Thursday 10th - Making the most of things and a poignant moment

 An eventful day with once again a lot to capture. 

We begin with a poignant moment as Jane Bennett plants a white cherry tree in commemoration of her husband Peter, our former Head of C&W, who we lost in late 2020. The tree was planted at the western end of the station garden. The tree blossom will look lovely every spring time, getting better and better as it matures, and a lovely memory of Peter. I think the photo was taken by Neil H. from the Friends of Winchcombe Station.

It was all go again with the Main Rake with various jobs that needed to be done before the Class 47 came down from Toddington to collect it ready for the two days of Race Specials. Later in the day, in its place, the Maroon Rake was brought down for attention.

Clive checks the vacuum hose for one of the rake where we have a leakage problem.

The DA valve was then taken down and brought in. Meanwhile Ken began looking at another valve, but I believe the original seemed to be ok after dismantling and checking, so it was put back under the coach (sorry - I didn't note the number). Did I also spot a generator on a trolley being taken towards the station during the day?

 Paul (and Dennis) did a spot of window cleaning while the rake was with us.

Andy, Ian (our HOD) and Clive (Deputy HOD), members of our Dirty Gang, all smiles after a hard day scrabbling about under the Main Rake. 

On to another gang. Roger, Geoff and Alan, the Indoor Gang, spotted a door open in the Main Rake, so took the opportunity for a very pleasant place to take a well earned rest. Their jobs for the morning involved coaches from our little 4th Rake.

Geoff and Alan went along the corridor in NYMR SK 24804 servicing all the compartment sliding doors. First the top cover was removed.

 Then the screws for the doors top brackets are removed, in turn releasing the door.

The wheels and mechanism at the door base and the tracks are cleaned and lubricated, and the door then put back. The end result is a nice set of easy moving doors.

Roger then appeared. He had been adding another coat of varnish to the new back panel on one of the doors on SK 25488, the other coach on loan from the NYMR. 

Catching up with Wednesday working, in the Upholsetry Shop another seat base now with its canvas underlay.

The rebuild of the third quarter door for RBr 1675 takes form with the frame looking complete and a new top sheet cut out by the Metalwork team. On Wednesday David A. completed the clean up of the second door, with the initial sanding down finished, some filling where needed and then a coat of green primer.

Moving on now to the continuing rebuild of the coach itself. Bryan is busy with the lower panelling, with more preparation for the new sills.

Various cuts of sheet metal for 1675, with red oxide on what will be the inner sides. The long section in the foreground reappears shortly.

Rex catching up with the red oxide coating. We are obviously getting through a lot of primer with so much metalworking - I have got more on order.

The long section previously mentioned was destined to rebuild the right hand side of the kitchen doorway. Rex clamps it in place.

The next job was cleaning off the paint on the adjacent panelling to enable the welding to take place.

Meanwhile on the Malvern side Gerry is continuing the rebuilding of the roof and side sections over the repaired cantrail above one of the catering access doors.

Checking the new piece of sheet metal for fit.

The welding on of the second end panel at the south end has begun. Bryan ensures the panel is hard against the frame as Nick adds the spot welds to secure it in place.

Discussing the next steps.

Now at the north end of the Cotswold side, in preparation for the preformed end section Bryan marks out the cut line, actually a little less than needed because of the frame behind the existing panel.

Plasma cutter on the roll, Rex prepares the next piece of sheet metal required.

On the Malvern side the north end looks prepared for the new sills.

Is the crossbearer replacement under the seating area now complete? It must be almost there if there are any left to do.

Phil B. adds a coat of green primer to the back of one of the new sills. There are plenty to do, but because of their sheer size and weight, we will only prime three at a time as storage when they are wet is the problem.

Over now to, or under actually, CK 16221 where Richard I is completing the wiring behind the Cotswold side battery box. At the end of the day, the Malvern side box had its battery placed inside and the lid closed. So it looks as though this job is now finished.

Phil S has been busy rebuilding the toilet compartments. In the north end vestibule the pipework for the first class compartment is steadily going in.

No guesses then as to who owns the legs!

 Apologies for the slight blur - I didn't want to disturb Phil.

During the course of our working week it is inevitable that there will be conflict of interest, so for example we can't do varnishing when various bits of internal fitting are underway. Thus opportunities are grabbed with both hands when access becomes available. On Thursday Bob was able to get some initial varnish on the window frames in the second class compartments.

Later in the day, when Phil had finished the plumbing for the first class toilet compartment, Bob moved to the north end vestibule and did his magic.

When it comes to varnishing none of us can do better than Bob. His 50+ years as a professional painter really pays off. There isn't a single brush mark in that mirror finish.

So how many coats have gone on here? Who knows and who cares. It looks great!

Lining out continued with Jeff beginning the upper black section at the north end of the Malvern side. Later on Phil J. did the lower line on one of the doors. Phil also completed the extra undercoating he had started on the redundant electric heater covers on Tuesday, again because he had exclusive access inside the coach.

Next a job much loved by the Painting team. Alex won't be fretting this time, not with the shadowing on "CHARLOTTE" to do on Saturday!