Tuesday 21st - Now that was a really good day

The title says it all for a day that shows just how close to completion we are beginning to get with some of our projects. With 34929 in particular there was a feeling that it would soon be ready for the Railway.

Richard, Paul and Stu had all been in early and soon busy continuing with the roof planking for the Mink A van.

By mid afternoon it was completed and they went home knowing it was a job well done. They will be back in after the New Year break to fit the canvas.

On to BSK 34929 and the infamous Door 6 (formerly 9 or, as I call it, the Cotswold side central passenger door) and surrounding panelling. I carried on with the filling until Roger came in and took over. It took quite some sanding to get it all done.

Alex had tidied up the bottom line on the large panel where we had had problems with the lining out tape and lifting paint. It all looks fine now.

He then went on to add the black section of the top line on the guards door. As for the guards compartment, that was now full of all sorts of bits and as such I gave it a thorough tidy up and vacuum. Some fresh painting will need to be done to bring it back to what it was.

Phil spent the day with more internal varnishing. There is still quite a bit of the woodwork that has had just the one coat, so we need to progress with this and get at least three coats on. I later carried on with varnishing the passenger corridor window frames.

 On one of the Door Team's benches, the straps for Door 6 await fitting.

Alex took on the job of sorting out and cleaning the notices for the heater controls and window ventilation instructions.

These were then mounted in the four compartments.

The "No Smoking" window notices were next. Initially in the new disabled compartment.

 

Then the passenger corridor. It was the application of the various notices that gave the feeling of nearing completion. 

Alex then went on to add etch primer to the aluminium capping strips for Door 6 and patch paint the sanded filler. The next job will be to paint the whole lot in undercoat Madder. We would normally add the lining out tapes before undercoating, but it is likely some top-up filling will need to be done, so for once we will skip a stage to save time. Earlier in the day Ainsley announced that the main back panel will have to come off the door as the strap securing position isn't correct - the infamy of this door will live on and on!

In the peace and quiet of the Woodwork/Doors shop Ainsley is attaching the top of the lazy tongs to the droplight for one of the doors for CK 16221.

Tony fits new seals to some of the window quarterlights on 16221.

Cutting the new lengths of rubber seal.

With the window work completed, Tony sands down the edges of the toilet door from the second class end of 16221. Repaint it black as before or clean it up enough for stain and varnish. Oh definitely the latter!

Now moving on to TK 24006, Alan cleans up more of the ceiling light mountings from the coach ready for a fresh coat of silver Hammerite.

Both Robert and Dave, the coach owners, were in again and sanding more of the panelling in the north end compartments.

Closer inspection of the two toilet compartments revealed that the Cotswold side one had an aluminium frame, a more modern later addition. The Malvern side one was the original wooden version. It would be nice to replace the aluminium one with one more in keeping.

Dave and Robert had a heater going in 24006, but for Bob it was somewhat cold in BSO 9000 where he continued his repainting of the guards corridor and disabled compartment. He'd had enough by lunchtime, so in the afternoon went to help out in 24006.

 

In Upholstery Dave was back on yet another seat back for the Bubblecar. They must be getting on for finishing this job now. Dave pointed out a trial re-covering of one of the chairs from RBr 1675, so presumably this will be the next project for the team.

 

One of the Santa trains slows for the station with another happy set of families all looking forward to meeting the elderly gentleman in red (with apologies to whoever was Santa for the day!).

Two jobs for the New Year. RBr 1675 and TSO 5042 patiently await their turn in the Works. 5042 will follow 34929 in the Paintshop for a quick external tidy up and repaint, a good candidate for this job following the re-upholstering of all the seating and repairs within the north end vestibule. 1675 will go into the Barn initially to disconnect the brakes and lift the body ready for the underframe repairs.