Thursday 10th - Getting ready

Our new season is just about to start with resumption of services on Saturday. It's a week later than originally planned because of all the work that has had to be completed with the Railway's infrastructure, but it has given us a better chance of finishing all we had to do in the Works and yard for the Winter Shutdown period.

The team of Paul and Dennis are in the distance on Platform 2, while their trolley waits on Platform 1. The Maroon Rake has already been taken up to Toddington, and they are anxious to complete the internal cleaning of RBr 1672 after all the recent upgrades before the Chocolate & Cream Rake is also whisked away.

A distant rumbling grows louder and prompts a quick dash outside to see the PWay train being returned by the Class 47, looking resplendent in its new paint. We still love the PWay Mess Coach in its crimson and cream, sadly being returned to its hiding place behind the 3rd Rake.

With the Pway train now clear, time to rev up the 04 and move the Chocolate & Cream Rake into the station. Ian grins and does a quick pose for the camera before starting.

With the rake now stabled in Platform 2, no time to hang about with the Class 47 waiting! While Paul is busy in the counter area ...............

 ................    Dennis cleans the seating area floor.

Phil inspects one of the new water heaters. 

It was a rush job to get everything done, but the team completed their work in good time and the rake was then taken up to Toddington to join the Maroon Rake ready for Saturday and the new season.

Plenty of crosses to paint yellow, but no noughts. These will form the bases of the new viewing area barrier during gala open days.

With the feet completed, Jeff moved on to the uprights. Ian has purchased some black and yellow plastic chain which will be fed through the holes and be a big improvement on the red and white tape which flaps and stretches in the wind, and can begin to look somewhat unsightly. The tape will still be used inside the works and to form other access barriers in the yard.

 Plenty of activity in TK 24006 today. Bob top coats another ceiling.

In the corridor Alan and Roger are having a battle removing some of the old internal window frame screws. A line of new screws can be seen at the base of both windows.

 

 

 

Dave holds up the two toilet compartment doors from 24006 - these will now be sanded down, cleaned up and revarnished. Although  the coach was 1951 built, the inner faces of the two doors are in yellow formica.

 Ainsley was having a day of clearing up, this drawer in particular full of sawdust.

Ian had been servicing a DA valve, which when in place under the coach is linked to the vacuum cylinder.

Up on the mezzanine Steve was busy creating another led light.

Into the Barn and RBr 1675 to find out what the banging was about. It turned out to be Pat, in for his third successive day and busy removing the old skirting in the store cupboard.

In the kitchen area Bob was removing some of the old pipework. 

Following on from Nick's photos in the Wednesday posting, some more of the general interior of the coach. Overall we will have a good set of "before" photos, though it will be sometime yet before we can proudly display the "after" ones!

 

Returning to the Paintshop to find Bob now second top coating the two large end vestibule sliders from CK 16221.

One of our two yard seats has been brought in to repair the storm damage. The wind managed to roll the hardwood seat over with such force that a large chunk of the main back support was broken away, in turn loosening the arm rest. A job for our Woodwork Team.

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The formation of the three rakes for the 2022 season - in order the Chocolate & Cream, the Maroon and the 3rd.

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The Winter Shutdown period summarised

Ian, our HOD and shunter driver, stated that the formation of the Running Rakes for this season has been a marathon job due to a whole range of challenges. He conveyed his personal thanks to shunters Andy Th, Tony and Clive, signalmen Bob and Michael, and to Ken and Andy Tu, who together have all put in many hours.  He estimated that in excess of 115 volunteers hours in total had been put in to get the rakes formed. 

With respect to our Winter Maintenance Ian also thanked everyone for what had been achieved: -

• Almost 100 (planned and unplanned!) tasks were completed 
• All carriages were cleaned internally (special thanks to Paul and Dennis)
• Our hard working Friday Maintenance Team completed our formal programme of inspections/exams on all 24 carriages we will be using this season
• TSO 5042 was repainted in the planned time of 6 weeks