Saturday 14th - The final one of the year

Kicking off in the Workshop with our lengthy rebuild of TSO 4867.

James continues his repairs on the north end doorway on the Cotswold side.

At the south end Andy wrestles with an obstinate nut.

George seems to be forever working on the Cotswold bodyside with removal of loose filling and subsequent replacement with new filler, but he's making progress. All this side will need an overall sanding, a good reason to try our new Mirka system with 80 grade mesh pads. We could even try the 60 grade that was provided.

Inside the north end Simon is constructing the internal framework for the veneer panelling.

Alan has now fully welded the half end to TSO 4406 and is trimming the base.

Dave primes the Cotswold side rivet line which has now been fully dug out. As with 4867 this side of the coach also needs a good overall sanding and we need to remove that triple-banded line.

Andy cleans up two lamps from Set 3.

The two new buffer covers made by Ceri last Wednesday.

Phil preparing more electrical connecters for coach ends.

In the Paintshop Andy and Ian S. paint Black M.I.O. on the cleaned side of SK 25451's south bogie. Andy had previously completed the Cotswold side.

Ian sands the backs of the Cotswold side battery box covers ......

......... which he later paints in Gloss Black.

Meanwhile the Malvern side cover receives the same attention from Andy.

Ian later moves on to more blacking of various underframe parts, again with M.I.O.

Two areas of the Malvern side gutter panel needed completing with top coat, but that's all the main external top coating now finished. All the line and demarcation tapes have been removed, and that means signwriting and lining out can now begin. With BSK 35308 waiting in the wings, we need to get 25451 finished, FTR checked, and then attached to the south end of Set 2.

The main coach set was in action today carrying the racegoers to the November meeting and returning them in the late afternoon. During the middle of the day the train becomes the final Fish & Chip Special of the year.

Betton Grange makes a great sight, especially with the appropriate headboard in place, a parody of the one used for the famous "Cheltenham Flyer".

Jenny heard that the End of Day gang, and anyone else who wanted to join in, intended to make the most of this, so she set up a tray for us.

Rose once again did the ordering and collecting, and we all tucked into a very nice freshly cooked lunch.

Weds 11th / Thurs 12th - More busy days and a bit of TV

Another lengthy posting covering more of our midweek activities.

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Wednesday

Many thanks to Gerry for the day's coverage with another fine selection of photos. Also to Ian who captured Gerry working with Rex.

Armistice Day 2 minutes silence.

Ceri is in the process of making two new buffer covers .........

....... and carefully following the instructions on the template.

Eve and Chris are making more cushions.

Jim makes out a list of wood requirements, presumably for the Mink D van doors.

Neil fits a new vice on the work table that was created in-house.

Trevor is making battens for the walls in 4867 to enable veneer panelling to be fitted.

Mick fitting wall battens in 4867.

Neil completing the final fitting of the new floor in the north vestibule.

[Photo : Ian]

Rex and Gerry completed the inner frames on this window. It will receive a final coat of varnish.

Nick repaired and fitted a new under window panel section.

Bob cleaning a window frame and repairing worn sections.

At the north end of 4867 Ken marks the position of the passcomm where it will lie under the connection wood supports.

25451's south end raincover is being refitted.

Under the GW Inspection Saloon Ian is fitting the remaining cladding to the steam pipework.

With the cladding work completed Ken lowers the saloon body on to its bogies.

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Thursday

Many thanks to Roger for the extra photos.

We wecome Steve to the Painting Team. Photo taken at the end of September when I gave him an initial tour of the Works.

Having completed his Induction course and all the online courses, today was Steve's first day with the team. It began with the mandatory wade through the standard proforma set out for all new members of C & W. This involves a walk around the Works and covers a multitude of aspects, including H & S when working in C & W, each section of which is initialed. At the same time he could be introduced to all the staff in today. 

Steve's first job was to carry on with the production of the inner window frame sections for TSO 4867, this batch needing either first or second coats of varnish. A check with Rex confirmed that we need begin storing these on the racks in the Paintshop until they can be fitted to avoid overcluttering 4867.

Then the reverse side of the nearby patresses were given a coat of gloss black. These will now be ready for storage until required.

In the Barn Alan has spot welded the half end in place on TSO 4406.

Inside the south vestibule Tony is removing old beading.

[Photo : Roger]  Roger, Alan, and Jeff continue their steady progress through the coaches in Rakes 3 and 4, making repairs as necessary.

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]

More progress with the Shark ballast plough with the reinstated Malvern side planking on the north veranda now top coated by Derek.

We are on the finishing stages with the livery painting on SK 25451. Tony second top coats most of what is left to do on the Malvern side gutter band.  One bit was left where Phil had been working on the window below.

Phil catching up with second coating the Malvern side windows.

On the Cotswold side Ainsley continues Richard's work on Tuesday, using paintable sealant where needed on the windowframes.

David is also doing this where needed. The Cotswold side windows have needed a fair bit of

extra work.

 

David later undercoated the Cotswold side footboards.

We can now begin removing the demarcation and most of the line tapes from the coach.

Graham begins lightly sanding and cleaning up the north vestibule veneer panelling ready for a fresh coat of varnish.

I love being able to get this done if there is time. Revarnishing inside makes a huge difference.

The north vestibule at the end of the day.

Good progress with the tape coming off the Cotswold side.

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Steam Train Diaries

Back in May the Button Down TV Production Company spent several days filming various aspects of the Railway, which included a morning in C & W. The resulting edited videos would be shown as part of one of the Steam Train Diaries programmes to be shown in the autumn.

The series in five parts began this Thursday at 9 p.m. on More 4.

The following are some of the photos kindly taken by Martyn Dix (RCS) when he watched the programme the next day on Catch Up.