Weds 17th - Thurs 18th - At last

Another multi-day posting. Many thanks to Gerry for Wednesday's photos, Roger E. for the Indoor Gang photos on Thursday, and Paul W. for some photos from the previous Thursday.

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Thursday 11th 

My profuse apologies to Paul, Dennis and our Indoor Gang for missing them out of the Gala Days megapost. So here they are, albeit a week late.

With Rake 3 in Platform 2, cleaning and maintenance was a lot easier. Dennis sprays the hose at BCK 21092.

RMB 1808 receives attention from Roger E. and Alan

Not sure which coach this is  but a clean up and quick repaint would be good.

Overall though the rake doesn't look bad and a fine effort by Paul and Dennis. All ready for the start of the Gala the next day.

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Wednesday

Bryan on the lathe. It's good to see him back.

Chris cleaning up what looks to be a grab handle.

John welding on the homemade trolley for the new welder.

Nick and John with the new trolley.

Laura machines up another cover for one of the Dean Forest Railway's seats.

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Thursday

The post title applies to this day where the words "At last" were very appropriate for several aspects of the day's activities.

Firstly some photos from Roger E. showing the water damage on one of the window frames in TSO 4772 and the repair.

Now on to the remaining activities, starting with the RBr.

Rex carefully fitting one of the covers for his lithium battery box under the Cotswold side of 1675.

Overall this looks a very professional set up.⁹

The attachment on the left side is the cooling system.

In the pantry Richard I is under the sink unit working on the connections for the large skid.

Phil S. is consulting a catalogue - wonder what he's looking up (I should have asked!).

Richard II is back in the 240 volt main control and distribution panel.

At last! Let's get these doors painted. With a big painting project about to start we need to be able to make more progress with 1675's painting, so let's go for it. Richard works on the servery door, continuing the filling around the frame.

Jeff tackles the south end double door on the Malvern side. Great to see livery undercoat going on these doors at last.

Phil J. is on the centre double door, initially having to put the line tapes back.  They had to be removed when further work on the door was required. We'd be lost without that wonderful lining out tool, we have got so used to it after all these years.

Bob S. was undercoating the emergency door

Back to Richard H. who was by now well into undercoating his door.

A final photo of the completed door. It could be a while before we are top coating

Hello, where did this come from on the Cotswold side of 1675?! Alex having a bit of fun with the roundel removed from 4790.

Dohhhhhh !

Bob M. is now second top coating towards the south end of the roof. This didn't take long to complete and leaves just the Malvern side to do to complete the roof painting.

Richard I, assisted by Phil S., is setting up a monitor for the water supply to indicate when this is getting low.

Dave is installing the rubber draught excluder at the base of the Cotswold side emergency door.

Job done.

Out to the Barn to catch Gerry working on one of the Malvern side window frames on SO 4798. 

As with the Cotswold side, all the windows are having the metalwork underneath and occasionally at the side(s) stripped of paint to assess the amount of corrosion and where new sheet metal needs to be welded in.

All change for Rex and Gerry who are now preparing a window for putting back on 4798.

On Wednesday SO 4270 hsd been brought over from the Malvern side of the yard where Rake 3 is stabled.

With Stu driving the 03 and Alex as shunter, 4790 is brought onto the pit road.

Bob K. and Dave H. had intended working in BCK 21272, but the coach was being removed from the jack road .........

.......... to store outside .........

.......... and enable 4790 to be brought in.

At last! A real, genuine quick repaint job. Let's see just how quick we can do this one and get some freshness back into our rakes.

No sooner was the coach in, Alex got started sanding the Malvern side lower panel. The aim is to get this side cleaned up and then move the coach on to the Barn through road, in effect swapping with SO 4798 and enabling easy access to the Cotswold side.

4790 has the extended disabled space that we created a number of years ago, so when this is ready we can then use CK  21272, which doesn't have this facility.

And what livery is 4790 to have? Watch this space!

The emergency ladder from 21272, nicely cleaned up. The large section has been started.

The mass of ironware from the Open C wagon is to be found on both the trestles and the hooks as it is converted from green primer to undercoat Dark Grey, and finally GW Grey top coat. It is certainly keeping Maurice busy.

More planks going on the MICA van.

Yet another "at last!". I obtained the Roco Orange paint well over a year ago so that we could match the Electrician's container with the other three. With so much else to do this project never got going, but with Pat here for two weeks and some dry weather, the repaint is now well on its way. As with our other Works-side containers, the bright orange will fade down and blend in nicely with the colours of our three buildings.

2807 drifts into Platform 1 and then the DMU passes on its return north.