Saturday 9th - All change

It was a very busy to say the least with a big shunt underway for much of the day, and amongst other things, more departures from Upholstery and another celebration.

Beginning with Upholstery, all the refurbished chairs from RBr 1675 were transferred to storage.

 Andy assists during a break in the shunting.

With the storing of the RBr chairs completed, John H. and Jenny take a break under the parasol. John was completely unaware of the very pleasant surprise just a few minutes away.

Our third presntation this week as Ian congratulates John on achieving 15 years service with the Railway.

Later in the day a visit to Upholstery to capture their latest project. The two first class compartments in BCK 21092 are being reupholstered. The current activity comprises the stripping down of seat side panels. Correctly shaping new foam padding to replace the existing padding is definitely a job for the electric carving knife.

One of the very heavy seat backs currently being stripped down. 

John has been able to get hold of a moquette that is new to us, known as Horsechestnut Leaf (the "Evolution" posting will need an update!) . The two compartments will look very smart with this design.

Down in the Workshop John S. is busy at the milling machine again fettling some new door locators.

The new one almost completed next to the sample.

Phil is busy servicing this jack.

On to the Door Team with Robert adding the door liner to the north end doorway on the Malvern side of CK 16221.

Discussion time with Ben, catching up on current progress with the coach. This was prior to 16221's relocation to the Paintshop.

 Later in the day with 16221 now in the Paintshop, Robert is fitting the top section of liner.

Ben meanwhile is fitting a new capping strip to the right hand side of the north end doorway on the Cotswold side.

 Prior to the shunt Maurice topcoats the inside of the FOWS Toad veranda.

With the shunt taking place Maurice assists Dave with the sorting out of the various items in one of our storage vehicles.

After a hot spell working with Dennis in the 4th Rake coaches, Paul takes a breather in the relatively cool shade of the Barn entrance.

 An hour or so earlier he was making the tea for our 1100 break. 

The big job for the day was of course the shunt. Ian's list of what there is to do doesn't appear to be very long, but the reality is always very different.

The first job was to prepare the Works through road, lifting all the roller shutters and moving every obstacle away from the track.

With the 03 powered up, the first move was to collect BG 92418 from one of the back sidings and then attach it to RBr 1675 and pull that out of the Barn jack road.

RBr 1675 was then left in another siding to allow the BG to be pushed into the Barn jack road.

1675 was then returned temporarily to the Jack road.

A close up of some of the excellent repair work by the Metalwork Team 

Three of the goods vehicles from the far side of the yard were then relocated to one of the back sidings.

Ian discusses the next moves with Andy and Tony.

The Mink A and Toad vans were pulled out of the Barn and relocated with the other goods vehicles.

The three vehicles looked a treat in their new paint.

It was now the turn of 16221 and the Bubblecar. Tony unwinds the brake wheel at the north end.

1675 had been collected from the Jack road and attached to16221. All three vehicles are now in tow. 

The big moment as the Bubblecar emerges into the sunlight, looking very different from when it went into the Works.

It forever remains a treat when newly refurbished and repainted vehicles are first pulled out.

The three vehicles were next propelled on to the Works / exit siding so as to leave the Bubblecar over the pit. 

 16221 and 1675 could now be returned to the Works through road.

A sight to gladden Clive, the owner of 16221, now that it has finally made it into the Paintshop and where it will stay until completed. There is still a lot to do both internally and externally, but the time left will be nothing when compared to how long the coach has been on the Railway. Clive would have seen some of the shunt during the day as he was guard on the Main Rake.

P&O eases the Maroon Rake past the Bubblecar.

46521 approaches with the Main Rake on the return run from Cheltenham. 

The "Cheltenham High Street" Toad brakevan and Mink A van were returned to the Barn, the former to have a new roof fitted. The Bubblecar awaits the final move in the shunting programme to stable it next to the 4th Rake coaches.

 

 

 A flashback to Saturday 19th March just after the Bubblecar had been shunted into the Paintshop.