Saturday 2nd - Plenty to be getting on with

 Another busy Saturday with a good attendance.

Beginning with John creating more pipework for the steam heating in the Inspection Saloon.

The completed pipework. This was then taken to the Paintshop trestles for painting in Silver Hammerite.

Ken completing the repairs to the north end corridor connection on BSK 35308.

The Inspection Saloon with the bogies pushed out to enable John H and Clive to reinstate the serviced vacuum cylinder.

With the cylinder in place and the bogies wheeled underneath, Stu checks the working of the vacuum system with the pump. I later heard that it all checked out ok.

Simon continues the building of the kitchen units for the Inspection Saloon.

A broken door pull from BCK 21272 was fixed by Robert.

Alan made one more small metalwork repair by the Cotswold side north end doorway on BSK 35308 and reinstated the small section of capping strip. He then moved on to SK 25451 in the Barn and began working on the south end. 

Both bottom sections, either side of the corridor connection, I am guessing were cut out to check the state of the connection support pillars and baseplate.

Above and below respectively, the Cotswold and Malvern sides of the connection, the former with new sheet metal welded in.

Dave is joined by Ian with the initial sanding of the lower half of 25451's Cotswold side.

The Peak initially was inside engine on rake 1 heading down to Cheltenham to do driver for a tenner, but failed at Winchcombe.

On the return our visitor 34070 "Manston" waits for the new token. It's good to have a Spamcan back with us and staying on for a while after the gala.

Jenny does a really great job with her cleaning, this time cleaning three of the spare Mess Room chairs.

The Paintshop doors suddenly opened and in came Jenny with the Henry vacuum cleaner. She was cleaning the lobby, but limiting her efforts in here to just beyond the entrance.

The Mink D van is having a second top coat. Paul uses 240 paper to key the first coat.

[Photo : Paul E]

[Photo : Paul E]. Maurice is now well into the second top coat.

Lunchtime sat on the wagon in Platform 2 Bay is once again boosted by the arrival of 22 on the Toddington - Winchcombe shuttle .......

...... and " Betton Grange" arriving with Rake 2.

Lunch over, time to visit Upholstery where Carol is making another cushion.

I catch Chris and Robert maneuvering a large bit of plyboard into the Woodwork shop.

Now on to SO 4798 where we had a very successful day.

It was good to see Graham back. He opted to do the flatting down of the lower section of the Malvern side using the circular sander in preparation for the second top coat. We use 240, 320 and 400 paper, depending on the quality of the paintwork being flatted.

Bob opts to hand sand the upper half as the air sander can be somewhat fierce, even though it has a speed control knob.

On the Cotswold side Alex began second top coating the gutter panel after some initial keying. We had been so busy on Thursday with the two main sections, the top section was somehow forgotten.

[Photo : Paul E]  I quickly keyed the top section ahead of Alex. He was rapidly catching me up, but I managed to complete the job in time.

Alex then did the Cream area up to and including the central door, and as lunchtime was approaching, .......

...... he did the bottom Brown section from the door back to the south end. The north half of this side was done after lunch. 

Simon had earlier brought in the tables ready for fitting inside 4798.

The end of the day with the part flatted Malvern side ..........

....... and second top coated Cotswold side.

Note the protective barrier comprising bins, footstands, steps, a Henry, indeed anything to prevent those heart stopping moments when someone nearly walks into the side of the coach when there is wet paint or varnish.

22 rolls into Winchcombe on yet another shuttle. I really must have a ride on it before it returns to Didcot.

Weds 29th / Thurs 30th - Emergency repairs

An interesting two days, in particular on Thursday. As always, grateful thanks to Gerry for Wednesday's photos, and Roger and Tim for the extra photos on Thursday.

Wednesday

Ken has been busy refurbishing the south corridor connection on BSK 35308. It looks like only some minor work is needed for the north connection and that is to replace a small bit of the wood support at the base of the left side.

Ken has clamped the bellows back and away from the wood support to allow the removal of the section to be replaced. A new piece was cut with the bolt hole bored and put on the trestles for painting (this was primed and later undercoated by me on Thursday).

Meanwhile the connection rubber has been attached to the metal plate from the south end of the coach.

Gerry didn't mention what Ken was doing here

The rebuilding of the kitchen inside the GW Inspection Saloon is coming along nicely. The floor unit is now on board with Simon continuing its construction.

I'm assuming this will be a cupboard?

John and Gerry were working on the Inspection Saloon's bogies, fitting axle covers and freeing brake connectors.

Ainsley, Nick, Bob and Stu were working on PWay's people carrier.

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Thursday

The day dawned bright and sunny with that vivid blue sky once again very much present.

The empty Platform 1 Bay ready for the approaching Bank Holiday weekend's activities.

The first of the day's Winchcombe - Broadway round trips with Betton Grange in charge.

During our early Mess Room chat and cuppa, Alan and Geoff were discussing the day's jobs. Then everything changed.

The droplight in the north end door in FO 3132 "Mary" had dropped into the door and completely smashed.

[Photo : Roger]  Stu, Alan and Geoff struggle to get the lazy tongs to move vertically with the replacement droplight in place.

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]. It took two round trips to Broadway to get it all working properly and with everything back in place.

Stu gives the droplight a good clean.With that blue bar I guess this droplight was taken from store.

3132 needs a repaint. Hopefully this can be done before the 2027 season

Very different activities with SO 4798 today. On the Malvern side Jeff finished top coating the windows.

I'm afraid I didn't photo Phil J who was painting the north end door frame and sides.

Jeff completed his top coating on the Cotswold side  toilet compartment window.

The Cotswold side generally had a very different activity. It had had a good first top coat, marred only by some extra skims of filler needed mainly under the top line where an annoying groove made itself known. 

The next job was to flat the whole side ready for the second top coat. Tim got going with the circular pad sander with 400 paper on the cream section .......

......... while Martin handsanded at the south end using 240 paper.

With the cream done, it was on to the main panel.

The lower panel was then finished off with some further hand sanding where needed.

Derek assesses the fitting of the rebuilt battery box cover for the Malvern side.

Steven fits the doors for the new cupboards in the centre vestibule. 

Jeff rubs Georgian Mahoghany wood dye on the edges of the shelves.

Phil S getting the connection corridor light working.

The sink and toilet are gradually being reinstated in the Malvern side toilet compartment.

Two end of day photos showing the two sides of 4798. Above is the Malvern side with its shining first top coat. Below the Cotswold side with its first top coat flatted away, ready for a final wipe over and the second top coat. The above photo also shows some of the doorframe painting done by Phil J.

[Photo : Tim]  He isn't wearing his high viz jacket! 

The Bubblecar, having finished it's final run for the day, was placed in Platform 1 Bay ready for the Cab A Loco weekend.