Monday 6th - Normal Service Resumed

 Back to 8 of us for Carriage Cleaning today. In spite of the rain Paul was first up as usual washing the Malvern side of the train in platform 1. John and Roger O (or Phil? I was in rake 2 with the Ghostbuster) later joined him. Also inside rake 1 were Nigel P and Greg.

Kath also inside rake 2. Cleaning windows when they are this cold and damp is a very unrewarding task.

Tea break was taken inside a carriage, as all other usual places were either in use or too cold. We had to clean up after ourselves!

I do like carriages and being a technical disaster cleaning is all I can offer. But it does give chance to see that at first glance a carriage is a carriage but not so, there are lots of variations on a theme. Also as these were made from the early 'fifties to early 'sixties, changes can be seen in style and technology. Most of our readers will remember the coming of Formica and the major changes that offered. Here in one of our "composite" carriages (first and second class in the same carriage) this change and the class distinction is clearly shown. Earlier carriages had wood veneer interiors (we have lots of excellent examples) but times were changing. So in First class we have Formica - but pseudo wood graining.

But in Second class it was much plainer (and a bench seat without arm rests!)

This is a maroon carriage if you want to check it out next time you are on the railway.

And finally a big Thank You to all those who have contributed to the Bridge 8 appeal which will see the "temporary" traffic lights removed on the road from Broadway to Toddington. Our journey will happily not be the same!