Saturday 10th - Surprise!

 Another busy day with a good number in considering several folks are awaiting their second jabs before venturing in.

Beginning in the paintshop BSK 34929 was a hive of activity, albeit none of it painting. It's always a good sign when the upholsterers advance into an actual carriage, and that's what happened today with John and Jenny deciding now was the time to begin:

Working along the coach, next up was Ainsley who was progressing the frame for the double doors on the Cotswold side:

At the end of the day there was a hunt for a threshold for double doors with a hole for where the bolt engages. This coach originally had 4 sets of double doors, now it's only got 2, but can we find any? Not as yet! 

Next along was Chris, shaping up another door threshold on the Malvern side:

Meanwhile at the north vestibule at various points both Dave was fettling the area for the door to access the plumbing,

And Steve was finishing off the wood panelling in the top corner:

I also retreated to the paintshop mid-day to finish off a bit of signwriting for John at Toddington. Dave was quite amused with my set up to get things at the right height, it took me ages to work it out!

And the finished product:

All done and ready for collection now. I got the hint when someone from the loco department popped in this morning asking if he could take them back!

The workshop was relatively quiet today with not too much action. I'm afraid I missed Derek continuing his work on the CK's floor, but I did catch Andy doing his best Sherlock Holmes impression with the magnifying glass:

Sorting through dies trying to work out what's what, and what's worth keeping!

Braving the cold outside, I found Dave and Rob working on their coach doing some more preparatory work:

(Got your best side there Dave, sorry!!) Here removing some of the conduit and other associated bits and pieces for cleaning and storage. They're already eying up the Mink A as potential storage, where Paul and Richard were hard at work stripping all the timber off ready for shot-blasting:

Doors left on "for security purposes" :) :

While Ian was writing up what they'd adjusted and changed on SO 4787 on the left. 

John was enjoying the new lighting put in in the metal working area machining a few bits and pieces for Andy and Ian to fit:

Before it was shunted out:

Thanks to Richard for those 2 photos, I was engrossed in sign-writing at the other end of the works at the time

At the end of the day it was replaced with TSO 4772 for some attention of its suspension:

Meanwhile on the adjacent road in the barn another good day on the P'way BG, With George cleaning up the ends, while Pam and Dave focused on the Malvern side as it nears towards being ready for painting:

And the surprise? Well, we slyly hid the undercoating of the Cotswold side on Thursday until I got the top coat out today:

Ta-da! Everyone likes a bit of Crimson and Cream! Looks rather good doesn't it? Before fans of Blood & Custard (like me) get too excited, we're only using up old paint stock that's been sitting around for ages, no larger change in policy here.

Although it would be nice to run it with the two NYMR SKs in the same livery when they return this month with Dinmore Manor in black... And back to reality. At least trains return on Tuesday, yours truly on TTI duty first thing, 4270 up front. See you there!