Tuesday 22nd - Rapidly changing

The final Tuesday before Christmas saw nine of us in. A few may be in on Wednesday and during the period between Christmas and New Year, but for the Painting Team that's basically it until Saturday 2nd January. We have made such good progress that we may as well enjoy the time at home.

Beginning today with Alex, adding another coat of varnish to the south vestibule in RMB 1808. This really is a very worthwhile job and is one of the many finishing touches that go towards the completion of the refurbishment.

 

 

In the counter area Russ added yet another coat of cream where needed.

 

The next job was to top coat the new section of ceiling in the vestibule. 

Another job completed. 

Well, actually, not quite. Alex, how do you fancy the painting the door number on the curved section, just above the entrance?

 

The final job was clear up the counter area, remove the dust covers from the seats, and pick up the floor covers.The whole area now looks very smart and ready for our passengers when 1808 returns to traffic and, we hope, better times.

With the final door now in place and working, Maurice spent the day sanding it down after its initial clean up and greying prior to its rebuild. Further filler has been added where needed and a fresh coat of light grey undercoat added. The adjacent panelling still has to have the capping strip put back, but Maurice cleaned up and filled where necessary this section too.

 

Moving into the Workshop to BSK 34929 where Richard has started cleaning up and sanding the second of the Cotswold side double doors.

Later in the day, with all the prep work completed, Richard added the light grey undercoat. Both doors are now ready for taping up and undercoating.

The rest of the capping strip has yet to be put back.

On the Malvern side Ainsley began the line taping using our positioning tool.

With the line tapes in position undercoating was soon underway.

On the north half of the Cotswold side the tapes had already been positioned and Alex had made a great start with the undercoat madder steadily transforming this side, adding to the south end which had been completed last week.

Transformation completed.

Never one to stand still, Alex moved to the opposite side to join Ainsley. Taping up was soon done and the undercoating on the north end well underway. By close of play the bottom panelling had been done as well!

Lunch time with just Ainsley and myself missing from the downstairs group. As a temporary Mess Room, the north end of the Paintshop has been ideal. The base of the gibbet hoist makes an ideal table!

It will seem strange when we can eventually return to the proper Mess Room.

In the Barn Derek was making excellent progress with the new floor in the north vestibule of CK 16221. The heavy ply board fitted like a glove.

Kevin did a very useful job in tidying up and cleaning the main Workshop tool bench. It's good to do this sort of thing fairly regularly and make everyone's working a lot easier.

 

Upstairs to Upholstery where the covers are going on. Dave is busy attaching new moquette to one of the seats to which he was recently sewing on hessian underlay.

The final three days of Santa Specials began today.

Foremarke Hall and Dinmore Manor were both looking splendid. Alex's "Santa Experience" headboards completed the festive scene.

We often watch the trains go by, with most of us piling out of the Works to enjoy the spectacle and wave at the passengers, especially now with lots of excited little faces waving back and eager to see Santa.

It's quite something watching each train begin the return to Toddington. With the engine having been stationery for quite some time, opening the cylinder drain cocks is essential to remove any residual water. When this is done, the locos literally disappear in clouds of steam as the train pulls away, the cold air making the sight even more spectacular. Foremarke Hall emerges from the cloud on its final trip of the day.

As far as we can in these strange times, have a great Christmas everyone and let's hope the New Year brings us all some cheer.