Monday 6th - Late Season Mode

 Yesterday was the last day of the main season, so this is what is going to greet us for a while when we arrive for Carriage Cleaning.

No maroon rake and rake 1 in P2. When engineering trains are in use north of Toddington the signalling means they have to use P1. And the first has already gone up that way, to start removal of the track over the viaduct so that waterproofing works can start. (The Viaduct appeal is still open, please visit https://members.gwrt.org.uk/donate if you would like to help.)

So, a team of 14 with just 1 rake to wash and clean! Team Leader John was poorly, but Nick had returned after his operation. Stabled this way it did give the outside team a chance to wash the Cotswold side of this rake - it was 4 weeks since it was done, and 7 weeks since the carriage at the north end (usually off the platform and under the bridge) was done. That kept the team busy! As usual they were David, Paul, Peter and Tim. Afterwards it looked like this

The rest of the team was Greg, Jane, Kath, Lynn, Nick, Nigel, Rich, Roger C and Val. These then divided up to clean inside this rake and some to go down to the DMU as that had been used on 2 days last week. It won't be used again until March. The flies thought they had a good home for the winter down there, disillusioned when I turned up with the Ghostbuster!

Something caught my eye on the DMU. In the north end driving unit the panels on the side are wood, but this looks like wood grain Formica to me. Another moment of transition caught.

After that this team walked to the other end of the site, up to the North siding, to give the maroon set a very quick once over. Too far to lug vacuum cleaners, so a tidy up and clean of tables and windows. 

More good news was that our storage shed now has felt on the roof to keep the rain out. Although under the Stow road bridge it can still get wet inside if the rain blows the right way. Hopefully that has been stopped. Thanks to our C & M department.

No trains this week, so no cleaning next Monday. After that it is every Monday up and Including December 18th. Joys of Santa trains to clean! The maroon rake will be stabled at Winchcombe, so an "Away Team" has been organised to go straight there to do that. We said our "Happy Christmases" to them!