Saturday 22nd - Not quite enough rain

A slightly cooler day but despite the small amount of rain we had during the week, still not enough to go back to steam. It was touch and go and the call was left to the last minute as everyone was hoping we'd have a bit more of the damp stuff - spare a thought for those having to make the difficult decisions; we all want to go back to running steam as soon as it's safe and it's not easy balancing everything.

So to 25451, and Phil was in and harnessed up on the high wire on roof scraping duties. Not a glamorous or fun job up there in the heat, so well done Phil.

The pink dust was from Ian, continuing his mission to flat the sides back fully, which he completed today on the Malvern side, sterling job.

George was in too and captured by Paul tidying up some door edges.

Paul also caught me batoning and trimming the Malvern side of the canvas on the Mink D. The remaining jobs are getting fairly slim on the ground now bar the doors.

Still a couple of days of roof painting to go though, Maurice and Paul behind the lens applying the first coat following on from me

Later on Maurice went round touching up the dark grey where we'd caught it with bits of other paint splashes.

We're well stuck into TSO 4867 now. Andy and John were looking at removing the next window frame.

While Robert and Chris were investigating the floor.

This bit needs replacing.

James was cracking on with the metalwork, removing half the North end baseplate here

Pausing for the picture, here cutting a new baseplate in half for its replacement.

Various big bits removed from the coach, mostly for keeping!

With 4867 now front and centre downstairs the upholstery started a couple of years ago is continuing apace, back in the lovely blue horse chestnut leaf.

I think there was a bit more varnishing going on in the inspection saloon by Bob today, but I missed him in action. Have a picture of it anyway. Maybe some fresh varnish in frame? I didn't dare touch to test!

With the slightly cooler weather it was a bit more pleasant for Dave doing a bit of sanding on TSO 3961 removing the graffiti. Or is he just keen to reveal the blue of the blue and grey livery?

Also out in the yard final snagging for SO 4798. Phil on fixtures and fittings...

And Dave on missed bits of varnishing. A change in lighting reveals all sorts of bits easily missed.

I had a couple of signwriting projects to do in the afternoon. Paul captured me at the laptop quickly doing the templates as I hadn't got round to doing them at home.

And the finished articles - on one side at least anyway. One for Broadway, one for Toddington, hence the different styles.

Weds 19th / Thurs 20th - Well that's a first!

Although the drought isn't over yet, we are at least getting some rain and the forecast shows more on the way with even a mention of "heavy rain", though a recent check shows that to have disappeared.

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Wednesday

As usual Wednesday's photos were kindly taken by Gerry. 

A busy day in Upholstery with Laura, Ceri and Eve making key rings, and now mobile phone covers. Always innovative, what will they come up with next?

Simon and Mick are stripping out the old flooring in TSO 4867 ready for a new one.

 

Nick and Gerry refitted another window following the panel repairs underneath.

TSO 4406 was once again brought into the Barn to enable Alan to continue the repairs to the Cotswold side.

Ben hammering around the new skin on this door (must find out from which coach).

Making additional chequer plate for Derek for the Shark Ballast Plough.

Jim points to the hardwood from which he will be making the joints for the Mink D doors.

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Thursday

Bob, Graham, and myself when not doing other things, continued the filling and sanding on the Cotswold side of SK 25451. Always a very lengthy process, it will be with a sigh of relief when we can begin greying up, though there will inevitably be some top-up filling to do.

Richard works on the Malvern side south door doing the all important job of sanding and cleaning up the door and doorframe edges.

Adding some further photos of the Wednesday work on TSO 4867's windows, the latest frame extracted is undergoing refurbishing, and below the window reinstated by Nick and Gerry.

GUV 86828 is going for scrap. The three photos below, taken by Roger, show Ian, Geoff and Alan removing the wood interior. Included is a photo of Geoff taking a photo of the photographer.

Derek has been working hard to get the Shark Ballast Plough into better shape. The pile of planks currently in the Paintshop is from here.

Annoyingly some of the black paint has come off both ends of RBr 1675; thankfully it's only small areas. I looked after the affected bits on the north end on Tuesday, while today Richard sorts out the few bits along both edges at the south end. I don't think we keyed the primer.

The reason that 1675 was taken out of Rake 1 was to fit a Starlink dish to the roof. It's not too visible, especially as catering vehicles have extra roof appendages anyway. It was tested with the coach still sitting in the metalclad Barn and the reception was still good. It means that our card machines on our catering vehicles will now be much more reliable. Both RMBs will be similarly modified.

The 03 has been connected ready to take 1675 to Platform 2 after the final crossover of the day has taken place.

And here it is with the Peak on the northbound train and D6948 about to pick up the token.

While waiting for the Bubblecar to appear, a shot of the Discovery Coach. We must try and find a slot in which to finish repainting this, not easy with so much to do inside and the many dependencies affecting outside painting, especially up at the station (the coach cannot be moved).

And would you believe it's the Bubblecar that is to return RBr 1675 to Toddington to restore it to Rake 1. This has to be a first for us, proved by the fact that I wasn't the only one taking photos!