Thursday 9th and more gala pics

 The weekend is now slowly fading into the past, and it's back to the normal grind in C&W.

Once again there was a large focus on the bubblecar, having sat in the paintshop for a couple of months now slowly progressing we want to get on with it now. With almost everything in first topcoat by end of Tuesday, today saw a light rub down of the whole vehicle to key up and so we can see where the second coat has gone on. Phil, Bob and Dave pictured took on the Cotswold side:

Which somehow left just me with the Malvern side, although Jeff did rub down and 2nd topcoat the length of the gutter to keep me company:

By Mid afternoon 2nd top-coating was well underway on the Cotswold side by Bob and Phil:

Hopefully with a good crowd in on Tuesday we should have all the green glossing done by then.

While up the ladder doing one of the bubble car ends, I captured a little bit of post-gala work by Paul and Dennis dismantling the C&W shop:

This will be out again for the diesel gala at the end of July.

A trip outside to see what was going on on the third rake initially proved fruitless, until I popped my head out a window to see Richards I & II working on the RMB:

I came down again to find out they were sorting out some switches - Dennis discusses with them the next steps.

While outside I noticed the short 4th rake had also reappeared:

Along with a portion of the goods train with stuff inside that various departments need at Winchcombe:

At this point it was close enough to stay out and wait for the next train, Alan and Geoff in train-spotter mode!

With Eddystone on its last day in service with us, we once again enjoyed a pair of Southern region pacifics all day:

A break to watch the trains was well deserved, as they were traipsing in and out of TSO 4867 working on window trim:

Along with Roger, here cleaning out slider frames:

Paul captured this photo of Malcolm from S&T repainting the gate post - I think the caption is something like "Oh no, don't you dare put this on the blog!"

It was a quiet day in the workshop, Steve was up on the mezzanine sorting out some more LED light strips, this one for BSO 9000 apparently:

Dave was on the seemingly never-ending task of cleaning up luggage racks:

Mid-afternoon we took a little brake for Dave to show us this nameplate he's babysitting with his B17 Trust hat on:

Helmingham Hall was another B17, built in 1935 and scrapped in 1959. It had the notable accolade of hauling the funeral train of King George V. The nameplate has been donated to the B17 Trust by a member who bought it direct from BR upon scrapping of the loco. The real Helmingham Hall is in Suffolk. 

Back to work, and Nick spent a little time welding captive nuts on CK16221:

But most of the day involved welding on the RBr;

Inside Gerry continued to take up the floor:

"Work in progress!" it certainly is!

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And now my turn to share gala pics!

A fine moment when the Ivatt tank draws the GWR goods train into the station from Hunting Butts:

Before we depart a Bulleid pacific double header:

Pause at Winchcombe for another photo opportunity!

At Toddington into the siding to let the non-stop Pines Express through!

Back at Cheltenham and now a proper GWR freight loco on our GWR goods train:

This time we pass P&O on the Mendip Merchantman through Gotherington:

More pauses for photos, this time at Toddington station:

While we await another large double header, Eddystone and Black Prince:

And then, hurrah, the first heritage goods train to Broadway station!

The end of the day and the 2 Ivatts around Toddington doing end of day moves:

Saturday and the next Pines Express through Toddington:

A chance to capture Dinmore Manor on the goods retrieving it from the North siding where it took refuge:

Ivatt on the local train, including parcels van:

A couple of the sentinel fussing round Winchcombe with a few wagons:

Eddystone at Broadway waiting to go:

Saturday evening and the sun came out for the evening special run with Black Prince, running round at Cheltenham:

Sunday and Dinmore on the goods again, this time approaching Winchcombe, passing the sentinel in the siding with its wagons:

Black Prince going the other way:

Double headed Ivatts through Toddington:

And the penultimate departure from Cheltenham with a relieved gala committee chairman in the cab:

It was an amazing weekend, Friday in particular was an incredibly memorable day for me with months of hard work on the goods train culminating in a superb sight that gained many compliments. Huge thanks to everyone who played their part either on the day or in the run up, and for everyone for coming, particularly those who cited this blog, it's always a pleasure to meet our readers.

Now time to start planning the next one!...