Thursday 20th - All change

 A showery day for shunting but generally most of it was achieved without a drenching.

Being somewhat busy in FK 13329, which initially was in the Works siding, I didn't get many photos of the various jobs being done elsewhere. With the corridor repairs completed, the first job was to dye the new wood with Georgian Mahogany, even the new veneer panels to help blend it all in. Next was the turn of the new wood along the top of the heater covers - with limited time it was straight into the dark grey undercoat. Bob appeared and took over the job. We should be able to get the varnishing done and complete the painting, either later on Saturday when the cleaning has been done, or on Tuesday. The two rakes return to Toddington next Thursday ready for the start of the new season.

Alan and Roger replaced the missing block on the buffer extension keep at the south end of TSO 4986.

The cleared route through the Works - signs that the shunt is imminent.

Still time for Gerry and Phil to work on the Cotswold side toilet compartment window on SO 4798.

Inside at the south end Bryan is working on the base section of internal wood framing on one of the final windows. Moving the coach into the Workshop will be a good thing for any number of reasons, one of them being that the recent intense cold prevented the use of the mastic for sealing the glass panes. 

Inside the corridor of RBr 1675 more heater cover tops to paint. Bob goes straight to undercoating. The Painting team have almost finished inside the coach now with various bits to complete, and of course the south connection doorway when the door closure problem has been resolved.

Rake 1 was hauled from Platform 1 and backed down the Works siding to enable FK 13329 to be attached. The Race trains can be up to 8 coaches in length.

Now the Works shunt begins with SO 4798 hauled out of the Barn.

Next is 1675.

Then it's the turn of the MICA van.

With part completed vehicles this is when you are glad it isn't raining!

While Phil carries on with his electrical work, Paul and Bob watch as the 03 backs down to pick up 4986.

The gleaming beastie rumbles by .......

....... and at last can be appreciated in the daylight.

What is basically the first four coaches in our new Crimson & Cream rake - the new Rake 2. Hopefully it won't be too long before they are joined by RMB 1876, and possibly SK 25451 which was the other badly faded maroon coach in the former Rake 2.

4798 rests temporarily on the jack road.

[Photo : Gerry]  With the Paintshop empty a chance for Bob and I to do a bit of sweeping up. We couldn't do very much because 1675 was soon coming in.

[Photo : Gerry]

So, here it is. Another major painting job for the team. Just a few bits need undercoating, otherwise top coat here we come.

The MICA van returns.

Finally 4798 is now where we need it. Still a lot to do before this coach is completed.

The empty Barn. The jack road will continue to have vehicles brought in as required, but wonder what will be coming on to the through road?

Wednesday 19th - The Wednesday few

 These days we are thin on the ground on Wednesdays, however with Rex,Gerry and Bryan  working on 4798 windows, John and myself set about end steps for the MICA van.

We decided the best way was to heat the cut plates and use the hand press, I am just trying the measurements here. It went very well ......

There are 12 steps, i.e. 6 at each end ..... this is the second batch, and a bit too hot to handle.

John is cleaning them up after plasma cutting.

Number 1 is loosely bolted into position to check levels etc. Just another 11 to go and then they will be painted.

Our weekly visit to upholstery, with the DFR latest batch being complete they are busy now continuing with 4798 seat set......

Something a bit different for Bob this week, assisting Stuart with brake parts repair for 1672 .....

Stuart with a brake chamber repair .....

...... All hands to the pump with Ken also involved.

A bit of gentle persuasion  .......

Success with the vacuum gauge confirming the result.

Ainsley working on a 4798 step......

Trevor on the same vehicle making door adjustments ......

and fitting the striker plate.

Finally, Rex is cleaning up some of the last window retainers for 4798.

Many thanks to Gerry and Eve for the photos.

Tuesday 18th - Job done

A satisfying day that saw a major job completed and to a far greater extent than originally planned.

With this chair repaired and varnished, it was good to reunite it with its seat, very garishly re-covered by our Upholstery team. The chair is destined for BSK 35308.

Another refurbished vacuum cylinder is coated in black MIO by Ian.

Keith primes battens for the MICA van.

Chris uses the multi tool to enable the overhang to be completed. The overhang is for the roof canvas so that the water shoots off and away from the van sides.

Chris and Robert cut the extra length of overhang  ........

....... and later fix it in place.

It was time for a tidy up and clear out of all the odd bits of unwanted wood and scrap planks kept as templates for the van. Paul and Maurice did a good job and the area around the van is now a lot clearer.

Ainsley works on more door droplights.

RBr 1675 will be next in the Paintshop, so time to identify some further areas on the body sides requiring some skims of filler.

Following their earlier activities Roger and Keith went round the coach tackling all the chalked areas.

Today was the final day available to complete the work on TSO 4986. With a good number of the Painting and Prep team attending we could really push the boat out and do far more to improve what had already been achieved.

Maurice had already black glossed the Malvern side sole bar and steps, and the south end headstock. It was now the turn of the Cotswold side sole bar.

More additional jobs included reblacking the rubber surrounds for the toilet compartment windows as these were looking somewhat tarnished. Richard tackles the Cotswold side window.

The door stops and handle, grab handle and window toplight are black glossed. Phil took on this job for all six doors and what a difference it makes.

Roger improved the corridor connections with some black gloss on the lower inner sections and silver hammerite on the chequerplates.

During the clean up of the cream paintwork the window central parts were already faded and difficult to improve. As such they weren't varnished when the panels and main window frames were done. It was hoped that there would be enough time to repaint them instead. Thankfully there was and Richard took on this job.  It took most of the day but when completed the result greatly improved the overall look of the coach.

Maurice nears the end of his work on the sole bar and steps, again a tremendous improvement.

With Richard, Phil and Roger busy on their various projects, Ian took on the painting of the north end headstock.

Roger took care of the lamp brackets. In the background the busy scene.

The final photos at the end of the day with the coach completed as far as possible in the time available. Job done! We now have a rake of four crimson and cream coaches, with more to follow later this year.

So a good day overall. It was even sunny, a treat after all that dull cold weather.