Saturday 26th - Difficult drawhooks

I know, it's a bit late for a Saturday blog, but a trip to Warley took up all of Sunday (and quite a few pennies lighter too!). So, better late than never, Saturday.

Drawhooks seemed to be worth quite a few photos, so I'll start with those. Firstly, the drawhooks on the Elk are out and they're not a pretty sight:

A new high scorer on the worn drawhook leaderboard I think, overtaking the Toad from the Spring. Very bent shank, lots of wear around the collar. Oh dear. Think we might need a new one of those, and I doubt they're cheap...

The one on the other end wasn't much better, but potentially repairable as not so worn, just bent:

It's clearly led a hard life this wagon!

The other drawhook of the day putting up a fight was on the RBr. Tony was lying down on the job (advantages of having the floor up, a good time to do drawbar exams!):

While son Bob was below with the big spanner. It's a wee bit cramped under there...:

'Yeah give it another tap!'

Lots of awkward bits of brake rigging and other annoying things to get in the way. Ian came and offered his opinion on the matter:

And it's out!

Thanks to Bob for the photo as I missed the eventful occasion. I didn't check, but it certainly looks a lot better in a photo than the Elk hook!

Putting it back together again was a bit easier, presumably some grease or copper-slip or similar was applied which no doubt helped:

Just a couple more photos for the RBr today, Chris and Ben contemplate the rebuild of one of the quarter doors:

Ken seemed to have a different component in a vice every time I walked past, but here he's bashing away on a door hinge:

Onto the CK then, and again progress is good, with lots of components just needing bolting or screwing together rather than making or cleaning up any more. Simon was on little side table construction again:

How did we forget this? All glossed and lined out, but no jaw guide for this door, oh bother. Chris did the honours:

Hopefully shouldn't require too much tidying up.

Dave likes his jigsaw puzzles and today rather than a picture he had a compartment sliding door's worth of panelling to fit together:

Ah, the last piece fits perfectly!

Later on, both Daves continued fitting of luggage racks:

While in the 2nd class compartments, Pam took a break from signwriting and had the varnish out:

On the wagon front, I spent the morning un-fastening the canvas on the Mogo to reveal the T&G roof, which looks to be in good condition:

On the Vanfit, a bit more adjustment on the doors is needed, Richard and Robert are on the case:

Paul had all the door furniture cleaned and primed:

We had arranged for a few wagons to come from Todd to Winchcombe utilising the LE move in the middle of the Santa timetable enabling a crew change, Mark got a great shot of it leaving with the 2 coal wagons being unloaded in the foreground. a Proper little goods scene that!

And here it is arriving at Winchcombe - 2 of them are used by P'way for storage, and one by us, so useful to have them back more accessible:

Also delivered on that train were the 2 cab seats for 3850:

They were looking for some shelter somewhere a bit warmer and dryer than the loco shed for final fettling and varnishing, and that's what I ended up doing in the afternoon, the varnish brings out the lovely rich colour of the wood:

And finally for today, a poignant moment as former head painter and stalwart of the early days Richard Unitt's ashes were scattered alongside the workshop as per his wishes by his wife Jane and family: