Tuesday 13th - Even hotter!

With the temperatures now soaring, it was definitely a day for all windows and doors wide open to get a nice through current of air.

That very recognisable whistle soon had me opening the trackside door from the Paintshop as the first train of the day comes past with P&O in charge.

Just outside is Tool Van no. 4 which is going to have a cosmetic restoration for display at Toddington. Alex had already started the clean up of the body sides and Maurice continued this for most of the day.

As it was Tuesday there was a considerable effort on the Santa coach. Alex completed the second top coat on the Cotswold side.

Phil swapped from his usual Thursday and carried on with the undercoating on the Malvern side, completing the gutter panel.

Richard was back after his holiday and continued with the doors and doorframes.

Ian concentrated on the south end buffer frame and parts underneath.

It was back to bogie painting on the Cotswold side for Roger, the coil springs and axlebox covers of the south end bogie being the final aspect here, though he began by painting inside the springs. Now that is dedication!

Keith was doing the same with the north end bogie.

It's when the line tapes come off that you really feel you are getting somewhere as the final look of this side of the coach begins to appear. It's fun doing this, but you have to be careful as it is not unknown for the tape if yanked too hard to snap and fly back on to wet paint, or even pull out filler!

A later photo of the Malvern side finds Roger now working on the north end bogie, while Richard is applying Madder undercoat to the lower panel.

Other work was going on and even a visit from Richard, our Finance director, with our new Relationship Director and his assistant. Alex gave them a tour round the works.

Robert created a new sandwich board for Alex.

The finished product, a very neat job!

Robert and I were away most of the afternoon following the offer of a quantity of wood, the very kind donor actually living in my village! With some quite large pieces of some very nice quality wood, it will definitely be a return visit with the truck to collect it all.

Dave was also back after a couple of weeks away and restarted his work on the compartment doors from TK 24006, the coach he co-owns with Robert W.. There are still some doors left to do, but the results of all the sanding and then revarnishing are certainly worth all the effort because the completed ones look really good.

Tony cleans up another of the windows from RBr 1675. Setting up an area of the Workshop dedicated to windows is really paying off. Ainsley was also working in 1675 on door-related activities, but unfortunately I missed him, not helped by me being away most of the afternoon.