Thursday 19th - Counting down the days

With the Christmas break rapidly approaching, for many today was their last day in until the New Year.

Many thanks to Roger for the extra photos.

Thursday was a nice bright day, but that really cold north wind was something else. The clear day became an even clearer night and an astronomer's dream with planets galore to observe - Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in particular showing off the red hue, were all very bright in the sky.

[Photo : Roger]  The Indoor Gang, Alan, Geoff and Roger, were back fitting more of the heating pipe covers in 1675's corridor.

[Photo : Roger]

[Photo : Roger]  Very much a case of where lying down on the job is in fact very necessary.

[Photo : Roger]  The final two photos of the corridor, and also the north end of the saloon where some extra work had to be done before the heating cover could be fitted.

[Photo : Roger]

Over now to the electrical side with Richard I preparing the control cables to the lithium batteries from the onboard processor.

Richard II was similarly busy.

With the four internal doors now fully painted it was time to reinstate their fittings. I made a start on the south connection door and then Tony and Paul took over. As often happens it was a case of hunt the bits, but everything was successfully located and fitted.

I returned later to find the door in place, but with just a tiny problem - it doesn't close! Much scratching of heads, but if I remember correctly I don't think it ever did close. We decided to ignore this because, bar when the coach initially goes out, the connection doors will remain permanently open - the RBrs are always in the middle of the rake.

This left the two internal sliders from the corridor to the kitchen and pantry respectively, and the door to what is now the electrical cupboard - this may of course also be used by RCS for storage. The relative fittings for the sliders were located and fitted, although one of the metal slides for the base of one of the doors is missing still.

[Photo : Roger]  Tony tests the refitted electric cupboard door.

We always help other departments whenever we can. In this instance Stu repaired this strimmer belonging to Lineside Drainage.

John made the necessary adjustments to the ride settings of FK 13329 following his survey on Tuesday. The next job - another check of the vacuum brake system.

The day before, Simon had reinstated the repainted ceiling panels in SK 25488's south vestibule. The two outer panels needed repainting to match, and of course all the screw heads in the securing beading. Bob soon had the job completed, the whole ceiling now looking very much better. 

Following Phil's efforts with the plumbing repairs, both toilet compartments will be brought back into use. Both need a thorough clean, and when we have some spare capacity in the Painting team, both will be repainted.

It was just Maurice working on the MICA van today. With the Woodwork team not present he took the opportunity to black gloss the headstocks and sole bar - these will obviously be protected when further painting of the body sides and ends is required. 

Well done Roger! Finishing the last bit of washing up after lunch.

Turning round I grab a photo of Bob preparing to move. He responds with his usual "Shadap!" reply as with a big grin I say, "Oi, get back to work!". It's usually him saying that to me!

More good progress with FK 13326 with both ends having work done on them. At the north end Phil recoated the left panel with gloss black, moved on to the righthand panel, and then into the connection.

At the south end Jeff top coated the connection door, painted the rubber bellows with matt black, and then white glossed the lamp brackets.

Bob added a final bit of filler on the Malvern side south door and then re-greyed both that and the door frame where filling had previously been done by Ainsley. Rod was inside the vestibule adding wood dye where needed. Some of the door backs had fresh varnish applied.

Highlighting the letters is a job loved by Jeff.

Rod adds primer to a new bit of frame on the Cotswold side south door.

The final job of the day for Phil. A light sand of the lower door panel and corner at the north end of the coach prior to adding the GW Brown top coat.

Tuesday 17th - Another busy Tuesday

Another bright and breezy Tuesday at the Works with a good number attending. 

Firstly, thank you Paul of St Blazey for your very kind thoughts in your recent comments. We always try to get the best out of the work that we do and of course hope we can continue in this way into the future.

On the subject of a carriage shed, other than stabling during the winter shutdown, our two running rakes will always be based at Toddington for any number of logistical reasons. As for a main carriage shed at Winchcombe there have been a number of plans put forward over the years. Unfortunately our continuing history of infrastructure problems (four embankment slips, bridge 8, the viaduct) has swallowed up huge amounts of funding both from donations and our own means. And now we are on strict budgets with the current financial situation. Unless a miracle happens it could still be some considerable time before our Winchcombe based coaches are under cover.

 Now on to today's activities.

A mixed day from the weather point of view ........

 ....... but not a mixed group of liveries here as we steadily head towards regaining a crimson and cream rake.

Concentration with the MICA van is now very much the doors on the Cotswold side. With Chris supporting the right hand frame, Robert and Maurice work out the position of the lower hinge.

Final checks are made before Paul drills the necessary holes in the van frame.

Derek has made great progress with the patch repairs on the Monster van. The next thing will be the gutter on this side. Come the better weather and we must see about giving the van a complete repaint.

On the jacks is FK 13329 in for checks and adjustments where necessary to its ride condition.

John holds the inspection sheet indicating "As received condition" ("Following adjustment" has been crossed out). Basically this is the set up sheet where we start and from which we decide what adjustments to make.  Line A records the heights at each corner of the two bogies. Line G records the buffer heights.

Moving across to SO 4798 where James has had a very satisfying day working at the south end rebuild. The new length of support has been welded in place.

The old corroded section.

This whole area has been the subject of a rebuild with new base plate, new bottom sections of connection support pillars, and now James' work.

Spot welded in place, the replacement supports.

Next on to the toilet compartment window. James carefully checks were the cuts in the panelling are to be made.

Stu has often mentioned that we ought to begin sanding down the north end of the coach now that the window repairs have gradually moved much further along. Some work has already been done with the rivet line as can be seen. Keith finished his day with a good pad sanding session on the main brown panel at the north end.

On the Cotswold side window repairs are very well advanced, with just two main ones to be done.

Inside 1675 Pam adds the final coat of varnish to the counter area. She then applied a final coat to the back of the Cotswold side emergency door.

Then it was out with her special cleaner to remove some marks on the floor.

A busy spell for Keith on the trestles. The two large  ceiling panels that were repainted on Saturday were stored back in SK 25488 ready for refitting. The beading strips for these have just been top coated. Keith now top coats the stock of buffer extension keeps, while the stock of spare ceiling lights awaits undercoating.

On to 13326, beginning with Ian burning off the old solebar transfers ..........

........ before repainting the sole bar on both sides of the coach. Ian later lent a hand with the door fitting on the MICA where being tall can be very useful!

Richard removed the last of the old line tape on the Malvern side, thankfully coming off a little more easily. The small section I had earlier tackled at the south end was the opposite!

Next job, tape up the north end doors and corners, and then on with the undercoat.

One thing us painters are not good at is protecting the important little places on the door hinges. Understandably this is much to the frustration of the Door and Friday Maintenance teams, so apologies chaps. Taping up before painting will be done.

The Cotswold side south end of 13326 with just the black lining out to do before the varnish goes on. The north end needs another cream top coat before lining out can be done.