section still to be done by Phil next week. I continued to second coat my area.

Richard and Bob making very good progress.

Nearly at the roof drainage channels at the north end. When I had completed the Cotswold side, I moved back round to the Malvern side to add an initial coat to the area above the drainage channel on that side. 

So just the centre section in the north part for Phil to paint and the roof is done.

 

Now a wander around the Works to catch up on what else is going on. Ken was busy stripping down the south end corridor connection from RMB 1876.

Kevin sorting out more of our stock. His job is endless, but he happily gets stuck in and in turn greatly helps us.

Lots of variety today with SO 4798. Andy is back with the rebuilding of the south end.

John is busy fettling new stays as part of the programme to reinstate the old style light fixtures in the two seating compartments of 1876.

The stays, having been cut to the correct length, have the ends bored out and the appropriate sized nuts inserted.

The long screws are then threaded through the tube as demonstrated above.

A new circular base with the centre section welded on. Andy coats it in green primer.

The new fitting above with an existing one below showing how the stays are fitted.

While taking the tour group through the Workshop, we were passed by Laura and others wheeling some of the new seating for 4798. My immediate thought was that the interior isn't yet ready for the seating to be installed. 

It turned out to be a trial with one of the bays fully fitted out with the table included. Looking at the size of the tables there is concern that they may be too large, otherwise the table top blends in very well with the dark red Snapdragon moquette.

Looking at this it's not hard to imagine the whole coach fitted out and looking very nice with a matching carpet throughout. 

A visit to Upholstery to see what is happening. The moquette used in the First Class section of CK 16221 has also been used to cover this repaired chair from Winchcombe signalbox.

Laura is busy producing more spectacle csses. Sales of these, the bags and the cushions continue to do very well.

Jenny is a star as once again she gives the Mess Room a thorough clean.

Maurice top coating the two new doors for the SR Queen Mary brakevan in Southern Freight Brown. He had previously top coated in Gloss Black the three upper connection supports for the south end of 1876 - these will now be ready for Ken to fit on Wednesday.

Pam has almost finished bringing the old track gauge back to life and it will look suprrb when finished. Be interesting to see where this eventually ends up.

It was a real pleasure to take five of our Monday Cleaning Team - Karen, Steve, Peter, Roger and John - on a tour of the Works, especially as I didn't have to keep watching the clock as is usually the case with the majority of tours. The tour was primarily for Roger to bring Karen to Carriage & Wagon as she is joining the team, but Steve, Peter and John were also interested in seeing all our current projects. I said to Roger that I will happily give the rest of the team a tour if they would also like to see what we do.

A brief visit to the yard at the end of the day to see the last train hauled by D6948 come by.

Finally a shot of RBr 1675 looking really good in the early evening light.

Thursday 7th - The view from above

Another lowish attendance with just twelve in. The holiday season is definitely having an effect.

As happened with Alex on Saturday, I too was fairly tied to a job for much of the day and couldn't get around as normal, so thanks to Phil J and Paul W for the extra photos and apologies for the heavy bias towards TSO 5023.

Two photos showing some of Wednesday's efforts. Above the new floor going in at the south end of RMB 1876. Below Ken has started work on refurbishing 1876's south corridor connection.

Reference the recent query about the lighting in 1876, the fixtures are being changed from the tubular type to the original circular model and will look very much better. All our lighting is now by LED as this has much lower impact on the batteries.

Maurice finishing the undercoating of the heavy backplates for 1876's connection. Next to them is one of the new doors for the Queen Mary brake van ............

[Paul W.]  ...... which Maurice primed and later undercoated. The good news regarding the top coat is that we have what feels like half a 5L tin of Southern Freight Brown so should be fine for coating both doors.

New leaf springs for the MICA van. Hopefully these can now be fitted and the van can go out at last.

[Paul W.]  Alan ( and Geoff) were back out working on Rake 4 coaches, here repairing the back of one of the doors.

[Paul W.]  Richards I and II were doing more electrical testing using the generator under RBr 1675.

[Paul W.]  Richard I is laughing so I take it that all is well.

[Paul W.]  "Foremarke Hall" passes Rake 3 with the Cheltenham train.

Maurice made good progress with refurbishing the sack truck. By the end of the day it was back in one piece and looked very good. Another top coat and it can be taken up to the station.

Now on to TSO 5023 and a very good day of progress. Bob top coated the whole of the lower section of the Malvern side.

Jeff began top coating the gutter panel on the opposite side starting at the north end ..........

[Paul W.]  ......... and then, to avoid the tower where I was working, moved to the south end and continued there.

[Paul W.]  Bob nearing the end of his painting.

Up to the roof where Phil is painting the cowls and surrounding area.

Some need a good vacuum inside. The portable cleaner is ideal for this.

[Paul W.]  By now I'm about half way along the Cotswold side, here painting the edge of the roof as it drops down into the gutter.

Phil makes good progress with the centre section.

[Paul W.]  Paul gets a wave from Phil.

It's now 4 pm and it looks like a lot do in the central section, but it actually doesn't take Phil long to cover this. I have covered about two thirds of the Cotswold side.

By now Phil was well on the way to completing the centre section and I am approaching the south end.

[Phil J]  A long shot of the roof with me at the far end and a small area left for Phil to do next time.

[Phil J]  It's getting late and I've had enough, but I'm determined to get the job done. Nearly there with the first coat, and then clean up, put everything away, check everywhere is secured, and join Maurice for a cup of tea before heading home.

The Malvern side with its first top coat completed. 

Still quite a way to go with 5023, but a satisfying day overall. Be nice to get the roof completed with a second top coat (the Malvern side is finished) and get more top coat on the Cotswold side.