Monday 4th - Still Warm and Sunny

 October, no home heating on yet?! 22°C today.

Chris, Peter and Tim hard at work. Note the maroon carriage.

This is the rest of 4787.

It looks a bit tired! Due to be replaced by "Christine" any time now. But inside a real contrast. Not ex works but still very good.

Everyone busy working when we arrived so Kath and I started in "Mary" and so once again no pics of the team at work (I'm sure Dave understands this challenge!). They were Greg, John M, Lynn, Nigel, Roger C and Val. Nigel doing a great job of Ghostbusting while the two regulars are recovering from their bionic replacements.

I have wondered what the practical difference is now that P2 has had a short extension. With rake 1 in P2 and rake 2 in P1 and both of the Broadway end carriages just nicely on the platform, the difference is clearly seen here.

 Quite a useful extension.

Saturday 3rd - A quiet start but not for long

The day began with a large group heading for the station to catch the first train and ride in the RBr. Bacon baps were very much in mind for some of them. It is often said that while we do all the hard work, we don't get to travel on the trains enough, so it's good to take some time out occasionally and reap the benefits.

So a relatively quiet start, although the peace was soon shattered as James got going on his rebuilding at the north end of TSO 4867.

The replacement panel has been cut out using the plasma cutter. James now cleans it up with the grinder.

Nicely welded in along with the curved sections and ready for a coat of red oxide.

George has returned to his job cleaning out the cracked rivet line. All this will be treated with red oxide and then filled with fibre paste.

Simon, working on floor repairs in 4867, prepares another piece.

Robert and Phil in discussion as Robert finishes off another piece of internal window frame.

Quite a large number of internal frame pieces have been made for 4867.

All window pieces are being coated with wood preserver, which soon dries allowing each to be given a coat of varnish.

In the background the main pieces of frame have now had two coats of varnish. In the foreground all the freshly made pieces of inner framing have had their initial coating.

Phil screws an electrical connection to a freshly painted patresse.

Phil paints Silver Hammerite on the ceiling light fittings and the cover plates.

In Upholstery Jane and Laura are making moquette spectacle cases.

Peter is maintaining the interlocker. His knowledge of sewing machines is a real boon to the team.

Andy resumes a job he started some time ago, repairing heras fence panels for the Construction and Maintenance Department.

A smile from Jenny as she cleans the wash basin in the changing room.

Dave contemplates his jam doughnut and cup of tea while displaying the 2027 calendar and cuddly toys being sold for the Churchward County Trust who are building 3840 "County of Montgomery".

On now to progress with SK 25451 beginning with Ian checking the south end and ensuring all the filler is completely sanded. Some minor cracks directly under the roof were filled with sealant.

The patresse was also given some sealant to prevent wet getting behind it.

At the north end Maurice cleans up the base of the connection and then works on the headstock.

Phil sets up the top line tape on the Malvern side, and then proceeds with the bottom tape, getting the north half done. 

Graham flats down the cream section on the Cotswold side.

Bob undercoats the gutter panel while at the far end Graham adds a second coat of Undercoat Cream. 

The Cotswold side is beginning to look good.

Weds 30th / Thurs 1st - Back as we were

 Wednesday

Thanks as always to Gerry for another fine set of photos covering Wednesday's work.

Rex and Bryan planning and installing a window frame on the Cotswold side of TSO 4867.

Simon, Neil and Mike working on more floor repairs in 4867.

Before and after ventillation pods repaired by Ken

Jim with a door joint for the Mink D van

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

Thursday

The above sequence was taken by Roger when he and Alan repaired a vestibule ceiling in SK 25341. The final photo shows the repair complete with a coat of gloss white paint. The coach is currently in the north side of the yard.

With SK 25451 still in the Workshop, Tim and Graham went over various areas of the Cotswold side flatting the undercoat where needed.

Rex sanding one of the existing inner window frame sections.

With the Paintshop empty after the Model Railway Weekend we handshunted 25451 back to its former location, and then got TSO 4867 back into the Workshop.

That's better! With 25451 back in place Graham and Tim resume their activities.

Rex had brought in his sanded inner window frame sections for varnishing. Jeff first gives each one a brushing with wood preserver.

The GW Inspection Saloon is now up on the jacks, which enables Richards I and II to install through wiring for battery charging.

Trevor had come to the Works, which meant little Jasper was also in. Jasper is such an endearing little chap, so it was a pleasure to spoil him with some doggie treats. After which he enjoyed a good drink.

Gerry cleaning up the interior of the metal window surround prior to the wood sections being reinstated.

Rex again cleaning up the bolt holes on one of the newly made sections of inner framing.

Phil cleans and repairs more ceiling light units.

Jeff has now moved on to black glossing the patresses.

Graham and Tim have now moved on to more undercoating.

Back to Jeff for the final time. The inner pieces of window frame are being varnished as the wood preserver has dried. He then moved on to the large pieces of frame, which will now be ready for fitting.

Back to Graham and Tim who are making good progress with the north half of the coach.

Finally a photo that should have been in Tuesday's post. Apologies to Ainsley for missing him out. On Tuesday, despite the difficulties of using a tower on the Malvern side of the Workshop (it's a fairly narrow space), he managed to get most of the Malvern side of 25451's roof cleaned up and topcoated. Most, if not all, of the roof now has the first top coat in place thanks to Ainsley and Phil J.