Tuesday 17th - An almost typical Tuesday with a surprise ending

 After a week away it was good to be back, on what turned out to be an interesting day. 

Always an early cuppa to start the day. Robert will be up at the station again for most of the day with another school party - our Evacuation Experience Days for Schools are very popular.

It was nice to see David in, as he normally attends on Wednesdays, working on another of the new oak windowsills for the seating area in RBr 1675.

Further oak sills either ready to fit or awaiting further work.

David in the process of fitting the one he had been working on.

The next widow down with the sill already fitted below the oak surrounds and panelling.

Tony was also in with his son Bob, both doing a great job with the very thorough cleaning up of 1675's window frames. All the glass is now removed as final fitting is better done with the frame alone.

Two completed frames next to another awaiting attention.

Tony re-checks the sliders on this reinstated frame.

On the Cotswold side another frame awaiting refitting.

Last Tuesday when walking through Upholstery I spotted this bit of moquette, a pattern I had not seen before and ... well, I couldn't resist a quick comment. A week later I burst out laughing when on walking through I could see that Upholstery had had their revenge. A definite touche moment! Just brilliant! 😄

Being away last week I couldn't continue painting up vacuum cylinder V19, but Keith took on the job and got the undercoat Dark Grey on. Bar the base, we should be able to get the Underframe Black painting done on Thursday.

Derek continued the good work repairing the planking on Monster Van 600. The undercoated planks have now been installed and a new piece has been added today. He later primed this ready for painting.

Not far away, Bob continued sorting out the Cotswold side of TK 24006's roof. Although it will probably be quite some time before this wonderful old coach can be brought in for full restoration, it's nice to be able to chip away at things that can be done outside. Regular readers will know that quite a number of the removable inside parts have been cleaned up or sanded down and revarnished, such as the seemingly never ending stream of compartment sliding doors.

Kevin as ever doing a great job with our storage and supplies organisation. He's now even managed to find some space in the Monster Van for storing our yellow Gala viewing area stands (far better than just dumped under a table in the Paintshop).

Moving on to Tool Van 92, with all the side undercoating completed, Maurice was well in with the first top coat of GW Brown on the Malvern side.

The largest group was inevitably working on SK 25488. Beginning with Roger continuing the work on the Cotswold side north door and frame.

Stu (we'll have to call him Mr Lightning) was literally all over both sides, secondary filling here, hand sanding there, greying up the top section where needed, then moving on again to pad sand somewhere else. Great stuff!

Ian took on the south end again, working on both sides. I didn't check to see whether he had started the metalwork inside the connection. The connection door is currently being worked on by David on a Wednesday - last week all paint had been removed and filler added where needed on the screwheads.

Pam was back on the Cotswold window frames, in particular hand sanding the inside edges and taking great care not to touch the glass with the sandpaper.

A pause in the work while Richard and Stu discuss the progress where Richard was working and the next steps.

Here he is again, quickly pad sanding the secondary filler where applied. These were later greyed up.

The mournful toot from P&O with the last steam train of the day had me dashing out for a quick photo. I had hardly seen any trains today, so it was good to watch it go by and listen to the ever increasing three cylinder shuffle as the loco moved towards, and then on round, Chicken Curve.

And now the big and very welcome surprise. Not long before 2807 had arrived at the station on the first of three test runs from Toddington.

On the third and final run, those of us left at the Works (it was now getting on for 5 pm), dashed out to enjoy the close up sight of the newly refurbished engine.

Tom was busy checking the bearings. I think all were fine.

Permission was granted for a few shots from the footplate.

Then back on the plateform as 2807 was prepared ready for transferring to Platform 2 to allow the DMU (the last train of the day) to come into Platform 1.

A lovely sight. After the years of waiting while her 10 yearly overhaul was underway, it will be great to see her running by with seven coaches again. Or even a GWR-era goods train! -Ed.

A quick pose for the happy group.

 

Cameras out again, waiting for "the off". A lovely end to an enjoyable day, and sadly the last of the good weather for a bit.