Saturday 4th - An eventful day, to say the least!

Yes, it was quite a day. The start of the new running season, engines and coaches on test, all sorts of shunting, footplate and birthday treats, messages from the past, a very pleasant surprise, and one very happy shunter! Plus all our usual work of course, and more good progress.

The train, loco and shunting movements are in time order, while the other photos have been grouped by subject as we tend to do with our blog posts.

 

When Ian, our HOD, was asked if there was much shunting to do today, his reply was, "I should say so!". And so it turned out to be. With the 03 warming up, "Dinmore Manor" comes past with the train for Cheltenham to pick up the first passengers of the season.

CK 16221 was still positioned in front of the Barn, so Phil quickly assesses the reported leak in the plumbing for the north end toilet, before getting changed and returning with the necessary tools. It was Phil's birthday, so when he appeared first thing with a nice chocolate cake, he received a chorus of "Happy birthday" from those of us that were in early.

Meanwhile, today is Alex's assessment as a shunter. Ian and Clive discuss some final training.

NYMR SK 25488 is hauled out of the Barn. In the foreground is the trolley loaded with a Henry and other items for Paul and Dennis to use inside 16221.

Under Clive's supervision, Alex calls back Ian in the move to attach 16221 to 25488. Both coaches will be taken across the yard to be attached to the Maroon Rake.

 "Foremarke Hall" had earlier come past on a test run and stopped at the station, and is now on its way back to Toddington with John C. at the regulator..

 

I missed a photo of this in Thursday's post, so here is the status of the new token exhange platform for Gotherington. Stu, our new Workshop Manager, is welding the flat bases on to the longer pair of legs.

Back to the Workshop and RBr 1675 where on the Cotswold side Phil is cleaning up the surround where the latest window has been taken out.

Inside 1675's corridor Alan is fitting more of the floor supports.

While Steve is doing the same inside the kitchen area.

Later on when passing I could smell Creocote and correctly guessed that the floor boarding is now going down. A small section is being carefully marked out ......................

................ before being cut by Steve.

The distant sound of the approaching DMU has us rushing outside to watch and wave at the trains. The signalman stands ready for the token exchange.

Phil's dangling feet perfectly frame John H. as he pulls back the hoist from which dangles a vacuum cylinder.

John carefully positions the cylinder onto the stand.

The intention is to test the cylinder using the vacuum pump. Richard looks on.

Dave H., John and Jenny enter the lobby with a trolley load of seating from TSO 4867 (ex-Quainton Road), with is due to come into the Works sometime this year to complete its restoration.

Jenny pointed out some writing on the bottom of one of the seat cushions which, as far as we can make out, says, "I'm Back. Ho Happy Days Are Here Again. name unclear.  York. August 87".

Another seat was very clear, being written with a felt tipped pen. It's tempting to think the name on the other seat is the same person, but as far as we can tell it looks different.

[Photo : Alex]  Alex was outside and so captured the Cheltenham train passing with "Foremarke Hall" having a third (and full length) trip coupled to "Dinmore Manor".

What a lovely surprise for Pam when Roger and Kath, from our Monday Cleaning Team, turned up to give her a tin of top of the range Belgian chocolates from M&S to thank her for creating the plaque for the Hooton Trolley. Roger will be including a photo of the trolley with the plaque attached in his next blog post.

On to the Mogo, beginning with Robert cutting off a section of marine plyboard to create the next bit of walling on the Cotswold side of the van ...................

 ................. which is then wheeled down the Workshop for a trial fitting.

 

Paul and Maurice in discussion about the Malvern side.

Later on the top coated wall panels for the Cotswold side south half are refitted ready for the holes to be drilled, and nuts and bolts attached. 

That lengthy job is now complete and Maurice works his way around the frame, giving all the nuts a final tightening.

 The north end panels are now in and look to be a good fit.

John S. finishes off another formed piece of sheet metal for the repairs under the roof ends of the Mogo. 

 Pam chats to Maurice while he primes the two new panels following their test fitting.

[Photo : Alex]  A final photo of the Mogo showing how rapidly the rebuild is taking place and how good it is already looking. Well done chaps!

I guess this could be called the main event of the day for C&W. "P & O" was also being tested and at the same time enabled us to test the Maroon Rake steam heating, especially with respect to newly restored 16221.

The completed rake ready for the Race days in two weeks time. The existing rake looked ok until 16221 was added, and hmmmm.

The steam testing begins and no surprise to find leaks, the one here actually being a bad hose connection.

 Owner Clive ponders this particular leak, trying to puzzle out exactly where it is coming from.

While all this was going on and with our staff crawling underneath both 16221 and 25488, the loco crew very kindly let both Pam and myself up onto the footplate of "P&O".

 

 I've always loved the view from the footplate.

 Conversation temporarily ceases!

 Time to get back to the Paintshop and the FK.

[Photo : Alex]   Great shot! Capturing all three locos in steam, Alex got the timing to perfection as "Dinmore" and "Foremarke" head back to Toddington.

Pam had earlier done a number of minor jobs, but now follows on with the red oxide as each of the three stripped panels on the Cotswold side of FK 13326 is given a final sanding by myself. Much of this side has now been sanded and the many dug out bits in the process of being treated with oxide and filled.

Two of the Cotswold side doors are now off and on the Door Team's benches. It's actually a lot easier to have the doors here for the essential lock and lazy tongs servicing, and replacement of worn panels where needed. Ben watches as Ainsley fits a new side piece. The worn out back panel leans against the bench.

 The replacement door panel under construction.

[Photo : Alex]  This is an unusual shot of the Toddington train. It has been taken from the little two-space alcove in the Winchcombe Station car park and looks across Platform 1 Bay. Something is missing!

On the way out to see "P&O" and the steam heat testing of the Maroon Rake, I noticed the line of bogies from the Works siding had been shunted into the Barn.

Ah, that's why the bogies were moved and Alex was able to take his unusual shot. The Santa coach has been brought in for its planned repaint. This is going to be a very different coach when it eventually returns to its normal location in Platform 1 Bay. The Model Railway (Royal Mail) and Discovery coaches in Platform 2 Bay are also desperate for repainting but these will have to be done in situ, and the job will be very weather dependent.

On the jack road BSK 35308 from our 4th Rake now has centre stage.

Finally, a very happy Alex proudly displays his shunter's certificate. He passed! Well done Alex!