Tuesday 29th Nov - Thursday 1st Dec - Another three day bash

Another three day compilation of our activities, with mainly the work done on Tuesday and Wednesday detailed.

Tuesday (into Wednesday)

Most of the effort today was with CK 16221, but there was also some progress with RBr 1675 and the Vanfit.

 Stu secures the outer section of the last of the four first class compartment doors.

The last of the three second class compartment doors needed a final coat of varnish on the inner side.

Ian continued the general clean up of the metalwork, beginning with the door locks, removing any tarnish and bits of paint.

The brackets for the corridor handrails were next on the list, though they have to be released to be able to do the job properly. As with removing the tarnish and dirt from the inside of the aluminium window frames, it makes such a difference to the overall appearance. Soft wire wool and 240 sandpaper, reverting to 120 only if necessary, make a great job of this.

More varnish for the beading in the toilet compartments. I'm pleased we have kept the beading as it is rather than paint over it as we normally do, as it nicely compliments the varnished window frames.

When not taking the photos and other bits of chasing around, I joined Dave again with the "battle of the racks", which roughly translated means trying to get the bolts through the holes to secure the luggage racks on either side of the compartment dividing wall. Sounds easy, but not when some of the drilled holes aren't quite straight. Some careful secondary drilling and use of round files with the racks in place, and in the end we succeeded with all the first class compartments. Even the carefully measured and sawn lengths of threaded rod were sometimes found to be either too long or too short, so back to the Workshop to remove a few millimetres or cut a longer length!

Tony checks that the sliders in this window are working properly. The quarterlights have been removed so as to be able to get at the badly tarnished inner edge of each slider. Unless the sliders are removed there is no way of getting at these. In this case removing the quarterlights meant that we could also replace the old rubber seals.

Stu did some more tidying up with the maroon paint. Sounds fussy, but this job is really worth doing, especially as we want to make this coach look as good as possible.

The exterior varnishing has begun, beginning with the windows. Richard kicks off the process, while more was done by Phil J. and Jeff the next day after their Budget meeting with Ian, our HOD.

Keith and Alan did a great job cleaning up all the compartment table legs and brackets that will be needed for 16221, as well as a number of spares. Most of the table legs had been made last week, but some were from old stock that we had in store.

The next job was giving everything a coat of green primer. All this was later undercoated by David A. on Wednesday.

On now to RBr 1675, with Ainsley extracting another of the prepared (i.e. completely sanded down and given a base coat of undercoat Light Grey) doors from the Workshop storage area for rebuilding.

Later in the day, one of the kitchen area quarter doors is having the new sheet metal cover drilled and secured to the frame.

With all the new crossbearers now secured and primed in the seating area of 1675, Derek returns to the fitting of the supports for the floorboarding.

The metal frame of the north end Cotswold side window has been thoroughly cleaned by Tony. A quick vac round soon completes the job.

Robert was back on the new doors for the Malvern side of the Vanfit. It shouldn't be too long before these are fitted. All the new doors will then be painted and the van made ready to be returned to the PWay train. Alex has already listed some initial jobs for the Mogo, the next wagon rebuild.

Pam tidies up the first three of the five sign boards for the lobby area. The final two painted boards are wrapped in towels for protection and await their "MESS ROOM" and "UPHOLSTERY SHOP" lettering.

This signboard for Upholstery will be located at the bottom of the stairs, hence the upward pointing hand. The lobby and stairs area will look quite striking once all the boards have been mounted.

The end of yet another Tuesday and that welcoming cuppa (and obligatory cake!) before the long trundle home (81 miles for Robert and 45 miles for Pam). Safe drive and see you both on Saturday!

Wednesday/Thursday

A selection of photos of the two days from Nick and the Metalwork team, displayed in the order taken.

A lot of work has been done on the south end of RBr 1675 with the new preformed end panels and cantrail/roof repairs on the Malvern side.

Bryan making some repairs/adjustments to the inhouse-built buckeye coupling tool.

Ken and Chris setting up the frame that will be used to enable the heavy corridor connection to be lifted off the north end of 1675, ready for the metalwork repairs and attachment of the preformed end panels.

Wednesday lunchtimes are busy. From the top - Ken A, and then clockwise round each table, Ken R, John, Bob, Gerry; Bryan, Rex, Chris and David, and finally in view, Ainsley.

Then in the foreground Trevor. On the far side, Geoff (just out of sight) and Tom, and finally Phil and Jeff who are doing Wednesday this week so as to have their budget meeting with Ian. 

The three second class compartments in 16221 are now the focus for the Upholstery team. John assesses the fit of one of the side panels in the compartment with the emergency window. All the seat backs for these compartments are now stacked ready in the Paintshop and covered over to keep off the dust.

In the Woodwork shop Geoff prepares more of the floor supports for 1675.

A cheery smile from Tom, who is the newest member of the Woodwork team.

In the Door team area Nick caught Ben filing something - not his nails!

In the Workshop Phil is changing a plug on one of the two new welders.

Geoff and Derek discussing what remains to be done with the floor in the passenger compartment.

The busy metalworking end of the workshop, hence the filled scrap metal bin.

Chris takes a well earned break while working at the north end of 1675.

I emailed David (and Jeff and Phil J.) with quite a lengthy list of things to sand, prime, paint and varnish. David managed to achieve quite a large portion from the list, including cleaning up and coating the above toilet compartment bins in silver Hammerite.

Back to the Door team area, where Ian is in discussion with Ainsley and Geoff, probably about the work going on with refurbishing 1675's doors, but it could also have been about the budget meeting with respect to the team's requirements.

 On to Thursday, with just two photos. Rex and Bryan are in the north end of 1675.

 The new dividing wall framework that has been made for the kitchen area.