Thursday 6th - You think of a title!

Arriving early as usual, the first thing was to see what changes had taken place after Wednesday (Nick's blog had yet to be published).

As Nick later reported, our regular flooring contractors Bob and Pete had done a great job and screeded the whole of the remaining part of BSK 34929, a total of 3 vestibules, 4 passenger compartments, the guards compartment and the toilet compartment. When they arrived Bob mixed up some top-up filler to cater for the deeper recesses where present.

Next into the Barn to find that DMU 51306 and one of the NYMR coaches had been shunted in, and a good start made on the bad front corner on the former. Then outside to see the P'Way Mess Coach back in its regular place in the yard.

An excellent photo opportunity to capture two newly painted coaches was immediately apparent with RMB 1808, our last main project, available on the end of the line of coaches in the 3rd Rake siding.

The second NYMR coach SK 24804 was on the Jack Road and no doubt waiting its turn for a checkover in the Barn.

Our dynamic duo Richards I and II were all set to check the batteries and general electrics on the NYMR coaches, but trollies loaded up with heavy batteries don't move very well with flat tyres. So Richard I set to with the footpump. Another tyre needed a top up so I helped with the footwork.

As I mentioned in Tuesday's report, we are fed up with the same old view of CK 16221, and although countless sessions of filling and sanding have taken place, it always looks as though there is little progress. So with our work mainly limited to this, we have the opportunity to do something about it. Phil and Bob concentrate on the south end of the Cotswold side, checking for any unsanded or part sanded filler, and adding any more if needed.

There were several comments after Tuesday's report with respect to what we intended to do with the NYMR coaches in the longer term. Would we be repainting them, or simply varnishing the bodysides if the paintwork was still in good condition? The usual deciding factor is the amount of repair work necessary on the bodywork. A quick inspection of this panel on 24804 revealed some small rust holes at the base, but otherwise it wasn't bad. Ten minutes with the polish and a good rub down soon removed the oxidised paint surface and produced a decent result. So provided the overall bodywork isn't in any worse condition, then certainly a coat of  varnish, or even a good overall polish, would certainly bring the coach back to a very passable condition.

The Malvern side of the other coach in the Barn appears to have a lot of staining down the paintwork. We will have to see if this can be removed as it is quite unsightly.

Thursday means Door Team day, so a visit to their workshop found Trevor and Des still busy with Door 9 from BSK 34929. A lot of progress had been made with the lazy tongs now fully functioning and the new wood frame being prepared for the central hinge fixing.

Rod was busy cleaning up the reinforcing back plates for the hinges.

(photo: Rod)

The next job was to flip the door over and end on into the special trough on the side of the work bench. So time to lend a hand again.

When the Woodwork team made these benches for the Door Team, the addition of this trough was a real innovation. With the door now in the correct position, the fitting of the hinges will be a lot easier.

With his left hand holding both the reinforcing back plate and hinge in place, Trevor tightens the screws.

The new Door Team have really settled in and are doing a great job.

Just in time to catch the second train of the day heading for Cheltenham. Signalman Keith makes ready to exchange the tokens.

Meanwhile Phil and Bob are making reat progress with the CK. Phil is cleaning off the sanding dust from his section.

 While joy oh joy, Bob has started greying up!

Now a wander over to SK 24006 in the yard to see what Alan, from our Indoor Gang, had been doing. The first of the stripped windows had received a section of inner framing, the very first addition to this coach. Meanwhile Dave and Robert, the coach's owners, were continuing with the light sanding of the sycamore veneer panelling in the south compartments.

DMU 51306's paintwork has faded badly, so Jeff tried some polish on this too and by the end of the day has produced quite a good result. This did however take sometime to do, and there is a smeariness that remains and is very difficult to remove, even when trying a different make of polish. 

Bob and Pete had laid quite a lot of the new marmoleum by the end of the day and the result looked really good. The remainder would be done the next day, which means that our Upholstery Team will be able to get back in on Saturday to continue reinstating the new seating.

 Back to the Workshop and progress on the greying up on the BSK is looking good.

Ring the bells! Half an hour later and the job is finished. To see the coach like this after so long is a joy. The next stage will be to get the windows done and then move on to the north half of this side. 

There is still a huge amount to do yet with the CK, but to see the internal progress done by Derek and now with the exterior base coat going on, it is all very heartening. 

Finally, a real bit of history. When I arrived I discovered a bag on our painting trestles, inside of which were a paint kettle, two very large brushes, and this almost 60 year old can of varnish. I don't know who brought this in, but I will certainly be sending this photo to Williamsons when I submit my next paint order. I think they will be somewhat amazed to see it!

(These were brought in by Kev, our process assurance manager, who acquired them from a friend's father who worked in Stratford works in London from 1947-61, so very definitely some proper history! -Ed.)