Tuesday 22nd - Frames

Having missed out on woodworking a number of times, it's good to give the Tuesday team of Chris and Robert plenty of coverage, especially with all the current preparation of the internal window frames for TSO 4867. It's going to be quite a coach when completed with all the external rebuilding and conversion to provide more accessible facilities.

When entering the Woodwork shop they were in the process of passing the part completed frame bases through the thicknesser planer.

Chris was sending each one through with Robert receiving them.

Each frame is passed through a number of times until the correct width is obtained. Robert carefully checks the width to decide whether this one needs another pass.

Yes, one more pass should do it.

The group of completed ones ready for the next stage.

The solid planks are now being passed through.

These are split down the middle to provide the frame side pieces.

Now for the final stage in the base frame preparation. Robert sets up the router with the required cutter.

The solid plank is used as a stable base to ensure the router moves correctly along while cutting. Chris carefully follows with the vacuum cleaner pipe. 

Having watched the start of the router cutting I returned to the Paintshop. Chris later appeared to show the completed frame base.

The pile of completed frames which were later brought into the Paintshop for varnishing.

On to the next job which is one to help out our Signal & Telegraph department. Robert is creating some back supports for some instruments, a sample of which is shown.

With no Mink D van jobs left for Maurice and Paul, Maurice helps out with the clean up of the north end headstock and buffers on SK 25451.

Ainsley is back on the scaffold tower, completing the clean up of the Cotswold side of 25451's roof ready for painting this final section.

David was back at the south end doing a range of jobs which included more filling, adding paintable sealant where required, and an initial clean of the connection sliding door. The latter is particularly dirty with the coach having been at the south end of the rake and hence directly behind the engine on the southbound runs.

We are still finding areas to flat down, the main concentration being the lower panel. Roger tackles the Cotswold side north end.

Ainsley is now completing the initial painting of this side of the roof. The roof will receive two coats of the Light Grey MIO.

Now back to the south end and the Malvern side, beginning with the scraping and sanding to remove loose and flakey paint.

David is concentrating on the base of the connection where the hole had been, smoothing the area with more filler.

I gave the Cotswold side south end (not including the corner section) an overall vacuuming, followed by a wipeover with thinners. Then on with the line tapes, using the special positioning gauge. There is a hook at the top of the gauge to enable it to be hung on the gutter both while applying the tape and when moving the steps and platform.

Keith top coats the spring clips from the Mink D van.

Later on the window frame bases are given the first coat of varnish.

Ken was working on the corridor connection at the north end of TSO 4867.

Dave clears some more of the old grafittied paint off the side of TSO 3961.

Plenty of corrosion under this window. We seem to be regularly removing windows now during full refurbs to repair the underlying panelling. No doubt 3961 will be the same when it eventually enters the Works.

With nothing to do with respect to wagons, Paul and Maurice kindly dug over Rose's vegetable patch. Rose does so much for us, it's lovely to be able help her in return.

Still plenty of runner beans and rhubarb to pick.

All growing well and making a great improvement to the area.

Quite a selection of birds and butterflies seen.

It was "Betton Grange" and 45110 on the trains again today.

With D6948 on the final Cheltenham train.

45110 heads back to Toddington with Rake 2.

***************

Finally I received this photo from Alex on Wednesday morning to say this is where he was working in his job with Network Rail. It is the little crossing box at St Mary's, Chalford on the Stroud - Swindon line and about a mile and a half from my home in Chalford Hill. Here the Golden Valley begins to squeeze together the A419 Stroud -Cirencester Road, the railway, the derelict Thames and Severn Canal, and the River Frome. There used to be a substantial halt here, complete with a footbridge, for use by the much missed Chalford Auto.

This is quite a coincidence. On Monday I was looking through some photos from almost 30 years ago and came across one of a painting I had done as an anniversary gift for my sister-in-law to give to her father who had been an engine driver based at Gloucester Horton Road shed. In his time there he had often driven the Chalford Auto.

St Mary's Crossing Halt is less than a mile away just around the bend. The train is about to go under the A419 roadbridge and into Chalford Station. 

The painting is complete and about to be taken for framing. My sister-in-law was delighted and obviously so was I that she liked it, but I have to confess that I was sorry to see it go.

Monday 21st - No Ghostbusters.

 Only 8 for carriage cleaning today, our lowest turnout since last September. 

Ghostbuster operative  number 1 - just had a replacement hip operation.

Ghostbuster operative number 2 - just had a replacement knee operation. The other knee was done last year.

Reserve Ghostbuster operative - on holiday.

There were 3 others on holiday, 2 unavailable and 1 unknown.

So a busy day, but interesting. Here is 26043 on its way to the Epping and Ongar railway.

Rake 2 in P1 and rake in P2, first time this way round for 6 weeks.

As usual Tim and Chris were on washing duties.

And the entire rest of the team in this one photo at tea break. The inside team.

Kath, Val, Roger C, Steve and Nick with his back to the camera. Yours truly of course behind the camera.

With toilet operative number 1 on holiday and number 2 unavailable it was Kath who got promoted to toilet cleaner. The others did windows, tables, floors. I put the Gtech through "Mary" and helped with the floors. At the end while the others did final bits I helped the outside team for a short while.

Just after lunch the new weed killing train appeared, having already been down to Cheltenham. Here it is coupling to rake 2 to pull it out of the way.

And now in operation.

Finally a warning for all who arrive at Toddington from the Broadway direction.

Severn Trent are digging up the road.

Saturday 19th - A walk through the Works

It's very annoying when you are sent some extra photos and then forget to include them - sorry Roger!

Many thanks to Roger for the above four photos taken on Thursday in FK 13326, which is one of the Rake 3 coaches up in the north yard.

There were problems with locking the north connection sliding door which Geoff was able to sort out.

Rake 3 will be in use as the diesel hauled Toddington - Winchcombe shuttle during the Model Railway weekend (26th/27th September). This extensive event will have 45 model railways and various trade stands based at: -

Winchcombe:

Tim Mitchell Building (Platform 1)

Waiting Room (Platform 2)

Model Railway Coach (our permanent displays)

C & W Paintshop

S & T Workshop

Toddington: 

Cotswold Halt Cafe

Diesel Shed

This should be quite an event. Our website has the complete list of all the railways and where they are based.

***************

Now on to Saturday's activities which, with 24 attending, were very wide ranging to say the least. So beginning in the Paintshop and steadily moving through the Works.

Graham was back in and continuing the hand flatting and keying of the Cotswold side of SK 25451. I also got stuck in on the north end of the opposite side. The centre panel had been undercoated, but the bottom panel still in grey had that vertical rippled look and needed flatting. It all looked a mess again when done but was much smoother and ready for undercoating in Express Red once the line tapes have been put on.

Bob concentrated on the north end, Malvern side. Several filled areas needed sanding and the general paintwork needed a good sand down.

Ainsley took over the final cleaning up and first coating of the Cotswold side of the roof and by the end of the day had almost reached the north end.

Jenny had been sorting out all the recycling and had taken the latest load to the bins at the top of the station car park. The bin by the main door needed cleaning and the advisory notice replenishing, so a visit to the Paintshop in search of some good felt tip pens.

With the Model Railway Weekend requiring the Paintshop, SK 25451 will have to be moved into the Workshop and TSO 4867 into the Barn. The MINK D has been boxed up to enable it to go outside, where it will now stay while the doors are being rebuilt. It will be a relief to have the roller shutter back down again after so long in the raised position.

Maurice and Paul check that everything necessary has been done. The reason why the new roof canvas hasn't been trimmed over the doorways now becomes clear.

Now into Woodwork where a repaired plank from one of the station's seats awaits further work.

Robert hand sands the inside of one of the cutouts that will be used to make a coach window bottom frame section

Chris demonstrates the rolling action of the platform on the Wadkin saw and how the necessary cuts will be made to the window base sections.

Robert makes adjustments to the saw settings, while Chris with his measuring instruments enables the final precise setting for the height at which the end of the frame will go through the saw.

With preparations complete the jig is carefully moved past the saw blade and the cut correctly made.

Two of the frames with the cut made. Still some way to go to the final product.

Photo shown in Tuesday's post with Keith adding the first coat of varnish to the final result. Towards the end of Saturday I sanded these and gave each a second coat of varnish. The batch shown being made today will eventually appear on the trestles for two coats of varnish.

Bob (out of sight), Dennis and Paul wait for the Black 5 to come past. Nice to see it on Rake 2 again - the black goes very well with the crimson & cream.

In the Workshop Phil is cleaning up more covers for the coach end electrical connections [I have been told the name of these but it was sometime ago].

Returning later to find the set of cleaned ones screwed to a plank - whatever is going on?

Well, that was inspired! Always awkward to paint, this certainly ensures clean hands.

Next to Phil on the tool bench, Ken had brought in a very rusty looking radiator for cleaning up. I meant to ask where it was from - part of the steam heating in SO 4798? 

James is back on the north end rebuild of TSO 4867.

It's beginning to look somewhat complex, but he knows what he is doing.

A final shot taken while locking up for the day with the spot welding completed.

I missed Simon and Neil (who normally does Wednesdays) - apologies both - who I believe were working on more floor repairs in 4867.

The new opened up south vestibule, the initial preparation for making our fourth accessible coach.

John and Andy are making new pipe sections to replace a faulty length of steam heating pipe from under SO 4798. With the correct gauge cutter installed, the thread cutter is powered up.

One of the prepared replacement sections with the thread cut at both ends.

The old length lying along the base of the work bench.

The old length is placed on the bench so that replacement sections can be worked out.

John and Phil are replacing the sections that caused the problems with the steam heating when tested.

Taken at the end of the day, this all now looks to be complete.

The wheelset being serviced on Wednesday now looks very smart with a coating of Black MIO.

Clive cleans up the face of the opposite wheel.

I missed Alan working today on TSO 4406, but the large replacement panel has now been trimmed at the base in line with the existing level.

Returning later to find that Alan had given it a coat of green primer.

Further along on the same side, Dave is giving the body side a general sanding.

Later in the afternoon Dave gave the tour of the Works for the participants of the final Behind Closed Doors day this year. This is the all-railway tour which includes the sheds at Toddington, C & W, a signalbox visit, a round trip of the whole line, lunch and tea.

Dave hands over to Laura for a description of the work of the Upholstery team.

Returning later to get some photos to find Carol attaching the handles to a bag made out of Trojan moquette.

The template Carol was using for the correct strap locations.

Laura carefully cutting some lengths of moquette.

And while visiting Upholstery, a few more steps into the office where Rose is busy transferring more of our coach records to the Railway's Sharepoint system.

Then over to the Mess Room which Jenny is once again cleaning. She always does a great job.

"Betton Grange" with a very diverted "Cambrian Coast Express".

Our final fish and chips evening for this year. Our fish and chip provider, busy cooking it all outside the station, does a cracking job getting so many done in time for the 7 pm "Cheltenham Fryer". And they are very good, both the fish and chips very nicely cooked and the portions very generous. Then to round off, Rose had cooked a nectarine crumble. I struggled to finish my chips but somehow managed to find room for the crumble.