Thursday 8th - A long and busy day

Indeed it was a long day though it seemed to pass quickly as there was so much going on with a good number attending as can be seen in the photo below. 

Tuesday's posting was grouped by subject, so for a change, the photos displayed are in the order taken. 

Being somewhat busy in the early part of the day working with Bob K. on the Gunpowder Van, my first photo was of the 11-o-clock tea break with 19 of us in.

It was good to see Tony on a visit and sitting with Geoff and Alan J., fellow members of the Indoor Gang, after having been off for a while with a health issue. We wish him well and look forward to when he can rejoin us.

Meanwhile Alex was now well stuck into replenishing the station notice boards. Following a meeting with some of the station masters he has volunteered to take on what will be a considerable task. It is easy to see why his suggestions were eagerly accepted.

In the Workshop Phil (and Jeff) had started on the continuing process of secondary filling on the Cotswold side of CK 16221. This had also been done by David A. the day before.

The Metalwork Team were in today - they swap between Wednesdays and Thursdays, and sometimes do both, depending on the work in hand. The latest thing from the team is a protective guard around the store of sheet metal, which Rex is busy constructing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (photo: Nick)

Rex uses our powerful metal saw for trimming one of the lengths of box tubing.

Out to the yard to find Geoff reinstating the coat hook in one of the toilet compartments in TSO 5042 within the rudundant set of coaches. But not for much longer as the 19th draws ever closer.

In RMB 1876 Richards I and II are continuing the installation of the new LED lighting in the south compartment. 

 The north compartment now looks complete.

 All the light covers have been cleaned by Paul W. and await refitting.

The first job of the day for Geoff and Alan J. had been the completion of the fitting of the new veneer panel in TSO 4614 - an excellent job. This will have a second coat of varnish, probably on Tuesday.

A walk through into TSO 5042 to see how the Upholstery Team are doing with the re-fitting of the refurbished seating.

 They are now into the large compartment - still a bit to go, but a really great job. 

Returning to TSO 4614 to find more preparations for the coach rake reorganisation with Dennis cleaning the tables ...........................

............. and also removing the Windowlene from the windows.

In the office new member Eve is busy with our records.

While upstairs a quick peek in the Mess Room. Hopefully it won't be long now before we can return to our "rest home".

For the first board Alex has now progressed to the instruction notice.

While behind him, Bob has opened a new tin of undercoat white, with the brown swirl indicating a lengthy stir is needed before this can be used.

We can only do this half of the roof of the Gunpowder Van initially, but with the early work of brushing, scraping, brushing off, and application of red oxide for the rusty bits completed, Bob applies the undercoat white. The warm sun soon dried whatever we put on.

Dinmore Manor returns with the second train of the day.

The Metalwork Team have produced two hexagonal pieces of sheet metal for the "Oxley Sidings" open wagon, which is being refurbished at Toddington. Alex takes a break from his signwriting to coat them in red oxide.

Two of the re-made brackets have been attached by Alex on the back of one of his new loco headboards. The fitting will be checked prior to attaching the rest.

(Photo: Nick)

Nick had also repaired this Not To Be Moved flag with a new welded corner. Alex later coated this and other worn bits with oxide, which will be followed by some spots of the red paint.

The first side of the first sandwich board looks very good.

We were well scattered over the Winchcombe site for lunch, with some going up to the station platform seats and into the garden. Opting to remain at the back of the Barn gave a great view of P&O on its second run to Cheltenham.

Returning to the cool shade of the Barn to find Alan S. working on one of the two bogies currently being refurbished.

The large wood order for the Mink A van had arrived the day before ...................

............... and sorted into the relevant batches with labelling as to where they would be fitted.

Back to the Barn where Gerry was well on the way to completing the storage racks for our lengths of pipework.

 

(Photo : Nick)

Returning to the Paintshop where Phil and Jeff were busy with the priming of some of the Mink A planking.

Much later on and Bob had finished for the day, with the Gunpowder Van roof now top coated, the undercoat having dried very quickly in the warm sun. Alex and I had hoped to get a second coat of gloss black on the front but the metal was simply too hot - the sun was very warm when it did come out. With the weather again unsettled for the next few days, it could be this time next week before we can get this done.

The faces of two of the sandwich boards completed - well done Alex! Out of sight on the right, another board has had the beading attached and primed.

With Alex's projects now occupying just about all of the painting trestles, he needed somewhere to store his templates. What better than the Paintshop wall. We will need to clear some of the trestles to enable the varnishing of the items from SK 24006 to be done on Saturday.

And finally, a quick trip outside to the Quainton Road coach to see how the creeper was fairing as it climbed up the broken vacuum cyclinder drawstring. Now looking magnificent it has made a very successful climb and looks set to stay. In fact bindweed has covered large areas of this siding and the shrubbery alongside this part of the yard.