Thurs 28th - Sun 31st - Gala Days

Four days that seemed to blur into one, as no sooner had we packed up for the day, we were back in the next. Overall it wasn't as busy as we thought it would be, but as far as I am aware the Diesel team were happy with the turn out, and although we were quiet at times,  we had a steady trickle through the Works. Surprisingly Friday was the busiest day with at one point quite a crowd in the Paintshop and Workshop. Even though our overall visitor number was low, we had lovely chats with those that did come in and it was good to see some regular faces again.

Thursday 28th

A normal work day for most, while for myself and a few others it was full on with the Gala prep. 

 

Beginning with Alex's almost completed board for Cheltenham Racecourse station. Just a fourth frame to fit horizontally in the upper left space and the job will be complete.

Andy continues the work on the bogie to dismantle the necessary parts to enable the wheelset swap.

Ken and Andy have removed the south end wheelset and are hoisting it above the replacement. The latter will be rolled underneath and the old wheelset lowered.

The hoist has been rolled back and the bogie once again being lifted, so that the new wheelset can be put in place.   

In TSO 4867 Alan is adding more internal window framing.

Roger is preparing two heavy backboards for relocating some fire extinguishers.

With the fitting of CK 16221's doors completed, Ainsley moves on to RBr 1675 and begins the slow job of removing one of the part-doors. "Slow" because it must be a very long time since this was taken off and considerable effort was needed to do the job. However, Ainsley won through and I helped him take the door into the Woodwork/Doors shop.

Meanwhile progress on 16221 is becoming steadily more rapid. Alex gave the whole of the Cotswold side a good wipe over with Thinners  ............

 ........... while Phil finishes of the little bit of sanding left on the middle doorframe and surrounding panelling.

Martin applied sealant, rather than filler, where needed around the Malvern side north end door. With the remaining doorframes we are tending now to use sealant where there are lengthy gaps to fill. 

Phil gives the south end toilet tank a final test now that the plumbing has been linked in. All was fine. With both tanks successfully tested, the vestibule ceilings at both ends can now be put in.

With the Cotswold side wipe down completed Alex applies the lining out tape.

 Livery undercoating is at last underway. A very heartening sight after such a long time.

 The finishing touches to the north half.

 

Moving back to the early part of the day, Gala preparations are now in full swing. While I load up the trolley with the viewing area posts for the end of the Barn, Paul and Dennis build the tables for our shop. Dave points to where he will put all his model cars again.

The books are going out and, as happened at the Jubilee Steam Gala, it's not long before we are perusing them. I managed to buy another four, having acquired something like 15 previously. Some of us brought in yet more to add to the sale. Most items were donation only, but we still ended up with a nice little sum at the end which all goes towards our funds.

Dave looks on as I take a shot of our regular displays along the Paintshop wall. We are in the process of compiling some themed A1-sized posters, which will replace many of the existing photos permanently mounted on this wall. 

Dave's transport models are in place on the far wall, the main sales tables are complete, and the three information easels set up. The other information notices are back on the pinboard and the "Currently going on in Carriage & Wagon" board has been updated and displayed.

The sandwich boards, direction signs and other notices, all ready to be put out at the start of tomorrow. 

Friday 29th

The Gala begins and some visitors have even arrived before our boards are out, but no problem and we hope it's a sign of a good number coming to the event and calling in to see what we do.

Certainly a healthy gathering at the station.

As it's quiet, why not do a few jobs? Keith continues the painting of the Winchcombe fire buckets, and later got around to priming and undercoating the new extinguisher backboards.

While Keith and Pam wait for more visitors, Alex gets on with undercoating the south half of the Cotswold side of 16221. We loved Alex's "Live Painting Demonstration" notice.

Almost completed, a wonderful sight.

We loved his second notice even more!

Knowing the Deltic is due we go out to the viewing area. As always we wave to the crew and passengers as the train goes by. 55019 "Royal Highland Fusilier" looks a magnificent sight.

After lunch things got busier.

Ah, this is more like it. Clive (the owner of 16221) tells the group about 1675 and the deep level of refurbishment required to bring this coach back into running. Behind them Alex chats to another visitor, while in the background Pam has made and brought down another round of tea, and of course the essential cakes for us to enjoy when we get the chance.

Alex then took this photo looking down the Workshop. Roger is with another group in the background. I must have moved on into the Barn with a group.

Roger with his visitors watches the Deltic on its return run.

Saturday 30th

It's the next working day so are our visitors won't be allowed through the Worshop and Barn, but the remainder of the Works and the viewing area via the outside track are still accessible. So time to snatch a few photos before putting the boards back out.

Laura works on one of the replacement first class seat backs for BCK 21092 with the new Horsechestnut Leaf moquette now going on.

Moving back downstairs where husband Simon is preparing one of the ceiling panels for mounting in 16221.

In the north end vestibule of 16221 there is already one panel held in place by an acrow prop, while Steve trial fits the curved sections of top wall edging.

The original section is back down, but it looks like the panel to the left is now in place, while Simon firms up the screws holding the corner section he was preparing earlier.

From rebuilding to dismantling. Phil removes something electrical from the south end corridor connection on 1675.

At the north end John is wrestling with the upper connection for the vacuum pipe. The nut eventually moved after some gentle heating.

Chris was removing the old wood liner from the base of this doorway to assist the Metalwork team with their lengthy repair work.

Following on from Thursday's work on the bogie wheelset swap, Andy begins the long job of cleaning up the large bolts for the bogie keep plates.

Later ensuring that the relevant information is passed on, a very important aspect of our work as we are all volunteers in C&W, working over four days.

Kevin, our stores manager, and Dave on their way across the yard to the far sidings to check the contents of several vans.

The new wood sections temporarily fitted at the south end of the Toad cabin are removed ready for priming.

Two of the curve roof sections have also been removed. These were later undercoated.

Having completed the south end, Robert has moved on to repeating the rebuild at the north end.

The new planking in the veranda floor is being sanded by Paul. This may be preparing it for wood preservative (must ask!)

Still more roof preparation underway as Maurice adds green primer to some parts remaining unpainted.

At the beginning of the day, there was the expected interest by our staff in the shop, and yours truly acquired his final book - or so I thought (I found yet another one in the afternoon!).

Pam, enjoying a biscuit with her cup of tea, did a great job keeping us supplied throughout the three days, sometimes thrusting a cup in our waiting hands if we were busy chatting with a visitor. My cup and a Jaffa Cake bar awaits! In the background is the "Currently going on ......" information board.

John, Alan and Pam watch 55019 on another run south.

  

Sunday 31st

The final day of the Gala. So far Friday had been the busiest for visitors around the Works. Saturday had been much quieter than we had thought it would be. Would today, now that we were fully open again, be any better? 

Bob and dad Tony came in to do some work and be available to talk to our visitors. Bob is cleaning the threads on the bogie keep plate bolts, each one being oiled first.

Alex completes the Cotswold side undercoating on 16221, as far as he can currently go.

Later on and the north end windows are going into maroon top coat. Having been such a long time awaiting restoration, and then going through a number of short spells where some work was done, it's hard to take on board that this really is CK 16221 going into top coat and staying in the Paintshop until completed. You can imagine how Clive must feel after all this time.

The door backs are gradually being varnished. This has had two coats and will receive at least one more, if not two. That varnished panelling inside looks good and will also receive 3-4 coats overall.

Pam very carefully sands the edge of one of the back sections - no doubt where previously  paint had got on to the new wood.

Pam now gives the north end Malvern side door its first coat.

It was definitely quieter today, but we still really enjoyed it all. Back to normal on Tuesday - well, perhaps not quite. We've got to dismantle and pack up all the gala stuff. It will all be back out again for the Autumn Mixed Traction Gala on 29th/30th October.

I expect we will be seeing a lot of 55019 over the next three months as she is with us until the end of October. Meanwhile on Friday 19th August 55019 will be joined by 55009 "Alycidon" to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the day that the Deltic Preservation Society took possession of both locomotives. That should be quite an event!