Tuesday 31st - Gala prep is well underway

A very busy day with much of it getting more ready for the Cotswold Festival of Steam this coming weekend.

The Paintshop floor had already been vacuumed throughout, and the Workshop was not too bad. However the Barn was a different story and throughout the morning Ian, Richard and Jeff did a really great job cleaning up the through road.

It's amazing how much dust and general debris weighs. Even half a bin is quite something to shift. We had a clear up of some of the general clutter too, transferring steps and a scaffold tower back to the Workshop.

It was good to see Derek back in and now able to work. He soon got stuck into more clearing up and went round the Workshop with the Henry. The Workshop too will now be ready for our weekend visitors.
 

Ian, our HOD, has produced a number of interesting "Did you know... " articles which Eve has printed and laminated, and these have been put on our large display board for our visitors to read. Our Shop has already done well with a number of us buying books, DVDs and models. There is still a huge amount from which to choose. On the right are the displays of some of our mechanical and electrical aspects.
 

Ian also produced a lot of signage, some of which has also been put up.

The Upholstery Shop should create a lot of interest. It certainly does when we take around visiting groups.

More displays in the Paintshop, with in the background the regular outside signage and Alex's new platform sandwich boards ready to go out each day.

[Both photos: Keith]  Class 24 5081 picks up the short 4th Rake from our headshunt before taking it to Toddington ready for the gala. 

 

Clive and Alex were busy oiling up the axleboxes on the Gunpowder Van. 

Although I missed Alex in the previous photo, I did capture him quickly painting red the lamp for the Toad brakevan. 

On to routine jobs, with Keith top coating the three new ceiling panels for the vestibules in CK 16221.

Alan must be doing these in his sleep by now, although this is the same one as last week. That unwanted bronze coating is taking sometime to remove with the netting still in place, but we don't want this to be the odd one out when the racks are fitted back into 16221.

Robert is fitting the back beading on the south end Malvern side doorframe on 16221.

I arrived in Upholstery just as Dave was enjoying a break.

Two of the recently revarnished chairs from RBr 1675 with the seat foam marked off ready for trimming to size.

We are currently filling our skips quickly with more unwanted items emerging, this time from TSO 4867 rather than RBr 1675. Dave is clearly enjoying the job and really no surprise there because a lot has already been done inside ready for when it comes into the Works.

And now my time to smile, and a very big one too, because this was my favourite engine when I joined the GWSR back in 2006. I was very sad when 92203 eventually left, so it's a real joy to see it back for the gala and on a trial run.

   

Not forgetting dear old 7903 of course of which we are very proud.

We were all enjoying our lunch outside when the first drops of rain began falling and so had to watch 92203 returning from the shelter of the Barn.