Thursday 7th - The big cover up

Well, what's all this about I hear you ask? More on this later.

For now, on with the day's activities.

Continuing on from Nick's excellent description in Wednesday's posting of how we are fitting the new generator under RBr 1675, the heavyweight metal supports are being drilled by Rex.

The generator will sit on the sliding mechanism that will be screwed on to the two angle iron sections. This will enable easy extraction of the generator for servicing or if there are any problems.

With the angle iron firmly gripped to the drill base, Rex proceeds to drill the necessary holes.

I believe all the main windows are now reinstated on 1675. As such Gerry is now fitting the quarterlights and applying the rubber seal to this one.

Stu is fitting some new neck seals to these vacuum cylinder pistons.

On now to the repainting of SK 25488 and another big leap forward towards its completion. Remaining lining out comprised adding the black band to the top line on both sides. On the Cotswold side Martin and Phil did the honours .......

.......... while Richard tackled the Malvern side. The north end and door had been done on Tuesday.

Morning tea break with the traditional jam doughnut and very welcome cup of tea. As always many thanks to Paul for bringing in all the supplies and cakes, and of course making the tea on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Having taped up his half of the top line, Phil reverted to some snagging with the lower line. No matter how carefully the tape is applied, there will be inevitable seepage where perhaps the surface is uneven, and particulary in the corners of the doorframe liners and door edges. Dave shares a joke.

Martin carefully applies the black gloss.

Martin completes his half and carefully removes the tape.

Jeff arrives and soon gets stuck into what he loves doing.

Phil proceeds with his section of the line.

Jeff now making excellent progress. These plates can sometimes prove tricky when the cast hasn't come out too well and some of the letters and numbers appear as a blob or have bits missing. The base of the "2" was missing on this plate.

Phil has completed his section and the tape is (very) carefully removed. It's too easy for the tape to snap and fly back on to the main paintwork, so removal in small sections is best. Cowards! :-) -Ed.

On the Malvern side Richard removes the final bit and also has a fine festoon of used tape on his steps.

Jeff meanwhile had chiselled out the crumpled remains of draft excluder from three doorway bases and was busy vacuuming up the resulting bits. New excluder will be glued in.

Phil continued the snagging.

Now to find out what the cover up was all about. This turned out to be Steven and Chris making covers for the pit using the reclaimed cedar planking, which is both very light and very durable.

Chris screws the top planking to the two supports which will hold the section over the walls of the pit. The individual planks have been cut to fit firmly between the rails.

Job done, now to get this section to the pit.

The second section is carefully lowered in place.

A perfect fit. One and a half sections to go. The open ends will be blocked to prevent any wild life falling into the pit, as happened in August 2021 ..............

.............. when by sheer chance Phil was walking past the pit and heard this little fellow squealing for help. 

A quick dash to the stores down the road for some cat food, which was very gratefully received. Hedgie was then taken to the large area of vegetation at the bottom of the yard, well away from the running line. Another plate of food was left.

A final shot of 25488 just prior to leaving for the day.