Thursday 11th - More Gala Preparation

Roger's Thursday post of the Cleaning Team showed them doing a great job and I add my own compliments to those already given by Alex.

It was certainly a busy day for most departments on the Railway as the preparations for the steam gala continued. Plenty of exercise for us as we pushed one of the bogies up towards the station crossing with one of the two large advertising signs in place. The very large banner sign is along the Workshop wall on the track side and so is viewed by all the passing trains.

Paul fills the water tank on RMB 1808 ready for service the next day. 

In the headshunt the mini goods train awaits its engine, which over the weekend will be the L&Y Pug 11243 giving demonstration runs through the station.

For Trevor and Ainsley, for "preparation" read "repair". Both were in to make an internal support for the new droplight and go up to Toddington to fit it. This was to replace another shattered droplight in one of the Chocolate & Cream Rake coaches, as reported in Roger's blog posting.

 

As well as preparations in the Paintshop, both the Workshop and Barn received a fair amount of tidying and sweeping. Stu, our Workshop Manager, emptied just about every bin in the Works. Gerry made a great job cleaning up the main bench, before proceeding elsewhere.

 

The Paintshop displays gradually appear. The two storyboards below will be permanently displayed and will eventually be joined by three more.

 

Normal work was also carried out of course. Maurice builds up and then sands the filler around the new welded plating at the north end of the Santa coach.

Geoff and Alan were carefully drilling the holes in a new set of seat numbers, these destined for CK 16221. Pictured below, a useful tool has been made for the job.

 

 Phil sorts out battery box fittings ready for adding to the two newly made boxes for RBr 1675.

Nick takes a breather after another session welding up the strengthening supports along this stretch of new skirting.

In the Barn John and Tony are working on one of the two bogies destined for 1675. The wheelset is extracted and shows that a bit of work is needed to get it as cleaned up as the bogie main frame.

Our secretary Eve occasionally has little work on the computer, so to fill in her time she is joining the Upholstery Team. She may also join the Painting and Prep Team if time permits.