Saturday 17th - Strawberries and cream

Once again a Saturday, my favourite day at C&W. It was still hot and with little breeze, so trying to cool down the Bill Ellesmere building with its insulation was proving to be difficult, even with all the doors wide open. 

The creosote tank is due to be grit-blasted on Tuesday, so Maurice had the job of removing some unwanted bits of wood on the sole bar ................

.................. and stanchions, the latter in particular could almost be wrenched out, it was so rotten, leaving just the securing bolts to be cut through with an angle grinder. This former GWR 1911-built wagon will look good just with all the old peeling paint removed and primed. When fully painted it should look superb.

The same will apply to former GWR Tool Van 4, which was undergoing more general sanding down by Clive.

Maurice had earlier removed some of the van's grab handles and was now cleaning these up ready for repainting.

 Paul gathers what he needs prior to more cleaning inside the 3rd Rake.

Underneath the north end of FK 13326, with the new tailpin in place and the drawhook installed, Andy works on the final bits to complete the job. 

Now for the south end. Ken shines a light to assist Andy with the initial part of the removal process.

Ken had previously begun the dismantling of the south end corridor connection, with the rain cover and other bits awaiting gathering up.

On now to the Santa Coach and for a change some more internal work. This time replacing water-damaged parts of the north vestibule ceiling.

 

 Alan and Simon prepare the replacement panels and are soon busy installing them.

 

Back to the Malvern side top coating as Pam begins with the first coat of GW Cream on the north half of the coach. She actually started at the first window panel so as to keep clear of the north end doorway where Alan and Simon were working.

Good progress, and a good job being done. As with Pat on Tuesday, Pam is relatively new to top coating on the coaches. The very warm Paintshop wasn't making painting too easy.

George did a cracking job inside the south corridor connection, in fact removing a whole length of old filler that initially appeared to be sound, and generally tidying up. Although work here is largely cosmetic as this doorway is not used and thus sealed off, we still want to make it look good.

Later in the day Alex began the lining out on the Cotswold side. With just the lining out and numbering to do here, this side is now beginning to come together. Then it will be two coats of varnish to finish off.

On now to 1675 and Phil and Robert are inspecting the location of the door frame of the first of the two emergency doors.

 New member Chris measuring up next to one of the Malvern side kitchen access doors.

Following on from the work being done by Richard I on Thursday, the completed set of electrical conduits in this location.

 Alan inspects the panel that will be put in place to cover the division.

 Robert prepares a short length of door liner.

 The door liner profile tester produced by Alan with his 3D printer is perfect for this job.

Kevin hauls out more stuff from the Monster Van to sort out. It will take some time to complete all this with all the items recently donated. Keep going Kevin, you are doing a great job!

A warm welcome to Helen who has joined our Upholstery Team. Helen is the wife of Stu, our Works Manager.

The girls stripping down another of the seat backs from the FODR. 

Another completed seat back and cushion. 

 The various internal panels stripped down and awaiting their rebuilding.

 Alex primes his new sandwich board - I keep meaning to ask where this one is destined.

It's the weekend of our Real Ale Festival and the DMU shuttle service between Toddington and Winchcombe is proving to be very popular. We ought to be doing a regular weekend Winchcombe-Broadway shuttle. I'm sure it would prove to be very popular and provide an extended travel experience to our regular two train service.

Strawberries and cream - a special treat for the End Of Day Tea Club. Thank you Pam, you are a star! It was almost 7 pm by the time we had followed this with our usual cuppa.

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A short interlude in Bristol Harbour 

The day before I had my annual visit to the BRI and afterwards a chance to wander around the extensive harbour.

 A fine collection of wagons along the harbour line.

Had a feeling Alex would love to have this one in our freight. When he saw the photo his eyes lit up.

  Former GW steel open ballast "Starfish"

  Their MOGO looks good.

 

 5 plank open wagon. What a pity about that dropdown door! No doubt a replacement.

Former S.R. 12 ton 8-plank open wagon 

The fire had been lit in Peckett 0-6-0ST "Henbury" in readiness for a weekend of harbour trips.

The trip train's nicely presented Toad brake van. 

 

 

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All this brought back memories of an excellent Vintage Trains trip to Bristol for four of us on a very warm day in March 2012. We were hauled by 6201 "Princess Elizabeth". It was an epic trip returning via the Lickey where we had two bankers.

"Henbury" was doing regular trips along the harbour line ..........................
 

.................. and of course we just had to partake!

A kind soul on the next table took our photo - myself, Paul, Phil and Andy.