Friday 2nd - Maintenance

Thanks again to Graham for compiling this report.

A reduced gang this week just 4 of us; Anthony, Martin, Richard and Graham.

The overhead tanks on the other rake were flushed again, but with the weather turning colder we expect to be able to stop this soon as the temperature in the carriages will not be in the danger range for legionella.

With the weather Friday the risk of drowning would seem to be higher…

While Anthony was doing the tank flushing, Martin replaced a leaking north end toilet cistern in FK13326 …

… Note the flexible coupling used for the down pipe - allows the fixed positions of the flush handle and the toilet pan to be achieved without the complication of fabricating a single pipe assembly. We also add a valve at the top of the cistern to allow the cistern to be changed without having to drain the header tank completely.

Richard went through checking and cleaning the vestibule lights in both rakes …

…  68 fittings in total. Cleaning to ‘de-fly’ the vestibule light fittings is something we need to do regularly, especially after the summer months as the flies seem to be attracted to any enclosed space! When it is raining these lights can often also indicate roof leaks …

We also found a significant leak in the roof of compartment B of SK24949, and a polythene bag was left protecting a drenching of the seat…

…from the state of the roof there had been a leak before and it seems to have been repaired with a coat of gloss paint! Perhaps it just had a quick tidy under dry conditions when someone had the opportunity, but it could do with more investigation for a permanent fix.

With the rain the opportunity was also taken to check the gutters…

...and look for over-flows...

…some of which could be resolved by scraping leaves out.

The two Richards had intended to install new additional batteries in the maroon RMB 1876 to double the capacity but the weather put paid to that plan. It also put paid to making a start on the next type C exams. Perhaps next week will be drier. With it being so cold and wet the day was cut a bit shorter than usual. (I don't blame them! -Ed.)