Monday 20th - Not even Plan Z!

 As we arrived for Carriage Cleaning this greeted us

Rake 1 moving off to Winchcombe behind D6948 (good to see the Green Goddess back in service). Nigel had already started inside and had to be extracted before an unscheduled train ride! It had not been cleaned after the weekend before being removed. It was going there to have the eighth coach removed and to shuffle the first class "MARY" to be next to the buffet car.

In platform 2 we found

Rake 3! This was cleaned inside by the team, and washed on the Cotswold side. It had been cleaned by the Race Train cleaner contractors but there is always something. Like tinsel from Christmas in one carriage. Also mopped throughout. Next use for this set is the Steam Gala in May.

But we did get our first viewing of the lovely horse chestnut moquette we are currently using.

Part way through the morning D6948 re-appeared. We knew rake 2 was up the north siding, was it going to fetch it for us? No - it was on p-way duties.

Why would we need rake 2? Because somehow or other it had been shunted up the siding before the contract cleaners were able to clean it on Friday, so it was in need of a very thorough clean. I heard it is due to be pulled into the station tomorrow so maybe there is a plan to get them back to clean it this week sometime. 

And finally, why we ask that train toilets are not used in the station

So just train pictures this week, the cleaning team was Kath, Greg, John, Mark, Nigel, Paul and self.

Hopefully it will be business as usual next week. This was a definite first in all the years we have been cleaning.