Tuesday 7th - It's warming up

There were 10 of us attending today and two contractors working in RBr 1675.

We were blessed with another lovely day, so nice that sitting down was fatal because once seated you could easily forget all about work and happily watch trains all day.

The GW ply van is rapidly coming together now and needs to be if it is to join the Gala freight in just over two weeks time. The concentration was again on the doors, with Alex adding screws to secure the panel to this one.

Maurice is tightening the nuts holding this panel.

All the newly tightened nuts are then given a coat of green primer.

Meanwhile Paul is in the Workshop cutting bolts to the correct lengths.

[Photo : Paul]  The first rebuilt door goes on.

[Photo : Paul]  The Cotswold doors in place with just the door furnishings and another coat of paint to add.

After that, over to Alex for the signwriting.

Keith and Roger enjoying the lovely day and watching P&O coming by with Rake 1.

Alan's new plate welded in at the north end of SO 4798, a photo I meant to take after he had done the job on Saturday afternoon.

On my way to the office I could see how much more had been done with the headrests by Laura and John last Saturday. So a quick gathering of all the relevant bits for the photo and then returning everything to where I had found it.

On now to FK 13326 and more painting progress. Most of the windows on both sides have been top coated, but need a second coat. Roger on the Cotswold side tackled several windows, while Keith on the other side adds the first top coat to this particular window.

Alan was back on solebars, but this time on 13326, and also this time straight to gloss black as the previous paint was still in reasonable condition. Other than a wipe down, all that was initially needed was the removal of some of the old signage transfers.

Martin was in again and initially top coated the heavy cover for RBr 1675's generator box.

Work in 1675 was limited with the contractors working on the new flooring in the kitchen and pantry. Martin was however able to fill around the beading over the sheet metal infill where a former doorway had been.

With the Malvern side gutter now fully welded, Richard gradually worked along from the south end, sanding where necessary and then adding etch primer ready for when we can start undercoating this side.

With the contractors gone for the day having completed the first stage of the floor covering, a chance to grab some photos. The floor cross members have been sealed and filled to equalise the floor level.

It has been decided to extend the covering into the serving and storage areas.

The various thin ply floor panels, cut to size and awaiting fitting the next day.

Dave was back out and doing his good work to improve the various stock around the yard. By the time I got out here he had finished for the day and gone home. I also missed Derek working on the repairs to the Monster Van.

A nice way to end a busy day. Alex and Maurice watch the last Cheltenham train of the day hauled by, what for many of us, is our favourite diesel. I wish more could be green. The driver gives a cheery wave as Kevin stands in the doorway ready for the token exchange.

**************************

There was a nice comment at the end of my Saturday posting:

AnonymousMay 5, 2024 at 5:54 PM

Dave, another great report, a couple of nomenclature points if I may, the "corridor" connections between vehicles are actually Gangways (hence codes like BG for Brake Van with Gangways), and the metal chequer plate gubbins are actually called tread plates. I won't bother you with bow girders, coffin rods and truss rods this time.
Malcolm (former Chief Inspector LMR)

Thank you for the kind comment Malcolm. As for "corridor connections", I did know that they are actually called "gangways". I've simply been in the habit of calling them the former for a very long time, probably since we started doing the blog in 2011, so it will be an effort to remember the correct name when writing these up. Ah yes, tread plates, I will do my best to remember to use that term too. Thank you.