Thursday 1st - Another interesting day

A day with some surprises, not all welcome, but with the usual C&W spirit we ended on a good note. It was quiet with just nine of us in, somewhat reminiscent of when Thursdays had just been started as a regular working day about 12 years or so ago..

 

Carrying on from Wednesday with a second top coating in yellow for the proof of principle stand that has been made for buckeye servicing and exams.

A length of tough string threaded through and supported on hooks was the novel way to paint another tool for use with buckeyes.

 

Bob S. was busy cutting some new brackets for the backs of loco headboards. The original set hadn't come out so well.

Inside RMB 1876 Alan and Richard II have completed the repairs to the north vestibule ceiling.

Oh dear, this doesn't look good. Alan walks back towards the Works having extracted this water-ruined panel from the north vestibule in TSO 4614, another of the coaches destined to go back into operational running after July 19th.

With Paul supporting the ladder, Dennis investigates and the probable cause appears to be a hairline crack just above where the gutter is attached. His outstretched arm is indicating the left hand limit of the crack. Later on I ascended the ladder and gave the whole area a good coating of Flexacryl which should prevent any further water ingress.

Meanwhile Bob S. and Alan had measured up a new veneer panel, cut it to size and were seating it in place when I arrived to take the photo. Once the fitting is complete and the beading put back, several coats of varnish will soon have it all looking good again.

Meanwhile, with the weather threatening to be kind, we took the opportunity to get the lower panels of TSO 4798 into top coat, all the prep work having been completed on Tuesday. Well, almost - there is a bit of lining out to fill and repaint, but that wasn't going to stop what we intended. We both got going with the taping up, and while I was finishing that, Bob K. got cracking with the painting.

Don't look now Bob, but we're being watched!. Paul takes a break with "encouraging comments" on the state of the painting. 

Great - finished! Just the tape to remove and we're done. A number of small things still need to be finished with our quick repaint work on this line of coaches, but these will be completed in time for the big shunt on the 19th. 4798 is a 3rd Rake coach that remained after the two Covid Rakes were formed. It will stay in the siding when the 3rd Rake is reformed, but the coach now looks so much better for both us and our passing passengers to see. 

 

The first train of the day returns from Cheltenham with Andy B. driving Dinmore Manor.

Hey, he is keen. It's our Alex enjoying yet another Guard's turn. As always, mind that hat!

In the Workshop Dave H. is sanding down the door pillars from one of the compartment entrances in SK 24006. One is now ready for fresh varnish.

As for Bob K., he certainly doesn't hang about and is now varnishing the lovely weathered sycamore veneer panelling in one of 24006's compartments. The light sanding down of the veneer is steadily progressing through the coach.

During the afternoon the expected delivery of Birch veneered plyboard arrived. No problem with that, except that we found out that this was actually just the small part of a much larger order.

What we weren't expecting was the enormous pile of heavy planking that came with the plyboard, some of it hardwood, and that is heavy to say the least. It turned out to be a re-stocking order that had been delayed. Oh well, it kept us fit and burnt off the morning's doughnuts.

Richard II and Steve S. are in the process of replacing all the lighting in RMB 1876 with the new LED strips that they had been working on. Paul had removed all the shades for cleaning.

 The new lighting so far in place in the north compartment.

Very much brighter than the old and using far less power.

The special units to control the LED lighting that the two Richards and Steve have been constructing.

Inside the counter area. This is an excellent piece of work which will considerably save on battery power.

 Foremarke Hall making a stirring start on it way back from Cheltenham.

A final look at progress in 4614 with Bob S. now attaching the old beading lining the door entrance . The corner beading is new and will need staining before applying the varnish.