Tuesday 14th - Quite a mix on a lovely day

 Another busy day with 16 of us attending. 

There were some essential things that relied on the weather being good, and this was the start of a glorious day - it couldn't have been better. During the afternoon the heating was off and the Works doors were opened up. 

Two doors had been causing problems with sticking on the Cotswold side of TSO 4772 and FO 3132, and as such the use of plane and anglegrinder had been necessary to cure the problem. This in turn left ugly scars on the sides of the doors and inside the frames, all of which required sanding followed by a coat of paint. With rain threatened on Wednesday and plans for the rake to be moved to Platform 2 on Thursday, for ease of access the job had to be done today. There was also a back panel on one of the doors on TSO 4986 that needed varnishing. Richard and I got going early and I'm pleased to say completed the job in good time to enable proper drying - the doors were closed and relocked at 1800.

BSO 9000, currently located in the Barn, has had to have a lot done to bring the coach back to its former self. Sticking doors and associated problems have result with more planing and anglegrinding, and in one case removal of the striker plate. The coach has a mix of single-acting and the more usual double-acting locks, and they cannot be changed over. Richard, and later myself, tackled more of the paint repairs on the doors and the panelling.

This corner was repainted following corrosion repairs. The repairs on the back still need to be overpainted.

Bob M. has done a great job repainting the sides of 9000's roof, but obviously could do nothing about this bit at the south end. Nick and the Metalwork Gang have been informed and hopefully will have been able to replate this.

Ian cleaned some more windows on CK 16221, which is still on the jack road.

He then moved into TSO 4763 to reinstate some more of the tables and seat cushions. Another job we need to get done soon before the coach is put back onto the Maroon Rake and disappears back to Toddington.

The leg split away from this table during the dismantling prior to the under-table repainting on 4763. Another repair job for Robert.

On now to general refurbishment with the work on FK 13326 gathering pace. Alan pad sanded the north corner and lower side panelling at this end of the coach.

Dave H. was back with the heat gun to remove more of the peeling paint on the three panels that had suffered during the very cold weather.

It was nice to see David A. in today instead of his usual Wednesday. The rivet line has stretches of cracked paint and filler that need removing. A powered brush would soon remove these sections, but the resulting dust is terrible. So it was down to scraper and and old chisel/rubber mallet.

Pad sanding the crack is quite good - dusty but far less that powered brush.

On now to RBr 1675. Ainsley prepares door hinge spindles.

The first door goes back on. With Robert and Ian assisting below, Ainsley and Rod guide and then correctly locate the door onto the hinge bases, the ball for each hinge correctly positioned in the socket ready for the spindles to be inserted.

[Photo : Robert]   It's a tricky job, but with the special gibbet hoist so much easier than the old days when it would be two holding the door as close as possible in the correct position, while the spindles were inserted by the third person desperately trying not to knock one of the balls out of vertical alignment, or worse still out of the socket to go rolling across the floor!

[Photo : Robert]  The chain can be raised millimetre by millimetre to position the door exactly where needed.

 With the door securely in place, Rod checks for satisfactory clearance.

The making and positioning of the floor edge sections on 1675 continues to be a very lengthy job for the Woodwork Team. Derek carefully forms yet another.

The first battery box has been made and sits in the Paintshop awaiting the final work. David D. is now making the second. 

 After carefully measuring up, he begins cutting the rebate.

 Plenty of action with the Mogo rebuild, with Paul cleaning up another of the bracing bars.

 

Maurice and Paul were later undercoating more of the main frame and hinges.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Earlier on Maurice was cleaning up the north end, which looks to be in better condition than the badly corroded top section at the south end.

[Photo : Paul E.]

[Photo : Paul E.]  Most of the frame is now either undercoated or in GW Grey top coat.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Cleaned up door fittings with a fresh coat of oxide.

 The Mogo's door frames have been made and now Robert begins attaching the marine ply.

 

The picture frames for the first class compartments in CK 16221 have been coated in wood dye and Keith is now adding the first coat of varnish.

Pam gives our new changing room sign its final touches, and then moves on to giving the notice board's lettering a second coat of cream gloss.