Tuesday 4th - A few different jobs

While we continue to progress RBr 1675, FK 13326, SO (eventually FO) 4798 and the MICA van, a number of different jobs are appearing. This actually provides a break from the long running projects, though pressure to get on with those soon means we are back on them.

An interesting job for C&W is to varnish a set of mahogany gauge mounting disks destined for 3850, 2874 and "Dinmore Manor". Pam carefully adds another coat of varnish to the set. We have been requested to put on at least three coats.

Chris prepares new planks for a seat at Hayles Halt .........................

.......................... which Keith now primes.

In the Woodshop Robert prepares a new section of wood frame for the MICA van.

A number of the main wood supports are badly chewed and will need replacing, either whole or in part. Two examples from the Malvern side of the van.

Alex tries the new support for this location.

Ian and Alex investigate the back of this corner section of the metal frame.

Maurice removes the planking from the upper section at the south end.

After more cleaning up of the metal frame, Ian adds a coat of red oxide.

Some detached metalwork is cleaned back to bare metal by Maurice.

Another different job is the repainting of the Guards corridor and luggage compartment at the north end of BCK 21272. With a good section now cleaned Dave adds a coat of undercoat cream.

That's better! There is still a lot to do, but it's a very good start.

Roger from the Indoor Gang is repairing a toilet tank from one of the coaches used for the Gala 4th Rake - it is currently at Toddington.

A coupling, cleaned up and coated in red oxide, is now being undercoated by Keith in madder. It will be finished off in red.

A flashback to Saturday showing progress with the window repairs on SO 4798. Above a typical window, with the badly corroded bottom part of the surrounding panelling. All the windows in 4798 are affected by this corrosion.

John S. has been cutting off the corroded sections. A replacement section has been correctly positioned and is ready for Alan to weld in.

The first window so treated with the section welded in and cleaned up with grinder.

I regularly cut a mountain of rag from all the old donated sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers, towels, teashirts, shirts, etc, etc, and fill to overflowing the rag bin on the main paint table. It soon disappears and in fact is used by everybody, so if you make a donation of old items, the rags cut from them are just as likely to have oil and grease on them instead of paint and varnish. The large table in Upholstery makes the ideal clean place for cutting new rag. That pile of rag was about four-five times the size by the time I had finished and the bin was again overflowing.

A job for David in the Woodwork team with respect to the radiators in 1675.

As it was a Tuesday and little chance of anyone needing to use this doorway on the Cotswold side of 1675, Richard was able to work on the door frame, adding filler where required. There was a minor problem with the quarter door which is why it had been removed.

Stu and Roger G. were continuing their work on the Malvern side doors and frames.

Pam had previously been working in the little closet at the end of the servery. Both she and I now moved into the servery where we lightly sanded the undercoat on the shelves and began cleaning up the back of the counter. It helps if you are on the small side when working here!

There is a lot do do before we can do much more painting, but Pam did manage to get some undercoat on the south end panel just before we called it a day. It was now 5.30, so time to clear up, get changed and go up to the Mess Room for the final cup of tea and nibbles. Pam had brought in some Cadbury's chocolate fingers - salted caramel flavour - very nice. Now whenever did I last have a Cadbury's chocolate finger?

Mogul 9351 and "Betton Grange" are running all week.