Weds 7th/Thurs 8th - It's getting warmer at last

Another two day posting, with many thanks again to Gerry for taking Wednesday's photos.

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Wednesday

 

Beginning with the Woodwork shop and Geoff (above) and Colin (below) preparing more internal wood surrounds for fitting out 1675's windows.

 

Simon using a jig saw for shaping new internal panelling.

Bob cleaning old paint from another window from 1675. Our new coach window area has been further developed and it is no longer a squeeze trying to get this work done.

Ainsley working on Door 5 - the Malvern side passenger entrance to the counter area.

On the opposite side Ben is working on Door 2 - the Cotswold side staff entrance to the counter and kitchen.

Rex is lengthening screws for the two emergency doors from the seating area in 1675.

Later in the day David had finished what he could do on the Santa coach, so was asked to begin adding some filler to the north end skirting panel on the Malvern side as a trial.

Ben and Rod discuss the fitting of the south end door of the Santa coach.

As mentioned above, David's first job of the day was adding more filler to the south end of the Santa coach, which is now almost ready to undercoat. This job was postponed on Tuesday to allow Alex to top coat the Cotswold side.

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Thursday

On now to the next day and starting with 1675.again.

A much quieter day for 1675, witb Richard I and Steve (from PWay) installing the channel plate on the kitchen roof for the internal lighting.

One of the last jobs of the day was adding Underframe Black gloss to this wheelset before it is put back on one of the refurbished bogies from 1675.

On my way outside to catch the Indoor Gang and Paul and Dennis on the 3rd and 4th Rake coaches, and just in time to photo Dinmore on the Cheltenham train while our Works manager Stu looks on.

Dennis was on more watering up, this time on FK 13329.

Paul vacuuming the corridor inside SK 25451.

It was the Blue timetable today, so we had the DMU running. It passes by with a cheery wave from Paul C. who was driving all day.

 

 

Climbing up into BSK 35308 to find Geoff repairing the centre sliding door catch .......

 

........... and Alan repairing the droplight frame on the Cotswold side central passenger door.

 

Over in the 3rd Rake Roger is repainting part of a toilet compartment where the paint had been flaking.

 

Walking back to the Works past the PWay train GUV, which is on our repainting list. It's quite some time since we last painted it.

 

Then past the PWay Mess Coach with the Crimson and Cream paint looking as fresh as the day it was repainted over two years ago (April 2021).

 

Back to the Workshop where Ken is creating two more lighting supports, I'm guessing for the new window area.

 

 

As has been reported we have recently had several droplights shatter. With the last one that occurred on the Main Rake, we have ended up with the emergency window left in the Works. Being somewhat grubby, I cleaned it up and applied fresh Cream top coat. The very warm weather enabled the paint to dry relatively quickly so I was able to paint both sides during the day. Just need a new nut and bolt to hold the two parts together and it can go back on the train.

On now to the Santa coach where more good progress was made. Jeff completed the filling and sanding on the south end.

Phil J. got going on more undercoating on the Malvern side, initially working on the north end door.

With the north end coated in Dark Grey undercoat, Bob added the Black gloss.

Back to more photos a little later and Phil had progressed onto the gutter with the Madder undercoat.

Jeff had also moved on to undercoating the south end in Dark Grey.

Phil B. started top coating the Cotswold side of the south end bogie.

Much later and he was really into the job!

That south end is looking good.

I was back to taping up the line positions. I borrowed Jeff for a few minutes so that I could photo him demonstrating the wonderful lining out tool created by Rod many years ago when he was in the Painting Team. The tops of the two lines are indicated by small wood cross pieces giving the correct position when the tool is placed under the gutter - the attached spirit level ensures the tool is vertical. The only thing you have to be careful with is when the gutter position alters, either through a repair or, as sometimes happens with the end sections, the gutter rises or dips. The plain wooden pieces on this side of the tool were attached by Alex to mark out the line positions on the Bubblecar. Rod also set up the long wire on which to hook the lower tape; the top tape can be placed in the gutter.

Finally, two end of day shots of the ends.