Monday 18th - Back To Winter!

 Today was cold and wet. Only the outside washing team of Peter and Tim managed shorts! I worked inside, hence just the one photo!

Apart from showing Peter and Tim at work this was to show where the area of the northern platform extension will take place. Just a 5 metre levelling of the platform, enough to get 1 door onto the platform, work to start after the gala. Part of a longer term plan to extend southwards as well.  Doing this will minimise the disruption to existing infrastructure at the south end. Since you ask, I have no idea when that will be done but I imagine that will have to be over a winter sometime.

David was also outside with the washing team (definitely not in shorts!) and the rest of the team, working hard inside, were Greg, Jane, John M, John S, Kath, Lynn, Nigel, Rich, Roger C and Val. Richard II from C & W was also hard at work, trying to make the generator in the buffet car easier to start. It was putting up a fight!

Dave will be back from holiday soon, so regular updates will no doubt return. As for us we have a week off next week as it is the Steam Gala. Weather due to be warm and sunny, have the weather gods realised?

Monday 11th - Multi Hat Day

John Mac, cleaning team leader, had first of all to don his signalman hat to work Winchcombe 'box and then to Toddington 'box for a RRV move. Then he changed hats to toilet cleaner!

Rake 2 was in P1 with carriage "A" on the platform - first time in 29 weeks. Fortunately it cleaned well and not a problem as the other side had been.

The washing team was Tim, Peter and Chris. Internal cleaners were Greg, John S, Kath, Lynn, Nick, Nigel Steam and self.

Saturday 9th - Gala prep begins

Another glorious warm day as gala prep steps up - consequently another fairly short blog.

Two gala guests were out in ordinary running today, Manston looking good on the crimson & cream rake,

And GWR railcar No.22

Main job for Ed and me today was to do the axlebox exams for the small BR rake of wagons used for shunting around Winchcombe. These will be used by GER 'coffeepot' No.229 during the event. All were serviced and found ok, so that's one job ticked off the list.

In the saloon, Simon continued his task fitting out the kitchenette.

A small diversion for me was sanding down this panel where the varnish was badly peeling and clouding. All old varnish removed, Bob gave it a first fresh coat later in the day.

On the Mink D Maurice found some more bolts to paint on the Malvern side.

While Paul cleaned up the steelwork above the first door frame, before removing the outer roof plank for replacement.

Sticking with roofs, James was welding up one of the failed roof corner patches on 25451

Further along, George was chipping out old failed filler along the rivet line.

Ken continued his work on the South gangway connection for 35308, trimming the new rubber bellows.

On the coach itself, Alan did some more welding on the last door surround. Not long before this coach will be ready to be shipped off to the diesel department for body prep and painting.

On 4798, graham and Bob were 2nd top-coating on the Malvern side.

While attention was turning to the vacuum system; the pump all hooked up, Clive pushes a replacement cylinder along.

That one fitted, time to take the next one off.

Might not be much in the way of blogs during the week with Dave off, unless anyone sends me anything and I have time to upload, but we'll still be busy as ever!

Weds 6th - Fri 8th - A busy time

Three more very busy days, with Thursday being occupied with preparation for the annual servicing of our fall arrest system. 

Wednesday

Another fine selection of photos from Gerry and also one from Rod.

Testing the vacuum braking on SO 4798.

Rod undercoating in Dark Grey the north end of 4798.

[Photo : Rod]  Almost completed. We need to move the scaffold tower here to get the top section done.

Rex and Bryan repairing toilet tanks (for 4798?)

The next six photos are of the continuing work on PWay's people mover. Today this involves stripping down the braking system for servicing.

With the carrier safely propped up, Bob is able to gain the access required to remove the various inaccessible parts.

Cleaned up and freshly coated in green anti-corrosive primer.

 Nick

Bob

Nick again.

Nick, Stu and Bob.

Now on to doors with Trevor and Ben working on the final one from BSK 35308.

Simon making a table top for the GW Inspection Saloon.

Mike and Neil preparing a top for the Saloon's sink unit.

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Thursday

Many thanks to Roger for a wealth of photos taken during the day.

Walking down to the yard roller gate to let a lorry out, I couldn't resist fussing Dixie and Sally, two delightful Alsations who are guide dog mum's. They are owned by a member of the Lineside Drainage team.

A sequence with Betton Grange leaving for Toddington. Other than a Gold Fire and Drive on Friday, this should be the final day of the shortened weekday journeys as I believe the work on the embankment slip south of Gotherington has been completed.

She comes past with that crisp Great Western bark. Music to the ears!

Now on to today's efforts, beginning with BCK 21092 in Rake 3.

[Photo : Roger]  The pull bar at the base of the droplight on the Malvern side double doors was rotten and needed replacing.

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]  Repair completed, just needing the painting.

[Photo : Roger]  Alan repairing the striker plate fitting on the central passenger door on the Cotswold side.

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]  The missing section of beading has been replaced in the First Class compartment ceiling where the leak had occurred.

[Photo : Roger]  The adjacent section of corridor ceiling had also been affected.

[Photo : Roger]  The Painting team haven't yet been able to make the paint repairs with so much else to do in the Works and with various members away (health issues and holidays, and I'm about to join in on the latter aspect).

Phil completed the flatting of the top and central sections on the Malvern side of SO 4798. This side is now ready for its second top coat.

Bob K. Cleans up part of the corridor panelling ready for fresh coats of varnish in the GW Inspection Saloon.

[Photo : Roger]  With some rain expected on Friday, when the stock on the entire through road in the Works will need to be shunted out for the fall arrest system servicing, I went round BSK 35308 ensuring any bare metal resulting from the various repairs was coated in green primer.

[Photo : Roger]  Definitely a small brush needed for this fiddly bit behind the passcomm down pipe.

In the Barn Dave removes the old roundel from the Cotswold side of SK 25451. Much of the lower half on this side has now had a basic sanding, with the lower triple banded lower line completely obliterated as this will be repaced by the standard double band when we do the repainting.

Later in the day 25451 and 35308 were shunted out and stabled in the Works siding. That sky looks threatening.

The Mink D van will be next . The van and SO 4798 were moved separately.

Paul and Dave watch as the 03 moves back in to extract the van and temporarily move it to the other Barn siding.

The 03 then went back to pull SO 4798 out of the Paintshop and into the Barn as far as possible, leaving enough room for the Mink D to be shunted back in. 

The Barn entrance with the Mink D back in.

Doing all this today will save a lot of time tomorrow, especially with the fall arrest system engineer arriving at 0900.

[Photo : Roger]  The empty Workshop and Paintshop with yours truly already vacuuming and sweeping the floor in the latter. 

[Photo : Roger]  Swept and vacuumed, though it doesn't look like it, but we have been in here just over 12 years now.

With the paint trestles and everything cleared away, the Paintshop is now ready for when the scissors lift is driven in by the servicing engineer.

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Friday

The Mink D and 4798 are now outside while the fall arrest system is being serviced. 4798 looks good in the pale sunshine. Thankfully the rain kept off and all the stock was shunted back in still dry.  I then restored the Paintshop ready for use on Saturday. 

It's been a while since I photo'd Rose's brilliant efforts with the yard garden. So much has happened with the veg patch extended and dug, another table and chairs set up, and a wealth of very contented plants absolutely bursting with life.

Rose has begun setting up the hanging baskets for the station canopy.

Her wildlife area, full of wild flowers and importantly plenty of bees. She has set up a low filled trough and you can watch bees landing for a drink. She is a saint!

As for the rain? It tipped down on my way home.

That's it from me for a while. A holiday beckons. I'm back on Tuesday 19th and straight into gala prep. Should be an interesting one with the variety of locos running this year.