Thursday 6th - Above and below

The title basically sums up Thursday's activities with the continuing restoration of CK 16221, providing a very satisfying day after the trials of last week.

With all the filling/sanding completed (well, almost!) on the Malvern side of the CK, the line positions could at last be taped up. Jeff started with the top line.

A tiny bit of filling, followed by VERY careful sanding to keep dust to the bare minimum, was necessary in the south doorway, and sadly on the corner where the demarkation tape had pulled off a bit of the grey base coat.

With the south end taped up Richard began the undercoating.

The south door and corner on the Cotswold side was still in undercoat, so Phil got both top coated. A second coat will be required and then the lining out to catch up with the rest of this side.

Bob got going with more internal varnishing and, being a professional painter, out came the tights to strain the varnish as it was getting near to the bottom of the tin.

 

Prior to getting going with the varnishing, Bob proudly displays his new boots.

The wood areas continue to grow within the coach as the Woodwork team steadily progress the internal refitting, so it's difficult to know just how many coats some parts have had. Not that it really matters - we will just go on adding varnish until it looks great !

The gleam down the corridor is getting better.

Although the first class compartments have received several coats on the main panelling, the internal window frames need more - in fact these looked as though they had yet to be varnished. 

Well, that's all "the above" ............

........... so transferring to "the below", Andy and Tony reinstated the second vacuum cylinder.

 Andy checks everything is correctly linked up.

The next step is to hook up our little machine to create the necessary vacuum and check all is working ok, which I am very pleased to say was the case.

Everything worked fine, but a small leak was discovered in this short length of pipe. This will be a job for John S. on Saturday.

Regarding the vac system there was one thing (well actually two things - one at each end) missing. The suspended dummy with which to seal off the hose when the coach is being hauled singly or is at the end of the rake.

With two retrieved, Tony begins cleaning them up.

The next job - attaching them with me assisting Tony, each of us with a large spanner.

A final check to see all is ok - yes, perfect fit.

I missed the early, potentially great, shot of Dinmore Manor with the sun backlighting the steam, but captured it on its second run to Cheltenham. Clive leans out ready to exchange tokens.

Our 3rd and 4th Rake maintenance continues, with one of the new footboards going on.

On NYMR SK 24804, Alan is tightening the supports for the compartment sliding doors.

On to RBr 1675 where Gerry is continuing the preparation for the two new end panels that we obtained from South Devon Railway Engineering.

Bryan was still working on the cantrail repair on the Cotswold side, here making a small support bracket before fitting it.

Ainsley is adding some etch primer to another of 1675's cleaned up doors.

As for my current door, Ben had scraped off a lot of the curling paint resulting from the paint stripper I had added on Tuesday. Now working on the reverse side, more stripper is needed - the paint on this door is particularly stubborn.

Finally, a number of our staff over the years have owned old cars, and Jeff is one of them. This March 1946 MG TC is a beauty.