It's not all work, work, work in C &W. We do have a good social side too, especially when there is a spell of good weather such as we are currently having.
A walk up to the station as the train is shortly due in and the promise of another fine day.
Paul and Dennis had already enjoyed their toasted teacake and were enjoying their tea. Rose had joined them, while Maurice was going to catch the train to meet Paul E (Scouse) at Cheltenham and travel back with him.
The first train of the day arrives behind 2807.
Back to the Works where James and John are continuing to reinstate the pipework for the toilet tank filling and passcomm equipment at the south end of SO 4798.
A new short length of pipe needs to be slightly bent. John inserts and carefully positions it in the bender.
The pipe bender is incredibly strong and it8 doesn't take much effort from John to do the job.
[Photo : Paul W] James gives the thumbs up to Paul that all is well.
A photo taken at the end of the day with both pipes completed and secured in place.
We made some good progress with the bodyside preparation and undercoating. Phil is well into the Cotswold side top section with the Dark Grey undercoat.
Graham finished sanding the Cotswold side north corner and then moved round to the Malvern side to tackle the large areas of filler.
A new tin of Undercoat Cream definitely needs some thinners and a splash of the Painters Friend conditioner.
Bob gets cracking with the Cream undercoat on the Cotswold side, but decides to stop and tape up the windows, which in turn will speed up his painting.
On the Malvern side the opposite is happening and it's the Light Grey undercoat that is swallowing up the old cream top coat.
Returning later and Bob has got a nice area of undercoat painted, while Phil is well down the coach and nearing the end of his run.
Graham has done a very good job getting all that lot nicely sanded down. All the dust was carefully swept up. A check to see that it's ok and then we need to get all this re-greyed.
With the top section completed Phil began undercoating the bottom panel. It's such a treat to see undercoat on 4798 after being so long looking a mess.⁹
The 1100 tea break had many of us abandoning the Mess Room in favour if the station, seats by the Barn, and our new place in Rose's garden. Peter and Jane had already chosen this venue and Rose and I joined them. Where has the table gone?
Tea over, so why not get some photos of Upholstery at work. Jane is busy sewing up another curtain destined for SO 4798.
Jane is sewing them, while Peter is bagging out them i.e. turning them from inside out
Carol is making another bag. We need to build up the supplies for the shops at Toddington and Broadway, and of course our online sales.
All ready for collection.
Hey, don't stand there watching - give us a hand!
On Thursday I sat at the table in Rose's garden and very soon decided that we needed to do something about its appalling state. So today Maurice brought it into the Paintshop and we proceeded to scrape off all the paint splashes and blobs.
[Photo : Robert] Why were we working inside when we could just as well be outside enjoying the lovely day. The table was moved outside and then dismantled. This was followed by the lengthy clean up of the legs and central supports by Maurice and myself.
Job done so back into the Paintshop where we can coat the metal in primer and then top coat. It would look very nice in Dark Stone.
Lunchtime and we are back to the garden. In fact we ended up with all seats filled. Rose's garden is becoming popular!
The photos were taken just before we returned to work. There are longer term plans for the garden. An old very large tyre already has rhubarb growing and there is mention of potatoes and runner beans, and maybe even something to sell up at the station.
I only got one photo of the Mink D today. Paul was top coating the recently added planking at the north end.
[Photo : Paul W] The water tanks for the toilet and kitchen in the GW Inspection Saloon were tested and everything checked out satisfactorily with no leaks. Phil S and Stu were able to successfully locate the valves and discharge points.
[Photo : Paul W]
[Photo : Paul E] The south end of BSK 35308 with myself priming the bare metal ready for Ken to fit the wooden connection supports.
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A comment from Thursday's posting.
Bob S. who designed the spraying system replies:
As the wagon will not be coupled at the end with the booms fitted, there will not be a coupler there. The booms are fitted with break-back clutches protecting the booms and allow easy folding up of the booms when not in use. The complete boom mounting is also easily removable from the wagon to be stored safely away from the wagon when not in use.'
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