Thursday 1st - A lovely day and a trip down Memory Lane

Another busy day as the various Winter Shutdown activities continue alongside the current projects. And then a trip back to what we were doing 10 years ago.

We were blessed with a rare and really pleasant sunny day. Paul and one of our Carriage Cleaning team pose for the camera while cleaning the Main Rake.

Roger and Alan were busy reconstructing the repaired connection slider off the north end of CK 16221 "Abigail/Charlotte".

After getting the very heavy door back onto the coach and its track, a test to check how well it now runs (perfectly!) and if it latches properly (not quite!).

Thankfully some fiddling, a good slam, and success! Just some filling and repainting to do at the base of the door, which I planned to do next, but with a quick shunt imminent to swap the two Barn coaches, this will now be done on Saturday instead.

Ainsley finishes his work on 16221's Malvern side north and south end doors. Some minor paint and varnish repairs needed here will also be done Saturday.

John was busy checking and recording the ride heights of the two bogies now fitted underneath 16221.

The final repairs for the Indoor Gang on BSKD 34929 in the Maroon Rake. Roger adds the new beading strips to the reinstated ceiling in the north vestibule. A final top up with paint will complete the job. The Cotswold side door here is currently undergoing some minor paint and varnish repairs.

SO 4787 has now been shunted back on to the Maroon Rake. Dave, having done a heroic one-man job in putting in all the refurbished seating and side panels from SO 4798, is now busy reinstating the tables.

Ouch, where did these spring from? Two new battery boxes to get primed, undercoated and top coated - we'd better get a move on in case they are both for running coaches (need to recheck the attached tags - clever idea, I like that).

A hurried wide-angle shot of the Mess Room morning break, with the Cleaning Team sat round me. The Mess Room afternoon break had just a small group of us left - times have changed since the pandemic.

Is that a "B" Gerry is cleaning up? Yes, from "Battery Box" - must be on the RBr.

Rex was cleaning up after cutting to size a new threaded bolt for the RBr generator frame.

Back on board RBr 1675 to capture Gerry preparing one of the Malvern side frames ready for reinstating the various panes.

Phil was busy tidying up more of the new interior wiring.

The skid for the water heater has only had a single top coat, but is now required to be sent away for test fitting with the proposed new kitchen layout. As such Richard II is reattaching the various bits. When returned it will be stripped back down, and the painting and varnishing completed.

Ian and Stu prepare to pull out CK 16221 to do the swap of roads.

With the through road coach now on the jack road, 16221 can now be uncoupled and put on the through road.

Another shot of the very large load of Mk 2 coach seat parts that Gerry photographed yesterday, with even more bundles inside the Upholstery Shop. No doubt these are being collected soon. The team must be getting on for completion of this second contract from the DFR.

 

 **************************

Memory Lane

And what were we all doing 10 years ago?

A selection of photos from January/February 2014 when we all looked a bit younger. Also happy memories of some of our much missed friends who have either retired or sadly passed on.

[Photo : Rod] The first coach in the new Paintshop with Eddie guiding us in (18th January 2014)

[Photo : Roger B.]  It really was pushed in  (18th January 2014)

[Photo : Rod]  No guesses as to the identity of this coach! Our temporary mess room stabled on the Works siding near the signalbox   (18th January 2014)

Can this really be Upholstery? The office partition is steadily going up   (18th January 2014)

 

"Reckon our new Woodshop will be a great improvement, eh Ed?"  (29th January 2014) 

"And for doors too!"   (5th February 2014)

 

"Er, we've only just started painting the floor - be a while yet!"    (5th February 2014)

The safety wires are up and we are having our first formal training session    (20th February 2014)

 Our stairs in the making    (22nd February 2014)

 "Now that is a very nice job John"   (22nd February 2014)

"Well, some things never change!"    (20th February 2014)

"Don't you get any paint on the floor!"    (20th February 2014)

Rog and Ron, the original Indoor Gang     (9th January 2014)

 Cheryl always loved the GWR Brown. That floor looks so clean!   (20th February 2014)

Early beginnings, but 10 years later .........................       (11th January 2014)

Hard to believe with their tiny workshop they were still doing miracles then!  (22nd January 2014)

Now which SK was this? (25431? -Ed.) It's not long been outshopped   (20th February 2014) 

 Repaired and repainted    (22nd February 2014)