Tuesday 31st - A gentle day after a great Gala

Apologies for no Works photos last Thursday or on Gala Saturday. Thursday was spent getting everything ready for our two-day opening. As for the weekend, it was excellent with good numbers both on the trains and visiting the Works, so the five of us who were looking after the latter were kept very busy. At one point during Saturday afternoon a very large number appeared in the Works, presumably coming down from Toddington on the DMU shuttle. Sunday was also busy in the Works but more like a typical gala with occasional quiet spells. Overall it seemed to be very successful. The Autumn mixed traffic theme has certainly proved to be very popular over the past three years that we have been running it.

I did managed to snatch an occasional photo and on Sunday P&O on the freight was unmissable. There seems to be a good selection of vidoes on YouTube of the Gala, which will include the freight.

Maurice took a train to Toddington and caught a later run of the freight, where he joined Alex who was the guard on the Toad brake van.

The very crowded spell in the Paintshop during Saturday afternoon. It was lovely to meet and talk to so many visitors, many of whom were very complimentary of all the work we do. 

On now to Tuesday and firstly a catch-up with Upholstery and their progress with the second Dean Forest Railway contract. The moquette being used for the Mk2 coach is Bournemouth Blue. 

 

And now it's time to swallow my pride and make a confession. Just over a week ago this was the moquette I was saying I didn't like, hence my "OMG, yuk!" note left on the sample on the table. Well, here it is made into a cushion and a seat, and (whisper it gently) I have to say I now like it and, if I needed a cushion, would even buy one!

Two more cushion covers in this moquette ready to be completed - where did we get it from? We still can't make cushions quick enough with our two shops continually selling out of them. It would be interesting to know just how quick these two sell.

A pile of covers ready to be turned into yet more cushions.

 It was a lovely day, especially as that chilly Gala breeze had dropped.

There was more good progress with SK 25488. The remaining half on the Cotswold side still undergoing some prep was completed by Stu, here giving some final sanding of the various patches of filler with 240 paper. This was followed by a wipe over with thinner and then the lines were marked out and taped up ready for undercoating.

 On the Malvern side Richard began undercoating windows. 

Maurice completed the second top coating on the Malvern side of Tool Van 92. He later moved on to the doors. 

Ainsley was fitting the first of the capping strips to the kitchen door on the Cotswold side of RBr 1675.

In the Woodshop Robert is carefully cutting the groove on a base section of one of 1675's quarter doors.

 The title says it all.

As it was a nice day Derek was able to work outside again on the Monster Van repairs. The new door section now installed.

It's that time again with Mike and Paul, two of the Railway's PAT testers, beginning the long job of going through all our electrical appliances.

As I was tied up for much of the day with dismantling and packing up all our Gala display items, my "staff at work" photos were limited to the above. However I did a quick run arouind at the end of the day to capture what had been achieved.

The Cotswold side of 25488 with all the madder undercoating now completed.

The Malvern side from the south end.

From the top of the large scaffold tower, a view of the vacuumed and wiped roof of 25488, which Bob did while we were having our morning tea break.

Bob had later painted some of the Cotswold side of the roof.

The fitted capping strip on 1675's kitchen door.

I had intended getting a photo of the station with the Christmas lights, but just as I was about to take the shot they were switched off. So, turning 180 degrees, a shot of the signal box, the Works, and north half of the yard, with the distant Cotswold escarpemnt fading into darkness.