Another busy two days in a typical C&W week with the restoration work proceeding well and the Winter Shutdown activities steadily moving towards their conclusion.
We get good attendances now and definitely back to pre-pandemic levels. Our Upholstery Team have their breaks in their shop, while the Wagon Gang have their breaks early - I guess just as well as we would never all fit into the Mess Room, large as it is.
Before starting this new post, just to say another "Thank You" for the kind compliments that are given. We don't always answer them directly but they are always much appreciated. Also of course if the post is several days old, then it is very likely that most of our regular readers will have already visited it and will not see the response. This is particularly relevant when we are asked for information and in these situations it is perhaps better to reply in the following post so that everyone will get to read it.
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Wednesday
Many thanks to Gerry for once again taking a set of photos for Wednesday's activities.
A nice surprise on Wednesday was a visit by Eddie, our former head of the Woodwork Team, here chatting with Colin and Geoff. The title I was given for the photo was "Grumpy old men!". All said in good humour of course! 😄Tom is making more parts for RBr 1675.
Also for 1675, the second battery box being constructed by David.D.
Trevor is in the process of making up a new door back panel. This could be for FK 13326 as a number of door locks have been taken from this coach for servicing.
Derek continues the long process of creating and fitting the floor edge sections for 1675.
The metal working on 1675 continues to astound, with the new skirt sections now rapidly going on. The special support arrangement taking centre stage is invaluable for ensuring each skirt section is at the correct height as Bryan and Rex prepare to mount this one.
The hoist has lifted the section to the correct position so Bryan now clamps each end to secure it in place. Holes are then drilled through the skirt and into the coach frame to enable small bolts to provide a more secure fitting until welding can be done.
There continues to be a fair amount of sheet metal replacement on 1675. John prepares a new door surround.
It was just David A. working on FK 13326 today, this time sanding down the old paint on the Malvern side.
It will be no surprise to state that excavation of one of the corroded corners on the Cotswold side of 13326 has indicated that they will both require a fairly major amount of work, far more than we hoped would be necessary. We are talking of the removal of the corridor connections, new base plates and repairs to the crash pillars, and possibly even using new half end panels as applied to 1675. So, do we carry on, or "mothball" the coach until we have more time available, and do a quick repaint job instead on either NYMR SK 25488 (as originally planned) or the Santa Coach? We don't want to delay 1675 coming into the Paintshop, and we already have plans to begin the main restoration of TSO 4867 this year.
So, as the saying goes, watch this space!
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Thursday
Moving on to Thursday and very much a day for the Winter Shutdown work as the new season deadline looms ever closer.
The new scotches required for our brake coaches, four for each, reach their stringing stage. The cigarette lighter is used to melt the cut ends and prevent the string unravelling.
With Pam not in, Jeff takes over the signwriting. He begins with (BSO) 9000.
Grouped in batches, the others are for BCK 21092 (3rd Rake), BSK 35308 (4th Rake), and as BSKD 34929 still has four in very good condition (the coach being outshopped only last year), the final four will be annoatated "C&W" and join the others in the Barn.
Returning a bit later Jeff was well into it and doing a very good job. Pam, you have a rival.
The Main Rake is now in the yard siding awaiting its imminant return to Toddington once BSO 9000 has been put back in place. Meanwhile the Maroon Rake sits in Platform 2 and preparations for its return to Toddington are well underway. As I approached I saw the Henry vacuum cleaner being hoisted on board for Paul to use. While Dennis is busy refilling the toilet tanks.
In the Maroon Rake two members of the
Indoor Gang, Alan and Geoff, are having a battle trying to get this seat
back into place. Reinstating these bench seats can be quite a job.
In BSKD 34929 Phil was making plans to fix a leaking pipe joint by replacing the ill-fitting copper pipe with a flexible hose.
Phil then proceeds to check the lights in each compartment.
The one on the left in this compartment has a faulty switch and doesn't extinguish, so the bulb is removed and temporarily positioned within the top of the shade. The next compartment had the same fault, so two more jobs for Phil to sort out.
Our Dirty Gang were once again servicing vacuum cylinders. I think this is one from BSO 9000.
Following on from Stu's excellent efforts on BSO 9000 on Tuesday, Phil J. and Jeff top coated the relevant panelling and replenished the lining out where needed. It some ways it has been a disheatening job because so much more needs the same treatment, but there simply isn't the time for a full repair and repaint. The coach goes out on Saturday to rejoin the Main Rake.
The back panel on this door was revarnished on the Paintshop trestles a week or so ago and looks great. However now reinstated it makes the remaining woodwork look very sad, so Jeff perks up the faded door pull with a fresh coat of varnish.
Phil top coated the Malvern side guards door, central section, central passenger door and upper panel next to that, and then had to free-hand the lining out where needed.He later came back and discovered some finger prints on one of the doors - arggghhh! Thankfully he was able to fix it without the paint pulling.
Rex and Bryan were back in so there was some more good progress with 1675 and more skirting was secured to the Cotswold side of the coach.
[Photo : Nick] Nick was also in and captured the progress from the scaffold while working on the Mogo.
[Photo : Nick] The Cotswold side skirting, now looking fairly complete and I imagine it won't be long before welding begins.
[Photo : Nick] The Malvern side skirting also looks to be complete and ready for welding. Meanwhile Bryan had asked me whether the Painting and Prep team could begin sanding the remaining old panelling on the coach as this would help with identifying the less obvious areas that might need replacing. Initially though the more obvious bits could be dug out with the "worn chisel and mallet" method and Nick caught me doing just this.
One of the refurbished kitchen doors has been reinstated and the partner quarter door awaits on a Door Team bench. Ainsley begins cleaning up the relevant side of the doorway.
The two new battery boxes for 1675. There is still some work required before we can begin priming and painting them (hence the attached, rather battered note to this effect).
The outer sides of the four completed doors for the Mogo were being top coated today, so all work on FK 13326 was suspended, especially as this mainly involves sanding activity. Maurice applies the first coat. It is planned to mount the doors on Saturday, after which remaining painting of these can begin.
The old tin of non-standard top coat was dug out and Maurice began painting the insides of the main frame to provide some basic protection, much as we have done on recent goods vehicle restorations.
It was good to see Nick and Eve back in after their trip away. While Eve was busy in the office, Nick took on the metalwork repairs to the south end of the Mogo.
[Photo : Nick] The old corroded metal plate on the right hand half has been cut out.
Nick welds in the new sheet metal replacement panel.
[Photo : Nick]
[Photo : Nick] The corroded left hand side.
Now into the Woodshop to see how Robert is faring with the build of the large north end doors. The little process I recently found fascinating with some more pocket holes being neatly drilled.
The first part of the build.
Returning later to find the first of the heavy doors taking shape nicely.
Towards the end of the day the Dirty Gang had a major clean up session of their work and storage area to remove all the accumulated dust. It's certainly worth doing jobs like this - very satisfying and good for morale. Well done!
