Thursday 23rd - A mini pre-Christmas posting

With just five of us in, a few pre-Christmas pics of life at our favourite Works.

 

Beginning today with Roger in FO 3132 "Mary", cleaning out the bases of the sliding windows.

Back in 2012 we conducted an internal survey involving all the Works staff in C&W. One of the questions asked was "what is not good about C&W". The majority response to this was "lack of communication regarding the jobs in progress", obviously something that was not good with different staff working over three days. Since then we have extended to four days, so this is even more important. 

Thankfully all the instructions left for Roger and others in the Indoor Gang, as well as all the mounted whiteboards within the Works and the boxes of notepaper, clearly show how things have improved.

The inside of "Mary", now looking much tidier with all the repair work completed and the seats gradually being put back.

There are still many Winter Shutdown repairs to do throughout the open coaches in the 3rd Rake siding. We look forward to the Spring when the three rakes are rebuilt in their old configurations and we can hopefully resume normal running.

In the Workshop Phil is continuing the rebuild of the lighting units from TK 24006. The previous day he had taken the ceiling ones cleaned by Alan on Tuesday to the Paintshop trestles and added green primer where needed.

Inside 24006 Dave was wiping over the ceiling lights. The upper levels of the compartments with the repainted ceilings and restored light fittings are beginning to look good, especially when the sanded veneer panelling has been given a fresh coat of varnish. Dave was also continuing the refitting of the cleaned and revarnished panel strips, mainly to keep them out of harms way while other work was going on.

In the Woodwork shop Robert was preparing more internal battening for the corridor and vestibules in CK 16221.

No guesses what my number 1 job was for the day. Get the final prep work on 34929's Door 6, its frame and the surrounding panels completed ready for undercoating.

Job done, and does that look better! 

There is still a fair amount to do with 34929 before it goes out to the Barn - top coating and lining out on Door 6 and area, some repainting in the guards compartment, repaint the central vestibule skirting boards, and a load of varnishing (the backs of three doors, and various bits in the disabled vestibule and corridor that need further coatings). The target to aim for? We hope to get 34929 to the Barn and TSO 5042 in the Paintshop on 8th January.

A very pleasant surprise when I first entered the Paintshop was to find a tin of assorted brushes that had been left on one of the trestles. These, along with a huge box full of various screws and packs of sandpaper, had been very kindly donated. So many hearty thanks to whoever this was - your kindness is very much appreciated.

So at the end of the last working day before the big day, to echo Alex's words in his last posting, I would also like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas. Thank you for taking so much interest in what we do and for all your very kind comments.

We will be back next week.