Thursday 1st - No April fools here!

A busy day with a good number in (I forgot to count), with more returning after the long break. As can be imagined, there was quite a buzz about the general atmosphere with everyone very pleased to be back in again.

Beginning today in the Doors/Wood Shop with Des and Ainsley, new recruits to the Door Team, stripping down two more doors for BSK 34929. 

We are very thankful that following Craig's retirement (as Head of the team), and with two more unable to come in for health reasons, four members of the Painting and Prep Team have offered to be trained up to work on doors. The other two are Russ and Rod.

Trevor, one of the two remaining active members of the team, surveys the current door situation with 34929.

Alan was replacing the missing window sliders inside the new passenger compartment in BSK 34929. Here he is reattaching the slider retaining strip.

I love all the oak-veneered panelling inside here. An excellent job done by Eddie, the Wood Team and the Indoor Gang

There was a lot of activity outside today, which included moving the second Covid rake from the station to the yard area, with the south end of SK 25743 over the crossing. This enabled the lifting trolley to be positioned under the buckeye which needed servicing.

With the buckeye detached and lowered, Tony, Ian and John could begin the essential servicing. 

Meanwhile our dynamic electrical duo, Richards I and II, had been working their way along the rake checking the fuse and battery boxes. Access to this side was now possible with the rake pulled away from the platform.

Their "Electrics on Mk 1 Carriages for GWSR", which was published on the 4th March, created a lot of interest and so far has been the fourth most read article in the new blog. 

Now moving back to the Barn and progress with P'Ways Mess Coach, BG 81049.

Looking down the length of the Barn, the Cotswold side of the BG was receiving most of the attention, with filling and sanding the main occupation for the day - there is a lot to be done! Bob and Jeff are busy at the south end, while George cleans his board before digging out some more new filler from the tin.

I didn't note the number of the maroon coach that was also shunted in today for some underframe maintenance by John and Tony. I did however note Jeff lending a hand as John refitted the dynamo belt.

Phil, and myself when not running around on a number of other jobs and taking blog photos, were also busy filling and sanding at the north end of the BG.

George moved round to the Malvern side to do some more filling there.

There is still an amount of general sanding down to be done on both sides. Preparation is always a slow, but steady grind, but we are getting there.

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Meet the Teams: 

As you may have already noted, whenever we put out one of the Meet the Teams articles, Alex also places a copy under our Meet the Teams section on the Blogs home page (in the left hand side menu). The articles placed here will be continually updated as the teams change. The original version in the main blog will be kept as written as this is a historical record.