Weds 19th / Thurs 20th - Well that's a first!

Although the drought isn't over yet, we are at least getting some rain and the forecast shows more on the way with even a mention of "heavy rain", though a recent check shows that to have disappeared.

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Wednesday

As usual Wednesday's photos were kindly taken by Gerry. 

A busy day in Upholstery with Laura, Ceri and Eve making key rings, and now mobile phone covers. Always innovative, what will they come up with next?

Simon and Mick are stripping out the old flooring in TSO 4867 ready for a new one.

 

Nick and Gerry refitted another window following the panel repairs underneath.

TSO 4406 was once again brought into the Barn to enable Alan to continue the repairs to the Cotswold side.

Ben hammering around the new skin on this door (must find out from which coach).

Making additional chequer plate for Derek for the Shark Ballast Plough.

Jim points to the hardwood from which he will be making the joints for the Mink D doors.

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Thursday

Bob, Graham, and myself when not doing other things, continued the filling and sanding on the Cotswold side of SK 25451. Always a very lengthy process, it will be with a sigh of relief when we can begin greying up, though there will inevitably be some top-up filling to do.

Richard works on the Malvern side south door doing the all important job of sanding and cleaning up the door and doorframe edges.

Adding some further photos of the Wednesday work on TSO 4867's windows, the latest frame extracted is undergoing refurbishing, and below the window reinstated by Nick and Gerry.

GUV 86828 is going for scrap. The three photos below, taken by Roger, show Ian, Geoff and Alan removing the wood interior. Included is a photo of Geoff taking a photo of the photographer.

Derek has been working hard to get the Shark Ballast Plough into better shape. The pile of planks currently in the Paintshop is from here.

Annoyingly some of the black paint has come off both ends of RBr 1675; thankfully it's only small areas. I looked after the affected bits on the north end on Tuesday, while today Richard sorts out the few bits along both edges at the south end. I don't think we keyed the primer.

The reason that 1675 was taken out of Rake 1 was to fit a Starlink dish to the roof. It's not too visible, especially as catering vehicles have extra roof appendages anyway. It was tested with the coach still sitting in the metalclad Barn and the reception was still good. It means that our card machines on our catering vehicles will now be much more reliable. Both RMBs will be similarly modified.

The 03 has been connected ready to take 1675 to Platform 2 after the final crossover of the day has taken place.

And here it is with the Peak on the northbound train and D6948 about to pick up the token.

While waiting for the Bubblecar to appear, a shot of the Discovery Coach. We must try and find a slot in which to finish repainting this, not easy with so much to do inside and the many dependencies affecting outside painting, especially up at the station (the coach cannot be moved).

And would you believe it's the Bubblecar that is to return RBr 1675 to Toddington to restore it to Rake 1. This has to be a first for us, proved by the fact that I wasn't the only one taking photos!

Tuesday 18th - Thankfully cooler

With temperatures feeling more like normal, we all feel a lot better and our various jobs seem easier to tackle. There's even the promise of some overnight rain, though it will only be light.

The first train of the day hauled by 24081 approaches the token exchange.

A brief catch up of some of Saturday's metalwork repairs on TSO 4867.

Investigation shows that this window doesn't need to come out. 

Somewhat warped from the corrosion, this capping strip will need removing and new sheet metal inserted.

James, having completed the righthand of the two windows, has moved onto the left and is removing further corroded metal.

With that job done it's now back to the north end and repairs to the Malvern side door frame. With a length of metal bar clamped on to the metal sheet to act as a guide, James proceeds to plasma cut the thin length needed for the repair shown below.

A general view of the cleared south end of 4867.

It's a very different story onboard the GW Inspection Saloon where Stu is carefully applying the wood dye to the new panel under the kitchen window.

The front of the shelving has been given another light sand for yet another coat of varnish, while the interior has also been dyed.

Some further light sanding of the back of the work top.

In the yard Dave is cleaning out the rivet line on the Cotswold side of TSO 4406. 

Later on some further general sanding on the Malvern side.

With SO 4798 now out in the yard, a photo is needed, but first the trains have to pass. 47376 with Rake 2 is nicely reflected in the new paintwork on 4798.

Richard has swapped his Tuesday in the Paintshop with an RCS turn in RMB 1876.

24081 passes 4798 with Rake 1 on the return to Toddington and on to Broadway.

With the trains gone it's now safe to cross the running line to get the photo of 4798.

Scouse was coming in on the train today so the next port of call was the station and the Coffee Pot cafe, where Phil and Maurice have joined him for the 1100 break. I was offered a cake but politely refused as I needed to get back to the Mess Room for my own tea.

The buddleia on Platform 1 has put on a lovely display despite the drought, but there were no butterflies.

Earlier on I caught Maurice rebolting the heavy iron roof section to the south end of the Mink D van.

Scouse has put his "requirements" for the use of the Paintshop tower by anyone else. The Wagon team aren't in on Thursday so it may be temporarily reclaimed for roof work on SK 25451. Better get some bottles of Peroni !

The roof canvas still needs trimming and battens nailed on, but the roof painting with Evercryl can go ahead.

SK 25451 is looking more like a camoflaged coach by the day as Ian slowly works his way along the upper half of the Malvern side.

For David, and occasionally me, it was adding a lot more filler on the Cotswold side. 

Having already photo'd Richard in the RMB passing by earlier in the day, I took the opportunity to grab a close-up photo of Richard and wife Chris while Rake 2 was in the station.