Weds 14th/Thurs 15th - Plenty of the same, but variety too.

Another two day posting, and as always a big Thank You to Gerry for Wednesday's photos.

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Wednesday

As has been mentioned previously, Tuesday is often mainly painting. With Wednesdays it's mainly RBr 1675 and today is no exception.

However Wednesday begins with a problem in Upholstery. While Jenny looks on, Laura inspects the sewing machine and John consults the user manual. With all the FODR contract work now well underway, hopefully they got the machine back up and running. 

 

I emailed David with a number of things that could be done on the Santa coach, one of which was painting the corridor connection and panels at the south end of the coach in Gloss Black.

Gerry's description was "Ian attempting to remove nut from trailing assembly". This was under the north end of FK 13326 in the Barn and presumably Ian was working on the drawbar mechanism.

 John and Ken were also in the Barn working on bogie refurbishment for RBr 1675

For Ainsley it was of course work relating to 1675's doors.

 

On the Malvern side the first of the two rebuilt emergency doors has been mounted. Ben makes fine adjustments.

 Ainsley makes some further checks.

 The completed hanging of the door - it looks good.

 Back in the Woodshop Colin works on a new section of internal window surround.

 Simon is making new oak window surrounds.

 Later on Simon reviews the internal window requirements in the seating area.

 Phil is attaching the metal furnishings to one of the new battery boxes for 1675 ............

......... and later adjusting some of the battery box metalwork prior to fitting it.

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Thursday

On now to Thursday's activities and quite a lot happening, hence many photos.

Firstly introducing Chris, yet another new member joining us today. Alex gave Chris the formal safety briefing and tour around the Works, and I caught them both as P&O came by with the first train of the day.

Maurice soon got going on the Tool Van again, cleaning off more of the old cracked paint.

With Chris' introductory tour completed, he and Alex began with an axlebox check and re-oiling on the Tool Van.

 

The Creosote Tank was next.

Our 3rd/4th Rakes Maintenance Team today comprised just Alan and Roger as Geoff was on holiday. Alan prepares to tighten yet another loose table in RMB 1808 in the 3rd Rake. Sadly this is often caused by young children being allowed to stand on them - very thoughtless and  irresponsible to say the least!

Signs of cleaning activity in BSK 35308, but where was Paul? Dennis is on holiday this week.

In the Barn at the north end of FK 13326 the drawhook and buckeye coupler have been removed.

The next job will be the removal of the tailpin.

Later in the day Stu prepares to attach the new tailpin to the drawhook.

A clean up of the drawhook is required first.

Pat was back in today and started the first of the two Malvern side Cream top coats at the south end of the Santa coach.

He made some very good progress, by the end of the day reaching and including the centre door.

Also on the Malvern side, Phil B. painted some of the north end bogie and then proceeded along the sole bar.

An end of day shot of the Malvern side. My jobs today included preparing stepboards to replace those that are missing - this includes the Cotswold side where they will be purely cosmetic as all the doors have been removed and replaced with metal panels.

 In the Workshop Phil S. was having a major sort out and tidy up of the tool bench.

On now to the RBr and Gerry power cleaning another of the removed windows.

An outside view of the newly fitted emergency door leading from the seating area.

Richards I and II in discussion about the latest stage in the rewiring of 1675.
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Returning a little later to find Richard I feeding new cable through the new conduits.

 

 And later still with Gerry cutting a way through for another new conduit ..........

 ................. which Richard then tests.

There is a lot in the way of electrics to set up with all the old stuff completely stripped out - Phil lends a hand. 

It's no fun working inside coaches when stabled outside on a very hot day and by early afternoon Alan, Roger and Paul had had enough, and with the shade temperature now hitting 27C who can blame them.

 

It was hot for Dave too, back working on the outside of one of our storage vehicles, but at least he was in the shade.

Hey, what's this? C&W now into horticulture? No, just a very kind gesture by Ken R., who brought these in for anyone who would like to have some fresh tomatoes.