Tuesday 28th - Coming together

The end of February and almost the start of the new running season. This time in two weeks the Tuesday gang will be waving at the happy passengers on the first day of the Race Specials.

 

Beginning today with RBr 1675, Ainsley continues with the fitting of the first doors to go back on the coach, the double doors on the Cotswold side. 

Tackling a different type of door, Derek battles with the north end slider on FK 13326. The door lock refused to work so other tactics had to be employed to enable the door to be removed. The ceiling panels have already been taken down. This is all part of the preparation for the rebuild of the badly corroded north end. 

Meanwhile the general sanding down of the bodysides and removal of cracked filler also continues. Stu eases down the edges of one of the areas where the old filler and paint had peeled away following the intensely cold weather earlier this year.

 

With the gouging out completed in this area Keith begins applying red oxide to the bared metal surface.

Richard with more general sanding of the paintwork. 

Our HOD Ian has issued strict instructions that the main repair work is to be at the corroded ends of the coach only. Anything in between will be limited to servicing door locks, replacing worn veneer back panels and repairs to the seating. In this instance the door is being taken off as it will be easier to service this particular lock and replace the back panel.

With three of the brake coaches now with a new set of four scotches, the fourth set was not required as BSKD 34929 still had its original four. However a new set is required for the Queen Mary brake van, so Pam set to with the identification for the final four. Despite the fact they are only scotches, Pam was determined that all four would be identical and so it was back to the template and French chalk method.

A nice result! The white speckles on the side are reflections.

The progress with the Mogo continues to move forward at a good pace. Robert begins cutting the first of the plyboard panels. 

Later he discusses with Paul the fitting of the painted base section that fits between the metal frame and floor planking.

With both side panels for this quarter section now cut, time for a trial fitting. Robert passes the second one up to Maurice.

The marine plyboard is remarkably heavy as visibly displayed by Paul as he manouvers this piece into place. The painted base section mentioned above can clearly be seen in place just inside the metal frame. 

 The left panel fits perfectly. The second is carefully moved into place.

 [Photo : Robert]  A perfect fit and a happy Paul and Maurice!

[Photo : Paul E.]  Both panels were removed and taken back to the Paintshop trestles for priming and painting.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Robert now asseses the fitting of the base section on the north part of the Malvern side of the van.

[Photo : Paul E.]  The Malvern side doors being undercoated in the container, away from the sanding work on FK 13326.

[Photo : Paul E.]  The completed south end doors have been sheeted over to protect them while the metalwork repairs remain to be completed at this end.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Two views of the Cotswold side from within the Mogo with the doors open.

[Photo : Paul E.]

[Photo : Paul E.]  The many bits recently seen in primer and then undercoated, now top coated and hanging from a rail at the north end of the van.

NYMR SK 25488 has been brought into the Barn and while there the opportunity was taken by Dave H. to remove the large areas of loose paint, sand them down and apply red oxide to the bare metal surface.

When the oxide was dry I then top coated the relevant sections. Ideally the cleaned up areas would have been filled and the whole panel repainted, but there isn't time for this. I don't know why the coach has been brought in or for how long it will be there, so this has to be a quick job and far better that simply leaving it to get worse.

Further areas on the upper panelling were also dealt with and will be similarly repainted.

The paintwork in general is now very faded with the taped lines peeling off, and as such the coach has been earmarked for a full repaint when it can be fitted into our very busy schedule. 

 

Pam spent the latter part of her day with more window cleaning in CK 16221.

 Ian S. and I spent the morning putting up the remaining signs in the lobby and upstairs.

The Upholstery Shop pointer needed space so some of the In Memorium photos were rearranged and the whole effect has come out rather well. 

The formal opening plaque for the Bill Ellesmere building and the photo of Bill, whose wonderful legacy enabled this, now sit on the adjacent wall. The new signs have a very professional appearance and we hope will provide a good impression for our many visitors during Gala openings and formal tours.

Another of Alex's excellent signwritten notice boards sits in the disabled compartment of BSO 9000 and will be returned to Toddington P1, complete with newly designed heritage style notices, when the Main rake is taken back up on Thursday.

Alex is now one of the nominees shortlisted for the Lord Faulkner Award For Young Volunteers in this year's HRA Awards (Steam Railway issue 542 page 24). We wish him luck.