Weds 5th/Thurs 6th - Two really good days

Two more very busy days with very good attendances and hence a lot of progress. Gerry once again took the photos for Wednesday.

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Wednesday

As usual there was a lot of focus on RBr 1675, with all Wednesday's photos bar one involving the coach. This should be no surprise of course with it being the most comprehensive refurbishment we have so far undertaken. We need to get it right because currently running in the Main Rake is RBr 1672, which will also need the same level of refurbishment. A vast amount of work, but in the end we will have two sound coaches that should last for many years. 

 Another of the part prepared doors, Door 5, is fitted with Ben lining it up ......................

.................. while Phil works the gibbet hoist, effortlessly raising the door inch by inch to the required level so that Ben can secure it with the hinge pins.. So much easier with the hoist - in pre-hoist days this job would have involved up to four of us.

 Colin discusses floor fittings with Stu, our Workshop Manager.

  Bryan is fabricating cross-battens for the new skirting panels.

 Rex welds a new section of sheet metal above this window.

Ken continues with rebuilding the south end corridor connection.

Simon painting Creocote on to the floor supports.

Tom measuring up in preparation for fitting the kitchen surround.

Colin is making alterations to fit the internal window frames.

Ken welding up more plate on 1675.

Trevor and Rod discuss what we need to do with one of the two emergency doors, which are located in the seating compartment.

The only photo not concerning 1675 is one of Chris working on the heavy base plate at the north end of FK 13326, which is now in the Barn following Saturday's shunt. To recap, both ends of 13326 will need rebuilding in the same manner as with 1675, exploratory work revealing the degree of corrosion, in particular with the bases of the four crash pillars completely gone.

Thank you Gerry for an excellent set of photos.

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Thursday

Yesterday ended with FK 13326, so why not begin Thursday with it? The Indoor Gang began their day working on these window sliders on the Cotswold side of the coach.

The main aim now with 13326 is to get the sides up to the initial greyed-up stage and then concentrate on the Santa coach, which is now in the Paintshop and there to complete. Phil works on the north half of the Cotswold side aiming to get this finished ready for painting. In the end there was more than realised, but nevertheless, another session should complete the preparation work here.

There was just a small bit of old paint and filler left to sand on the south half, and then Bob and I wiped it down ready for painting. And at last, greying up could begin.

Of course 1675 soon rears its head, this time in the form of the vertical supports for the north end corridor connection, for which Jeff is completing the top coating. These will now be ready for Ken to fit. Also in the photo are a new set of backing disks for the electrical connectors at each end of the coaches, two metal covers for the same, and in the foreground the angleirons which will end up painted yellow and be mounted on the Barn wall for hanging brooms (both the Workshop and Paintshop have been fitted with these).

Rex preparing to weld this section of sheet metal to the south end of 1675.

New spot welding on the left of the Cotswold side emergency door portal.

Gerry and Phil working on one of the two emergency doors. 

 

Repairing these is proving to be a bit of a headache and has Robert pondering the next step.

Time to head outside to see what Paul and the Indoor Gang (Alan, Roger and Geoff) are up to. This door on TSO 4763 in the 3rd Rake was out of use, hence the red ribbon advising operating staff of the problem..

At the far end of the rake Dennis waits for the toilet tank at the south end of FK 13329 to fill.

Apologies for photographing Chicken curve yet again, but on a lovely sunny day, the track curving away towards Toddington and the Cotswold escarpment providing a lovely background look so inviting. 

The view back to the Works with Langley Hill beyond, and black clouds gathering. We had a few rumbles of thunder later in the afternoon.

Spring flowers abound around the yard.

 

The red ribbon has been transferred to the grab handle. have they sorted the door problem? I meant to ask later on, but forgot.

Next a check up on the BG to see how Dave was getting on. It's a definite improvement with that bottom panel painted. I returned later and put gaffer tape over the holes.

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In Tuesday's posting there was the following comment: -

Tim J   April 6, 2023 at 8:44 AM

"Do you know why Thames Trains owned a BG? Storage at a depot? I think the franchise was created after all the loco-hauled trains out of Paddington were replaced by Class 165/166".

I'm afraid I don't know, but I could well imagine coaches such as BGs being snatched up when they became available from BR because they do make good storage vehicles, which is largely why our's were obtained. Refurbished they also provide a good brake coach. We used to have BG 81039 as a spare brake.

Anyone out there any ideas? 

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Then back through the Barn to see how Bob is doing with the greying up on 13326. Ooh, it's beginning to look good.

Gerry didn't get the chance to capture Upholstery's activities yesterday, so let's see how things have progressed.

It looks like the head rests have been finished as they now sit on top of the completed seats.

Another seat in progress, with the foam padding marked out for cutting to size.

 Two smart cushions rest on another seat ready for stripping down.

Hmmm, looks like Upholstery have read my Tuesday posting. The scrummy box of chocs have disappeared (were they eaten after all?) and been replaced by a tin of shortbread.

Another check of the progress with 13326 to find Bob now painting the lower panel. In the background Phil has reached the centre door with the final stages of prep work on the north half.

Now on to one of Jeff's favourite jobs. These are for the "Gloucester RU" Toad brake van, which is now in Platform 1 Bay.

A final shot of Bob's progress with 13326 prior to the afternoon tea break. After weeks of looking at a complete mess of filler and sanded paintwork, the initial greying up is always a treat to see.