Saturday 20th - Counting Down the Days

9 turned out today, many for the last time this year. The first job was to shunt out the CK's bogie that had been worked on in the workshop out. It's not going under the coach just yet, so it's all wrapped up to protect it from the elements:

With that out the way and CK16221 back in its place in the barn, the rest of the day was spent putting the refurbished vac cylinder back on. It's an awkward job in a cramped area:

The trolley on the left is used to move the cylinder around and lift it up to offer it up to the mounting points on the coach.

It's exhausting work clearly, as Ian had to have a little lie down. :-)

4867 is still on the jack road, and Dave and Phil were battling with the last window frame, which predictably was putting up more of a fight than the others.

I think they got there in the end.

The rest of the team was focussed on RMB 1808 where we're also counting down the days 'til completion. A major milestone was achieved with the last door being finally rehung by Chris and Bob:

It wasn't on long before I'd started staining it (that's the darker patch) and by the end of the day it was all stained and varnished, along with the rest of the vestibule receiving a bonus coat of varnish to make everything gleam. The door itself is ready for the painting team now whilst there's just the capping strip to put back on before we can paint the door pillars.

Chris then moved into the woodwork shop to sort out the last couple of bits of wood for the centre door on the RMB:

Meanwhile Dave was still finding little bits to tidy up around the door edges:

Although he later got diverted to preparing some 3-link couplings for painting

I also found time to do a spot of sign-writing, this is for the new loco dept. building for their signing on point, where Eddie has made a superb desk for the purpose:

The quarterlights above were also given a top coat in maroon by Pam.

Well, that's it from me this year, at least in terms of "ordinary" blog posts (I may put up another archive post or two and some other bits and pieces if time permits). So I'll wish everyone as best a Christmas and New Year as it's possible to have this year under the ever changing restrictions, a massive thank you to my fellow bloggers Dave, Nick, Roger and Graham, and to all our readers for looking in and commenting, it's very much appreciated. Hopefully next year will be better.