Thursday 19th - Completed to the centre door

Another varied day. After a wet start the weather thankfully improved, especially appreciated by those working down the yard with the 3rd Rake (and by me walking down there to take the photos!)

Continuing Nick's opening theme in the previous post with windows on RBr 1675, Rex uses an interesting pair of cutters to prepare the window rubbers. The cutters have a movable arm on a gauge to ensure that the cut is at the required angle - very neat!

 The rubbers are then fitted to the quarterlight ...................

............. which can now be installed in the relevant window frame.

With the Richards attending the day before, it left just Phil on board 1675, tying up more electric wiring.

 Later fitting up one of the new lights.

The 24 volt system control panel with temporary labels, and underneath another inset box has been installed (make a note to ask about this one on Saturday).

In the Barn John and Ian prepare to release the very heavy buckeye coupler at the north end of TSO 4772. Both this and the drawhook are to be removed to enable the old tailpin to be taken out and replaced with a new one.

Returning later to find that the new tailpin has been installed and the drawhook reinstated. The buckeye coupler will be overhauled before it is reattached. 

Gala preparations are now beginning for C&W. Dennis is filling the 3rd Rake's toilet tanks .....

........ while the internal cleaning continues. On board SK 24949, the Cotswold side toilet compartment isn't large enough for both Paul and the vacuum cleaner.

The door opens wider and Paul appears in the final stages of vacuuming in here.

The restored and repainted Malvern side compartment. There was a "Toilet not in use" notice stuck on the door - not quite sure why.

I missed Alan and Roger reinstating the door on the refurbished toilet compartment. The good news is that the special hinges that they had been repairing a little while ago are now functioning as they should.

The sound of the approaching train had Paul and I looking out to see it passing by.

I did catch up with both alan and Roger when back in the Works. Alan was hunting screws in the Workshop carousel .......

.............. while Roger, with his "Head of C&W H&S" hat on, was going over one of the Paintshop risk assessments that I had been requested to review.

As always, I just have to visit Upholstery to see how things have progressed the day before. Wednesday isn't one of my days in, so I only get to meet the team on Saturdays.

Another wonderful line of cushions awaiting transfer to the station shops at Toddington and Broadway. On the rack behind me there were yet another two on the top, while on a lower shelf were three that had been put aside for an online buyer.

While there I had to find the moquette about which I had made the "Yuk" comment and have a proper look at it, as I was now outnumbered by those who do like it. Ok folks, well here it is in all its glory. I still don't like it, but can appreciate why there are those who do. It's what I would call a fun design. I wonder who produced this?

On to Tool Van 92 with Chris cutting out a section of rotten roof planking. The new skylight frames have been put on board for safekeeping until Steven gets back from holiday.

Maurice is doing a heroic job painting the van, in effect going round and round with the priming, undercoating, and now top coating, and there will be two coats of the latter going on. Alex, of course, has also been involved with the repainting.

Finally on to progress with SK 25488. Bob took a break from doing roofs and did more cleaning up of the south end using a powered brush to get to some of the bits not easily done by a pad sander.

Up to now, preparation has been scattered along both sides and in general progress has been good. However the aim is now to do a controlled progression along each side of the coach to complete the preparation work, gradually clearing each section from top to bottom. Jeff does some final work on the Cotswold side south door.

Further along Phil tackles one of the window frames.

Later on the vertical demarcation tapes had been put on and Bob was well into undercoating the south end in dark grey. Phil had returned to the end window to finish something off, while in the distance Jeff was almost at the centre door.

Great! The end panelling undercoated and the connection face sanded clean.

The south half of the Cotswold side - a very welcome sight!