Weds/Thurs 24th/25th - Good progress

Wednesday

 Many thanks to Gerry and Nick for taking the photos for Wednesday.

 

[Photo : Gerry]  Progress with the two emergency doors for RBr 1675, with Ben working on some of the intricate mechanism of the first door ......................

 

[Photo : Gerry]  ................. with Trevor working on the second door.

[Photo : Gerry]   The camera catches our nonagenarian Colin by surprise as he enters the RBr .......

 

[Photo : Gerry]   ............... to see Geoff and Simon working on the kitchen floor, which has now been reinforced with a tubular framework ready for the heavy units when they are eventually installed.

 

[Photo : Gerry]   The new tubular framework can be clearly seen, to which wood supports are being attached. Simon drills through both wood strips and the intervening metal tube before adding the nut and blot.

[Photo : Gerry]  Problems with door fitting have been resolved by our new Works Manager Stuart, who noted that the new z bars weren't quite the correct curvature. A solution has been found in that the bars are cut in the appropriate places and then rewelded. Nick and Rex are in the process of sorting out one of the new bars on the Malvern side of 1675.

[Photo : Gerry]  Rex cutting a new section of tubing from our store in the Barn. Not sure what this was going to build - more strengthening for either the kitchen floor (though that now looks complete) or the skirting panels?

 [Photo : Gerry]   Also in the Barn is Chris doing more preparation at the north end of FK 13326 ready for the new end panels.

 [Photo : Gerry]  Our endologist Ken is cleaning up more parts from the north end corridor connection. These were later hung on the hooks at the south end of the Paintshop with a "priority" note attached (it was actioned as detailed in the Thursday part). 

[Photo : Nick]  Eve happily working in her new additional role in the Upholstery shop, laying out new moquette on one of the seat backs from the Forest of Dean Railway.

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Thursday

 

Back to RBr 1675 with Richards I and II discussing the proposed electrics for the kitchen area.

 

Gerry prepares another of the curved z bars for the correct doorway alignment.

 Rex using the plasma cutter to obtain another section of sheet metal for rebuilding the skin of 1675.

An interesting job for Bryan who is using a special tool for reprofiling the drainage tubes that are fitted to the bottom part of the internal window frames.

 

Excellent service by our paint supplier T&R Williamson based at Ripon, Yorks. A new 2.5L tin of Underframe Black sits on the bogie that Tony was repainting on Tuesday. The paint was ordered by email on Wednesday morning and arrived by courier just after lunchtime today - thank you Jeremy! 

 Ken A. cutting a piece of tube ready to weld onto a new framework ..............

 

 ............... which turns out to be yet another new tool in the making. This will be used to hold lighting when working inside a coach during a rebuild. 

Making the most of Pendennis Castle while we have her, as she heads north on the first train of the day returning from Cheltenham.

Another photo of Upholstery's progress with the FODR seating.

 

The new order from South Devon Railway Engineering arrived on Wednesday.

Rex, Bryan and Gerry steadily wheel each half end panel round to the back of the FK 13326 ready for rebuilding both ends.

Ken R. has been busy - the stripped down north end of 13326.

Now on to progress with the Santa coach (SK 25618). Jeff eases out with filler the welding on metalwork repairs at the north end.

With most of the filling completed on the remaining original paintwork on the Malvern side of the coach, we can grey up this too. After a final check for any unsanded filler, Bob wipes over the surface with thinners.

Meanwhile on the Cotswold side Phil J. pad sands more filler.

Phil B. applies Gloss Black to the cleaned up south bogie. We would normally apply the oil resistant Underframe Black, but as this is a non-running coach the amount of oil getting onto the frame will be minimal.

By now Bob was well into greying up on the Malvern side.

As was Phil J. who had completed the filler sanding for this part of the coach.

Much later on Bob had completed the main panelling and was now painting the central door. While Phil had moved round to this side and was painting the bogie beam.

The end of the day with the Malvern side completely greyed up, leaving just various bits of secondary filling to be done.

The Cotswold side almost finished, also leaving some secondary filling to be done.

It's lunchtime and Pendennis has arrived on its second northbound run.

78019 arrives on its second southbound run.

It looks powerful, and it certainly is! We will miss this engine when she departs at the end of the month.

Way down the yard and in the coach at the end of the 3rd Rake, the covering on the floor into the corridor connection was coming adrift. Geoff and Alan cut a piece of lino from our remnants and carefully laid it so that it fitted well and free'd up the connection door which had been dragging on the floor.

Continuing on from Tuesday, Dave was back outside and happily making the most of this glorious weather, tidying up the paintwork on this BG.

 

The various bits from 13326's corridor connection that Ken R. needed painting, now completed and ready to go back when the metalworking has been done and the connection can be remounted.