Tuesday 30th - We're back !

A great day for us all as this was our official return to C&W. During lockdown small groups only had been in to do work essential to enable us to resume running on April 13th. We had twelve in which was a very good start.

The first thing that had to be seen was our "new" Workshop. While the opportunity was available a small team had completely reorganised it, making the most of the available space, and the results are pretty impressive. 

Access to each area is now so much better.

It was also very heartening, especially for Clive who owns the coach, to see CK 16221 in the Workshop after so long outside waiting to be restored. Some earlier work had been done about 10 or so years ago with the coach outside, and more recently when it was brought into the Barn for a short spell, before finally returning to the Barn last year where bodyside prep had been started and the vestibule floors were being reinstated. Occasionally it still had to go back out when other priorities came to the fore.

 Now who's foot is that?!

None other than Derrick resuming his work in the north vestibule of 16221 to prepare it for the new floor. 

During the lockdown, a small group from Painting and Prep came in for four days to finish off RMB 1808. This in turn enabled the coach to be put outside, and 34929 and 16221 to move up into the Paintshop and Workshop respectively. The Barn was then clear for essential winter maintenance of our running rakes where needed, again with small teams coming in specially for this important work.

1808 still needs to have its number transfers added. 

In addition to the Painting and Prep team white board in the Paintshop, a new one has been mounted there to detail specific non-painting jobs for when vehicles have been brought in. In this case some of the remaining work to be done with 34929. Add to this the tidying up and repainting of the guards compartment (where still needed) and the laying of new marmoleum through the remaining parts of the coach (only the newly created passenger area has been done so far), this all adds up to a considerable amount left to do.  Then of course there is the external painting to be finished off.

The next project was shunted into the barn for us to crack on with over the weekend, P'way's mess coach:

(Thanks Christine for the picture)

  

Moving on to BG 81049 in the Barn and the main task for the Painting and Prep team for the next few weeks.

 

Alex removing loose surface filler which in turn is helping to remove the old number transfer.

On the Malvern side Stu, Richard and Maurice were working hard giving the paintwork a general sanding down and digging out loose areas of filler. Many of these were later treated where rusty.

Maurice busy sanding down the north end on the Malvern side. Later Richard moved on to the north end where a considerable amount of loose filler was removed. A rusting area under one of the gutter ends has been cleared and will need close inspection before treated.

Later on the Cotswold side, Roger was cleaning up the south end, including the first set of double doors. As always there are things sent to try us, and in this case the left hand door handle decided to drop off - as if we haven't got enough to do!

Alex continued with his chipping away of loose filler, and was soon joined by George who was cleaning up the area directly in front (when I went to take the photo he had disappeared). 

On such a glorious spring day, where better than to have the 11-o-clock tea break. All we needed was a train to go by. Still not long now before the new season kicks off on Tuesday 13th April.

 Dave was back in sewing on a canvas base to another bench cushion.

Dave was in his coach SK 24006 working on one the doors, removing and greasing the lazy tongs. He was assisted during the morning by Phil, who has returned after a long absence - it was good to see him back.

So, we're back and in the running again. Let's hope we have a better season than last year.