Thurs 6th to Sun 9th - Gala Days

A four day posting covering our Gala preparations for opening C&W to our travelling public, the Gala itself, and of course our normal work on Thursday and Saturday.

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Thursday

Beginning with the Santa coach, we're now on the home straight. Phil J. .....................

.............. and Richard H. tackled the inner black section of the lower line on the Malvern side.

Bob added the second coat of varnish to the north half of the Cotswold side, in effect completing the repaint of that side.

On now to RBr 1675 with Phil S. installing more overhead cabling.

Phil later sorts out another cable tray prior to installation, .................

............... while Richard B. (I) makes up a conduit for some vertical wiring in the kitchen area of the coach.

Gerry installing another window on the Malvern side using the air rivetter.

Roger cuts out the notches in another length of internal window framing .............

............... which Alan and Geoff will then fit.

Taken through the armoured glass window so as not to disturb them (hence the blurs), our recent new members of the Woodwork team are given formal training in the use of the various machines by Tewkesbury Saw, who also service all our woodshop machinery.

More progress with setting up the new carriage window area in the Workshop. Stu and Tony complete the installation of the back boarding ................

............... and then move in one of the recently donated cupboards.

It's now full on gala preparation time, following the initial collation of the various bits on Tuesday. Note the remaining shelf unit that had been brought in from the GUV the day before and which I had moved out of the way.

Having not had the shop durung the May Steam Gala, Paul and Dennis set up a smaller single-table version because that shelf unit turned out to be a real bonus (it is due to be taken up to Toddington shop).

The giant peg board is now fully set up with the three information notices giving statistical details of our department, the current vacancies notice, and all the information on our current work. Bob has finished his varnishing and takes a well earned rest, while I rib him with the usual "Oi, get back to work" comments.

All ready for business. As usually happens with our shop, over the weekend most of the purchases were by members of C&W. My home library gained another 5 books.

The Creosote Tank wagon set up with the display board giving details of the work on both it and GW Tool Van 4 alongside the Works. The displayed photos of Tool Van 92 were taken in 2009 when it was repainted in the Barn. Underneath is Alex's job list for the tank wagon.

A cream tea! Another treat brought in by Paul. Thanks Paul - much appreciated and much enjoyed.

Phil and Richard remove the tape from the lining out on the Santa coach. Just the coach number to be highlighted and roundel transfer to be put on by Alex, door handles and stops to be painted (job for Pam during the Gala), and then two coats of varnish to finish the painting on the Malvern side. 

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Friday

A nice bright sunny start to the Summer Diesel Gala, and a good crowd on the platform with the numerous cameras capturing 37215 as it slows for the station. Leaning out of the door, Kevin readies himself for the token exchange. On the northbound train is the visiting loco, Pete Waterman's Sulzer Type 2  No. D7659, hence the crowd!.

 

A real bonus for our visitors today was being able to see some live signwriting being done by Alex on the Creosote Tank sole bar. With Pam watching, Alex sets up the last of his chalked templates. All the remaining templates have been used and are temporarily taped to the tank side in their correct order, with the chalk outlines on the sole bar clearly visble and ready for painting.

The first lettering steadily going on. That mahl stick didn't get much use before Alex took up signwriting.

Our first visitors were very interested in Alex's work.

Nick explaining what we need to do to repair the north end of FK 13326.

Sulzer Type 2 (Class 24) 5081 approaches with the 4th Rake. With Pam, Eve and Alan, and myself taking the photo, we somewhat outnumber the visitors!

Brush Type 4 (Class 47) 47105 heads north with the Maroon Rake.

English Electric Type 3 D6948 passes with the Main Rake. Eve takes a photo and who can blame her. For many of us at C&W, this diesel in it's green livery is our favourite, especially with the chocolate and cream rake in tow.

"You're not taking me having lunch, are you?!"

 

Another meeting with 5081 on the nortbound train and Peak Class 45 45149 slowing for the station and token exchange.

Class 20 20137 passes with a wave from the driver.

D6948 returning north.

Alex has made excellent progress with his signwriting. Ironically this side will only be appreciated by the Loco Dept staff at Toddington. However our travelling public will see the Cotswold side, which I'm sure will be equally impressive when he has completed it..

D7659 returns south with the 4th Rake. The loco is appearing courtesy of Peak Rail and the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust. It last visited us in 1996/97. 

A walk up the yard to photograph 92, the other GW Tool Van which we last painted in 2009. This, No. 4, and the two Creosote Tanks will make a fine display of 100 year old vehicles at Toddington.

The lovely view towards Toddington, which I often photograph, is further enhanced by the pink bank of Rose Bay Willow Herb on Chicken Curve.

Nick, Pam and Eve watch Class 37 37215 heading south .......

................ and D7659 heading north.

[Photo : Alex]  Another shot of D7659 when we had more visitors.

The first day is over, the boards have been brought back in and the place closed up. Pam spoils us with strawberries and cream.

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Saturday

Our ex-professional welder Nick is steadily teaching more of our staff to do basic welding. In this instance John S,. who does a lot of fabrication on our lathe and milling machine, and Robert, who is one of our top woodworkers. Both of course will be well known for their skills by our regular readers.

Later on Nick inspects the results of the practice sessions and is well satisfied with their progress.

More roof building in 1675 by Chris ....................

.............. and internal window building by Dave.

Nick cleaning up the welds along the skirting line on the Malvern side.

An excellent job. A skim of filler will complete this prefectly.

Alan and Simon are back on building the new boot lockers for our Changing Room. By the end of the day there were three.

A busy Upholstery shop, with Jenny and John rebuilding a seat cushion and head pad respectively, Helen stripping down another seat back, and Laura on the sewing machine. They really are getting on well with the FODR contract. Plenty for our visitors to see.

 Jenny and Laura check and update the contract progress sheet.

A complete change of scene with Maurice applying the Gloss Black top coat to the upper parts of the Creosote Tank wagon.

Sometimes, despite all the lighting we have, you need a bit more on the subject.

George painted undercoats White and Light Grey on the axlebox covers and vertical dampers respectively, on the two refurbished bogies destined for RBr 1675.

Jenny in conversation with one of our visitors. Our Upholstery department is often quite an eye-opener to the visiting public, and it is not uncommon when taking a tour around the Works to find that more time is spent in this workshop than in any other part. It's probably because this isn't expected, whereas the remaining parts of the works are.

Our new storyboards create a lot of interest.

Geof, Martin ..................

................ and Pam explaining various aspects of our work.

Paul captures D7659 as it passes with the Main Rake, while Phil and Dennis look on.

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Sunday

Pam black glosses the door handles and stops on the north and centre doors on the Santa coach. The south end had already been done.

Completing this useful little job means that we can get on with varnishing the Malvern side on Tuesday.

Maurice continues with black glossing the upper parts of the tank wagon.

It's gone 1130 and we have had very few visitors so far today.

We plan to have three more storyboards. They do take quite some time to create, much of it simply trawling through the large collection of blog photos taken over the years, in addition to other archive photos from other sources.

D7569 is in the station and the crowds are back.

In a repeat of Friday's scene, 37215 is once again on the opposing southbound train.

Alex is guard on the 4th Rake today and waves from BSK 35308.

D7569 heads off with the Maroon Rake.

Two visitors capture 5081 as it heads towards the station.

Being a Works gala monitor is very tiring on the legs as you are on your feet for almost all the day, so it's nice to be able to sit down for a bit. Eve makes the most of the picnic chairs that Nick has dug out from their car.

I missed what was hauling the Main Rake, but John and four visitors make the most of its passing.

The DMU reduced to two cars parked in the siding at various times during the day, and now heads back to the station.

Maurice and John discuss the progress and plans for the tank wagon.

The flow of visitors to the Works was still small, but it was nice to be able to talk with them for perhaps a bit longer than if we had had much larger numbers. 

D6948 was now on the Maroon Rake and it was time for a close up.

The Peak was now on the 4th Rake and the token exchange is nicely captured.

Being up at the station was a chance to have a quick chat with Alex  .............

............... and watch him flag the train away. Meanwhile Richard H. had exchanged his paint brush again for his catering services apron and was in the RMB. I had hoped to photo him too, but the Maroon Rake moved out at the same time as Alex's train, so I missed him - apologies Richard!

A visiting model railway had been set up in the Tim Mitchell Building on Platform 1, so well worth a look.

One of Alex's Gala sandwich boards with the very smart looking "Gloucester RU" Toad brake van behind. The other board is placed on Platform 2 in front of the Model Railway coach.

Pam chats with another visitor to Upholstery. His little boy was very knowledgeable about the diesels that were running today. A future member of the Railway? It's good that families visit the Railway during galas when the various Works are open and perhaps pave the way for the future generations that will be running it.

Pam and Maurice watch the Peak pull away with one of the late afternoon trains.

A final sit down before retrieving the boards and banner from the station, and as it is the final day, bringing in the various notices and barrier chains and stands from around the Works.

Maurice, Pam and I enjoy some biscuits and a final cup of tea before wending our way back home.

Overall it was an enjoyable weekend, albeit disappointing with the small numbers visiting the Works, especially as previous summer diesel galas have produced larger attendances, especially on the Sunday afternoon. The final gala for the year will be the Mixed Traction one at the end of October; so our visitor number should be larger as the previous ones have been very popular.

Many thanks to Nick, Eve, Pam, Alex, Alan, Keith, Dennis, Maurice, Geoff and John for being Works monitors over the three days.